When I came across this picture a couple of days ago, I immediately thought of Layne Francis, of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Layne was my repair tech when I lived in the Maritimes. He owned and operated the Horn Shop, out of his home.
Warpaintful Sax
Photography by bartimaeus. Source: Flickr
Layne used to have red painted, tenor saxophone body, nailed to an olive green fence. If you hadn’t been to his shop before, that’s how you knew you were at the right house. Because I suck at remembering directions, and how to get where I’m going, that red sax was beacon to me, each time I went to visit him.
A member of the Woodwind Forum, told me a few months ago that Layne had retired & moved away. I wonder where the pros in the area go now for their repair work.
I miss my annual 3 or 4 day treks to visit Layne, and get my horns fixed. He was always so nice & so accommodating. A real Maritimer in the true sense of the word. He was one of the gentlest souls I have ever met in my life, and without a doubt, my favourite repair tech I have ever had. Don’t get me wrong, the guys I’ve met and have had work on my horns since moving back to the West Coast are also nice guys. Their work has been great (I don’t just let anyone work on my babies), but there was just something special about Layne.
Layne, if you ever do have a computer (what are the chances?) or you ever do accidentally stumble across this post, please drop me an email. Know that my Martin Handcraft tenor, has only had 1 adjustment since you put it back together. Can you believe it? Even after all I’ve put it through. That rebuild & restoration was in 2001 I think.
Ah yes…It’s funny how photographs can bring back a flood of memories… Even when the photo is not directly related to you. But then that’s what makes the difference between a snapshot and an artistic shot.
