tag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:/blogs/musings-from-a-saxophonic-brain?p=5Musings from a Saxophonic Brain2018-05-17T00:38:52-04:00Mark Maxwell Musicfalsetag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/45364512017-01-04T05:18:34-05:002021-10-17T16:39:18-04:00"Freedom Jazz Dance" Solo Transcription Project<p>For the "Freedom Jazz Dance" project, I created a custom backing track, recorded a complete tenor sax melody and solo, then had the entire sax part transcribed. Watch one of the video below and you'll see what I mean</p>
<p>Also, a part of this project, I included, and noted in the transcription, 15 of my favorite jazz solo licks. You can read and see more on the <a contents="Freedom Jazz Dance" data-link-label="Freedom Jazz Dance" data-link-type="page" href="/freedom-jazz-dance">Freedom Jazz Dance</a> page.<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="obETByKTW8Y" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/obETByKTW8Y/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/obETByKTW8Y?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/43383292016-08-23T15:57:25-04:002017-05-25T14:10:34-04:00"My Girl - A Saxophone Tribute to the Fairer Sex"<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="e7siNrIaqBk" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/e7siNrIaqBk/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e7siNrIaqBk?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.50" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/42652352016-07-06T06:19:21-04:002017-05-25T14:13:04-04:00"Purple Rain" Backing Track<p><a contents="Smooth jazz play-along backing track for Prince's Purple Rain" data-link-label="Purple Rain Play-along Backing Track" data-link-type="page" href="/purple-rain-play-along-backing-track">Smooth jazz play-along backing track for Prince's <em>Purple Rain</em></a>. CD quality .wav files, instant download.<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="YpxXFUZf3kg" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/YpxXFUZf3kg/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YpxXFUZf3kg?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/42627852016-07-04T14:51:46-04:002016-08-23T15:59:52-04:00"Purple Rain", a Smooth Jazz version<p>Prince's signature song, 'Purple Rain' has become a pop anthem, and is #143 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the Greatest 500 Songs of All Time. Here's my smooth jazz version of this timeless classic. </p>
<p>Prince said about the meaning of 'Purple Rain': "When there's blood in the sky – red and blue = purple... purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/god guide you through the purple rain." </p>
<p><a contents="The play-along backing track for this version of 'Purple Rain' can be found here" data-link-label="Backing Tracks" data-link-type="page" href="/backing-tracks">The play-along backing track for this version of 'Purple Rain' can be found here</a>. Enjoy!</p><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="rziGbnna8nI" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/rziGbnna8nI/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rziGbnna8nI?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/42399432016-06-23T11:25:00-04:002020-09-23T07:30:06-04:00"Yellow Submarine" Backing Track<p>Here's a <a contents="smooth jazz play-along backing track" data-link-label="Backing Tracks" data-link-type="page" href="/backing-tracks" target="_blank">smooth jazz play-along backing track</a> for the classic Beatles' tune, <em>Yellow Submarine</em>, which was the best-selling song in the world in 1966. You can download it <a contents="here" data-link-label="Backing Tracks" data-link-type="page" href="/backing-tracks" target="_blank">here</a>. Enjoy!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="8eRhTrieIQM" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/8eRhTrieIQM/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8eRhTrieIQM?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/42399402016-06-22T11:15:00-04:002016-07-06T18:04:45-04:00"Stay With Me" (Sam Smith) Backing TrackS<a contents="smooth jazz play-along backing track" data-link-label="Backing Tracks" data-link-type="page" href="/backing-tracks" target="_blank">mooth jazz play-along backing track for Sam's Smith's <em>Stay With Me</em></a>. CD quality .wav files, instant downloads. More backing tracks here: http://markmaxwellmusic.com/backing-tracks.<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="zEibkDaEaA0" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/zEibkDaEaA0/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zEibkDaEaA0?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/42399042016-06-21T11:15:00-04:002016-06-21T11:16:33-04:00"I'll Follow The Sun" Backing TrackHere's a very smooth and funky play-along backing track for The Beatles' song, <em>I'll Follow The Sun. </em>This song was an early Paul McCartney composition but because it didn't fit their early rock personna it didn't get recorded until their 4th album. Enjoy!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="izWlzsDidDQ" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/izWlzsDidDQ/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/izWlzsDidDQ?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.50" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/42399002016-06-20T20:05:30-04:002016-06-20T20:26:16-04:00"I Can't Go For That" Backing Track<em>I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)</em> was a huge hit for Hall & Oates back in 1981; as it turns out, it makes a great smooth jazz <a contents="play-along backing track" data-link-label="Backing Tracks" data-link-type="page" href="/backing-tracks" target="_blank">play-along backing track</a>. Enjoy!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="A0PLM5Was_Q" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/A0PLM5Was_Q/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A0PLM5Was_Q?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/42378042016-06-19T11:53:48-04:002016-07-06T18:02:09-04:00"All About That Bass" Backing Track<a contents="Smooth Jazz play-along backing track for Meghan Trainor's mega-hit,&nbsp;All About That Bass" data-link-label='"All About That Bass" Smooth Jazz Play-along Backing Track' data-link-type="page" href="/all-about-that-bass-smooth-jazz-play-along-backing-track">Smooth Jazz play-along backing track for Meghan Trainor's mega-hit, <em>All About That Bass</em></a>. CD quality .wav files, instant downloads. <br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="f7X5fc8EVMk" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/f7X5fc8EVMk/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f7X5fc8EVMk?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/41717522016-05-09T09:23:38-04:002016-06-20T20:56:47-04:00"Use Me" (Bill Withers) Play-along Backing TrackHere's our latest <a contents="backing track" data-link-label="Backing Tracks" data-link-type="page" href="/backing-tracks">backing track</a> video - this one's for our version of the Bill Withers classic, "Use Me" from our <a contents="Angel Biscuit&nbsp;" data-link-label="Angel Biscuit" data-link-type="page" href="/angel-biscuit"><em>Angel Biscuit</em> </a>album. Enjoy!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="KvmAlrmoFus" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/KvmAlrmoFus/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KvmAlrmoFus?