I happened to stumble across this video on YouTube this morning and was blown away by this alto player. I think this video has the potential to reshape what we think of older—especially older women—saxophone players.
Although the audio quality isn’t the best, the woman’s talent and mastery of altissimo and split tones still shines through. There is something Sanbornesque about her playing…
I wish I knew who this nameless woman was. Unfortunately the poster of this video didn’t post where this video was taken. Clearly it was shot in a church. But where? And what’s this woman’s story?
Have you ever wondered what you’re going to be doing when you’re in your 60s, 70s, and 80s? Are you still going to be playing sax? What kind of horn are you going to be playing? Where are you going to be playing?
As I’ve been going through my parent’s things over the past few months, and moving my things into the family home, I can’t help but wonder about my later years. Nothing makes you face your own mortality more than sifting through a lifetime worth of a loved one’s stuff.
This church lady gives me hope. There is music after the age of 65 for women. I think it’s a bit like being a bass saxophone player: You just have to make your own work.
Fortunately I still have a lot of years to go before I need to worry about that. However, thank you dear church lady for giving me hope for the future!
