The Backstory Behind Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek"
This morning, I was practicing Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek" on alto sax, and I realized two things: 1. I don't know anything…
Why A Strong Ethical Foundation is One of the Keys to Good Musicianship
It's impossible to build lasting long-term working relationships with people that you don't fundamentally trust, and that includes when I'm working with myself.
Starting the Lifelong Process of Learning Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust"
Jazz standards lay the foundation to becoming a great musician. For example, Charlie Parker had the entire American Songbook memorized in all keys.
The Philisophical Wisdom of Charlie Parker's "Repetition"
Abstract: On December 21, 1947, jazz alto saxophonist Charlie Parker recorded "Repetition" as a guest soloist with Neal Hefti's orchestra. We know little…
Episode 3: The Blues Sax, Hank Crawford & David Sanborn (Details)
My favorite saxophonist of all time is Charlie Parker, but both Hank Crawford and David Sanborn are very high up on my list.
Episode 2: The History of Cannonball Saxophones (Details)
I don't play Cannonball saxophones currently, but they've always held a special place in my heart because Cannonball is an American company based…