Wisdom from Chris Potter, Joshua Redman, Branford Marsalis, Mark Turner, Ben Wendel

Saxophonists Chris Potter, Joshua Redman, Mark Turner, Michael Brecker, Ben Wendel, Myron Walden, and Joel Frahm discuss players who've influenced them.
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Thanks to the providers of the videos referenced in this episode! Check out their full videos:
Joel Frahm clinic
• Joel Frahm Masterclass
Mark Turner at NYU
• Conversations with Mar...
Michael Brecker interview
• Michael Brecker 1996 I...
Branford solo with Sting
• Sting - Branford Marsa...
#chrispotter #joshuaredman #saxophone

[@bobreynolds]

⬇ Download my 7-T Jazz Practice Pyramid-A one-page map to creatively organize your practice time-FREE at jazzpracticepyramid.com

[@JensLarsen]

People called Jens ask really good questions! 👍🙂

[@ReileyWilliams]

Was it you?

[@JensLarsen]

@@ReileyWilliams No 🙂

[@aaronservice86]

when I saw that name I was thinking holy shit dude Jens Larsen

[@JensLarsen]

@@aaronservice86 It's actually a very common name in quite a few countries in Europe 🙂

[@aaronservice86]

@@JensLarsen True That, I've watching a bunch of your videos lately and made that connection in my head, I knew it probably wasn't you but here you are in the comment section. Pretty trippy if you ask me.

[@Saxologic]

Great video! And thanks for crediting my footage of Joel! I endured a very sore shoulder for that one.

[@bobreynolds]

you bet. you caught a great session with Joel.

[@BerniesBootlegs1]

SOLID CONTENT

[@joedessauer]

26 mins have never passed so fast, could have been an hour long and I'd have watched every minute, and I'm not a button pusher!!

[@CRjrs]

This is like a visual essay, and I love it.

[@LilieFu]

I am a violist. Even though your videos are mainly geared towards saxophone players, your videos help me think about and practice music in ways I was never taught. Also, I enjoy the way you edit your videos. Thanks so much!

[@bobreynolds]

Thanks, Lily! That’s wonderful to hear.

[@idletimeproductions4956]

I'm not a musician but I can't stop watching this.

[@shaddjimenez4524]

You might already be one

[@bettersax]

Great video Bob. Hope to see more like this with clips from other top players...

[@thomaschambers7952]

I feel exactly the same way about that Branford Marsalis solo on 'Roxanne', it's just wonderful!

[@QuamonFowler]

That's a great question! Everybody's viewpoint or disposition is different. I loved Joshua Redman playing in the 90's but I don't sound like him. :) But I did study who Joshua studied like Sonny Rollins for instance. You can hear Sonny in my playing more so than Josh. I studied Branford a bunch and do have elements of him in my playing too. I guess in the attempt to trying to sound like our sax heroes we discover our own sound.

[@bcmsax]

I hate that I have to stop watching this halfway as I’ve to go play for a wedding! But the second the horn goes away, I can’t wait to jump back in! “Geometry of Jazz”...Wow!!!

[@UkuleleAversion]

Inspiring stuff. The way Joshua Redman described his first time hearing Sonny Rollins on Saxophone Colossus is how I felt hearing Brad Mehldau on Art of the Trio Vol. II for the first time.

[@teddypantelas]

The first time I heard Brad I felt an imidiate connection. I saw him in his early years w Joshua Rodman, Christian McBride and Brian Blade. What a band! Never hearing him before his piano playing caught me and has ever since!

[@katerinabreaktheloop7565]

You are such an incredible player, I heard that sax solo of yours on ' I don't need no doctor' and I couldn't do anything but listen to it all the time. Gives me a New York mood, i don't know why! I'd love to see a live in Greece, Thessaloniki!!

[@george7864]

This is the best video on KZbin right now

[@rodriguezsax]

So happy to see that Sting/Branford video. To this day I watch it at least once a week. So so solid.

[@juancpgo]

Sonny Rollins did a really moving interview a while back, where he was retiring because he couldn't physically play anymore. He said his playing never really got where he wanted it to be. I mean, WOW. For Sonny Rollins, of all people, who would come to mind as either 1st or at least top 5 of the most inventive and high-skilled players ever, to say that!? It first blew my mind… but soon, I thought: “well, of course”, because that is the type of personality that achieves those highs. A person that, no matter where they are, always has a greater high in their imagination, it's always beyond, beyond, beyond. I think it's a spiritual quest, it's like you want to tune into the mind of God, in terms of sheer boundless aesthetic spontaneous creativity. You wanna be able to “speak aesthetics” 100% fluently.

