For the jazz fans of UR, or anyone who fancys a listen.

[JustTakeAPebble]

http://www.sendspace.com/file/0ak1wa

The song is called, Red Light and hey, who knows maybe I'll make it into my dream album Red lights and smokey rooms.

This is me playing all three instruments and feeling a bit Jazzy

Please feel free to comment, I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Simon

P.S I'll be honest, it is me playing, but I use a instrument simulater, to play what you heard there, I recorded in three seperate parts, the drums, the double bass and the saxaphone, they are not samples more I input the music myself in set scales and keys, as if I really am playing, if that makes sense at all, this was recorded in D# Major Pentatonic.

P.S.S Playing this, has since given me an edge to want to learn Saxaphone.

[RR-ElectricAngel]

Cool! Hey I played saxophone for 8 years and that sound pretty convincing. You have a good understanding of what Jazz is all about. I had to buy a book on it called "Jazz for Rockers". Your song reminded me of Amsterdam (how perfect is that) and had the feel of a Pink Panther theme crossed with Dave Brubeck's "Take Five". An excellent piece by the way...

[JustTakeAPebble]

Hey David

Thats awesome Thank you for such kind words, I had a look at that song you meantioned, it does sound brilliant I've actually started to teach myself Saxaphone yesterday, I bought one, was going to have it on a hire scheme but the direct debit wouldn't accept me being a student and earning money, so they let me have it at a price of £555 with a book, strap and 3 reeds free.

Needless to say I'm chuffed because I suprised the man in the shop and an old workfriend of mine (I used to work for a dramatic society as a backstage handyman, helping whenever I could and have a little stint on stage too) because what happend was that the man at the shop said to my mum "I bet I could have Simon play a song by the time you come back from shopping" and I ended up playing two, but not only that but he was impressed at my "busking skills" I took one look at the notes, play the tune, then I didn't need the music after that.

I think what might have helped is the fact I used to play trumpet, euphonium and tuba when I was at secondary school.

Simon

[Alex]

xx123456

[JustTakeAPebble]

Oh and David, forgot to ask, do you have any tips for a learner?

Hi Alex

Yeah, Sax can be very atmospheric I find, it gives me chills down my spine when I listen to the love theme to blade runner, and then get all full of fire when I listen to Baker Street.

Simon

[RR-ElectricAngel]

Oh and David, forgot to ask, do you have any tips for a learner?

Let's see.

#1) Always clean out your mouthpiece. Especially your reeds (which should never be played with splits in them unless you love the sound of shrieking eels). You don't want to forget and two weeks later there is something growing on it.

#2) The hardest part about playing a saxophone is keeping your embouchure steady. If you played a trumpet then a saxophone will probably be a lot easier to play.

#3) Practice playing both staccato and legato. Each requires a completely different skill. Staccato requires you to use your tongue to stop the airflow while legato requires you to release a lot of air over a longer period of time.

#4) Find easy songs to play at first. Nothing too fast or elaborate. Playing slowly is better for playing in "tune" and helps to build the muscles around your mouth better over time.

There are probably a lot more but those are the most critical I think. Hope that helps Simon...

[JustTakeAPebble]

It does help, any sort of help is helpful at my stage David, I mean I'm only learning at the moment so anything else you can suggest just pop em in Only main problem I have at the moment
is trying to stop my cheeks from puffing up while I'm playing, so if you have any tips on how to stop yourself, that would be nice also.

How would you play both staccato and legato?

Simon

[RR-ElectricAngel]

How would you play both staccato and legato?

Combine both techniques. Whenever notes require a short burst (usually mixed in with rests) then use the tongue otherwise use longer pulses of air to articulate each note. (Wow, that really is a hard question to answer without making it sound confusing). Of course listen to good players and you can usually pick up what they are doing. Puffy cheeks? That is the hardest habit to break for trumpet players. Those are the muscles you have never used and will have to develop. Most of your developed muscles are probably in your lips. All I can say is that it will feel like you ate 30 jawbreakers for a while until those muscles really begin to develop.
Best of luck Simon...

[JustTakeAPebble]

Thank you David, you are certianly a KING!

I hope you had a lovely christmas and new year!

Simon

[RR-ElectricAngel]

Thanks Simon. Looking forward to hearing more of your saxophone masterpieces in the future.

[JustTakeAPebble]

Haha thanks I really do look forward to the day I'm out there in a smokey room (though has to be a smoke machine nowadays) , a red light shining, a gentle piano twinkling, a tss tss tss of the drums, and a plucked bass, mmmm,

Simon

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

Hi Simon

This was great and yes really sounded like the real thing! There were some licks I thought sounded like guitar licks but done on the sax. I would be fascinated to hear what you write after a year or so of playing the sax; ie will it be from a different mind set that you are creatively in now?

That was really cool Simon.

Matt

[JustTakeAPebble]

Hi Matt

Thank you I'm glad you liked it, I'm gunna aim for Jazz and prehaps stick to one of my favourite genres, Blues too!

But we shall see what the future may take me.

Simon

[GUITARIDOL5682]

Simon, I have to say i just cannot get away with Jazz its just such a bizarre concoction of instruments. As they say in the 'Fast Show' Nice.!!! Well if i was deaf, but everyone has different flavours. Thats no slur on your song, just my 2 cents. Your puffy cheeks ? this brings back memories of my first attempt at playing the bag pipes. What an excercise that was, i felt like i'd just done a full work out and pipe players just don't look cool. Brilliant sound and just great to hear in full swing at the Edinburgh Tatoo. But saxophones are just a sexy instrument Pink floyd come to mind is it 'Shine on you crazy diamond' cracking solo.