If you’re old enough to remember the 1980s, then there’s a good chance that you’ll remember the police drama Cagney & Lacey. As a teenager I was glued to the set, to see these two, strong female, lead characters in a television landscape, that was primarily shaped by men as dramatic leads.
Besides Sharon Gless and Tayne Daly as lead actresses, the other hook the show had for me, was its theme song. Every week I had to tune in early, just to make sure I didn’t miss the amazing sax solos. Solos, as it would turn out, that were played by none other than saxophone greats, Ray Pizzi and Ernie Watts.
I’d like to thank Ray Pizzi for reminding me about this song. I had no idea that it was available on YouTube. Thanks Ray!
This is one of the classic 1980s, saxophone-driven, TV theme songs—perhaps even the first. Ray, your playing was an inspiration to me.
I was working on high harmonics (Ted Nash book), at the time, and was struggling to get control over those high bends and scoops. I recorded the theme song with a cassette tape, and then kept going over and over it, until I was able to play along—albeit far from perfectly—with the recording of what sounded like an alto and a soprano sax to me.
All that practice eventually paid off, and in time I did gain the control I was after in the high harmonic range. To this day some of my signature sounds are altissimo squealing, bending, scooping, and falling.
Thanks Ray. Thanks Ernie. Like I said, you 2 were an inspiration to a young saxophonist starting out. It’s hard to believe that it was 30 years ago.