[@shaddjimenez4524]

I always come back here to rewatch this, it’s my favorite video from your entire channel. Lots of important content.

[@joecoolsax1]

Hey Bob, thanks for all these great videos. I’m an older (much older) player relearning the sax for the past 2.5yrs. I played about 5yrs in high school, then ended up serving in the military and lost complete touch with playing music. I’m sure you’ve heard many similar stories. Anyways, I am more passionate about getting better at the sax then I have been about anything in my life. It’s honestly been overwhelming trying to get to a level I want to be. I came across your vlog last month and can’t stop watching them and found them very useful to help me figure this out mentally. I’m brand new at finding all these great sax players to listen to and get ideas from. (Again, overwhelming). But I have slowed things down recently and spend most my time improving by enjoying my present level of play, which in turn is making me a better player. I’m actually not sure exactly how, but I believe your videos have helped me to do this. In closing my favourite influences at this point are Sonny Rollins, King Curtis, Brecker , Stantawn Kendrick and more recently this guy you may know Bob Reynolds. I’ve got so much I could ramble on about but I really just want to say thank you and keep up the great work. Influences keep us all moving forward to improving our own play.😎🎷

[@bobreynolds]

Wow! Thank you, Joe. Enjoy the journey and remember it's never too late--and, as I constantly say to my virtual studio members: go slow and impose limitations on your practicing. limitations set you free!

[@joecoolsax1]

Now that’s a very cool and interesting thought, thank you

[@bcmsax]

If/when you get those doubts or worries in your head as to the direction your path of music is taking then this video is a one size fits all remedy! 💯🔥

[@royalcitysax]

One of the BEST LIVING jazz sax players who unfortunately wasn't mentioned at all: RALPH BOWEN !!!

[@george7864]

I love how you dressed just like mark turner for this video 😂big ups love your playing

[@christiangarcia9245]

I’m a guitarist and I’ve gotten tons of great ideas from Sonny’s ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’ Amazing solo!!!

[@teddypantelas]

Really nice presentation. It doesn’t matter what instrument one plays there’s a lot here to take away. Being a guitarist makes it even more interesting!

[@TysonGraf]

I think it's important to also keep in mind that there are many great jazz improvisers that never transcribed. David Binney, Mick Goodrick, Stefon Harris, and Gary Burton are a few musicians that come to mind that have explicitly said they never transcribed other peoples solos. And these are some of the most profound improvisers alive today.

[@HB-ve4wi]

Add Chris Potter to the list. It's all about ears for him.

[@TysonGraf]

Difference between Chris and the other guys I mentioned is that Chris learned solos from records.

[@hemanthkamana1886]

It’s confusing though, some people did and some didn’t but they still were amazing

[@bobreynolds]

there are no rules. do what works for you.

[@TysonGraf]

Exactly. When I studied with Mick Goodrick he talked about not learning other peoples solos, and then when I studied with Mike Stern he talked about how he transcribes a lot. With that said, I think it's important to note that when you listen to Mick improvise you don't hear any licks, but when you listen to Mike you hear a lot of licks. Just heard this interview with John Scofield, and in the first 2 minutes of the interview he says he never played along with records. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHK6l4F5l7mXjdE

[@billiongenius]

The Geometry of Jazz - like that!

[@derekakien7379]

Bob. Your best vlog by far. Nice splicing. Listen, listen, listen - get it in your subconscious. What will come out in your playing will not be Getz, Rollins, Redman, etc. It will be . . . . Bob Reynolds.

[@TheSkinDoctorCSGO]

I dunno how I missed this one before, but I absolutely loved this video, great footage. Thank again for all you do, I am so grateful! 🙏

[@lu0nline]

You wouldn't know Bob, but as 2018 comes to an end I cherish the absolute fondest memories of listening to your music both alone and with loved ones during this year. Thank you for your work, soon there will be tens of thousand saxophonists saying the same things those giants were saying about their idols, but it's going to be about you. Happy new year!

[@juanpablocaro9871]

Just found this video almost by accident. Immediately subscribed. This is pure gold.

[@paulpasicolan3839]

What you're doing with these videos for the Saxophone/Musical community is astounding, Bob. Thank you so much for this post & for what you give to us. Absolutely solid content. Happy new year & God bless you & all our musical endeavours.