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/41634542016-05-03T06:49:53-04:002022-06-29T12:03:50-04:00"I Can't Make You Love Me" Backing TrackHere's the backing track for the Bonnie Raitt classic, "<a contents="I Can't Make You Love Me" data-link-label=""I Can't Make You Love Me" Play-along Backing Track" data-link-type="page" href="/i-can-t-make-you-love-me-play-along-backing-track" target="_blank">I Can't Make You Love Me</a>" from my album, <em>And I Love Her</em>. You can hear all our <a contents="backing tracks here" data-link-label="Backing Tracks" data-link-type="page" href="/backing-tracks" target="_blank">backing tracks here</a>. Enjoy, and let me know how it works for you! <br>~Mark<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="e0FGwPx9iuI" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/e0FGwPx9iuI/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e0FGwPx9iuI?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/40928472016-03-17T13:22:33-04:002022-05-18T01:41:38-04:00SaxObamaRamaI'm warning you right now - I'm getting political with this one. For this video, I pulled out my song from about 7 years ago called <em>SaxObamaRama</em> from the <a contents="Angel Biscuit" data-link-label="Angel Biscuit" data-link-type="page" href="/angel-biscuit">Angel Biscuit</a> album and used it to tell the story or Obama's many accomplishments despite the unabashed obstructionism from the GOP. Enjoy!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="f1avbgIsnOk" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/f1avbgIsnOk/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f1avbgIsnOk?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/40814442016-03-10T02:10:29-05:002016-03-21T10:53:21-04:00Game Of Thrones - A Smooth Jazz VersionI recently realized, with some shock, that there was no smooth jazz version of the <em>Game Of Thrones </em>theme song (I've since learned that Dave Koz recorded one before me). Imagine my dismay! Well, being the enterprising smooth jazz arranger and recording artist that I am, I created one. And here it is:<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="6McfzZmFfj0" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/6McfzZmFfj0/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6McfzZmFfj0?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.50" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br>I also documented the in-studio creation process, from start to finish. Here's that video:<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="ELuCfclnLac" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/ELuCfclnLac/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ELuCfclnLac?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.50" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br>I also recorded a video of myself performing the song in the studio: <br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="nWbDMthZ4J0" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/nWbDMthZ4J0/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nWbDMthZ4J0?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.50" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br>You can learn more about my <a contents="smooth jazz version of the Game Of Thrones theme song" data-link-label="Game Of Thrones" data-link-type="page" href="/game-of-thrones">smooth jazz version of the <em>Game Of Thrones</em> theme song</a>, including how to download the play-along backing track and the sheet music to my version.Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/40845402016-03-08T22:00:00-05:002016-03-11T22:00:38-05:00My Funny Valentine - Play-along Backing TrackHere's the <a contents="play-along backing track" data-link-label="Backing Tracks" data-link-type="page" href="/backing-tracks">play-along backing track</a> for my smooth jazz version of <em>My Funny Valentine</em>, originally recorded for the <a contents="Midnight Mood" data-link-label="Midnight Mood" data-link-type="page" href="/midnight-mood">Midnight Mood</a> album. Enjoy!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="lAs4714jUlY" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/lAs4714jUlY/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lAs4714jUlY?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.50" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/40775902016-03-07T23:53:47-05:002016-03-07T23:53:47-05:00Found But Not Found - Floating Flute and Deepening SpaceOne of my favorite sounds in the world is the alto flute, and especially when it's played in the lower registers - it's heavenly, and so relaxing. <br><br>This song is a one I composed specifically for the alto flute. The composition is designed to evoke a sense of mystery and wonder; the alto flute is the perfect compliment to the spacey background pads.<br><br><em>Found But Not Found</em> is from my album, <em>Deepening Space</em>. This video can be found on our <em><a contents="Relaxing Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqaTVUCvC8E9uQ3lTBz_oLA" target="_blank">Relaxing Music</a></em> YouTube Channel. Check it out!<br><br> <iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="JU4gy0ASuw4" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/JU4gy0ASuw4/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JU4gy0ASuw4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.50" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/40761962016-03-07T08:55:22-05:002016-03-07T08:55:22-05:00Let's Stay Together Play-along Backing TrackHere's the play-along backing track for my version of <em>Let's Stay Together</em> from the <a contents="Dance With Me" data-link-label="Dance With Me" data-link-type="page" href="/dance-with-me">Dance With Me</a> album. All my <a contents="play-along backing tracks" data-link-label="Backing Tracks" data-link-type="page" href="/backing-tracks">play-along backing tracks</a> are full fidelity CD quality .wav files. Enjoy!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="a9uIdGGfK78" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/a9uIdGGfK78/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a9uIdGGfK78?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.50" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/40741542016-03-05T05:48:16-05:002016-03-05T05:50:20-05:00Saxual Healing Play-along Backing TrackIf you're an instrumentalist, you might enjoy playing along to the backing track to my song <em>Saxual Healing.</em> Here's the video; the track itself can be <a contents="downloaded here" data-link-label="Backing Tracks" data-link-type="page" href="/backing-tracks">downloaded here</a>. Enjoy!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="5RlF5o1dyMM" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/5RlF5o1dyMM/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5RlF5o1dyMM?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.50" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/39613102015-12-11T19:32:46-05:002017-01-14T21:04:59-05:00Just My Imagination<div>Here's a beautiful video to a beautiful song from my latest album, <a contents="Ain't No Mountain High Enough" data-link-label="Ain't No Mountain" data-link-type="page" href="/ain-t-no-mountain">Ain't No Mountain High Enough</a>. The song, Just My Imagination, was a #1 for The Temptations, and you can see why: beautiful melody, bittersweet lyrics, and flawless performance by Eddie Kendricks. Sweet, sweet, and sweeter. Enjoy!
