Vocalists hate this

[@Markperna1]

You definitely made a great first impression. You sounded awesome all night but, just as importantly, you were fun to hang with. I’m looking forward to the next time we get to play together.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh man thank you so much!! The feeling is absolutely mutual and I’m looking forward to playing with you again soon too!

[@Markperna1]

@@kevink8072 Mel’s Petit Cafe in Mount Lebanon. They have music regularly but of all genres. I played there with singer/songwriter Christopher Mark Jones a few months agoZ.

[@Phsta0102]

Yes please!!!

[@Jon-c2q5k]

It's just an age disparity thing too-- looks & smirks from older musicians are almost never meant to be patronizing; but the feelings of insecurity you can get from being slightly off can feel awkward! You rock!

[@Albatross-365]

7:00 "Welcome to the rehearsal" - nice one

[@FoolishFrankie]

LOLOL I know right that made me laugh😂

[@kchall5]

It's great to see you honing your chops and cementing your reputation in the musical community as a dependable, adaptable player capable of improvising on the fly. It's obvious you're fun to work and hang out with.

[@FoolishFrankie]

I’m trying my best😰 thanks for the kind words🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ofkhod3638]

I like how you also show your struggles because it feels good to see someone good having difficulties gigging lol, nice vid

[@FoolishFrankie]

There are pros and cons to everything!

[@robbertr1558]

Love your explanation behind your musical decisions. Great to learn from regardless of the instrument I am playing. 😁

[@FoolishFrankie]

Much love 🙏🏻

[@GabeShowNetwork]

so glad the algorithm blessed me with your videos

[@FoolishFrankie]

🥺❤️

[@JapanDriver]

"blessed"? Are you referring to the algorithm as a deity of some kind?

[@phillipsharring]

You weren't dragging, you were "laying back" lol

[@beastscooter]

Your lessons in safe sax apply in most all jam sessions; listen and learn, don't horn in (walk) on others, less is more, practice blues riffs in Db! Good tips, Frankie!

[@r0bophonic]

Frankie’s motto: “relax, don’t do it…”

[@captainreggae99]

The saxophone community is stronger and better because of you! Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

[@FoolishFrankie]

This is a huge compliment thank you❤️🙏🏻

[@wry6read]

Props for the cojones to record what's bound to be at least a little awkward. I'm sure others in the gig are happy to see a player who listens so well & does not assume it's a test of his "lead" virtuosity. Bravo

[@aaronhowardjudd]

Great playing man. Loving the honesty of your videos.

[@FoolishFrankie]

I appreciate that!🙏🏻

[@sarahjane6907]

Thank you for understanding and listening to the vocals. You're a breath of fresh air 😊

[@FoolishFrankie]

🥺❤️

[@MrGuto]

Nice job! Very enjoyable to see, hear your thinking process here. All you said is very sensible.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you very much!🙏🏻

[@lourayner6547]

you're such a thoughtful musician and I loved your intro to 'Young man with a horn' LUSH!!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much 🥺🙏🏻

[@grecoaj]

Awesome! I really love these videos of what goes through your mind on stage and this can be a real stressful setting! I hope you make more!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Much love🙏🏻

[@crankycorner16]

You're living the dream. Enjoy every moment. I miss the gig scene... but glad I can follow on yours.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Much love🙏🏻

[@crankycorner16]

@@FoolishFrankie 🥰 thank you!

[@GAMES.IDEAS.FUN123]

I don’t know how you do this every weekend. Major respect and I appreciate all your videos.

[@FoolishFrankie]

I play different music with different musicians so it’s never the same! Thanks so much for watching🙏🏻

[@erniebertuzzo8020]

Love these videos Frankie - Keep them coming!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you🥺🙏🏻

[@georgedodd7117]

Best advice I ever got given is play half the gaps when you’re with a singer. Really like your approach 👌🏻

[@FoolishFrankie]

True!! Thanks so much🙏🏻

[@slicksnewonenow]

When I was still performing, I hated it when the Vocalist was as flat as a board. And that's pretty bad, because I was the Vocalist. Anyhow... I'm going to compliment you and tell you that your tone and style really reminds me of that of Paul Desmond. Cheers

[@Jason-cm6uh]

Ya got balls to record this! That's a great place to start from youg sir. Keep moving forward and you'll have a great career. Have fun!

