A U R A L Sax...
Although made (mostly) from BRASS the saxophone is in the family of woodwind instruments. Driven by a single (cane) reed the saxophone is made in 8 different sizes ranging from the smallest Sopranino to the largest Subcontrabass.Depending on your perspective, the saxophone emits a loud sound perfect for marching bands and in jazz music. Toned down with less 'bark' the saxophone is often associated with many soundtracks of sexy/sultry parts of movies.
Smooth Jazz? If you don't like the sound of a saxophone, I suggest you avoid that style of music!
In recent years, musical instrument companies have perfected digital versions of saxophones as MIDI controllers. Without this blog getting into the 'electronic' part of the controller, MIDI is a language that allows devices to 'talk' to computers and sound modules, giving the user an unlimited palette of sounds and coloration that an analog instrument couldn't accomplish.
MIDI wind controller can be described simply as playing a device with the feel of a saxophone that gives the musician sounds never heard before... in this case a saxophone that could sound like a pipe organ, electric guitar, trumpet, synthesizer and human voice.
Thanks for listening to my blog... !!
Comments (6)
I love Smooth Jazz.
Either way, sax is one of my favorite instruments.
Charlie Parker was a person very early in his career, that was embarrassed at
not being able to keep up during a jam session with other older soloists.
Subsequently, he locked himself in his room and incessantly practiced for months.
Although he was never able to read, nor transcribe music, he emerged as literally
the greatest musician ever - pure improvisation, not constrained in the least by the
written notes.
As a teenager, I followed the roots of bands and was ALWAYS searching record bins for something better. When I 'discovered' Parker, I was hooked for life on jazz.
The following album was what I heard. It is sometimes called, the greatest jazz concert ever. It was recorded live in Massey Hall during a Joe Louis fight and resulted in a somewhat unique experience.
The soloists were given extra time, because the musicians were taking turns going
across the street to watch parts of the prize fight at a local bar.
Parker's intricate solos blew me away.
The concert also features Bud Powell on piano (excellent).
(At one point in his career, Bud checked into a mental institution).
The trumpeter is Dizzy Gilespie at perhaps his best in his career,
and I believe Max Roach was the drummer.
Saxophones are very expressive instruments on their own. Chromatic, having more than 2 octaves... LOUD, they fit in a wide variety of musical genres.
Probably 10-15 years ago I tried to get into digital music. I have a few keyboard controllers, a Yamaha wind controller, headphone with controller mouthpiece, Yamaha sound bank with high-end samples and a Casio keyboard that has a disk drive and MIDI connections. I understand the concept but was unable to get the 'wind' things to make music. One good thing that worked was software when installed on a computer and connected to a MIDI keyboard perfectly emulated the sounds of a Hammond B3 organ.
That could be the subject of another blog!
Here's another great one to enjoy - Cannonball Adderly