How To Play Sax In A Big Band

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

►►Transform your sax playing with my FREE one hour SAXOPHONE SUCCESS MASTERCLASS→www.getyoursaxtogether.com/masterclass

[@Islendingar]

Amazing piece of Count Basie and what about some others like Louis Armstrong or Glen Miller ? I know they lead with their trumpet and clarinet respectively but have some killer pieces that they’ve recorded. I’ve done some of the Glen Miller as a clarinetist, In The Mood, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Pensilvania 6500, Bluebirds in the Moonlight & Begin The Beguine are some of my favourites, especially In The Mood as I got to do a bit of Eb work on it with the set up the Dumbarton Division Youth Big Band had at the time. Magic artists and wonderful songs that need to be played listened to and passed down so they are not forgotten ….

[@robertosion6099]

BRAVÍSSIMO!!! THANK YOU! ROBERTO SION, PROFESSIONAL SENIOR SAX PLAYER FROM SAO PAULO

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks!🙏🏻

[@w2tty]

I played second tenor in a big band in the 80s. We played some Basie tunes. This brings back such memories. Thank you Jamie.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Glad you enjoyed this! 🙏

[@JayCee-hw4zc]

That's fantastic Jamie. I watched this video a while ago and again just now and it made more sense second time around. This could be because I now find myself play second alto in an amateur big band. So thankyou for those tips. Also I used to be that person who never took or wanted to take a solo. This was because I was never any good. Whatever I did sounded at best boring, at worst terrible. But today in a public gig I did it. And I think I did alright judging by the MD and a couple of audience members. Interestingly how that happened is this. The piece is Ja Da and the 2nd alto part starts with flute.About 3 weeks ago the MD just said outright and matter of factly, that at bar 51 I would do a 16 bar solo, and then she moved on to her next topic. No chance for me to comment, complain, make excuses or object. Sometimes when someone lays down an expectation, you just have to step up. (And shut up lol). But your tips are helping me to better understand my role. So thanks once again.👍

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Fantastic! Well done. 👍🏻

[@maudschlich6331]

Your tips are so valuable, thanks a lot, Jamie. It also helps to better listen to the music.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Happy to hear that!

[@rontiemens2553]

Brings back memories. Playing sax in and leading a big band was one of the funnest things I have ever done in my entire life.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@JayCee-hw4zc]

Sounds like you could tell a few amusing stories. Go on then. Would love to hear all about it.😊

[@HahnJames]

I love this sound. As a soprano sax neophyte, I don't know that I'll ever play in a band. My biggest problem is that I'm visually impaired. Sight reading is an impossibility. Dealing with sheet music, I use a magnifying glass, memorize it note by note then, play from memory then, go back and memorize some more. Rinse and repeat.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

I'm impressed with your diligence. Keep it up!

[@gordonhardwick5151]

A wonderful explanation of the essentials of playing in a BB sax section. The bit on the Bari's role was most useful to me and it's really helpful to know what Sax Section Leader really should be doing!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🙏

[@dcp8nts]

I love how you adapted that vintage sound. Bravo Jamie!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Many thanks!

[@paulrothbart244]

Great video, Jamie! I play in a local big band. I played second alto for a while and have been playing lead for the past three years. These tips are incredibly helpful. I'm always working to improve every aspect of my playing and your videos boost my knowledge and ability.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Cool, thanks!

[@ninabrigita]

Thank You, Jaime. Very instructive. And we play Count Basie in our big band this year👍🎶🎷.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Great. Enjoy it. And SWING it!!

[@LuanneFose]

Bravo, Jamie! Excellent instruction! I sent this to all the members of our Big Band sax section to review. Thank you!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@robstevens9590]

"Count Jamie's" sax section! Interesting insight!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🙏

[@mpbraendle9621]

Great video that makes the roles of each saxophone player in a big band sax section clear. Because bari has a quite different role, I would have loved a word by you about sound.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Sounding great Jamie!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks Nigel (LK - Jamie's assistant!)

[@g-moneyg-money5042]

Morning Jamie, absolutely fantastic and useful. I'll take the lesson into my next band practice. God bless and keep up the good work.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks and good luck!

[@noosweat7022]

As always Jamie, you never fail to disappoint. GREAT DEMONSTRATION..

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

I appreciate that! 🙏

[@Andy_Miles]

Some great tips, thanks Jamie

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@robinreidmusic]

Good one! Your enthusiasm is always contageous. Congratulations!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks so much!

[@mztee761]

Extraordinary arrangement.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks Teresa!

[@espr7564]

Thanks, a very good tutorial 👍🏻 beautiful phrasing Jamey, reverb a bit over the top.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🙏

[@haroldwaynejackson7880]

Super tight. Super content. Bravo!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🙏

[@iffa70]

Another great video Jaime!!! You are truly a talent!👏

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

I appreciate that!