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<div><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="DZlpuTz4qQI" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/DZlpuTz4qQI/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DZlpuTz4qQI?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.50" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/39613282015-12-08T19:40:00-05:002015-12-11T20:10:03-05:00Imagine. We miss you, John Lennon.Wow, imagine - it was 35 years ago! that John Lennon was killed. I remember that evening vividly, and it changed by life. Radio stations started playing his and The Beatles' songs non-stop and it rekindled my life-long love for their music. The Beatles' music is a passion and a hobby for me that lives in heart to this day. <br><br>Here's my sax tribute to John Lennon, my version of his anthem, Imagine. Enjoy.<hr><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="RbmxJiCnvv4" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/RbmxJiCnvv4/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RbmxJiCnvv4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/39613472015-12-07T20:00:00-05:002015-12-11T20:08:55-05:00I Wanna Be Your Man. Really, I do.As I was completing an upbeat arrangement of this classic early Beatle's song, I played it for Roberta Maxwell and she said, "No, it needs to be slow and slinky." So of course I did it over. As usual, she was right. Here's the final, better version. Enjoy!<hr><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="9yNFnTdZZjw" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/9yNFnTdZZjw/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9yNFnTdZZjw?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.5" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/39030822015-11-21T20:45:00-05:002015-12-11T20:42:38-05:00Fallin' - Live Performance VideoFallin', the Grammy award winning song from Alicia Keys, is a perfect song for the saxophone - soulful, sultry, emotional - it's got it all. Here's my live version of this beautiful haunting masterpiece.<br><br>This song, "Fallin'", is from my album Saxual Healing and can be found here: http://markmaxwellmusic.com/saxual-healing . If you're a instrumentalist and you like to perform this song yourself, the play-along version can be found here: http://markmaxwellmusic.com/smooth-jazz-play-alongs<br><br>By the way, this is a song that my wife, Roberta, insisted that I record and, as usual, she was absolutely right!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="y-ySaAUvYQo" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/y-ySaAUvYQo/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y-ySaAUvYQo?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="337.50" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/39260802015-11-19T16:31:03-05:002023-04-25T12:38:02-04:007 Reasons Why The Saxophone Is So Popular<p style="text-align: justify;">It seems that everyone loves the sax. People tell me constantly how much they love the sax (you probably do, too, or you wouldn't be reading this, right?).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But why? What is it about the sax that's so wonderfully cool? And why does it effect so many people so strongly? Hmm... seems obvious to me:</p>
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<span class="font_small"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159010/817dfbdd834926ccaf7e6a594bc50387761a50ed/medium/silver-sax-1.jpg?1421461531" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></span>1. Sax music makes you feel good. The very sound of the sax does something to you. It touches you. It tickles your nervous system, in a good way. The very vibration of the instrument changes your vibration as you hear it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">2. The saxophone sounds great anytime<strong>,</strong> in just about any kind of music, and makes almost any band more fun to listen to, even lousy bands. Even country music. Even polkas!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">3. Saxophones create great ambiance. The sax sounds hip, sophisticated, relaxed, sensuous and romantic, and always creates great atmosphere no matter where its played.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">4. The sax looks cool. Even just the look of the instrument itself is artistic and fun. Even just having a sax laying around the room creates a hip ambiance. Having a saxophone in a room will always inspire interesting conversation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">5. Sax music takes you there. A good player can really take you places like no other instrument. Sure, guitar players would argue with that, but its true!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">6. Sax players are cool people. Almost universally, saxophone players are hip and interesting people. And I know a lot of them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">7. Sax & Sex. And I think you know what I mean. Need I say more?</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">No matter where you here it, or in what context, the saxophone always sounds great, looks great, and creates great ambiance. And it makes you feel good when you hear it. That's why so many people love the saxophone!</p>Enjoy!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159010/28ddeaaef1c6fbf3e6737249f93cfdbee3eb4578/medium/mark-signature-blk-01.png?1448498557" class="size_m justify_none border_" />Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/38952152015-10-13T13:20:39-04:002016-04-30T14:36:34-04:00Ain't No Sunshine - Live In StudioI’ve recorded something like 25 albums, and I stream over 2,000,000 tracks a month, but this song, “Ain’t No Sunshine”, is always my best selling track. There's something really sexy and smooth about it that people love. (By the way, it was my wife, Roberta, who insisted we record this track; as usual, she was right!)<br><br>So here’s me recording my sax over the rhythm section tracks from the original recording session.<br><br>Enjoy!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="sUbZ74nR0AE" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/sUbZ74nR0AE/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sUbZ74nR0AE?