On Saturday 21st February, twenty saxophonists met in Bracknell for an improvisation workshop with renowned multi-instrumentalist, Justin Swadling. For many of the Sax Bandits, me included, this was a first venture into any type of soloing/improvising, but Justin’s approach was perfect for newbies, as well as those with a little experience under their belts. WhileRead more
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When it comes to improving as a saxophone player and improviser, practising ‘licks’ is one of the most valuable things you can do. Working on a bank of ‘licks’ is a fantastic exercise for players of all levels, both technically, and creatively to develop a musical vocabulary. Licks vs Patterns So what exactly do weRead more
I was incredibly honoured and genuinely excited to be asked by the director of Sax Bandits, Rob Digweed, to be the guest soloist for one of their songs at their recent performance at Wrde Up Festival, near Swindon. It was a real pleasure to play with a band of 85+ saxophonists at a public gigRead more
Improvising a solo over many different styles of music shares a number of common themes and approaches, however, there are some basic concepts that, for me, are especially important for pop music. These are my guidelines to ensure you match the energy and the musical narrative of a track instead of following strict rules thatRead more
Three years ago, I hadn’t ever played an instrument… This year at age 63, I married my partner of 22 years and played the saxophone along with a jazz band at my wedding! How on earth did this happen?! I’ve always loved music but I never had the opportunity to learn an instrument when IRead more
Twenty saxophonists turned up at Sunningdale Village Hall on a rainy Saturday in February. It was quickly established after quick around-the-room introductions that many of us had limited experience with ‘playing by ear’ which helped quell some initial nerves. Our friendly saxophone guide, Hannah Horton, had sent out some materials before the workshop, two songsRead more
I hadn’t played much jazz in my three years of playing the saxophone but a post on the Sax HQ Community page about a ‘jazz jam’ caught my eye. It looked like a good way to try something new and develop my skills… It was an older post but when I commented on it theRead more
Arriving for the Snake Davis workshop, I was nervous. Being in the presence of such an esteemed musician, let alone playing in his company was seriously daunting (check out his wiki page for a full list of his credentials). The venue was great, easy to find and ample parking. I had a hot coffee uponRead more
OK, so it wasn’t an actual “date” with Chez but on a dismal Sunday in January I was one of a lucky bunch of sax enthusiasts to participate in both Chez Taylor workshops organised by Sax Bandits; the first covering three iconic 80s Sax Solos and the second looking at how to Solo Over DanceRead more
