[FawltyTenor]

Was enjoying some of Billy Drewes playing on Toninho Horta's Moonstone over the weekend, I love his tone, melodic conception, expressiveness and personal style. Another player I haven't seen mentioned a lot here (maybe I've missed), wonderful and distinctive wind player.

I don't have a lot of his recordings, but have heard him with Lovano, Bill Frissell, Lyle Mays, etc. Any other recommendations? I'd like to find some more!

And if anyone has any good stories about seeing him live or at a clinic, love to hear about it too...

Shawn

 

[BariSkaJazz]

I took lessons with Billy during my junior and senior years of high school. He is a very humble, warm, inviting person and was always trying to make my playing more musical whether it was a blues head or Bach.

Billy's the man.

 

[bstrom]

Really nice soprano player, one of the best I've heard. He played in some of Herb Pomeroy's bands at Berklee in the 70's, he was great back then.

 

[silverselmer]

I just had a class with billy about four hours ago! He is definitely a really cool guy and a monster soprano sax player...everything he plays is so original and creative that it amazes me every time I hear him.

Don't have any super cool stories but a cool fact is that he plays a 10* tenor mouthpiece with 5 reeds on alto sax...monster chops.

 

[13020]

I love his alto sax contributions to some of the Bill Frisell & Paul Motian sides...interesting about playing a tenor mouthpiece on alto...I've heard of lots of folks using tenor reeds on alto, but not the tenor mouthpiece too.