[@BearJwG]

Coming from a family of musicians and band directors i think your approach is spot on. My pops always tells younger sax players they are the tomatoes in the sauce, too much and it becomes tomato paste. This also applies to lead guitar. Great video!

[@JosiahZderad]

EPIC, SUPA EPIC!!!! I love ya saxy saxin'.

[@FoolishFrankie]

🙌🏻🙏🏻

[@kboyer1011]

Great vibrato at 5:56ish. So much of what you do is on the fly under pressure with musicians you don't know very well and tune you don't know. You da man, Frankie!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank youuu🥺🙏🏻

[@maverick_monkey]

Man, your “Young Man with a Horn” intro was _lovely_! (Wish I sounded that well up there on my alto🤪)

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you!!🥺🙏🏻

[@shmroadtrips]

well done - that's a lot of pressure

[@mickthemerciless9694]

They way you hold back is so impressive. You really make the sax sound like a clarinet at times. You'd be great to work with.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Much love🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@tommygun703]

Really interesting to see the gradual integration between you and other 'strangers' and the working to a common purpose of sounding as good as possible in a short period of time.

[@marshawnlynch6244]

This is one of the best Lead Guitar lessons I have seen.

[@hugovandermeer1566]

?

[@Xnopyt_VA]

@@hugovandermeer1566 I believe the commenter is saying that the approach taken in the video is a good lesson to learn and implement in Lead Guitar, not just horns.

[@mikedr1549]

Haha - I was just thinking how much easier we guitar players have it. Turn it up to ten and cram as many notes in there as you can while making poo poo faces! No need to listen to anyone in the band!

[@dunecampbell3996]

Wow, that seemed a bit stressful at times. Rather like walking into a large dark room and hoping you don't hit any furniture too hard, but you can't stop if you want to reach the other side where the light switch is.

[@T-Vivid-T]

Frankie, you're the best man, I look forward to getting as good as you one day and doing what you do and these videos really help! I'm a tenor player switching to bari so pray for my Bb to Eb transition lol.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for the kind words!🥺 oof that’s a rough transition but the more you do it the easier it gets!

[@FNBRVolts]

I went from clarinet to Bari, it’s not super bad. You got it

[@alanhirayama4592]

Very nice gig blog, thank you for sharing!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for watching!

[@jimbaxter8488]

Thank you allowing us to travel along!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for watching!!

[@wry6read]

Also that opening horn solo (Harry James) to the film "Young Man with a Horn" is worth a listen, and the movie's not bad - Kirk Douglas, Doris Day, Lauren Bacall, Hoagy Carmichael, Juano Hernandez as mentor to Douglas' one-armed ingenue. Very corny of course

[@joegriffithsmusic]

Playing with sax players? Nah, only kidding, loving the gig vlogs!

[@FoolishFrankie]

LOLOL that too!😂 thanks so much for watching it means a lot!!

[@joegriffithsmusic]

@@FoolishFrankie keep them coming! They are weirdly relaxing to watch haha and also is interesting how similar doing gigs are in the US compared to the UK (which reminds me, I have a bunch of songs to learn for Saturday lol oh no)

[@mattwong10]

love your vids, great stuff all the time! love these insights from the live gigs!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much 🥺🙏🏻

[@SomeSortOfCephalopod]

Ever hit a wrong note and it messes the vocalist up and you want to disappear out of shame?

[@FoolishFrankie]

Yes🥲

[@SomeSortOfCephalopod]

@@FoolishFrankie that makes me feel better

[@RobertVeasquez]

Great suggestions worthy of incorporating.

[@wwjdlightsaber]

I definitely appreciate you talking through your thoughts playing with a vocalist. I’ve recently started playing at church and I don’t have the theory background for chord changes etc so I mostly play by ear and try not to stomp on the other instruments. Thanks!

