I'm on StereoTimes...

Finally found the article, no wonder I didn't see it, it was right in front of me!

Enjoyed the article, look forward to more, keep us posted.

Thanks Adam, Corazon, Charles 1 dad.
That moment in time was really special. As I said in the article...as a fledgling player, hearing Miles Davis do Chromatic Scales was kind of an epiphany. Who would have thought (at that age) that guys like him had the 'basics' down so well.
Now, as an old guy...I recognize that that's what makes any player a good player.

Thanks for reading it...

Larry

Very nice article, Larry. Nicely written and really exudes the reverence and admiration that you have for the music.

****hearing Miles Davis do Chromatic Scales was kind of an epiphany. Who would have thought (at that age) that guys like him had the 'basics' down so well.****

That's one of the most misunderstood things among non-musician music lovers; particularly jazz fans. As you know it is common to think that the great sounds produced by the great players is mainly the result of spontaneous inspiration; their Muse. What is misunderstood or overlooked is the endless hours of "woodshedding" and listening that these guys put in, in order to develop their sound and perfect their technique. That kind of discipline and focus on the "basics" is usually associated with classical players. Jazz players work just as hard on developing the kind of control that will allow them to create very individualistic sounds, with the added challenge of knowledge of harmony.

Best of luck with your writing. Where's the alto playing at these days?

Frogman,
Thanks so much for reading...as well as the kind words.
Funny...at the ripe old age of 34, I took lessons again, after not having done so for 15 years...I took them from a master teacher, world renowned actually.
God, I loved to play...made lots of money, again starting at 13 years old for my first paying job...then thru HS and college and for some years thereafter.
With the advent of canned music, live music became less in vogue long about that time...I quit and then the Sax (Selmer Mark VI...aka the best Alto in the world at that time) became a decoration, lying on a table in my formal living room. Seeing that as some cosmic blasphemy, I decided to sell it, so that it could make music again.
Funny thing...people talk about Strads, whether they sound different and such...well, at age 18, I traded my old horn, a Conn (middle grade piece) in for this Selmer...I remember that day so vividly.
The owner of the local music store was almost legendary to me...I'd heard him play from the time my first 'squawk' and it WAS a 'squawk' came out of my horn...playing something that Paul Desmond had played...sounding really damn close...anyway...the day I bought it, put on my mouthpiece, did a couple of warm up licks...I stopped and asked him...'Is that me playing'? The reason?
It sounded so good, I could hardly believe my own ears. So...when people make comments about the relative sound of a Strad versus contemporary violins I can only extrapolate my Saxophone experience and imagine.
So...Frogman, again, thanks for the kind words...hope you'll stay tuned into StereoTimes...it's a good publication.
Larry