1 comments about Movie Songs by Special Arrangement: Tenor Saxophone.

1. This book is markedly better than many of the "play along" books I have purchased for alto sax.
   First, the books are aimed only at alto sax--not at a hodge-podge collection of instruments. This means every page of the book is useful to the alto sax player, unlike some books where music for other instruments takes up large portions of the book.
   Second, Strommen has created arrangements that have the "basic" melody in the first half of the song followed by melodic riffs/alto sax solos in the second half. The arrangements are targeted for alto sax and are put together to get a full and interesting sound. This allows a novice or intermediate player to sound like a "real" saxophonist instead of someone who is stuggling through a barren and uninteresting melodic line.
   Third, the accompanying CD is excellent. Even numbered tracks have a trio made up of percussion, piano and a REAL alto sax. (This is compared to many other CDs which have the piano or bells playing the sax part.) Odd numbered tracks leave out the sax so you can play along. In all tracks the piano and the percussion are arranged to support the sax so again you really feel and sound like a saxophonist.
   Strommen has three books that I know of that are all produced in the same style--a movies book, a Gershwin book and a Christmas book. They are all excellent in my humble opinion. If you are looking for an alto sax book that has sound musical values, is playable by a novice/intermediate player, and will make you sound AWESOME then these are the books for you!

No comments about Stan Getz - Bb Tenor Saxophone.

1 comments about Ernesto Nazareth Songbook 1 (Classics of the Brazilian Choro) (Play along songbook and cds with music scores and complete solos) (2 CD set) (Spiral bound).

1. I am not usually a fan of play-a-long CD's, but this music really works. You get the choice of playing along with a professional Choro player or with the fun, kicking accompaniment by yourself. The nice thing is these are real musicians who don't necessarily play just what is written, especially on the repeats, so you get the feel of playing something real. The book is nicely printed and is spiral bound so the pages lay flat. This is not for beginners, but if you are a pretty good intermediate player and can play the full range of your instrument, you can get around on these pieces.

No comments about Mel Bay's Saxophone Wall Chart.

2 comments about That Moaning Saxophone: The Six Brown Brothers and the Dawning of a Musical Craze.

1. > Why should anyone want to read a book about a once popular vaudeville act that almost no one today remembers? My question exactly when I saw a copy of Bruce Vermazen's "That Moaning Saxophone: the Six Brown Brothers and the Dawning of a Musical Craze" (Oxford, 2004). I gave it a try and found it fascinating reading.
   
   
   Of course, I am most interested in the history of American music. And while the actual story of a certain Saxophone sextet act is not in itself totally engrossing, their story is the story of all vaudeville acts that had their glory days and finally were squeezed out of existence by something called the motion picture. Indeed, the final chapters almost brought a tear to the eye as the Brown Brothers (well, not exactly the original six by any means but the act that went under that name) found the market for their incredible talents become more and more restricted as they had to share billing with films because so many of the old vaudeville houses had converted to movie theaters.The summary of the book on this website provides you with many details covered by the author, so let that suffice.
   
   
   The 214 pages of text are followed by many more of notes, discography, and two indexes. A must read for anyone interested in the never really Good Old Days of live performers who could not survive the march of science in its most commercial aspects.



2. I am currently studying the history of jazz in grad school at Dartmouth, and nothing proved to be more informative or inspired than Vermazen's book. Read it. It is a key resource for best understanding this American cultural entity. Not only is it beautifully written, but "That Moaning Saxophone" inspires one to read, cook, drive, and relax to the sound of the sax and jazz. Looking forward to Maestro Vermazen's next insightful piece, and impatiently awaiting it's coverage on NPR, Kevin Ramos-Glew

No comments about Standard of Excellence: Book 3 : E-Flat Alto Saxophone (Standard of Excellence).

No comments about Step One: Play Alto Saxophone (Step One).

No comments about Standard of Excellence Tenor Saxophone Book 2.

2 comments about Masters of Jazz Saxophone : The Story of the Players and Their Music.

1. good photos, good write-ups and pretty extensive, but while including many young, up-and-coming players, it neglects to mention one, who is hardly "up-and-coming" any more and most certainly among the most important modern players, namely, Kenny Garrett. Having been playing since he was a teen with the Duke Elington Orchestra, he moved on to the likes of Art Blakey, Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis before going out on his own. His albums have gained world wide acclaim (Pursuance, i believe, got best album one year in Down Beat). Most important is the fact that practically every alto player these days is trying to sound like him. For that kind of impact he should at least be mentioned.



2. Tony Coe,s picture is on the cover yet there is nothing inside about this ex Clarke-Boland sideman who was the first non American to win the Jazzpar("Jazz Nobel") prize and
   played the tenor sax solo on most of the Pink Panther films
   plus plus.Also missing is British Nigel Hitchcock who can
   blow anyone away.
   Although an acceptable coffee table book,
   it is defective for the above omissions plus.
   Perhaps it,s all down to the well known British cronyism!

No comments about The New Best of Wayne Shorter: Artist Transcriptions - Saxophone.