[derickmont]

I was wondering if someone could tell me what that hollow like thing behind Leo Parker's sound is and how I could add that to my sound. Right now I listen to this video everyday before I do my longtones for 30 minutes. Is doing this and imitating enough, or is there any specific thing i have to do with my throat or embouchure to get it?

 

[Woosax]

That hollow sound from LeoN Parker comes unmistakably from the fact that he is playing drums. I believe Jessie Davis is the alto player in the clip. Very cool sound. Sounds to me like a nice soft reed in his setup.

If you were looking to reference LEO Parker (the baritone sax player), here's a clip:

 

[davetjazz]

Even with good technique and a solid regimen it takes years man. Plug in there and enjoy the ride. I like Jessie Davis, he plays a ton of setups based on the Videos I've seen. There's one where he plays a Tonalin with a Zephyr with a rubber band on the upper stack. Still killin.

Great sound on anything, great ideas, deep feeling.

 

[Pete Thomas]

What's behind his sound?

Lots of practise and listening. Long notes and articulation will do the trick.

 

[-TH]

Jesse is my favorite altoist. As mentioned almost every video of him shows a different setup. I've seen him play vintage Kings, Conns, Yamahas, Grassi etc. and mouthpiece-wise Otto Links, Lakeys, Brilharts etc. etc. I think he plays very open mouthpieces with double-lip embouchure (Wes Anderson is another example of this). I've tried lots of setups too and I think an open tip helps to get that big, deep alto sound but the rest 90% comes from the player

 

[derickmont]

Sorry for the wrong name. I thought longtones and practice was the answer but wasn't sure if there was something else I was supposed to be doing along with them.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Sorry for the wrong name. I thought longtones and practice was the answer but wasn't sure if there was something else I was supposed to be doing along with them.

Yes, there is more. As mentioned articulation is really important as is breath support. Also vibrato and note bending, in fact the whole range of tone production exercises not just long notes.

Some more info here for the (almost) entire tone production workout system:

http://tamingthesaxophone.com/saxophone-tone-sound.html

Plus transcribing and playing along with the records.

 

[AltoLemur]

Yes, definitely has that wide tip and softish reed sound. As well as all the above advice, you should try out the exercises on Phil Barone's stickies at the top of the Tone Producing forum.