Since our first World Saxophone Quartet video has been viewed more than 30,000 times on YouTube, we thought we’d go back to the tape from last year’s concert at Lovejoy School and cut three more videos. Enjoy.
Categorized | Uncategorized
2 Comments For This Post
Leave a Reply
Twitter Updates
-
CATEGORIES
- 2008 Presidential Campaign (104)
- Antonio D. French (11)
- Board of Aldermen (7)
- Columnists (1)
- Comptroller (1)
- Crime (15)
- Development (9)
- Ed Martin (3)
- Education (50)
- Elections & Campaigns (88)
- Entertainment (15)
- Features (66)
- Fire Dept (1)
- Governor (16)
- Illinois (1)
- Mayor (10)
- Media (16)
- Missouri (56)
- Race (18)
- St. Louis (78)
- State House (19)
- State News (1)
- State Senate (29)
- The White House (8)
- U.S. (10)
- U.S. House (12)
- U.S. Senate (6)
- Uncategorized (653)
- Videos (155)
- War (12)
-
ARCHIVES
- July 2008 (15)
- June 2008 (41)
- May 2008 (57)
- April 2008 (109)
- March 2008 (86)
- February 2008 (125)
- January 2008 (99)
- December 2007 (55)
- November 2007 (64)
- October 2007 (90)
- September 2007 (91)
- August 2007 (80)
- July 2007 (91)
- June 2007 (104)
- May 2007 (97)
- April 2007 (49)
- March 2007 (93)
- February 2007 (74)
- January 2007 (122)
- December 2006 (99)
- November 2006 (114)
- October 2006 (120)
- September 2006 (99)
- August 2006 (114)
- July 2006 (109)
- June 2006 (111)
- May 2006 (113)
- April 2006 (98)
- March 2006 (100)
- February 2006 (107)
- January 2006 (62)
- December 2005 (26)
- November 2005 (27)
- October 2005 (41)
July 15th, 2007 at 11:56 am
As one who plays saxophone and piano, I have thought a lot about this age of American Idol, and some of its shortcomings.
In the thirties and forties, a lot of dance bands featured vocalists, but the musicians were the stars. Duke Ellington and Count Basie had orchestra’s packed with legendary characters. Benny Goodman was a figure of international importance because of his clarinet and his band.
Sinatra might have been the person who changed things in a fundamental way, with his dominant presence as a vocalist.
Even in the mid-fifties, with Elvis being so important backed by a basic band, we still had gigantic jazz stars, with downbeat polls for all instruments. Legendary figures, with tragic stories like Charlie Parker and others who passed away too young, were objects of fascination and musical study.
With the Beatles’ success, we have a lot of people who have grown up with the guitar as the dominant musical instrument—-and the saxophones, trumpets, and the pianos have taken a secondary place.
As one who operates a karaoke system, I am part of the problem. It has been a while since I have had a really good jam session, although i do play my saxes as part of what i do every night. (a lot of karaoke tracks work really well for that).
Just observations—-the inevitable track of changing culture—but i am glad to see things like what you have posted here.
And anyone who has not been to Riddles on a Wednesday night to observe the dazzling talent of Ptah Williams—you are missing something.
I think a lot is being missed by our culture’s generally shallow observance of talented musicians.
kjoe
July 16th, 2007 at 11:46 am
The The World Saxophone Quartet used the same structure for all the peices presented here. Reminds me of a miniature Grateful Dead “space” set each time. They rock! I liked best the blues-oriented piece.
The kids’ faces tell a lot. Some clearly don’t get it, and others clearly do. Some seem to think “What in the World?” and others seem to be thinking “Wow!”
The younger kids seemed more receptive. One wonders whether it makes an impression on them that music can be made without electronics.
t