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="400" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/38829152015-10-05T11:16:22-04:002015-11-25T00:27:01-05:00Gray Matter - EDM SaxophoneWe're in the process of putting together a collection of production music, the kind of music you'd use behind, say, a YouTube video. These are little pieces that won't necessarily have saxophone in them - they're really just designed to be ambiance in the background. But a few days I came up with this one that I thought was just crying out for some sax so I conceded the point and laid some tenor down. <br><br>It's only a couple of minutes long, just a test really, but I like it. What do you think?Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/37300222015-06-04T22:16:46-04:002015-06-04T22:18:49-04:00Imagine a video of the album Imagine...<iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="X1DJ8RMbYRE" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/X1DJ8RMbYRE/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X1DJ8RMbYRE?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="300" width="480" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Here's a video version of my latest album, Imagine. Smooth jazz saxophone Beatles - what could be better? Enjoy!Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35395802015-02-18T11:01:01-05:002015-02-18T11:01:01-05:00Coltrane solo played on Recorder - amazing!This is unbelievable. Check out this recorder player, Benoît Sauvé, playing an incredibly difficult John Coltrane solo. I'm stunned! What an achievement.<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="zz7LvCS1oXM" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/zz7LvCS1oXM/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zz7LvCS1oXM?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35049572015-01-24T10:30:00-05:002016-11-14T13:35:37-05:00Leon Russell wrote "This Masquerade"One of the songs on my album And I Love Her is the great classic, This Masquerade. <br><br>Everybody knows the George Benson version, because it was a world-wide hit and won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1977. <br><br>But most people don't know it was written some years earlier by Leon Russell. The song appeared on the B-side of Russell's 1972 hit "Tight Rope". His version was also part of the soundtrack for the psychological thriller film <i>Bug</i>.<br><br>Here's a video in If you can struggle through the intro, the original version of this great song is beautiful - much more haunting than Benson's version:<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="WVtYNbFAxrY" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/WVtYNbFAxrY/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WVtYNbFAxrY?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35049312015-01-23T10:10:00-05:002015-02-04T10:09:50-05:00"Spooky" Was Composed By The Sax Player!<strong>Most people don't know that the song <em>Spooky</em></strong>, made famous by the Classics IV, was actually originally recorded as an instrumental by saxophonist Mike Shapiro in the mid 60s.<br><br>It was later rerecorded by the Classics IV in 1967 after guitarist James Cobb and producer Buddy Buie added the lyrics. Apparently, Mike Shapiro had the same publishing company as Cobb and Buie, who heard the tune, liked it, and put lyrics to it.<br><br>The classic element of this story is that Shapiro ended up playing the great sax solo on the Classics IV version. I've always loved the tone and style of that solo, kind of jazzy and slightly edgy.<br><br><strong>Here's a version of the original recording of <em>Spooky</em></strong> featuring Mike Shapiro (they called him Mike Sharp on the album) on the tenor saxophone:<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="rf3jGU4PUws" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/rf3jGU4PUws/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rf3jGU4PUws?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35049292015-01-22T10:10:00-05:002021-07-29T13:07:38-04:00Soul Vaccination<strong>I had to great thrill and honor of auditioning with Tower Of Power about 20 years ago.</strong><br><br><strong>I remember quite clearly one of the songs we played was Soul Vaccination.</strong> I was reading the lead tenor chart and, man, all those syncopated notes just looked like dots flying by; it was really hard to read. I should have just played it from heart; after all, I've heard the tune about 10,000 times.<br><br>I still love listening to it! <strong>Everybody get in line!</strong><br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="fY7CKdW6ioU" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/fY7CKdW6ioU/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fY7CKdW6ioU?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br>That's Norbert Stachel playing lead tenor. I think he's the guy that got the gig on that audition. If so, I can see why they hired him - he's smokin'!<br><br>Check out his use of the flat 13 at about the 2:15 point. That's not the way Lenny Picket played it but I love it!<br><br>Enjoy!Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35049082015-01-20T10:05:00-05:002015-02-04T10:01:23-05:00Jump, Jive, 'An Wail!<strong>This cooks! Brian Setzer!</strong><br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="aHWcN5YxuYc" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/aHWcN5YxuYc/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aHWcN5YxuYc?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35049072015-01-19T09:55:00-05:002021-05-07T03:45:59-04:00You And Me And The Bottle Make Three Tonight<strong>I'm on a Big Bad Voodoo Daddy ride!</strong> Sing along with me now...<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="FkmgafBRdos" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/FkmgafBRdos/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FkmgafBRdos?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35048942015-01-17T09:35:00-05:002015-02-04T09:35:35-05:00More Presidents Should Play The Saxophone.<strong>Say what you want to about Bill Clinton (the real first black president), but you have to admire his balls!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="CRatTuWdT_Q" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/CRatTuWdT_Q/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CRatTuWdT_Q?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></strong>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35049032015-01-16T09:55:00-05:002016-11-07T12:55:23-05:00Big. Ass. Sax.