“Symmetrical Brutality” for Solo Baritone Saxophone

Here’s a small video of me playing one of my works. Y’all seem to really enjoy it and I want to encourage more people to try it out and play it!
Please leave any and all feedback in the comments, I appreciate it all!

[@carbondiam]

that's some s l a p p at the beginning lol. As a bari player I always loved listening to this piece, really glad to have a proper version like this!

[@djhoward4766]

Listening to you play this after hearing the program's go at it reminds me why saxophone pieces are best listened to from an actual performer, phenomenal job! My favorite part is definitely the section with constantly changing time signatures. Reminds me why I'm getting back into music! Keep having fun with it man!

[@MrNick89571]

Have to agree to that.

[@karichigi4999]

Fr tho

[@megavidaeos]

It sounds so good being played by an actual person. Imagine a studio recording of this.

[@baribbenson531]

To see someone actually perform this is so cool and all of the pieces you make are just insane

[@jzonda415]

Bari B Benson Thank you for your comment 🙂

[@vivid_raz7087]

the high vibrato on bari is insane

[@russellward7086]

Been waiting for this one for a while! This gives me a much better idea of how this piece should be played

[@maxwellmckinley637]

Senior goals be lofty.

[@bazicomnificence5969]

My mind has officially been blown. I had debated whether to go on to study flute or saxophone, but you have definitely decided that for me. I need to know how to do this.

[@nichelodeonband]

One of my favorite recordings on this instrument

[@KadrianThomas]

Wonderful playing bro, good vibes.

[@PandaGaming-ex3ie]

Love the growling part. Keep it up!

[@marcogonzales8477]

Nice job man! Awesome arrangement and performance by you! I really miss playing sax. I played tenor and bari throughout middle and high school. Really makes me want to get my tenor fixed asap and start playing again!

[@user-un1po3np9k]

yk this piece is so cool my friend is playing this for his solo for a contest

[@jzonda415]

Hope the best of luck for them!

[@declanjmusic]

I’ve been working on this for a while, the first solo I’ve tried to do since I started playing bari (I main in bassoon), and you did a phenomenal job!

[@jzonda415]

Declan Johnston Thank you! Keep up your work on it!

[@Matthew_Rilea]

You are the 2nd Person who plays bari and bassoon, not including myself. its so cool

[@BigSlappaman]

Once I get my hands on a Bari, I do wanna learn this

[@bloodyscalp94]

Really love the (presto?) solo around halfway into the video and the overtones. You're good.

[@jzonda415]

Thank you!!

[@pablodavi7256]

FINALLY!!!!! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR SO LONG

[@Icannotdonothingtochangeit]

I love it!!

[@reversesaxay5869]

Anyone else think this would be a great tenor and bass sax duet with them playing the same part do it's just octaves

[@AriannaCunningham]

Wow! Your Bari Sax playing was outstanding!!!

[@aidanryan4301]

2:05 All of the sudden, I'm getting halo flashbacks

[@kylestryker7645]

I played this for an individual and ensamble competition, I received a score of 95 and was top of the woodwind division

[@jzonda415]

Congratulations! I would love to hear your recording if you have it: [e-mail]

[@kylestryker7645]

@jzonda415 I wish I had one, unfortunately and it was me and bro in the room. But thankyou so much

[@Simon-dy7op]

You can play very good and you look really nice,... I like your videos really, thanks for that

[@jackstott8134]

You great tone man🤙 the growl tho

[@omkarpatel7907]

wow.

[@deturgio5353]

I'm playing this on trumpet! I transposed the key to Bb! Thx for this cool peice

[@jzonda415]

Deturgio You’re welcome! Post a video once you play it!!