[@ziruini5071]

you never fail to inspire and compel me to think about music and the saxophone in a different way with your videos

[@thebasstown]

Love this video so much. I'm a bass player and still find this super informative. Tnx for the upload!

[@annachaimusic]

Gold! This was a super eye opener to how we can learn directly from the greats, simple really but you laid it out so clearly in this vid. Thanks Bob!!

[@JulianFernandez]

There´s Chris and there´s everyone else.

[@saxnova]

Yep.

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

Lovely, Bob; so true.

[@koho]

Great vlog (as they all are), comes to me at a good time. Trying to progress on guitar. The way Bob talks about Chris Potter and his ideas mirrors my view of Tom Bukovac. I'm also really enjoying learning from Bob's SP colleague Mark Lettieri.

[@normanlovesirsaxalot2991]

This is a great one! interesting, unique to hear the individuals perspective.I began transcribing- coping cats solos at 15.Painstaking, frustrating, girl sacrificial( ha)- later Confidence builder. Rewarding! Somehow intuitively I knew this would take me from a boy to a man on Sax.Transcribing was not THE thing as it is today. Jamming, transcribing, listening, are of course essential to developing the conception, technique, vocabulary neccesary to be a great or good creative improvisor. the ear training from SOLO HIJACKING also aided me in quick song learning on gigs, hearing parts instantly...etc..etc..

[@LilieFu]

Wooten Woods footage! ✌🏽my home away from home 😊

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

You’re not lost…Keep going🎵🎶🎷

[@sp4gsus]

I went to art school and i took a class called american jazz history now mind you this was a music history class in an art school. basically the professor was playing jazz music for us and talking about it (probably dumbing it down for the most part) and the one thing I remember him saying is that jazz is not the choice of notes that are played, it’s more HOW they are played. That made a huge impression on me as I matured as a musician.

[@7crooney]

Learned a ton just by tuning into your vlogs. Thanks for being such a free spirit in your sharing Bob!

[@nicholascurran4290]

This is an amazing video, with fantastic resources. Thank you for your dedication to education.

[@sorenfuhrer401]

thats pure gold! thank you so much, Bob!

[@scott7695]

Great stuff Bob and don’t worry about the length. Good content is good content no matter the length. I actually enjoyed the longer video!

[@bobreynolds]

that's where i finally landed. seemed silly to trim more just for some arbitrary idea of keeping it short.

[@apolloguitars]

Great, great vlog! Applies to any/all musicians. I'm a guitar player and loved this. Saved to my Faves list. I almost didn't listen b/c it was titled "Pro Sax Talk". So glad I didn't pass this one up. Thanks for sharing this and for all of your vlogging. Cheers! - Chris

[@bobreynolds]

good point. there's gotta be a better title that captures it. ideas?

[@apolloguitars]

@@bobreynolds 👍Maybe similar, but more general? "How musical/musician heroes influenced the sound of these pros." Anyone else have ideas to throw in the ring?

[@willwarick7758]

This is great! I was just trying to find information about this sort of stuff!

[@spike1652]

I’ve got a quick question. Seems like all of the greats play lots of tenor, some soprano, and a little bit of alto. What role does baritone sax play in your life as a Saxophonist?

[@DojoOfCool]

That was a great vlog so much great insights. Like what they said you want to play like you need to listen to who listened to. Most important as was said you will never sound like because it goes deeper into their life experiences coming out. So much to learn from this video, thanks for making and sharing it.

[@alejandrosax7094]

Very interesting questions and reflections about playing saxophone.

[@ed.z.]

Absolutely phenomenal video, Bob. Very informative and generous. Thank you.

[@tracyolivermusic]

This is a great vlog Bob! Interesting to hear the thinking of great players.

[@bassocanario]

This is one of the best vlogs you've ever posted! Thanks so much👍🤗

[@miles-178]

yea, that solo of joshua in roxanne or a soprano sax solo in little wing (on sting´s 80´s album) is astounding

[@michaelbutler9005]

That's not Joshua Redman playing Roxanne. It's Branford Marsalis

[@davidsmusic]

amazing Bob, greetings from Germany! :D

[@turkeystreettom]

Love this Vlog, thanks Bob

[@Bebopopotamus]

This is my favorite video you've made yet, Bob. Thank you so much.

[@Vicnsi]

I will watch and re-watch this video many times; coz to listen to You, Joshua Redman, Michael Brecker! Branford Marsalis, et al., effusing about past giants like Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, etc., Wow, Magic!

[@SidLaw500]

Great video! I love hearing people talk deep shop music. I don't play sax, but I study everyone for pleasure and to add to my game...I love'em all but Mobley's the guy I've taken the most esoteric things from.

[@ashthebash66]

Great video. I always wonder why David Murray doesn't get more of a mention. So unique.

[@thebreathalyzer]

Absolutely wonderful. Excellent.

[@tinajackel]

Cool video! Thank you so much for sharing- i have to get back to practicing...🤪

[@jazztranscriptionssax]

Thank you!

[@LawrenceHaberMusic]

Great video Bob, so much to check out! A lifetime of inspiration.

[@k.scotsparks9247]

EXCELLENT!! And LOVE what you said about time and tOne!! To preach to the choir a bit: This issue of what one CAN and CANT do - simply - is often a sophistical matter, right? [see Plato's critiques] Shouldn't we, as a ?? 'jazz subculture,' dilate on the poetic and/or personal contribution 'dimension' far more than we tend to? In a 'post-technological' age, we lean heavily toward a kind of reduction kind of missing Art's poetic imperative - largely by evading the music's necessary vulnerability to ensure a kind of 'security-via-pure-imitation.' Our related tendency to value things primarily by per se ?? dexterity seems problematic. (This is largely why 'jazz' is filled with incredibly well-skilled clones - 'dutiful voicelessness,' maybe). As always, certain sensibilities float to the surface (somewhat in the way that the great personal watersheds of the music did - the Booker Littles - Tranes - Joe Hendersons - Waynes - Woody S.'s - etc. etc.) did. REMEMBER MONK: Often pretending to be half-spazzed-out, technically; of course, he was UTTERLY both himself and Geniusly so!! (..again, genius of time and touch - vigilant sense of self within the Value-AS-Vulnerability nexus, right?). Sonny's EMBRACE of Vulnerability is another example. Woody's CREATIVE vigil in not sliding into classic bop-ism, etc. etc. When we MASTER transcribing we can be doing one of two things: making ourselves in another's image so as to refuse to give the world one's necessarily individual perspective - OR - engaging authentically individual contribution so as to find one's own version of the same. : ) (This thing that Mark T. mentions re W. Marsh is way too often lost, via the false security of a mainly-archivist approach in study. Granted - again - I'm preaching to the choir. Peace and Love. (THANKS for all you so tastefully do - and Happy New Year!!) kss

[@henryholt1359]

Thanks Bob really great blog!

[@DaveBrazierSax]

Really great video. Thanks Bob.

[@DanForshaw]

Brilliant Vlog, thanks Bob & Happy New Year!

[@bobreynolds]

thanks, Dan! same to you. :)

[@RBC2_]

Great stuff. Nice way to end the year !

[@GuillermoCarrasco]

The freedom to play what you are thinking and the ability to do it beautifully, musically, on time. It has to do with the way you talk, the way you walk and so on...imho

[@GuillermoCarrasco]

Each solo must be a composition in order to reach that ecstasy...

[@EdSpargo]

Jeez that was great! I didn’t want it to end. :)

[@idolewensberg3843]

amazing- this video is masterpiece!

[@zqa12swx]

Potter selecting Three Little Words from Rollins... says everything. That's one of his greatest.

[@fredjacksonjr.4422]

The Geometry of Jazz. Wow! That’s it

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

Inside/Outside 🎵🎶🎷

[@ryanpetersonguitar]

Awesome video. Thank you.

[@maximo.01]

This is amazing!! Thanks!!

[@jazzbrew68]

Great video Bob.

[@Nicko0123456]

Hi Bob, I have an issue that’s very saxophone related and I’ve been asking everyone I know and getting not much helpful advice. I’ve been going through a crisis in terms of creative inspiration and also struggling to like how I sound on the sax. Creative inspo crisis: everything that I listened to growing up and when I was learning to play through college just doesn’t inspire me anymore. And I don’t get inspired by any of the local musicians (I’m Australian so we don’t get many international musicians come in.) To put it simple, nothing inspires me and I’m scared this means I’m done being a musician. Saxophone sound: so I’ve played a late period mark VI for the better part of the last forever and while I do love it, I’ve always known it wasn’t the horn I wanted to have, I always wanted an SBA simple because there is more that the SBA can do. The sound is what I’m after and everyday when I practice and record my practice, I can heart sound quality improve.... but it’s just getting further away from what I want to sound like. Since you have both, is it worth changing my horn? Is there any other way I can get the sound of an SBA without getting rid of the horn I’ve grown attached to?