<strong>You've got to love this guy's tie, and his serene demeanor</strong>. I especially like the reflection of the ceiling fan on the bell of this beautiful big-ass sax.<br><br>Oh, yes - the song is Sophisticated Lady. 9 octaves down.<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="x1t_vu_uQoQ" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/x1t_vu_uQoQ/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x1t_vu_uQoQ?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35048632015-01-15T09:30:00-05:002015-02-04T09:30:15-05:00Why Choosing The Right Dinner Music Is So Important<strong>As we all know, music is energy and the language of emotions and feelings.</strong> So, when you introduce music into your environment, what you're really doing is introducing energy. That energy can easily and powerfully influence the ambiance of that setting.<br><br>The question then becomes: what energetic influences do you want your gathering to be effected by? What songs and themes and sounds and instruments and timbres and rhythms will best reflect the mood you want to create?<br><br>As a saxophonist, I know that saxophone music that is smooth, soft, romantic, and easy listening is often just right for dinner music. The sound of the saxophone is, in and of itself, soothing and sophisticated. Its supportive to good conversation. It calms the soul and soothes the heart. It makes people feel good. Hearing it promotes a feeling that all is well in the world.<br><br>Sax music goes well with wine and good food. It compliments any environment that includes candles, good conversation, fine dining, good friends, elegant settings, and beautiful feelings. The saxophone, if played just right, promotes those feelings and evokes that ambiance. Of course, that feeling and that ambiance is all about love and healing and the uplifting of the spirit.<br><br>That's what music is so powerfully effective at doing: influencing emotion and feelings. Good music, music that uplifts and relaxes, is music that will help people feel good. So, while you might think that all you're doing is choosing the right dinner music, really, what you're doing is helping to spread energy into the world.<br><br>Finally, as a saxophonist, I've heard countless hundreds and thousands of people tell me how perfect sax music is for dining music. I've come to believe that the saxophone aids digestion.<br><br><strong>You can see why its important to consider your dinner music</strong><strong> carefully.</strong>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35048602015-01-14T09:15:00-05:002017-01-16T10:59:53-05:00How To Create More Romance In Your Life<strong>Ah, romance, that wonderful and exciting feeling, that most glorious intertwining of two hearts.</strong> So intense, such a high, but so fleeting, and so often for so many once gone never to return. But does it have to be that way?<br><br><strong>Can we intentionally create and sustain more romance in our lives?</strong> Most folks profess to want more romance in their lives. Indeed, for some, romance is a goal unto itself, or at least high on the list of goals for their love relationships. But if having romance in our committed love relationships is a highly prized goal, and if so many people want more of it in their lives, how can we create, cultivate, and encourage it?<br><br><strong>What concrete steps can we take to make sure that romance takes seed and flourishes?</strong><!--more--> The purpose of this article is to explore the idea that <strong>romance begins in your heart-center and grows outward, and is, to some significant degree, a reflection of how you feel about yourself</strong>.<br><br>In other words, by romancing yourself first you can create the conditions that allow you to experience and express romance with another more easily.<br><br>Listen: <strong>your capacity to love and accept yourself is the measure of your capacity to love and accept others. The same can be said for romance</strong>: your ability and willingness to create romance within is the measure of the romance you can help create in a committed loving relationship.<br><br><strong>True romance isn’t just about flowers and poems.</strong> Flowers and poems are great, of course, but are really just an extension of a feeling that comes from within, something that starts in, and flows from, the heart. Without that heart-felt feeling, flowers and poems are but an attempt be to romantic, not an expression of true romance.<br><br><strong>So how do you create more romance in your life? Begin by romancing yourself.</strong> Love, accept, and forgive yourself on a deep level. Treat yourself with respect and understanding. Buy yourself flowers. Write yourself a poem. Treat yourself with respect and dignity. And remember: if you don’t love yourself first, you can’t truly love another.<br><br><strong>And remember that it is far more important to be the right person than to find the right person.</strong> Our relationships are a reflection of the relationship we have with ourselves. Romance, too, is a reflection of that inner state. By first creating romance within, you’ll be well on your way to creating more romance in your life.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159010/b4924fbe4cbadae3e8bf9beb98d43442966b5ae7/medium/signature-gray.jpg?1447968463" class="size_m justify_none border_" />Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35048592015-01-13T09:10:00-05:002017-01-16T10:59:53-05:00The Saxophone Loves You<strong>As a saxophonist and recording artist who's out and about quite a bit,</strong> I constantly hear from people who tell me how the sound of the saxophone effects them in their hearts, their souls, and their lives. There is something about the sound of the saxophone that has a clear and profound effect on many, many people.<br><br>Here are a few typical comments I hear on a very regular basis:<br><br><em>"It puts me in the mood, and helps me to remember how lucky I am to have someone to love."<br><br>"...it is soothing and healing to my heart and soul."<br><br>"The sounds just captivate and take the mind to a beautiful day."<br><br>"The music actually helps me to purge the day's stresses and cleanse the thoughts that I don't want to carry over into the next day."<br><br>"...it put me into a trance. In my mind I was transported to a Paris street side café looking into the eyes of my wife; it was a magical daydream - the air was filled with love."