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Can't we all just get along?

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2.3K views 12 replies 11 participants last post by  Chris Mickel  
#1 ·
So a month ago, I get the call to perform the tenor saxophone part to Bolero with the Ridgefield (Connecticut) Symphony Orchestra. Tom Gorin, who I know from waaaay back when, is called in to to play the soprano part. During some of the non-Bolero rehearsal times we spent some time shooting the breeze, talking about our backgrounds, etc. Tom who sounded terrific on his vintage Buescher curvie with original Buescher mouthpiece, some may say of a certain school that plays that equipment, was telling the story of a time much earlier in his life, and he utters the statement, "I had no idea what I was doing! For God's sake, I played my senior recital on a Mark VI and a Selmer D mouthpiece!!! Can you believe that??"

After we rehearse the Bolero, we're swabbing out our horns together, and Tom turns to me and says, "Man you sounded great! What's your setup?"

"Selmer Mark VI and a Selmer D" was my reply. :bluewink:
 
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#3 ·
Just goes to show that equipment has an intimate relationship with the player's natural tendencies and tonal desires. One man's wonder-product may be another's garbage.
 
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#5 ·
Oh, the enjoyment that is often derived from complete irony.
I love it.

But to be in accord with differencetone, the setup does not make the player. The player makes the player. (Or something along those lines?) Yes, different setups produce different tones and have different intonations, but none of them are going to sound horrendous unless you can't play.

I used to play a teal lacquered Monique alto with a beginners plastic mouthpiece and I made honor bands with my setup. The judges behind the curtain couldn't tell that I had the worst possible setup known to man.

Nevertheless (admittedly), I prefer my Yani A902. :)
 
#6 ·
LOL. If the mind leads decisively, the body will follow.
 
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#9 ·
and much to your consternation, better yet on the pimped out white Yamaha 50th anniversary Yamaha.

Grumps said:
Bet my 10M he tried beat his tenor as well.
Not to pick a fight or anything... :twisted:
Click to expand...
That might be the only tenor I have ever played that has given me a case of wanderlust.
 
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#11 ·
Having just returned from hearing dozens of performers at the NASA conference in Athens, GA, I heard everything including Bueschers (Mana Qt), Keilwerth (Brad Leali), and plenty of Yamahas and Selmers. The common thread was the stunningly high level of musicianship from all performances, and the fact that, with slight variations, it is the concept that matters far more than the equipment. I'm thankful that we have options to use equipment that best facilitates our personal concepts, and am highly suspicious of anyone with a dogmatic view of equipment.
 
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