[@deturgio5353]

@@jzonda415 lol, I'll try

[@deturgio5353]

@@jzonda415 transposing to trumpet is harder than I though, I'll just stop

[@BigSlappaman]

Deturgio It shouldn’t be too difficult. If you move all of the notes up a 4th, it should be playable for trumpet. Or worst case scenario, you just play it as written in a different key

[@ThatGuy-lv7ov]

Hey if it ain't too late man, keep trying. I'm transposing it to be played on bass clarinet. I just found it cause bass clarinet solos are either impossibly fast, require techniques I can't do and have no tutorial, or boring af. Bari solos are some fun stuff

[@tallikimanimusic7127]

Amazing

[@damiandori9351]

that growl tho

[@MarioGomez-wv7cw]

Damn, this is really cool, maybe i try it l8r

[@pablodavi7256]

Now its time for Bari Bassic Blues!

[@cerys2977]

bless

[@elizabethvirrueta2752]

My son found this song and he is the eight grade trying to perform this song for his class

[@jzonda415]

Elizabeth Virrueta Best of luck to him!

[@tiansaxo]

Nice composition

[@jzonda415]

Thank you!!

[@beigehere]

Hi! I'm playing this for a recital at UNT in a few weeks, I was wondering when you wrote this piece and your year of birth for the program? Sorry for the weird question lol, just want to make sure you have all the due credit for this awesome composition!

[@starvingtuba]

i really like your reed graveyard on your stand

[@saint.everett]

The piece is quite genius, using elements from classical music and even elements from busking artists suck as Leo P. The only problem is, it takes a very able player to perform.

[@jaxsonbrowning3019]

I hardly think it's a problem. it creates drive to be better to be able to play it.

[@saint.everett]

@@jaxsonbrowning3019 absolutely, i just think the combination of new age saxophone techniques and classical technique need to be relatively mastered

[@otydal6973]

I see you with the AL3 mouthpiece

[@hampter2407]

It would be a bl3 for bari

[@carbonatedtomato4793]

No way

[@skyrimking4098]

What strength reed did you use to perform this piece?

[@jzonda415]

skyrimking 409 This was a Rico Reserve 4.5 for this recording. I go between those and Vandoren Blue Box 4’s.

[@mackenzieferguson4874]

tips on how to do the growl thing? would love to attempt this just have to know how to growl first

[@jzonda415]

You can get a good growl a couple of ways. One way is to hum/sing in the back of your throat, strong enough and at a pitch different than the note you're playing. Another method is to do somewhat of a gurgling in the back of your throat. This is the way I first did it and is much, much easier/responsive, but now I primarily hum as this method is rather gnarly. Either way, you'll need to produce the "growl" sounds in the back of your throat, regardless of which method you do. To practice this, you should try practicing doing the sound without your saxophone. Do either method with your hand in front of your face and try to see if you are blowing enough air. If you think you are, try it with your saxophone. I hope that's helpful; if not, ask me any more questions you might have. I haven't thought about it in years, but I remember by watching KZbin tutorials and just experimenting.

[@coltinyounger7912]

What were the fingerings for the altissimo notes played for this

[@jzonda415]

For this: G#: 1 3 4 +side C (+G#) A: 3 4 5 6 (+G#) B: c1 c2 + 3 (+G#) The G# is optional but it lets my hand sit in a comfortable position and can improve intonation/stability on several upper notes

[@brodylambert5812]

Hey any tips when for transposing to tenor

[@jzonda415]

The most important thing is just making the notes feel right. I would honestly transpose the Bari version up a half step and just read from that (so Bb would be the lowest note). So you’ll have to play a little higher in altissimo but it should work well ergonomically.

[@CT_-pt8jx]

Joshua Haugen that’s exactly what i did and once i got to altissimo it was certainly the right choice lol

[@BigSlappaman]

Joshua Haugen I mean there are techniques to allow a low A on Tenor. My personal go-to is keeping my tongue on the reed and bending a low Bb down to the A

[@cilantro5221]

What mouthpiece did you use for this?

[@jzonda415]

Vandoren Bl3

[@alemonterot99]

Is it normal if I starts headbanging ???

[@jzonda415]

Ale Montero It is encouraged

[@amyh.691]

Hi Joshua, I emailed you a Vimeo link about which I am eager to hear your thoughts. Many thanks, AM Hoch