</em><br><br>Now I've been playing the saxophone for over 50 years and I do have some modest talent on the instrument. However, the point I'm making in this article has nothing to do with me. It has to do with the saxophone itself, and how the very sound of the saxophone effects the human nervous system. {C}{C}<!--more--><br><br><strong>The point is that people love the saxophone!</strong><br><br><strong>Why?</strong> What it is about the instrument that inspires such reaction? Why is it such an attractive, compelling, magnetic, and powerful instrument?<br><br><strong>My answer? Because the saxophone loves you.</strong> Think about it. The saxophone has a warm, sensual, romantic, embracing sound, the very sound of love. It relaxes the mind and uplifts the heart. It inspires thoughts and feelings of love and romance. In some very real way, the psycho-chemical reaction to the sound of the saxophone is the same psycho-chemical reaction that takes place when you are actually experiencing love.<br><br>True, the conclusions I am drawing are not scientific. I am not aware of any studies that have been done regarding the physics of the sound of the saxophone and how it effects human body chemistry (although I think that would be cool). Nevertheless, it seems obvious from the extraordinary popularity of the instrument and how passionately people react to it that the saxophone has a powerful and profound effect on the human nervous system.<br><br>It is said that the saxophone sounds more like the human voice than any other instrument. Perhaps this is part of the mystique and power of the instrument. But one thing is clear: sounds made by the saxophone resonate in a very specific way with the vibration of the human beingness. If played just right, the sound of the saxophone causes a powerful sympathetic vibration with the human nervous system.<br><br>So next time you hear a saxophone played just the way you like it, and you start thinking to yourself, "Ooh, yeah, that sounds nice!" remember this: <strong>the saxophone doesn't just sound good.<br><br>The saxophone loves you.</strong><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159010/b4924fbe4cbadae3e8bf9beb98d43442966b5ae7/medium/signature-gray.jpg?1447968463" class="size_m justify_none border_" />Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35048382015-01-12T09:05:00-05:002017-01-16T10:59:53-05:007 Reasons Why Music Is So Important<strong>Everyone loves music. Music is everywhere, it pervades our world.</strong> Everyone knows music has power and importance. But have you ever stopped to consider why? What it is about music that gives it so much power and importance?<br><br><strong>Here are 7 top reasons:</strong>
<ol> <li>
<strong>Music is a universal language.</strong> It inspires common human feelings and bridges gaps between cultures that spoken languages cannot. It brings people together and creates universal community.</li> <li>
<strong>Music inspires and evokes emotion in a healthy way.</strong> It touches our emotional being and evokes moods and feelings that are sometimes difficult to express. It can change a difficult mood and make it happy or excited; it can change a light mood and take it deeper and more profound.</li> <li>
<strong>Music enhances learning and makes it more enjoyable.</strong> It is scientifically proven that music enhances brain functioning. Playing music uses many brain functions simultaneously: motor control, imagination, hearing, sight, memory, etc.<!--more-->
</li> <li>
<strong>Music creates ambiance.</strong> You can use music in any environment to enhance and augment what is already there. Consider the difference between a party with music and one without, or a sporting event, or a movie, or a romantic restaurant, or driving in your car...</li> <li>
<strong>Music is spiritual.</strong> Music is of the spirit and inspirational to the spirit. All religions use music to help express spiritual values, and all religions use music to uplift the spirit.</li> <li>
<strong>Music sparks the imagination.</strong> It invokes mental imagery and inner scenery that opens the mind to amazing insight and spans the distance between the stars.</li> <li>
<strong>Music is a simple pleasure.</strong> All it takes is your ears and your imagination.</li>
</ol><strong>At the core of the phenomenon of the magic that music creates is spirit.</strong> Music is a gift from God, a sacred expression of the Universal Life Force Energy.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159010/b4924fbe4cbadae3e8bf9beb98d43442966b5ae7/medium/signature-gray.jpg?1447968463" class="size_m justify_none border_" />Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35047752015-01-11T08:50:00-05:002017-01-16T10:59:53-05:00Eddie Harris - Smooth Jazz Saxophone Pioneer<strong>Eddie Harris (1933-1996) was an amazing saxophonist and musician,</strong> an inventor and innovator, an educator, a savvy and successful businessman, a masterful performer, a fierce individualist, and a true smooth jazz saxophone pioneer.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159010/8e93fd1fb0e0c14f3d61e44dfd6a375dbd8904a3/original/eddieharris.jpg?1423057462" class="size_orig justify_left border_" /><strong>Eddie Harris is not a super-famous sax man. </strong> He's not someone that gets mentioned a lot when you ask sax players who they listen to or are influenced by. But when you consider his career and his achievements, and the pervasive influence of his style and technological innovations, it becomes clear that Eddie Harris was a major force in the evolution of jazz/funk/blues fusion music, i.e., the forerunner of smooth jazz. Here's a quote from an article about Eddie Harris at the <a href="http://www.ubiquityrecords.com/artists/EDDIE-HARRIS.html" target="_self" title="Article about smooth jazz saxophone pioneer Eddie Harris">Ubiquity Records</a> website:
<blockquote><em>"In the course of recording more than 70 albums and CD’s, and the author of seven (7) music books, Eddie has displayed himself as a jazz artist who has played blues, rock, jazz fusion, straight-ahead, soul and funk grooves. Eddie’s pioneering work in musical electronics and the effective conjunction of different elements of blues, rhythm and blues, jazz and funk has had widespread influence of what is generally considered today’s music. Eddie’s music has been sampled by over 30 artists including: Macy Gray, Jamiroquai, DJ Jazz Jeff, Heavy D and the Fresh Prince."</em></blockquote>Note the reference to the <em>'effective conjunction of different elements of blues, rhythm and blues, jazz and funk'</em>. That's smooth jazz, man! And from the <a href="http://www.eddieharris.com/" target="_self" title="Eddie Harris homepage">Eddie Harris</a> website:
