Tomorrow it will be exactly four weeks until my show as part of the Vancouver Art Gallery’s, Out for Lunch Concert Series. On February 6, 2015, I’ll be performing the show that I’ve titled, Bassically Sax: An overview of the saxophone’s evolution.
During that 60 minute show, I’ll be performing on 12 different saxophones: 2 sopranos, 3 altos, 1 c melody, 3 tenors, 3 baritones, and 1 bass. Am I crazy? 
You bet your ass I am, because I’m also taking along a couple of extra saxophones from the late 19th century—including one that will be passed around the audience so that they can see for themselves what a really old saxophone looked like. (This cheap soprano is in its pre-lamp phase, so I’m not all that worried about it.)
Yesterday, in preparation for the show, I took five of my favourite horns to my tech’s shop for a bit of tweaking. Two of them (my Toneking alto and tenor) went for their post-overhaul adjustments. Of the other three, my poor neglected Conn C mel is in the worst condition. It hasn’t been seen by a tech since I moved back from the Martimes in 2004.
This Out for Lunch Concert Series performance was also the perfect excuse to finally get my Pan American curvy overhauled. It has been due for an overhaul for the past 12+ years, but I kept pushing through and compensating for the leaks, until one day it finally became totally unplayable. It’s been sitting around in its case for the past three or so years, while my Mark VI has been doing the few soprano tunes I have to occasionally perform.
Well no more will I always have to play a straight soprano. Although I am very loyal to my tech, I knew due his commitments that he couldn’t get my soprano overhauled in time. Therefore when the opportunity presented itself, I sent it to Vancouver Island to have Claudio Fantinato do the work.
Claudio and I had had a meeting at my house anyway, so I sent my curvy along with him. I just got an email from him letting me know that the horn is done. I had it done with black roo pads and flat metal resos.
If you’re in the Metro Vancouver area, and you’re free on February 6, come on down to the Vancouver Art Gallery. It should be a lot of fun. There will be lots to look at and hear.
I’ve got a couple of wonderful musicians backing me. Jillana is a great drummer who I met last year, and Elias is a fabulous pianist who can hear something once, and play it back pretty much note for note. I’m probably the weak link in this trio. 😉
Our music spans from the 1920s to the 80s, and all the tunes will be familiar to even non-jazz fans… I think… I hope.
The whole point of my Out for Lunch performance is to make our instrument’s rich history in the pop music of the day, accessible to everyone in the audience. Music appreciation classes not required.
I would have loved to be there, but it is a long way from Denmark :saxplayer:
I´ll hope you have a wonderfull event.
Bo
@Kumar & @Kev: Well yes, you do have a really good reason for not being there. The trip would be rather long, and although Vancouver is beautiful, winter is not the nicest time to see the city. 😉
@Larry-Cleveland: Gene doesn’t usually record them. I don’t know if anyone else will be or not. I know they’ll be photos taken though. Maybe we can get some video clips done if nothing else. I’ll see if one or the other of my friends that’s coming might do that.
@Mal-2: Mmm… :duh: Interesting spelling… I wonder if that was my typo or Gene’s. I’ll blame it on him, but I bet it was mine. :headbang:
Percusssion. Is that hitting three things at once instead of the usual two? 😈
Hope it goes well. I’d love to come, but it’s a bit too far.
Sounds like a great show…something I would do if it was wackier 🙂
Now you will be recording it (audio or video) for the rest of us fans that are over on the east side of North America?
Have fun!
Wish I could have been there .Just my luck to be born on an Island so far away .Would have loved to see and handle those horns ..Wish you have all success for your event .