[@FoolishFrankie]

That’s a good way to play! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻

[@liamhemmings9039]

Fascinating.

[@bogdanfrincu3226]

love it Frankie, these vlogs are so much fun to watch for me

[@FoolishFrankie]

Glad you like them!

[@kerrykellett8717]

Blue Bossa was the samba I haven't played it since college for sure.

[@walktheworld]

You're a real pro and that vocalist is really good, too.

[@FoolishFrankie]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@gsvenddal728]

Good rules. I have a similar rule for backup harmonies.. unless it's supposed to be a two or more part vocal all the way through, leave the vocalist solo on the first chorus..

[@social_semiotics]

excellent advice

[@FoolishFrankie]

Glad you think so!🙏🏻

[@disiostudio1559]

You sound great. Remember that sometimes there's a double standard when the vocalist (usually the boss) also misses or sings some notes flat. Also, when musicians improvise over songs they don't know, they tend to play too many notes (e.g. run-on sentences) while wandering for the resolution of phrases without sufficient rests for better phrasing (I know, I make that mistake too often myself and it's a hard habit to break).

[@ukestudio3002]

2 days ..45 songs ! Wow..! I made a point of no music book and going to beginner jams about 12 years back. Fewer and fewer clams as months went on til I could back even original songs (keys unknown). Unfortunately reading charts now slows me down; takes "translating". You’re a brave soul.! I got nervous just watching .

[@DPaulLeDesma]

you did a great job

[@claytonpair1844]

Love watching professional musicians being abele to work through tough spots like this. I’ve had to work with mostly amateurs in my experience. Good Guys! But not able to communicate professionally when I get thrown into a gig like this situation. Where I know about half their set list.

[@jacksonboos7465]

Last year my freshman year of Highschool I had to play lead trumpet on blue boss’s still haunts me lmao

[@dwpaabluessong7645]

awesome sax player sir great accompaniment

[@Rhythmicons]

Excellent work man.

[@FoolishFrankie]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@luissdstuff6381]

Man, you did great jazz solos! So kool!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much!!

[@Abdul-rj4xt]

"His wife just had twin girls" "Ahh geez" Perfect response 😩😂

[@FoolishFrankie]

LMAOOO

[@kintorey1195]

Very good video, jazz is one of my favorite genres. Keep going Frankie ^_^

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you as always Kinto🥺🙏🏻

[@gittar]

I am not, by any stretch, a working pro. I play acoustic guitar and upright bass, jamming to swing, country, and bluegrass. I just wanted to let you know I follow your rule, less I best. I always lay back on the singer. If I'm in a group that is finding the groove, I might push out a but not overpower a solo break. If I have the break, less is best also. I try to leave enough space for fills.

[@nicktiberimusic]

Rick Gallagher! Great dude and player.

[@FoolishFrankie]

True!!!

[@ericvazquezsax_official]

Great stuff man love your vlogs!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Dude thanks so much for checking this out I appreciate it!!

[@daveyewart4289]

very good advice

[@19Lqueen17]

Funny how I've played a lot of time with vocalists in the past (and recently sometimes too) and what you did is exactly what I used to do most of the time. Not only, there's this recent gig I had where it was me and the vocalist playing the acoustic guitar only. We were playing a bunch of brazilian pop music and samba (I'm brazillian) and most of the tunes I've never played (some of those I've even listened or heard of) lol the vocalist didn't even bother givin me the full setlist (even if I've asked many times). He just send me those that I had to learn some famous solo or introduction (which were, obviously, the best ones i've played lol). He just started playing a song and whispering to me "Its in D major" or something like that. I often that find those are interesting moments to train your ear and your connection to the other player, and as the place we were playing were most background music, it was not so much of a problem. I think I managed to succeed (or I hope so), but not having the fullsetlist was really fearsome.

[@utbb2007]

You listen as well as you play and make it look easy.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks I think?😂🙏🏻

[@MacPakinga-gl8bu]

Cool man nice 👍🏼 🎷

[@StormOnMars]

amazing vid as per usual

[@FoolishFrankie]

❤️

[@RFDSAX]

Love these vids!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you man!!