<blockquote><em>"Eddie’s pioneering work in musical electronics and the effective conjunction of different elements of blues, rhythm and blues, jazz and funk has had widespread influence of what is generally considered today’s music. Eddie’s music has been sampled by over 30 artists including: Macy Gray, Jamiroquai, DJ Jazz Jeff, Heavy D and the Fresh Prince."</em></blockquote><em>'...widespread influence of what is generally considered today's music.'</em> Again, that's referring to smooth jazz. To be precise, Eddie Harris recorded 76 albums. Three of his albums, including his very first release, <em>Exodus To Jazz</em>, were certified gold (over one million copies sold). I guarantee this album was being heard in every household in the country back in the mid-60's. His composition, <em>Freedom Jazz Dance</em>, was recorded by Miles Davis, and subsequently became a jazz standard. He wrote most of the music heard on <em>The Bill Cosby Show</em>.<br><br>One of the most interesting things about Eddie Harris' career was his work as an inventor and innovator. Among his many innovations (including the reed mouthpiece for the trumpet, coronet, trombone and flugelhorn) was the use of the <a href="http://pagesperso-orange.fr/saxophone/pages%20web/Varitone.htm" target="_self" title="Varitone Electrifed Saxophone, by Selmer">Varitone</a>, which was, in effect, an electric pickup for the saxophone. His use of the Varitone can be heard prominently on many of his recordings, including one his most popular hits, <em>Listen Here</em>, from his album <em>The Electrifying Eddie Harris</em>. You can hear the electricified quality, and especially the doubled lower octave, on this video of his hit, <em>Listen Here</em>, recorded in 1967:<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="CsHtO_i4qzM" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/CsHtO_i4qzM/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CsHtO_i4qzM?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br><strong>Finally, Eddie Harris was a fierce individualist.</strong> He followed his heart wherever it led him. He was often villified by critics, first for his commercial success (they thought he was selling out) and later for his forays into funk and electronics.<br><br>Eddie Harris, a true smooth jazz saxophone pioneer.Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35047712015-01-10T08:40:00-05:002020-10-21T02:10:25-04:00Big Jay McNeely<strong>This photo, from 1951, captures the essence of the ecstasy of a true saxual healing.</strong><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159010/ac735680d18dedde32f0d35781b9b6165fec4f79/original/bigjaymcneely.jpg?1423057197" class="size_orig justify_left border_" />Check out those dudes in the front row. What a scream! I've got to try that - laying on my back and playing. <br><br>That's one of my missions in life: the inspire that kind of feeling.<br><br>(Photo by <a href="http://www.willoughbyphotos.com/index.php" target="_blank" title="Mr. Willoughby's Website">Bob Willoughby</a>)Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35047702015-01-09T08:40:00-05:002017-01-16T10:59:52-05:00Grover Washington, Jr. - Smooth Jazz Saxophone Pioneer<strong>"I started by definitely being a copycat. </strong>That's the way it was. I mean, I wanted to be the white Grover Washington Jr. and I think I became the white Grover Washington Jr."<br><br><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159010/08bbd613342826b59366053bbc072498ba481268/medium/grover.jpg?1423056471" class="size_m justify_left border_" />You know who said that? You might be surprised. It was Kenny G!</strong> To me, that's proof positive that Grover Washington Jr. was a true smooth jazz saxophone pioneer: The best selling smooth jazz saxophonist of all time (Kenny G) started off wanting to sound just like Grover!<br><br><strong>I remember seeing Grover and his band at the Embassy Theater</strong> in Fort Wayne, IN back in the late 70's, me and 2,000 of my (mainly) black brothers and sisters. We were all on our feet the whole time. He grooved so hard, so deep. It was incredible! There's an excellent <strong><a href="http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608000614/Grover-Washington-Jr.html" target="_blank" title="Read the whole article...">biography</a></strong> of Grover at musicianguide.com. Here's a couple of interesting excerpts, the first being about his big music business "break":
<blockquote>
<strong>His first big musical break came quite by accident.</strong> Commercially-minded record producer Creed Taylor had put together a set of pop-funk tunes for alto saxophonist Hank Crawford. On the eve of the recording date, Crawford was arrested "on a two-year-old driving charge," Washington told <em>Rolling Stone.</em> Taylor then called in the little-known Washington as a last-minute replacement and had him play the alto parts. The album, <em>Inner City Blues,</em> was released in 1971 under Washington's name. It became a hit--an album, Palmer wrote in the <em>New York Times,</em> "that sold hundreds of thousands of copies and did much to break down barriers between jazz and pop." As Washington admitted to Wansley, "My big break was blind luck."</blockquote><strong>And this about his influence in the pre-smooth jazz music scene:</strong>
