Sax food for thought

[Wailin']

Are most if not all great saxophone (horn players) products of "silverspoon in their mouths" so to speak? Miles Davis father was a dentist to name one. Let's face it. Saxophones are very expensive, not to mention accessories. Lessons and books are even very expensive when they add up. I'm not stating that all good players grew up in well to do families. However, it would appear that having access to the afore mentioned ingredients is a good advantage over some kid that is talented but cannot really afford those items.


Holla back

[bariman]

I think that is the first time I have seen something written down that had a sentence that started with "However...", and then the whole thread ended with 'Holla Back'. Amazing.

[Flower Power]

Don't think so...I believe sax to be relatively cheap.
You have to pay about 3.5 k$ for a new bandoneon(!).
AFAIK good Harpsichords are hard to get for 5k€.

A cantor I know (I sing in a choir) has a 14 year old daughter and she plays
violin...and she is *very* good at that! Now he has to invest another 10 k$.
No not for a new violin...she needs a new bow. :shock:

Well, i can get more than one good sax and a couple of lessons for the price
of that violin bow....

[paulwl]

Coleman Hawkins grew up in a culture conscious middle class household in St. Joseph, Missouri. His dad worked for the electric company. His first instrument I think was the cello! Then he branched out to piano and saxophone (pretty early I think - before the great sax craze anyway).

Charlie Parker's mother cleaned houses, but she "spoiled" Bird. She made sure he had whatever he wanted, even tho they could only afford an old used alto.

Gerry Mulligan's dad was an efficiency expert, a prestigious white collar job, and moved the family from place to place. The traveling life obviously didn't faze Gerry. I forget how he got started playing pro, but it was at a young age, and thru his arranging.

Stan Getz' old man was a clothing worker. There was never a lot of money around.

[gary]

Are most if not all great saxophone (horn players) products of "silverspoon in their mouths" so to speak?
No.

Forgive me, but do you really not know the answer to this question?

[kevvieg]

Since when was Miles Davis a saxophonist?

Anyhoo, for the best information on how Gerry Mulligan got started, read "Arranging the Score" by Gene Lees. Gene was a close friend of Mulligan's and he writes with great insight. I have enjoyed all of his books and wish he would write a Mulligan biography.

[HC]

George Gershwin (yeah, I know, not a saxophonist) learned piano by fingerning along player pianos. Didn't get a piano for a while. His biography in "Gershwin plays Gershwin The Piano Rolls" is very interesting.

[jazzbluescat]

I imagine the ole timers and a many of us came from pretty humble beginings, starting on, then making a piece of cheap crap sound like Sounds from Heaven. Good equipment is necessary but most of playing is upstairs, in your head.