[FighterForJC]

There's a couple of clips on here of me. If I can't survive these boards, there's no use going out into the real world!

www.myspace.com/chrissantossax

 

[sycc]

Very smooth. nice vibrato. Excellent!!

 

[brianincairo]

Nice sound. I liked it.

 

[madgrocer]

Hey Chris..
Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of there!! You sound really good. You are certainly all over the style you are trying to emulate.
The Youtube video with you on alto... you REALLY sound like Mindi Abair... sound, phrasing, attacks everything. I'm not a very big fan of her personally, but if that's what you were going for, you REALLY NAILED IT. And that's a big compliment that you could get that close.
I would really prefer to hear you going for the bigger Marienthal or Snitzer sound,
but that's just my preference.
I get the fact that you are really into guys like Koz, Marienthal, G... but don't leave out the ones that came before them, that these guys developed what they are doing from.
Just work your way back in time from these guys, and you will continue to open up your ears harmonically, and hear where a lot of what these guys are doing came from. Dig into Sanborn, Jay Beckenstein, Grover. Then move backwards to guys like Maceo Parker, Hank Crawford.. then to Cannonball etc..

 

[FighterForJC]

Hey Chris..
Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of there!! You sound really good. You are certainly all over the style you are trying to emulate.
The Youtube video with you on alto... you REALLY sound like Mindi Abair... sound, phrasing, attacks everything. I'm not a very big fan of her personally, but if that's what you were going for, you REALLY NAILED IT. And that's a big compliment that you could get that close.
I would really prefer to hear you going for the bigger Marienthal or Snitzer sound,
but that's just my preference.
I get the fact that you are really into guys like Koz, Marienthal, G... but don't leave out the ones that came before them, that these guys developed what they are doing from.
Just work your way back in time from these guys, and you will continue to open up your ears harmonically, and hear where a lot of what these guys are doing came from. Dig into Sanborn, Jay Beckenstein, Grover. Then move backwards to guys like Maceo Parker, Hank Crawford.. then to Cannonball etc..

Thanks for all you guys' positive feedbacks, it means a lot to me knowing that you're a bunch who has seen it all. And trust me, I am DYING to play "real" jazz. I'm somewhat of a late bloomer, I didn't start off on the right foot (Kenny G was my first inspiration back when I was 12; it took me a couple of years to de-tox the Kenny G in me). And reading the posts on these boards about the countless hours people put in is intimidating, I'm lucky to be able to practice 8 hours in a week, let alone in one day! But thanks for the encouragement, I'm on "scramble mode" right now because I want to start playing the real deal and I'm looking for the quickest, most efficent path to get there, which I'm sure is a long and bumpy one. Oh and by the way, I never heard of Mindy Abair until someone commented on my video on YouTube. So, thanks for the compliment again!

 

[LampLight]

Chris,
Thanks a million. Your clip of "Give Me Jesus" shows how powerfully people "get it" when a player speaks from the heart. A ton of notes isn't needed. To my ears, the clip sounds like you, and it's beautiful.

 

[dstack79]

I checked out "Give me Jesus". It's very nice playing. I think the next step for you is gradually deviating from the melody through improvisation. Your sound and intonation are good. Only technical note I'd mention is that your middle B (concert D) is consistently flat. Try adding side Bb key.

-Dan

 

[crazydaisydoo]

I think you have a wonderful tone, great for the style you have chosen.

When I first started to play jazz guitar 20 years ago, I was really into Pat Metheney, George Benson, and Earl Klugh. I guess these guys are similar to Dave Koz and Eric M, in that respect, that they were the new "smooth' jazz stars. I wanted to play like them, but I order to get that sound totally nailed, I had to go back to their influences; Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian and Django. It was a great journey that taught me a lot, and along the way I discovered some fine alto playing, which is why I am here ;-)

It is the same with these "new" alto players, as Madgrocer pointed out, I think if you want to go to the next level and innovate, you have to go back a bit in time and start emulating the guys that influenced Koz and Marienthal

You refer to Coltrane in your profile, so I am sure you are going back, so perhaps ignore this advice!

Dave Koz et al are great players, but I think you will get a lot of mileage by listening specifically to the ballad playing of by past masters like Paul Desmond, Art Pepper, and tenor players like Stan Getz and Ben Webster. Try and incorporate some of their improvisational ideas into your playing and you will be onto a winning formula!

I think you have a great future, lovely playing!

 

[hakukani]

Man, you sounded fine!

I'm not really fond of layered synth backing tracks, and I thought you were a bit far back in the mix, but you're concept is good. Good tone=a great start.

 

[fballatore]

Chris -

I thought "Give me Jesus" was absolutely beautiful. I could tell that you put alot of emotion and feeling into the tune. Excellent work, and great tone. Keep up the great work. You're definitely on the right path. Heck, you're ready to go out and play now!

Frank

 

[FighterForJC]

Thanks again everyone for all the support. It's a tough industry, I've listened to some of you guys' music over at myspace and what not, and you guys ARE it. The somewhat discouraging thing about it besides the fact that it'll take me at least 4 decades to sound as good as some of you, is that I've never heard of you guys before, and you're some of the best I've heard. If great players can have a career playing in obscurity and not selling a million records, where does that leave the guys at the bottom of the food chain like me? But thanks again. btw, make sure to check out my cousin's myspace: www.myspace.com/dandansax

 

[hakukani]

Luckily there's more ways of making a living than making music.

I've always thought of musicmaking as a wonderful avocation, but a terrible vocation. Kudos to anyone that can make a living at it!

 

[LampLight]

What happened to the Whale?

 

[jnewmann]

Wolves?

Like any good wolf, I ate it up! Kudos

 

[hakukani]

What happened to the Whale?

They have been sighted off Maui. I thought since they were back from Alaska, and Glen has gone back to his squirrel, I'd go back to my 'old' avatar of me with tenor and pink caddy.

I only changed it originally because there were too many 'Grandpa Munster' jokes about my elegant widow's peak.

 

[RootyTootoot]

I only changed it originally because there were too many 'Grandpa Munster' jokes about my elegant widow's peak.

Grandpa Munster? Surely not . Mind you, you could make a very decent living doing year round trick or treating.

 

[LampLight]

welcome back; screw the comedians (but not you RTT!).

 

[RootyTootoot]

welcome back; screw the comedians (but not you RTT!).

Is that a very cunning American way of saying i'm not funny?

On topic: Fighter, I did listen to some of your myspace stuff and i think you have a really nice sound. Good luck with the busking too.

 

[LampLight]

Is that a very cunning American way of saying i'm not funny? . . .

Last time I checked, I wasn't that cunning - and yes Fighter's stuff is the real deal.

 

[itspman]

There's a couple of clips on here of me. If I can't survive these boards, there's no use going out into the real world!

www.myspace.com/chrissantossax

Simply outstanding

Love the tone, the smoothness and as others have said you have hit the right groove for the smooth jazz you are playing.

I loved it