<blockquote>"Washington developed what is called a jazz-pop or jazz-rock fusion musical style. It consists of jazz improvisation over a pop or rock beat. Although he came from a jazz background, influenced by such artists as John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, and Oliver Nelson, Washington's wife got him interested in pop music. "I encouraged him to listen to more pop," Christine told <em>Rolling Stone.</em> "His intent was to play jazz, but he started listening to both, and at one point he told me he just wanted to play what he felt, without giving it a label." The popularity of Washington's brand of jazz-pop helped make jazz-pop music a success. Keyboardist Bob James told Wansley, "Grover was one of the main people to make this crossover movement happen. We had people intrigued by jazz, but a lot of it was so complex they didn't relate to it. Grover maintained a very high level of musicianship and yet his playing was very melodic and direct."</blockquote><strong>Smooth jazz pioneer, indeed.</strong> <strong>Grammy award winner, hit song writer, sax legend Grover Washington Jr.</strong> Truly a smooth jazz saxophone pioneer. Check this 1981 video of Grover and his band playing his hit, 'Mister Magic' live in Philadelphia. Awesome!<br><br>Enjoy!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="BwC0jHD46vo" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/BwC0jHD46vo/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BwC0jHD46vo?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/35047692015-01-07T08:20:00-05:002020-11-27T21:21:20-05:00Smooth Jazz Saxophone Pioneer: John Klemmer<strong>When I was just 18 years old, </strong>a friend put on John Klemmer's album, "Waterfalls", and it changed my life forever.<br><br><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159010/b9c5ccb63a8a61b67abd3ed109917603d16a977c/original/klemmer.jpg?1423055742" class="size_orig justify_left border_" />For here was a sound that I had never heard before,</strong> notes cascading by the thousands, a sound bathed in echo and reverb - passionate, sensuous, ethereal, haunting, and beautiful! I was amazed - I had no idea you could make a saxophone sound like that - and like so many others, I was hooked on his sound.<br><br><strong>That was back in 1973. </strong>Waterfalls, released in 1972, was John Klemmer's 6th album. While living in L.A. in the late 60's and early 70's at the height of the rock explosion, he did concerts with Janis Joplin etc. & local L.A. rock groups & musicians. He incorporated these new styles etc. in his recordings for Cadet Concept/Chess & Impulse! records, constantly breaking new ground, broadening & increasing his critical interest & acclaim & fan base. <br><br><strong>Klemmer, the self-styled "Ambassador Of Cool,"</strong> was a smooth jazz saxophone pioneer, composing and performing music back in the 70's that was smooth, hip and easy - way, way before Kenny G broke the world of smooth jazz saxophone wide open.<br><br>Here's a YouTube clip of Klemmer back in the 70's when he was only 19! Amazing innovative stuff! And check the size of the gong that Alphonse Mouzon has - it's huge! Enjoy!<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="7nfsYeo8xh8" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/7nfsYeo8xh8/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7nfsYeo8xh8?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br> Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/34982972015-01-05T13:10:00-05:002017-01-16T10:59:52-05:006 Better Reasons Why The Sax is SO AwesomeIn response to my article <a contents="7 Reasons Why The Saxophone Rocks" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://markmaxwell.bandzoogle.com/blog/blog/7-reasons-why-the-saxophone-is-so-awesome" target="_blank">7 Reasons Why The Saxophone Rocks</a>:<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159010/413138e545fd655764bc5763b8010936fd08e89b/original/6saxes.jpg?1422814017" class="size_orig justify_none border_" /><br><br>We need more of these in the world don't you think? Check out those sexy suits.<br><br>And how often do you see a saxophone that huge (that's a rare bass saxophone)? Wow!Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/34982742015-01-03T08:30:00-05:002017-01-16T10:59:52-05:007 Reasons Why The Saxophone is SO Awesome<p><strong>It seems that everyone loves the sax.</strong> People tell me constantly how much they love the sax. (You probably do, too, or you wouldn't be reading this.)<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159010/7c8d66b66c4347ac90d8c75f6b48c360295232d1/medium/silver-sax-6.jpg?1421462326" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p>But why? What is it about the sax that's so wonderfully cool? And why does it effect so many people so strongly? Here are my thoughts on the subject:</p>
<ol> <li>
<strong>Sax makes you feel good.</strong> The very sound of the sax does something to you. It touches you. It tickles your nervous system. In a good way.</li> <li>
<strong>Sax sounds great anytime,</strong> in just about any kind of music, and makes almost any band more fun to listen to, even lousy ones. Even country music. Even polkas!</li> <li>
<strong>Sax creates great ambiance.</strong> The sax sounds hip, sophisticated, relaxed, sensuous and romantic, and always creates great atmosphere.</li> <li>
<strong>The sax looks cool.</strong> Even just the look of the instrument itself is artistic and fun. Even just having a sax laying around the room creates a hip ambiance.</li> <li>
<strong>Sax music takes you...</strong> A good sax player can really take you places like no other instrument. Sure, guitar players would argue with that, but its true!</li> <li>
<strong>Sax players are cool people.</strong> Almost universally. And I know a lot of them.</li> <li>
<strong>Sax & Sex.</strong> And I think you know what I mean. Need I say more?</li>
</ol>Mark Maxwell Musictag:markmaxwellmusic.com,2005:Post/37243312007-12-11T17:10:00-05:002021-04-21T13:06:58-04:00Sacramento Magazine - Playing Sax With Gloves<p style="padding: 10px 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(75, 75, 75); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', 'Bitstream Vera Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">Got my face in Sacramento Magazine this month.</strong> It was part of spread for the Nevada City, CA event called <strong style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">Victorian Christmas</strong>.</p>
<p style="padding: 10px 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(75, 75, 75); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', 'Bitstream Vera Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><img src="//mark-maxwell.com/images/mm_sacmag.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></p>
<p style="padding: 10px 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(75, 75, 75); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', 'Bitstream Vera Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Ain’t it beautiful? You’ll notice I’m wearing gloves? This picture was taken last December, and man it was <em>cold</em> that night! But business was good, people were friendly – life was beautiful!</p>Mark Maxwell Music