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Johnny Ferreira: There's No Stopping Us Now- An Exclusive SOTW Interview

5.6K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  Dave Dunn  
#1 ·
From traveling frozen winter hinterlands doing 300 plus gigs a year, to being featured on Billboard Top Ten hits and CD's winning gold and platinum status, to now touring with his own swing/jump blues band, Johnny Ferreira has stayed true to the music he loves best- real rock n' roll.

This three part interview begins with the early days at school, the studio, and a song that would forever change his life:

http://www.saxontheweb.net/Rock_n_Roll/JohnnyFerreira1.html
 
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#4 ·
Thanks very much for the kind comments.

As for Johnny Ferreira’s set up, his main horn is a 1960, Selmer Mark VI. His backup is a Mark VII from 1974.

His mouthpiece is an interesting story:

“The mouthpiece was made by Dave Guardala in New York, and I got it about 15 years ago. It's the Michael Brecker model, and I've never tried anything better. I did get a backup piece, but it's a King Curtis model. I carry it around, but I always play the Brecker one.

The reed is a Java Jazz cut #3 made by Vandoren. Years ago, when I was ordering the mouthpiece from Guardala, he asked me what reed I would be using with it, and I told him Rico or Rico Royal, or whatever I was using back then. He said I had to try a Vandoren. I told him I tried them once and hated them. He said that's what Brecker uses, and he insisted I try them again on this mouthpiece. Well, it finally came and I opened the box to find a Vandoren Jazz cut #3 reed already on the mouthpiece. I figured this guy is serious! I tried this setup and have never used anything else since. I found it to be the perfect combination.”
 
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#6 ·
I'm back, thanks to Neil!

Thanks guys, and yes Neil has a way of doing an article/interview I've noticed. Mr Sharpe's article/interview is my favorite I've ever had anyone do for me, ever... and ya gotta love the net these days with all the interactive stuff you can use; audio, video, links etc.
I found this site thru Neil and come back to see whats happenin, especialy in the rock & roll section, Man, there isn't that much out there if you're a rock & roll sax guy.
I love diff. blues and jazz as well, Brecker was an early inspiration for me with Dreams (billy Cobham was in that with bro Randy) then Heavy Metal Bep Bop and Brecker really hit a stride with Chick Corea's "Three Quartets"... I spent many hrs slowing that record down and learnin some great licks!
I never met Michael Brecker (saw him at the Blue Note once) but did study with a great sax player Jim Rothermel who played with some well known artists Van Morrison, Jesse Colin Young are 2 that come to mind, anyway Jim did study with Michael Brecker or his buddy did, I can't remember which but Jim said the things Brecker was working on at the time (circa 1980) were different and beyond what other saxophonists were doing... he studied with heavy piano players and composers, not other sax players... always moving forward not only with his playing but also with diff. theory's and musical composition.
Anyway getting back to rock & roll... this has always been my passion and I'm sure with a few of you as well. If you got some recomends/suggestions I'd greatly appreciate it as I love to introduce such players on a Sax Radio show I program (see bottom)...we seem to be "members of a small tribe" so every contact is important.
rock on!
Johnny
JohnnyFerreira.com
"Hot Sax Trax Radio"
 
#9 ·
Thanks for commenting and bringing this thread to my attention, I came across Johnny's YouTube videos a couple of months ago and thought "Yes! This is how a saxophone should sound!". I'm blown away by his playing, I just can't imagine the saxophone ever sounding better, he totally rocks hard! I'm a fairly hard guy to impress musically, in 35 years of singing professionally it has only happened once or twice, but Johnny's playing has left me starstruck, totally in jaw dropped awe!
I hope someone has a working link.