[@jjostroff]

Love the content!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for watching!!

[@undercrackers56]

I was gigging an open mic night with a band I was in. Seconds before my guitar solo, this sax player jumped up onto the stage and took a two verse solo. The band didn't know what to do so we continued the song and left out guitar, but the sax player just continued playing over my vocals too. We never got inited back because it all sounded so crap. So clearly he and you are poles apart.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Oh gosh I hate horn players like that🥴 and then people will lump me in with them!! I try to not fall into that stereotype. Sorry that happened to you but thanks for watching!!

[@Skaterhomiespreeceville]

Please yall gotta colab with The Doo!! 🙏🙏

[@FoolishFrankie]

I’m down!

[@meticulouslytender8921]

I know this video is about the music.... but man those car seats are FIRE! is that an Audi? I need to know the model of car!!!!!

[@FoolishFrankie]

2011 dixon ticonderoga!

[@meticulouslytender8921]

@@FoolishFrankie I didn't realise you could drive a pencil 🤣

[@richardervins]

Now fast forward 50 years. Picture yourself as an older guy spontaneously playing in front of a larger audience together with some really good young dudes you‘ve never seen before… Well, that‘s my situation more often than I‘d like to tell. Sometimes I sub for a colleague who‘s a professional audio engineer. As an instrumentalist I can‘t help but to offer my assistance seeing that something is missing at sound check. That, of course, is asking for trouble. The kids seem to think that an older guy has to know just about everything. So they don‘t even tell you what the next song will be and what key they want to play it in. But they expect you to do the solo just in the right spot. 😁

[@Dally_Sparkles]

you make that look so easy

[@FoolishFrankie]

It’s not terribly difficult with enough practice!

[@noahs.627]

How do you keep time without a drummer? Just a strong bass player?

[@FoolishFrankie]

That definitely helps, but the time is everyone’s responsibility!!

[@normalizedaudio2481]

KZbin doesn't even let you take a full solo. KZbin sucks.

[@FoolishFrankie]

???

[@safvue1]

we all have been there

[@mrb145]

No B-Roll, I feel cheated. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@FoolishFrankie]

LOL half the time my camera falls over in the car anyways🙈😂

[@delarue3198]

Noice!

[@parthalanomuruchu9430]

Kate and Duplicate!

[@CraigFranklinmusic]

Good Job

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you!

[@spootersply181]

Hello Mr franky the foolish, How would you practice rhythmical soloing? I never really had a long term teacher and I learned improvisation through learning bebop and stuff so a lot of my solos lack rhythmical elements.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Pick one note and try to groove with a recording, don’t worry about the notes or making the rhythm complex even. Just try to groove!

[@jorymil]

Freshman year of HS for Blue Bossa? Lucky duck. Maybe it'd be cool if people actually articulated it like on the album, but they always play it legato.

[@FoolishFrankie]

You know what’s funny is I went back to listen to that recording after this gig and realized I wasn’t playing it anything like the recording😂 I haven’t checked that out since then, and I had only been playing saxophone for a few months so my ears couldn’t heard the difference! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻

[@travlak]

I hate it when horn players noodle around on top of the vocalist. I’ve heard a pro describe that the horn should fill in the melody of the vocal line in such a way that, if you put them together, it would make a single melody line.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Me too, that’s a good rule of thumb!!

[@M00nkat55]

I think you did well

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you!

[@stepangreenberg8429]

Hey man! What setup do you use to film your performance?

[@FoolishFrankie]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpKWkIB9jsRonbs

[@Skibidee]

What neck/shoulder strap do you use? I'm looking for a new one that isn't so straining on the neck.

[@FoolishFrankie]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpKWkIB9jsRonbs

[@mscman13]

What sax case do you have? Didn't see it in your links.

[@FoolishFrankie]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpKWkIB9jsRonbs

[@andysmith6156]

Yes, too often, and I've played with some of the very best, 1 toured with Albert Collins and Toto, the other was in Muscle Shoals with Jerry Wexler, and I can't tell you how many times I had to tell one of them I'm not paying him by the note, to relax and play less. It really gets annoying at times. LAY OUT LAY OUT LAY OUT I always say, the song is a conversation so listen more than you speak. I really could go on and on about this topic but I'll stop at that. OH AND ONE MORE HUGE THING. Buy some extra reeds and please change them when needed. There is nothing more annoying than a sax that plays out of tune.

[@GlenFalconer]

Frankie did they tell you the drummer also had twin boys called Tom and Tom?

[@FoolishFrankie]

Boioioioioing

[@endriopires]

people usually do gigs "without knowing" what to do? like improvising or anything? It seems so unattainable to me

[@FoolishFrankie]

No we know what to do, we’ve just never done it in this exact configuration before!

[@emigoolovescake212]

Low pressure…… casual… right

[@FoolishFrankie]

It’s all relative!

[@JulianFernandez]

nice

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks!!

[@rodrodriguez460]

Major issue- rehearsing during the gig.

[@FoolishFrankie]

do you really know enough about these musicians and this gig to determine if it's a real issue?

[@rodrodriguez460]

@@FoolishFrankie Yes. I've gigged for at least 48 years and an All-Level Music Educator for 40 years. I know the workings of gigging with new players for the first time and the egos that try to control. I learned early on to keep the mouth closed and the ears open; things happen! It's stressful to play this type of gig, especially worrying about getting fired on the spot. That's an issue.

[@jazzbo1000]

Does this vocalist have a book with his charts? if not it could tirn into a cluster f 3:22

[@eddielathum8405]

i can just hear all the corny dad jokes in between the numbers

[@duck_irl]

0:06 What app are you using here?

[@FoolishFrankie]

iReal pro I think

[@jaharachowdhury3379]

Been making a lot of alto and I want to see tenor

[@FoolishFrankie]

I'm more of an alto player sorry!

[@s.j7423]

at 0:53 anyone know what the reference is? eric sumn soundboard?

[@FoolishFrankie]

Lmaooo Eric DeFade was my saxophone teacher in high school who also has played with this group. He’s known for witty one-liners followed by scarily accurate sound effects lol

[@s.j7423]

@@FoolishFrankie hahaha. i feel quite silly, my Google history is filled with attempts at finding who this was

[@AKA_DirtyBird]

do you prefer tenor or alto saxophone?

[@FoolishFrankie]

Alto

[@DWHarper62]

@@FoolishFrankie You have a beautiful tone for Alto... almost tenor like! LOL

[@jamesmitchell6925]

0:33 what’s with the nostril shot?

[@FoolishFrankie]

I want to show my good side

[@knowledgeofthepast7650]

What’s the song @4:25?

[@davedaspade]

Blue Bossa

[@knowledgeofthepast7650]

@@davedaspade thanks!

[@robbiegallagher7821]

The saxophone and the human voice operate around the same frequencies. You sound great as a sax player,my compliments! But please let the singer tell his story. "Complementing" a singer‘s lines often results in a clash within those frequencies. (Two stories being told at the same time) After the singer has told his story,the saxophone will have ample opportunity to tell its own story. In my opinion, if you played 50% less than what we’re hearing in this video, -it would sound nicer -the lyrics would have more space to resonate -the audience could focus more on the story being told by the singer I know the sax sounds upfront because of camera/microphone positionning,nevertheless,the issue is not "volume" but,rather,the "amount of melodies" being played alongside the singer’s own melody. Hopefully these comments will come across as positive and constructive,aiming to be beneficial to the collective and not detrimental to the individual. Ciao!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you! I left out all of the parts of me not playing for the sake of keeping the video short. I think if you saw the uncut performances you would see I’m doing exactly what you’re saying. Thanks for watching!🙏🏻

[@robbiegallagher7821]

Thank you for clarifying the "uncut performance" situation. I enjoy not only your sax playing but also the way you chronicle your experiences as a working musician. May you encounter many blessings on your Journey.