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Bob 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 .

Saxophonist 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. “

Multi-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.

Several years ago – actually almost 20 years ago – Michael Paulo appeared in Atlantic City with pop and contemporary jazz superstar Al Jarreau. While attending the concert at Trump Plaza on the Boardwalk, I had the opportunity to become acquainted with Michael Paulo’s stellar saxophone playing and endless energy on stage. Following his performance with Al Jarreau, Michael sat in with my group during a late night jazz gig at the Sands Casino, also on the Boardwalk. It was at that time that I REALLY had the opportunity to hear him stretch out! He played only a couple tunes with the band, but I still remember listening in amazement. After playing my obligatory 3 or 4 choruses on Thelonius Monk’s Straight, No Chaser, Michael ensued on his musical journey into the blues. In laymen’s terms I had “it” handed to me. Mr. Paulo was nothing other than a true gentleman with a boatload of talent and chops. My respect for the player I saw already burning down the house with Al Jarreau went up threefold.

Michael Paulo has been playing pop, soul and contemporary jazz since the late 70s. This was the time of Grover Washington, David Sanborn and Michael Brecker who were all early influences on him while growing up in Hawaii. The prodding of one of his early teachers almost had Michael attending The University of North Texas, however it was not to be. At age 19 Michael instead chose to tour and record with the popular band Kalapano from Hawaii. The Hawaiian Pop/Rock band had a following in the U.S. however enjoyed even greater success in Japan. His choice to tour instead of continuing formal study cleared a virtual path for him to travel for decades to come.

Lon Price has the distinction of being the creator of one of the most memorable saxophone solos of the 1980s. The L.A. based saxophonist recorded the infamous solo on Al Jarreau’s We’re In This Love Together more than 20 years ago. His signature alto saxophone sound can be heard on the Breaking Away album of 1982 as well as Jarreau’s prior recording, This Time, released in 1981. Following his stint with Jarreau, Lon’s saxophone playing was in high demand and he was well on his way to becoming one of “the cats” in L.A.

“I had a good track record for playing solos that were highly regarded in the industry. I was nominated for a Grammy MVP award that year. Breaking Away went to #4 on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts and Al Jarreau won the Grammy that year for Best Jazz Vocal,” he told this interviewer.

In addition to his solo work with Al Jarreau, Lon has worked with a long list of entertainers including Barbara Streisand, James Cotton, REO Speedwagon, Ziggly Marley, Patti LaBelle, Aaron Neville and even The King – Elvis.