Famous Saxophone Players
 |
 KRS One I Got Next  US $.99
|
 Linda Ronstadt Whats New DVD Audio 51 Surround 2002 Sealed New US $59.99
|
 used RSR Mark 7 high baffle large chamber tenor mouthpiece w Guardala reed US $58.00
|
![Couldnt Stand the Weather Remaster] by Stevie Ray Vaughan CD Mar 1999](http://www.saxophone-place.com/images/e/140754208331_0.jpg) Couldnt Stand the Weather Remaster] by Stevie Ray Vaughan CD Mar 1999 US $2.50
|
 Sheryl Crow The Globe Sessions DVD Audio 2003 US $9.99
|
 BBKING OF THE BLUES BOX BOX BBKING 4 CDS 1992 US $59.00
|
 WANTED cd Eaa Aiyo Nio Kovta Greek singers GREECE pop 16tk 2006 US $6.95
|
 The Art of Tea by Michael Franks CD Oct 1990 Reprise US $7.00
|
 Joe Lovano Flights of Fancy CD US $4.50
|
 Vytas Krass Soloist 6 093 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Sax US $140.00
|
 Vytas Krass Soloist 5 086 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Sax US $140.00
|
 FRED SOKOLOW NEW DVD AUDIO US $15.99
|
 GLENN MILLER The Centennial Collection CD and DVD CD has 3 unreleased US $8.99
|
 Vytas Krass Soloist 7 100 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Sax US $140.00
|
 |
Jazz Samba
List Price:  |
 |
Songs of Joy & Peace
List Price: |
 |
Feels So Good
List Price: |
Buddy, Can You Spare A Euro
A traveling blues singer takes us on a tour of Paris, illustrated with video, where he explores the locality and performs in some well known spots.
The city of the Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge and the Notre Dame Cathedral is home to a wonderfully diverse group of people battling to live and breathe in the French metropolis.
Lets Play The Blues On The Metro
The Paris underground is the densest system on the globe, and some of the statistics help you to appreciate this. For example, there are more than three hundred stations and in the whole of Paris there is nowhere further than four hundred metres from a station! The conglomeration has also been a traditional haven for the 'street singer'. As I'm one those fabled creatures, I decided to check it out.
How Does One Start?
One would guess that you just find a spot and start to play - not all all! That romantic idea has long faded. The whole thing is organized now and new musicians need to sit an audition ( that's right - a real one!) with the street music performance department of RATP, the folks that oversee the metro.
And listen to this - every year, the best of the Paris metro musicians are recorded in a professional studio and a CD is released for general sale to the public - things have changed a lot! As you might think, the style of the music varies wildly,ranging from tin whistle blowers to string quartets. Some celebrated French stars were discovered playing here.
Of course, there are rules, like 'no amps', 'no album sales', etc. I would obviously have to bend a few of these rules, I need to relate. However, in this life nothing ever works out how you want it to ...
Time For The Big Audition - Gulp!
I caught a train, guitar case in my hand (sounds similar to an old blues song, wouldn't you say?) in the Southern part of France and several hours later I was sitting in a small room in the Metro offices, waiting for the test to start. I'd decided that I'd play 4 of my best and sing like a bird - 'need this license, need this license' was my unspoken prayer. It represented the door to riches beyond my wildest dreams (and they could get very wild.)
It seemed obvious that, I thought, my talents would be appraised by a hardened team of pros. This would be difficult. I tinkered with my instrument and waited, almost apprehensively. A man came in, switched on a camcorder and mumbled "Hello - play something." He then sat down and seemed to be reading a paper! Unshaken, I started a rather loud version of Love In Vain from the playing of Robert Johnson, at which he raised an eyebrow. After demanding if I played anything remotely modern, to which I said no, he informed me that the audition was over and I would receive a letter in due course. That was all really.
I caught the metro to Montmartre, had a meal with my mother-in-law who lives close by, and took the train back home. Strangely enough, several days after that I got an letter of acceptance and planned my first day performing in the French capital.
I Love Paris In The Springtime, When It Glitters...
Don't like to to let you down, my friends, but that's what the metro was - a bit of a let down. Well,maybe that's not exactly true. It just wasn't what I hoping for, that was all. I arrived on a cold day and went into the nearest station to look for a place to play. That was my first error. There are many musicians, so it's necessary to get there ridiculously early to ensure you get a good place. In fact, like property, the buzz word is location, location, location.
Having said that, I witnessed some good performers while I was looking around, a whole range of musical styles from jazz to opera. In one station crossover access link (these are often very roomy!) I stumbled upon half a Russian band, complete with a dancer. Of course, the rules put in place by the authorities didn't mean a thing underground. About 75 per cent of all performers use amps and very often sell albums. I can appreciate why this is, in my city, sales of albums account for 50% of my income from street playing.
One Success Story - Sax Will Always Sell
Paradoxically, the musicians making most money are the ones that don't bother with a license, and don't even perform in the tunnels. Here's how it works. These musicians often play a sax, or some kind of horn, or an accordion (of course) and entertain the passengers that travel on the carriages. I went with one of these guys on one of his trips and we chatted a little, as we were brothers, you might say.
He took a train for five stations, blowing jazz saxophone over a backing tape. I thought he was very competent at his music and he engaged people, which is a good trick to pull off in the city. He repeated the trip in the other direction for eight hours a day.
It was very pleasant to ascend into fresh air and open air again, reflecting that the life of a musical troglodyte is not for me. The rest of the day I spent exploring some other parts of this nice city, and playing a song or two in some nice places above ground. Find more details on play blues guitar and acoustic blues guitar lessons.
|
Tags: famous saxophone players, famous saxophone players list, famous saxophone players mouthpieces, famous saxophone players setups, famous saxophone players wiki, famous_artist, sax, saxophone, sbiexample, sheetmusic