I end up in many different performance situations, and I have found that listening to music that gets me in the correct headspace for a gig is essential for me. Here are three recordings that I will put on before heading to a big band gig where I’m performing on the baritone saxophone/bass clarinet chair.
- Nostalgia In Times Square – Mingus Big Band (1993)
Ronnie, Ronnie, and more Ronnie – his sound is such an essential part of this recording. Whether he’s filling the bottom of the section, or blowing over the top of the band, the sound, and presence is just incredible. I also love the time feel of this band – there’s a real urgency in the music.
2. Live At The Village Vanguard – Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra (1967)
Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra is my favourite big band. The groove! The shouts! The solos! The harmonies! It gives me everything I want in a big band. There’s a ton of energy in this recording, and I love the “loose precision” of this band. It reminds me to go for it every time I play. Also, how could I not mention Pepper Adams (baritone sax), and Eddie Daniels’ clarinet solo on ?
3. The Great Paris Concert – Duke Ellington Orchestra (1973 – recorded in 1963)
This is the first Ellington recording that I really got into. There’s so much variety in this set of recordings. For me, listening to Harry Carney fill out the saxophone section has been a huge influence on how I support a sax section with my sound. It has also taught me when to lay back, and when I can lean on the section creating a little bit of tension, and forward motion. Harry Carney has some beautiful moments on both baritone saxophone, and clarinet (a doubling situation that I’m called upon for frequently).
I know that I’m leaving some major big bands off of this short list, but these are the first three that I reach for when I’m driving to a gig where I’m performing on the baritone saxophone chair.
What do you listen to on the way to your gigs?