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This Thing Just SCREAMS!
Skip’s Blog 3/10/09
Hello my fellow sax-surfers and welcome to SaxShed.com
and my latest blog. As usual, it has been too long since
the last installment. Life gets in the way of the internet
sometimes. :-)
Without further delay, let me tell you what news is news.
Theo Wanne has released his fourth large chamber mouthpiece
DURGA. This thing just SCREAMS! This piece works very well
for me and gives that beefy tenor sound many of us seek
out. It seems best suited for louder, more intense playing
but don’t be fooled. DURGA is a masterful piece of
eye and ear candy that can be tamed to play in more sensitive
situations as well. Read more about the DURGA and hear
some various clips here.
Next up is saxophonist and educator Fred Lipsius. Many
of you may know Fred as the original sax player with Blood,
Sweat and Tears. Others know Professor Lipsius from Berklee
College of Music in Boston. However you know Fred, it is
likely you are not familiar with his digital artwork. Recently
I was made aware of his new website fredlipsiusart.com.
There are some fantastic images displayed on the site.
Words can not explain the imagery so do yourself a favor
and visit here.
Drummer and Rowan University faculty member Jim Miller
has released a compilation CD aptly titled Miller Time.
Saxophonists and Philadelphia’s own Ron Kerber, Ben
Schachter, Chris Farr and Denis Diblasio are a few of the
talented musicians who contribute to this project. Read
more here.
Equipment and G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) can easily
sidetrack any musician. What I mean to say is that time
spent experimenting with different equipment is time taken
away from routine practice. All that said, the distraction
sometimes comes as a welcome diversion from a mundane practice
routine. In recent years I have had the opportunity to
try out many new saxophone and woodwind products with varying
degrees of success.
One very promising new product line is the Virtuoso line
of saxophones by R.S. Berkley. Recently at the NJMEA Annual
Convention in E. Brunswick, NJ, I had the opportunity to
see and play the Virtuoso saxophones. Thanks go
to Les Silver of R.S. Berkley for his hospitality at their
booth. Tim Ries of the Rolling Stones and Maria Schneider
Big Band is now their prime endorser. Tim was at the booth
doing a live demonstration later in the day which I was
not able to attend. L I look forward to offering a more
comprehensive review of the horns offered in Gold Plating,
Matte, Silver, Black and Gold Lacquer finishes.
Under “Tools in the Shed” readers can find
some new posts on transposition and other topics. The tools
have been a popular destination on SaxShed.com and many
of you have asked about transposition and other pressing
saxophone topics.
New transcriptions continue to be written and samples
posted. There are at least three new samples posted, featuring
Steve Cole and Nelson Rangell this month. The transcription
service is advertised but not the completed transcriptions
themselves. People interested in the complete transcriptions
should contact Skip at SaxShed.com.
The last note here has nothing to do with saxophone but
my own indulgences – primarily skiing, woodworking
and connecting with old friends.
This Winter my wife, kids and I spent a weekend skiing
in the Poconos. It was the kids’ first time and my
first in 22 years! Eight hours of skiing later I found
myself still on my feet. Everyone said it was just like
riding a bike. Sure was. Now I’ve got the ski bug
again!
Woodworking remains my only distraction from teaching,
playing and practicing saxophone. Returning to the music
studio, just behind my garage shop, feels fresh every time.
It’s great to have a second, creative outlet just
as Fred Lipsius found in digital art.
With the popularity of reunion sites, networking and social
sites it becomes increasingly easier to find old friends – or
for them to find you! Happily, I have once again connected
with many old pals in cyberspace. High school, college,
road and musician friends and acquaintances are now plentiful
online. Thank you Cyberspace!
Stay well and play well.
Skip Spratt
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