It's the player, not the equipment (Sonny on Night Music)

Thanks for posting this....I enjoyed it!

Was Night Music that show that was on years ago that was hosted by David Sanborn? I only saw a couple of episodes, but I really liked it and wondered what ever happened to it.

Both Sonny and Sanborn look younger in this clip.

that's the show, sponsored by Michelob or was it Miller Lite?

great stuff thanks for posting

carr said:

Both Sonny and Sanborn look younger in this clip.

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Cohen too, oddly enough (lol).

Great great player indeed. But he's also playing a great horn, no? Not to say he wouldn't sound like God if he played a mushroom, but I don't understand the title of this thread. Is there a point?

Note also the younger Robben Ford on Strat in the back line.

Oh, yeah -- that got by me. Thanks! That's why you're the Doc (and get the big bucks!).

Waaaaay cool! :glasses7:

...and who else but Sonny would quote "Pop Goes the Weasel" in a tune like that and get away with it, LOL.

Reedsplinter, I thought that since this is a mpc discussion forum, the title should somehow be related to equipment. Maybe it should be posted in another forum. Sorry 'bout that, I just wanted to stress that at such a high level of musicianship, the horn or the mouthpiece is not as important as the story-telling of a solo.
Thank you all for your replies,
Ioannis

It's silly to say that equipment choices have had no affect on Sonny's sound.

Who here doesn't prefer his 50's sound when he was using a 10 STM with a really hard reed. People have commented that his Berg sound is a bit harsh, but still hes got that really deep tone that nobody else has every had.

On another note the guys has the cream of the crop vintage horns at his disposal, so he's setup up pretty good in that area as well.

Someone posted this yesterday and i'm going to say it again: despite the fact that i love Sonny, despite the fact that i love Laughing Lenny, i don't really like this that much, though i was fascinated to see and listen. They're in different worlds. There's no meeting of minds.

istan said:

Reedsplinter, I thought that since this is a mpc discussion forum, the title should somehow be related to equipment. Maybe it should be posted in another forum. Sorry 'bout that, I just wanted to stress that at such a high level of musicianship, the horn or the mouthpiece is not as important as the story-telling of a solo.
Thank you all for your replies,
Ioannis

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No problem at all, Istan -- I was just curious; thought I was missing something! Thanks for your courteous reply.

RTT, this isn't my favorite thing of Sonny's either, but I think it's very interesting (it's not as if it was ever released on an album!). As Dr. Johnson said, It's not that the thing was done well, it is that it was done at all. And actually this is very well done considering what it is. Night Music, as has often been said, was brilliant at bringing together odd pairings. I'd rather watch this than a "Benny Hill" re-run, no matter how much I like "Yakkity Sax" (ugh!:clown: ). It's not the best Sonny, but it's brilliant television. How often do we get to see Rollins on TV under ANY circumstances?

BTW, can anyone please identify the mouthpiece on this clip? It doesn't sound like an Otto Link. Is this the Berg Larsen he uses in his later works?
Thanks
Ioannis

RootyTootoot said:

Someone posted this yesterday and i'm going to say it again: despite the fact that i love Sonny, despite the fact that i love Laughing Lenny, i don't really like this that much, though i was fascinated to see and listen. They're in different worlds. There's no meeting of minds.

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I liked it but I can see your point......Just my observation , but Cohen doesn't seem to be diggin Sonny.... maybe I'm wrong.

istan said:

BTW, can anyone please identify the mouthpiece on this clip? It doesn't sound like an Otto Link. Is this the Berg Larsen he uses in his later works?
Thanks
Ioannis

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Berg I'm pretty sure.

Cool clip. But here's the real question: Why was Sonny wearing an extra neckstrap? He's got one white Ray Hyman strapped on his horn, and another one (same length) around his neck just hanging there. What gives?

sonnymobleytrane said:

I liked it but I can see your point......Just my observation , but Cohen doesn't seem to be diggin Sonny.... maybe I'm wrong.

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I don't know about that. I've been told that I sometimes look like I'm not enjoying being onstage, but that couldn't be further from the truth. It's just that when I'm in a musically difficult situation, it takes all of my energy just to focus on the rest of the band and play musically, sometimes to the point that I just look really intense. Leonard Cohen seems like he could be a pretty intense dude.

DukeCity said:

Cool clip. But here's the real question: Why was Sonny wearing an extra neckstrap?

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In case he got a hole in one!

or....no....wait...that was the golf pants. Never mind.

I think it's absolutely brilliant!: Sonny, what a priceless voice! Good grief, somebody out there is questioning Sonny's equipment choice? Why? It's enough we have this gift to listen to---don't sweat the mundane choices of the truly gifted; they are no more than a means to an end. And for crying out loud, don't try to fit a living, breathing human being and artist into some kind of screwed-up cameo appearance for you, based upon expectations from your record collection. We all loved his tone in the late 50's, (I think the Village Vanguard stuff should be cast in gold). He moved on. Do the same.

a sax is a machine and musical work of art, every one is. It is the player, not the horn, but the horn is part of the music, as is the time and place the recording took place. I think its the way the player connects with his individual instrument of choice that matters. It can be a very high or low grade instrument, what matters is how they can make it play.

Coolsax2k7, that's exactly my point and the reason I posted this thread in the first place.
Thank you