[@smudar47]

Hi Jamie. I'd like you to make video about "Grease" horn saction by Franck Valli. Thanks.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Noted

[@gordanpopovic8334]

Nice insight! Maybe an overkill but I think it would be great to hear what is every sax doing alone...

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🙏

[@1947DRA]

Hi Jamie, Great video -- again! I play in a sax quartet. Do these "guidelines" apply to a stand alone quartet as well. FYI we play light classics, American Songbook (a la Hollywood Saxophone Quartet) and some "traditional" pieces. Thanks -- stay well.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Yeh for sure!

[@joelaffolter2392]

Thanks for the good advice it's exactly what you need to know, do, and be aware of. The problem arises when the section is led by a soprano... Already to my taste it sounds less good, and in addition the soprano is often wrong with the intonation and does not have the same 'punch' as an alto.If you force the phrasing and the sound it's not good, if this instrument is not played straight, it doesn't work. Moreover it is in Bb and the altos are in Eb... that's why very often it is bad.🙁 The basic idea is not good anyway, the soprano, is a solo instrument but not to 'pull it' (my opinion). Let's hope that saxes and especially big band coaches take note of this valuable advice. Thank you very much!😀

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🙏

[@olivierherment1188]

Very interesting

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Cool, glad you enjoyed it!

[@ph2738]

When I was doing pandemic home recording projects where I played multiple sax parts, sometimes the guitar parts on sax, I was stymied by vibrato. Couldn’t keep the group’s (just me) vibrato in sync, so I either minimized the vibrato, or only had lead alto carry all the vibrato. But vibrato was thicker in the Basie era. You seem to manage to keep the vibrato in sync between the parts for the most part on the half notes. But you didn’t mention vibrato issues in your video.

[@ph2738]

Here’s an example. Minimum vibrato, as rock style dictates. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnjIgKyLmdKCq9k

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Yeh there’s always too much to mention in every video! I wasn’t actually doing vibrato at a preset speed - just intuitively doing what sounds good. There is a “thing” about matching vibrato in a more Glen Milker style sax section, but I’m not so sure the Basie band do that. I’m not even sure it sounds that good with perfectly matched vib. I prefer the “soup” you get when everyone is doing a similar thing but not in sync.

[@johnsaliba7191]

Just what the doctor order, thank you .

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@couchphotography8861]

Hi Jamie, thanks for the great tips, tops, taps, ha ha. Spent the most miserable time trying to fit into a big band when I had been playing for just over a year. Was forced into doing concerts, so boy did I have to learn quick! The first tune I got to learn was the Tango by Astor Piazzola. I found that playing the alto was so confusing, because you never got to play the melody on anything, and being an ear player, that is what is in my head! Wish you (or someone like you) had been the band director. He got fired in the end for being something of a bully. I knew I was done when I heard him say: "Nice note reading, Kathy" at the end of a miserable sounding solo with no soul at all from one of the members....aaargh!! On a different note, one of your videos (of course I can't find it) shows you playing with a nice harness on, which looks really comfy, it was around 3 weeks or so ago. Where did you get that please? Cheers, and thanks, Julesxx

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Here's one: www.amazon.com/Protec-Saxophone-Harness-Trigger-A306M/dp/B00AF40QAU Here's another: www.amazon.com/Neotech-Harness-Swivel-Saxophone-2501162/dp/B0002E1NS2?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER They are available at all your online music stores if you don't want to use amazon

[@couchphotography8861]

@@GetYourSaxTogether Thankyou so much Jamie!

[@chalkbunt81]

Thanks for your " ticks", Jamie. Now I have Lyme disease. Lol

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

ha-ha!

[@ph2738]

Oh. 8:16. “*Tuck* up the whole section.” I had to listen to it again.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@lawsofvibrations]

What happened to it should have had a Sax solo series?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Next one coming out on Sunday July 24!

[@mnkcisnerosmarin]

5:07

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍🏻

[@darkofc]

👍👍

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

😊

[@johnskamnakis2501]

It seems like Henry Mancini listened a lot of Count Basie before composing Pink Panther's theme

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Everyone did I guess! 🤣

[@DavePollack]

It's saxophonist, NOT saxophonist

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

You say tomato and I say tomato! 😁

[@couchphotography8861]

@@GetYourSaxTogether Ha ha, big bands seem to bring out the Sunday nitpickers don't they??

[@sparkshot289]

Also, when it's not your turn to play in a rehearsal, DON'T PLAY. PLEASE. Looking at you, Phillip :|

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Omg, why didn’t I mention that? That’s band rehearsal 101.

[@maudschlich6331]

And.... Do not chat 🙄