Category: Interviews

A Conversation with Blue Lou Marini

Blue Lou MariniCatch Blue Lou Marini if you can. This veteran of the New York saxophone scene has been consistently in demand for nearly 40 years with no signs of stopping in sight. Best-known as a member of The Blues Brothers, and original Saturday Night Live Band, multi-instrumentalist Marini has carved out a career for a who’s who of popular  music. He has performed and recorded with a range of artists including – and certainly not limited to – Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Steely Dan, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and Frank Zappa. Marini’s many television and film credits are well-documented however many may not realize Blue Lou has arranged for and played with many of the big band greats such as Woody Herman, Stan Kenton and Doc Severinsen among others.

Lou Marini was born in 1945 and later attended North Texas State where he was a member of the famed One O’Clock lab band. Following a few years and a failed marriage in Texas, he moved to Manhattan’s Upper West Side in 1971. The rest as they say is history.

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Wolfe (Tayne) Taninbaum

Wolfe Tayne is a legendary name among saxophone mouthpiece manufacturers, professional musicians and entrepreneurs in the music manufacturing business. The same Wolfe Taninbaum – now 90 years old – had an illustrious career playing in the studios and sound stages in New York during the Big Band Era of days gone by. His seven-year tenure with Les Brown's Band of Renown is well documented. However, he also shared the stage with big band greats Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Doris Day and the studio orchestras at NBC and CBS. His self-starter spirit has seen him envision and develop companies including Wolfe Tayne Music Studios, Wolfe Tayne Mouthpieces and BARI, Inc. – all the while maintaining a place among New York's finest recording musicians dating back to the 1930s and 1940s.

Wolfe Taninbaum, a native of Mt. Vernon, New York, has been living in South Florida for nearly 30 years. He still resides in Ft. Lauderdale where he enjoys a "boring life" among other retirees. In June of 2007, Wolfe Taninbaum lost his wife Sylvia to a long-term illness. He and Sylvia were married for almost 67 years and shared many successes as well as challenges along the way. His feelings of loss were still raw at the time of this interview but Wolfe Taninbaum continues to move forward. He still seeks to help others with mouthpiece facings and the search for the perfect mouthpiece.

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Sal Lozano

Sal LozanoSal Lozano is one of the most sought-after saxophonists and woodwind players working in Los Angeles today. Equally comfortable in the theater, studio or on stage as a featured member of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Sal’s presence has become somewhat expected among section players in Los Angeles. Although his name may not be familiar, this native Californian is one of the most recorded woodwind players in recent years. During the past three years, his visibility has increased with his weekly contributions on the hit shows Dancing With The Stars and American Idol.

In addition to his commercial success, Sal Lozano remains a wonderful jazz soloist, serious woodwind player and of course – trained saxophonist. He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, San Diego Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic.

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Bob Mintzer

Bob MintzerBob Mintzer is a consummate musician. – player, teacher and composer who enjoys many different styles of music. Put simply: he just feels lucky that he’s able to do it all and doesn’t see that changing for quite a while – something sure to make his legions of fans very happy.

Many Saxophone Journal readers will instantly know the name Bob Mintzer. Whether you have played his charts for big band or enjoyed the  recordings of  The Yellowjackets,  you’ve likely heard his music.

With the release of a new CD called Old School New Lesson he sat down to talk about his many years in the business, his playing habits and his experience playing with some of the jazz greats.

For pictures and a comprehensive discography, visit bobmintzer.com .

 

 

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Dino Soldo

Dino SoldoSaxophonist and multi instrumentalist Dino Soldo is first and foermost an entertainer. Not content to fade into the background while on stage, the energetic performer can be found along side pop-great Lionel Richie kneeling, jumping or even rolling around the stage adorned in his trademark pork pie hat.  Despite his showmanship and outbursts on stage, Dino is a force to be reckoned with on the saxophone. His critics may cynically refer to him as “Superstar” but this largely self-taught saxophonist is truly worthy of more attention. If you’re not familiar with Dino Soldo, you just haven’t been paying attention.  In his own words, “ I’m the guy that most people call when they want to do a TV promo. If they want to go on to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, they give me a call. If they want to hire a quick sax player for any daytime show like Wayne Brady, Sinbad, Martin Short or Rosie O’Donnell, usually my phone will ring.

Soldo’s newest offering, Balance, is an all instrumental album. It follows his first two vocal releases, Strange and Beautiful and Thread. Balance, as the title implies features both his funky, soulful saxophone playing as well as the hypnotic sound of his chromatic harmonica.” I think it’s the first saxophone and chromatic harmonica album. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it’s the first one that has ever been done. “

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Tom Scott

Tom ScottMulti-instrumentalist, saxophonist and composer Tom Scott is an icon in the music industry. Just mentioning the name Tom Scott conjures up many musical recollections unique to each individual’s experience. For nearly 40 years he has collaborated with a veritable “who’s who” of the entertainment industry.

Perhaps you are familiar with the sound of his Lyricon or one of his twenty-six solo recordings. Maybe it is his one of his many film scores such as Conquest of the Planet of the Apes or even television music he has composed and performed. Tom has composed and conducted for countless television shows such as Family Ties, Starsky & Hutch as well as The Academy, Emmy and People’s Choice Awards.

Although his music has permeated television and film over the past few decades, it’s more likely that saxophonists recognize his work as a sideman. As a guest recording artist, Tom Scott has appeared on more than 500 recordings. His most familiar solos are likely on the hits Carole King’s Jazzman, Paul McCartney’s Listen To What The Man Said, Rod Stewarts Do You Think I’m Sexy and Whitney Houston’s Saving All My Love For You.

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