[@josep-oriolmirocogulcellod2736]

Really interesting and inspiring Bob!!!

[@marselmusic]

YES best mashup in history (:

[@studbagl]

Thank you for this video

[@MabookaMabooka]

Loved this. Never ask easy questions please! :)

[@miles-178]

yea, i´m your fan ... also a fan of gary novak that you play with . but i miss mentioning eric marienthal in this video (although he probably´s got his own style that he evolved )

[@gen_music]

Fantastic

[@leowright8016]

Thank you for sharing 🎶🎶🎶🎷😎

[@NiltinhoSoares]

Great video

[@sergioropo3019]

Nice job.

[@ericfricke4512]

This is fantastic!

[@josephsudlersr.7854]

Check out Joe Henderson one of the all time great Invaders and master of the tenor sax

[@stilo2703]

Chris "you know" Potter

[@YMESYDT]

Hey Bob, would you do a video on Sax for non sax players? I want to learn about how to work more specifically with saxophones (and other horns) in a professional context, but I’m a guitar player.

[@hahabass]

Did you say how you discovered Chris Potter? I'd just heard of him vaguely, but visited some of his streamed stuff and I'm blown away. So, how did Potter come to your attention, if you didn't say so in this clip? I was actually trying out my new 2 5 1 lick bass book, as I watched you, strangely enough. So, I may have missed your answer to my question. Thanks in advance.

[@brianmatthews232]

what a great topic :-)

[@desmondbarrett3575]

2:26 lol named so many besides coltrane aha

[@jazzmorgan859]

Yeah Coltrane sucks

[@KiraPlaysGuitar]

@@jazzmorgan859 "Sucks"

[@taigasugimoto632]

Hi Bob, love your music and your videos. I always wondered, what are the differences in skill between a top college band like the UNT One O Clock Band, Berkley's Big Band etc, and a currently running proffesional big band like the Count Basie Orchestra, Bob Mintzer Big Band etc?

[@NathanSMadsen]

This was an excellent blog, Bob! Very inspirational! Also I'm signed up on the mailing list for the Inside:Outside retreat. I did have a question - since you play so often with live bands, how do you handle hearing protection? I've used in-ears monitors before and know that sometimes you have to just deal with it but in other situations where those are not being used, do you use any kind of hearing protection? I have some of those molded musician ear plugs that I've used in the past but I also have to get used to how everything (including myself) sounds with them in. What are your thoughts on this, especially with live (and often very loud) settings? Thanks so much! - Nate Madsen

[@danon668]

Hi Bob! How about Michael Brecker? Thanks

[@darylchadwick5564]

When is your virtual studio opening again? When is your Power Hour Book coming out? i watch your videos daily and would love to get to work on your materials.

[@michaelbenoit9240]

9:27 that white dot is the video yall not your new monitor

[@snookerbg]

As a non musician who is in love with jazz in general and listening to musical technical terminology in particular, I always have one question: what do you realy *mean* when you say music is telling a story? Of course, instrumental music can bring emotions on the basis of associations, memmory etc, but am I missing something? Would love some deliberations on that topic

[@kingdubmealljelly4983]

I'm not sure saying music tells a story is the best analogy, because it does tell a story, but it is far more abstract than words can describe.

[@FCntertainr]

In Jazz the goal should be to tell a story within the format of the piece be it original or another's piece if music. They story must come from the improvisers life experiences regardless of training, technique or approach. The masters have their own thing as Bird said it has to come from your life or it won't come out your horn!

[@snookerbg]

@@FCntertainr my question is more along the lines of: how does musical harmony correspond to what we call "story" in everyday language? A (rather crude) illustration of what I mean is: can two musicians literally talk via their instruments? As in: you play to your buddy "I'm hungry" :)

[@vasilis_tzeve]

@@snookerbg You obviously can't communicate to another musician in the sense of "i'm hungry", but it's like another level of communication, it's spiritual, mental. And the concept that music should tell a story, as far as i understand it, has to do with what the performer thinks when playing. If they are trying to tell a story based on their experiences, then the audience will also relate the music they're hearing with their experiences. I don't know if i really answered your question.

[@snookerbg]

@@vasilis_tzeve yes, you kind of did. so basically, it comes down to the fact that music relates to and denotes human experience (like language), only it does so from another angle and so can reflect me tal states that language can not