[HOUSTON NONET]

SIT AND PLAY? I played a Conn for the first time for a day this summer. I borrowed the horn and used one of my mouthpieces. It was just back from a complete overhaul and played nice-- had nice tone. But...

I have played the same Mark VI since 1967 and the only thing I had a problem with the Conn was sitting down and playing because of the low B/Bb keys on the left side of the bell. I had to play the horn between my legs like an alto. This but a strain on my right hand. How do the regular Conn cats do it:?

 

[gary]

I played Conn 10ms for about a decade and never had a problem with playing and sitting. Neither did Dexter. (Sorry - it was too easy.)

What specifically are you having problems with?

 

[Reedsplinter]

I played Conn 10ms for about a decade and never had a problem with playing and sitting. Neither did Dexter. (Sorry - it was too easy.)

What specifically are you having problems with?

Likewise. I played first a Conn Director alto, then a 1964-model 6M, and the first tenor I played was a school Conn Director. Played them sitting down, standing up, marching, etc. You just learn to keep your pants legs out of the keys, because if you don't, the horn doesn't work!

 

[HOUSTON NONET]

Man-- Dexter had a sound. Hard to believe 21 years have passed since the great jazz movie Round Midnight. Dex sat and played a lot in that movie. Was he playing a Conn:? Thought he liked most pros switched to Selmers in the 60's:shock: Maybe we should get the movie out tonite and check. Seems to me the low B/Bb keys were on the right side of the bell:? What do you think-- I don't remember:?

 

[Grumps]

His 10M had long been stolen by the time that movie came about. I play a 10M, but pretty much play it exclusively standing up... unless I'm practicing. Then yeah, I tend to keep it in the middle as well.

 

[HOUSTON NONET]

Wonder Where Gary And Reedsplinter Put It

 

[JL]

All those guys in the big bands of the '40's played horns with bell keys on the left side and they were sitting down. So there must be a way. I never play sitting down, so I wouldn't know. I guess this isn't very helpful, except to point out it can be done.

 

[Reedsplinter]

All those guys in the big bands of the '40's played horns with bell keys on the left side and they were sitting down. So there must be a way. I never play sitting down, so I wouldn't know. I guess this isn't very helpful, except to point out it can be done.

Like this (1951, that's Dexter on the left):

 

[Reedsplinter]

Wonder Where Gary And Reedsplinter Put It

Second example. This photo was taken when Gary and I were playing together in 1934; that's me seated, second from the right; Gary's all the way down at the end on the left. Note the extraordinarily professional holding of the horns. Nobody's pants is getting tangled in the keys. The bari player was the real master of this technique. His pants are in the World Saxophone Players' Pants Museum; they still have 14% of their original herringbone.

That's Prince Charles playing the trumpet: he has 100% of his original nose!

 

[HOUSTON NONET]

maybe that is why some of the older pixs of tenor players show them holding their ax high to the right. did lester young play a conn
:? he always had the horn high to the right

 

[HOUSTON NONET]

gary must be old--doesn't post like he is old though-- young at heart

 

[heath]

HOUSTON this is a joke. Gary isn't that old. Gary wasn't even alive in 1934.

 

[Mope]

Was that Oscar Levant or Jerry Lewis conducting?

 

[Reedsplinter]

Was that Oscar Levant or Jerry Lewis conducting?

Spike Jones. I was just about to do my slide whistle solo, only it was a Conn slide whistle and it got all tangled up in my watch fob.

 

[Reedsplinter]

HOUSTON this is a joke. Gary isn't that old. Gary wasn't even alive in 1934.

No, that's Gary in the photo. He's 107 now.

 

[bruce bailey]

Not worth that much as I think someone was "reliquored".

 

[hakukani]

Was that Oscar Levant or Jerry Lewis conducting?

I confess, it was me conducting, but of course Gary and Splinty weren't listening as usual. I was trying to draw out their inner left side and split bell keys, but to no avail....

But seriously, I've played booshers and selmer signets with lh bell keys against my right leg. The key guards keep the pantslegs from interfering.

 

[les]

Lester held his horn like that 'cause he said he could hear it better.
To play a 10m sitting down you just sit down and do it.

 

[HOUSTON NONET]

thanks les good info

 

[HOUSTON NONET]

btw-- since i don't play a conn on a regular basis i was just trying to see if others experienced the same problem i had that day. but as i said-- it sure had a great big pleasing tone. my ex wife used to make fun of old tenor players that sit and play with the sax between their legs--glad she wasn't there that day --or here this day:!: