By John Ferreira
By the 1940's the saxophone was a well established and very popular instrument in both classical and jazz music. As the 40's brought more musical styles like jump blues, rhythm and blues and rock and roll the instrument would become even more important and play a major roll in the new sound.
Illinios Jacqeut was a very good swing jazz player and like many others he was drawn to the new sounds. He was only19 years old when he worked with Lionel Hampton's band and recorded his famous solo that started others honkin' and screramin' to start the beginning of the rock and roll saxophone.
One kid he inspired was Big Jay McNeely who took the honkin' over the edge and made a show of it... laying on his back, strolling into the crowds and walking on top of bars. (That's where the term "honkers and bar walkers" came from. That's a good cd compilation series featuring other rock and roll saxophonists)
Ahh... those crazy kids. This was a new generation, born in the 20's right around the time Louis Armstrong and Coleman Hawkinswere coming on the scene. They probably thought these guys were nuts, but they fuelled the bands and drove the audience crazy with their energy.
Honkin' and screamin' aside, the saxophone, especially the tenor was sounding big and raunchy like never before. Guys were growling more and making it squawk and really wailin'. The honkin' was a fad that passed quickly but it helped to take the sax to another level of popularity, The rock and roll saxophone sound was now mandatory in all the jump, R&B, and rock and roll bands.
This new sound of the 40's rhythm and blues produced many rock and roll saxophone stars. Besides the ones I mentioned above, here's a few others; Joe Houston, Red Prysock, Sam "the man" Taylor, Lee Allen, Willis "gatortail" Jackson, Louis Jordan and King Curtis.
"Tenor battles" were popular as soon as you had a couple greats at any given time, like Coleman Hawkins with Lester Young, or Red Prysock with Sil Austin, and two of my favorites Sam Taylor with King Curtis.
Most of these guys were coming from the swing scene as well but were involved with their own R&B / rock and roll groups or were sidemen to star singers like Little Richard, Fats Domino, Wynonie Harris, and Ray Charles.
Without a doubt, one of the most influential for us guys playing any kind of rock and roll saxophone today is King Curtis, who came onto the New York scene shortly after the rock and roll movement got into full swing in the mid 50's. Of coarse you've heard his sax on many hit records from Aretha Franklin to The Coasters and he had many of his own as well in the 60's.
Unfortunately he was killed tragically at a young age. For me, his was the quintessential rock and roll saxophone
Rock on JF
Johnny Ferreira is an award winning saxophonist, international touring and recording artist. Advocator of saxophone music that rocks, jumps, and swings. For more information, music, and articles including audio samples visit http://JohnnyFerreira.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Ferreira
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
The Curse of the Musical Legends
By Elaine Sihera
Among my friends on MySpace are four of Bob Marley's children, one son for John Lennon and one daughter of Nat King Cole. What is becoming patently obvious to me is that neither of these rich, wealthy and talented children will ever be 'legends' like their fathers, no matter how hard they work and how desperately they wish to make their own name. They will always be hovering just over the sea of mediocrity while being judged every step by their father's fame. Dad will always be hanging around like a sweet smell to remind them of their position. Right throughout history, children of legends seem able to bask in their glory and are given a clear path to their own success, like succession to a royal lineage. But they seem unable to improve on that parent's contribution or supersede them in their success. And I think I know what could be holding some of them back.
Bob Marley had 13 children, all of them sharing in a huge inheritance from their father which grows relentlessly each year, averaging $7 million annually, with him being the most famous reggae artist on earth. His sons have enjoyed their own music studio where they can do whatever they like ever since they were teenagers. The result is that four have emerged as real talents: Damian Marley (who is likened to his Dad and is affectionately called 'Junior Gong'), with his own racy pop style, Stephen, Ky-Mani and Ziggy, all different in their own musical renditions and all eagerly competing to wear Marley's musical crown. Damian certainly looks like his father but it is Ziggy who sounds like him.
Too Close for ComfortZiggy is the oldest with a cracking voice and should have eclipsed his brothers ages ago. However, while he has a solid fan base, one can sense that he is not regarded as exciting as the others, as he is not mentioned as often. Alas, Ziggy Marley might not realise this, but he suffers from the same problem as Julian Lennon - they both sound too much like their fathers and so create some conflicting dissonance in their listeners. Listen to both of them sing and you get goosepimples hearing their voices. But the public doesn't quite like that. It is too close for comfort without providing the original article.
In fact, the public has an ambivalent attitude towards such children. They would give anything to have Marley or Lennon back and secretly hope the offspring can continue to deliver in the same vein. But when they oblige, they perhaps sound too much like Dad, which confuses the audience and irritates them instead. The end result is that, had their Dads not been so legendary, their voices would have made their own impact. But how can you better Bob Marley or John Lennon's voice and style? You can't, so it is best to build up your own style, which Damian and Ky-Mani, in particular, seem to have succeeded in doing. Yet, in true competitive form, children will always try to imitate or outdo their parents, and famous ones are even more so.
Like a king, Bob Marley has bequeathed a huge legacy to his sons. They are like gods and princes for the fans they have, mainly through the magical Marley name. However, they have to fight harder for their place in the music world than lesser mortals. While their money can give them most of what they desire, the Marley name will only carry them so far before they find out what a millstone it could be for them. After all, being given a head start by their father, they will never be certain if they would have made it without that famous name. The Marleys all have their own little dynasties just now, each competing fiercely for that elusive musical legacy. But the ultimate Marley crown will never be theirs because their father's impact is too strong. Just take one look on MySpace and it is clear, from the members' choices, that the boys are not really competing against each other. They are actually competing against their father who is still very much in the running. No contest there. In essence we love the sons and are fascinated by them, as they represent a part of the Old Man, but it's the dad we really want and, even worse, who we use to judge their actions.
Basking in the ShadowsNatasha Cole is no different. No matter how talented she is, just like Nancy Sinatra, they will always be hanging behind their famous fathers, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. Being women too, they are almost expected to stay in the background, basking in Dad's shadow, real success being perennially elusive for them. They are never expected to measure up. Unlike Julian Lennon and the Marley boys, they are perceived in a different way. Being women, they're good, but that's it. They're not expected to surpass their fathers. Their aspirations, and talent, are never seen to be in competition with their dads at all, though the legacy has ensured them some success.The trouble with all those siblings and their legendary dads is that the children are not really expected to do anything spectacular because their fathers have already attained immortality.
Becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy, the curse of the legendary parent inevitably ensures that there is only one legend from each family. Everyone else who follows them, no matter how great their talent, will always fall just short of perfection and be consigned to the footnotes of history.
ELAINE SIHERA (Ms Cyprah - http://www.myspace.com/elaineone) is an expert author, media contributor and columnist. The first Black graduate of the OU and a post-graduate of Cambridge University. Elaine is a CONSULTANT for Diversity Management, Personal Empowerment and Relationships. Author of: 10 Easy Steps to Growing Older Disgracefully; 10 Easy Steps to Finding Your Ideal Soulmate!; Money, Sex & Compromise and Managing the Diversity Maze, among others (available on http://www.amazon.co.uk). Also the founder of the British Diversity Awards and the Windrush Men and Women of the Year Achievement Awards. She describes herself as, "Fit, Fabulous, Over-fifty and Ready to Fly!"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elaine_Sihera
Among my friends on MySpace are four of Bob Marley's children, one son for John Lennon and one daughter of Nat King Cole. What is becoming patently obvious to me is that neither of these rich, wealthy and talented children will ever be 'legends' like their fathers, no matter how hard they work and how desperately they wish to make their own name. They will always be hovering just over the sea of mediocrity while being judged every step by their father's fame. Dad will always be hanging around like a sweet smell to remind them of their position. Right throughout history, children of legends seem able to bask in their glory and are given a clear path to their own success, like succession to a royal lineage. But they seem unable to improve on that parent's contribution or supersede them in their success. And I think I know what could be holding some of them back.
Bob Marley had 13 children, all of them sharing in a huge inheritance from their father which grows relentlessly each year, averaging $7 million annually, with him being the most famous reggae artist on earth. His sons have enjoyed their own music studio where they can do whatever they like ever since they were teenagers. The result is that four have emerged as real talents: Damian Marley (who is likened to his Dad and is affectionately called 'Junior Gong'), with his own racy pop style, Stephen, Ky-Mani and Ziggy, all different in their own musical renditions and all eagerly competing to wear Marley's musical crown. Damian certainly looks like his father but it is Ziggy who sounds like him.
Too Close for ComfortZiggy is the oldest with a cracking voice and should have eclipsed his brothers ages ago. However, while he has a solid fan base, one can sense that he is not regarded as exciting as the others, as he is not mentioned as often. Alas, Ziggy Marley might not realise this, but he suffers from the same problem as Julian Lennon - they both sound too much like their fathers and so create some conflicting dissonance in their listeners. Listen to both of them sing and you get goosepimples hearing their voices. But the public doesn't quite like that. It is too close for comfort without providing the original article.
In fact, the public has an ambivalent attitude towards such children. They would give anything to have Marley or Lennon back and secretly hope the offspring can continue to deliver in the same vein. But when they oblige, they perhaps sound too much like Dad, which confuses the audience and irritates them instead. The end result is that, had their Dads not been so legendary, their voices would have made their own impact. But how can you better Bob Marley or John Lennon's voice and style? You can't, so it is best to build up your own style, which Damian and Ky-Mani, in particular, seem to have succeeded in doing. Yet, in true competitive form, children will always try to imitate or outdo their parents, and famous ones are even more so.
Like a king, Bob Marley has bequeathed a huge legacy to his sons. They are like gods and princes for the fans they have, mainly through the magical Marley name. However, they have to fight harder for their place in the music world than lesser mortals. While their money can give them most of what they desire, the Marley name will only carry them so far before they find out what a millstone it could be for them. After all, being given a head start by their father, they will never be certain if they would have made it without that famous name. The Marleys all have their own little dynasties just now, each competing fiercely for that elusive musical legacy. But the ultimate Marley crown will never be theirs because their father's impact is too strong. Just take one look on MySpace and it is clear, from the members' choices, that the boys are not really competing against each other. They are actually competing against their father who is still very much in the running. No contest there. In essence we love the sons and are fascinated by them, as they represent a part of the Old Man, but it's the dad we really want and, even worse, who we use to judge their actions.
Basking in the ShadowsNatasha Cole is no different. No matter how talented she is, just like Nancy Sinatra, they will always be hanging behind their famous fathers, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. Being women too, they are almost expected to stay in the background, basking in Dad's shadow, real success being perennially elusive for them. They are never expected to measure up. Unlike Julian Lennon and the Marley boys, they are perceived in a different way. Being women, they're good, but that's it. They're not expected to surpass their fathers. Their aspirations, and talent, are never seen to be in competition with their dads at all, though the legacy has ensured them some success.The trouble with all those siblings and their legendary dads is that the children are not really expected to do anything spectacular because their fathers have already attained immortality.
Becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy, the curse of the legendary parent inevitably ensures that there is only one legend from each family. Everyone else who follows them, no matter how great their talent, will always fall just short of perfection and be consigned to the footnotes of history.
ELAINE SIHERA (Ms Cyprah - http://www.myspace.com/elaineone) is an expert author, media contributor and columnist. The first Black graduate of the OU and a post-graduate of Cambridge University. Elaine is a CONSULTANT for Diversity Management, Personal Empowerment and Relationships. Author of: 10 Easy Steps to Growing Older Disgracefully; 10 Easy Steps to Finding Your Ideal Soulmate!; Money, Sex & Compromise and Managing the Diversity Maze, among others (available on http://www.amazon.co.uk). Also the founder of the British Diversity Awards and the Windrush Men and Women of the Year Achievement Awards. She describes herself as, "Fit, Fabulous, Over-fifty and Ready to Fly!"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elaine_Sihera
Guitar Hero is a Great Game
By Bill McRea
There are many games that have been developed for the Playstation. Some are hits others are not. It is not unlikely that there are a few games that are guitar-based out there. If there are, they are nowhere close to Guitar Hero's success.
Guitar Hero reached an all-time high ranking as the eighth most popular game for the Playstation. And you should know what that means considering the whole lot of games developed for the Playstation.
So what makes Guitar Hero such a hit? It's probably the fact that it mimics the real life experience of any guitar enthusiast who ever hits stardom. Since you progress to the next level (the opportunity to play at another, usually a bigger event) once you give a sterling performance at the previous.
Guitar Hero's success is not certainly unconnected to the fact that you have the opportunity of catching the thrill of a crowd yelling and thumping to your music albeit computer simulation.
Guitar Hero, although played usually with the included "toy guitar" interface, does not require that you be a guitar pro to get to the summit of your virtual guitar career. Like all games, it depends on just how much time you spend with it.
Furthermore, you can be almost any guitar star of your fancy. It's your turn to enjoy their celebrity status without the hassles from the press and other prying eyes. And, you can always be another guitar star whenever you like.
Guitar Hero's makers, Harmonix Music Systems, were truly not expecting the kind of success it brought. Their initial thought being that most kids were no longer interested in rock music having fallen for hip hop. Well, Guitar Hero's success might be proving otherwise. Or maybe, it is proving that once it is a great game that helps people fulfill their fantasies, they will go for it.
If you've always longed to be a guitar hero, if you've ever wanted to meet with rock hall-of-famers, if you've ever wanted to be the toast of a great crowd, Guitar Hero's waiting to give you your opportunity.
Bill McRea is the publisher of Guitar Warehouse the best place to buy a guitar We specialize in electric guitars. Best Price Guarantee and free guitar lessons too.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_McRea
There are many games that have been developed for the Playstation. Some are hits others are not. It is not unlikely that there are a few games that are guitar-based out there. If there are, they are nowhere close to Guitar Hero's success.
Guitar Hero reached an all-time high ranking as the eighth most popular game for the Playstation. And you should know what that means considering the whole lot of games developed for the Playstation.
So what makes Guitar Hero such a hit? It's probably the fact that it mimics the real life experience of any guitar enthusiast who ever hits stardom. Since you progress to the next level (the opportunity to play at another, usually a bigger event) once you give a sterling performance at the previous.
Guitar Hero's success is not certainly unconnected to the fact that you have the opportunity of catching the thrill of a crowd yelling and thumping to your music albeit computer simulation.
Guitar Hero, although played usually with the included "toy guitar" interface, does not require that you be a guitar pro to get to the summit of your virtual guitar career. Like all games, it depends on just how much time you spend with it.
Furthermore, you can be almost any guitar star of your fancy. It's your turn to enjoy their celebrity status without the hassles from the press and other prying eyes. And, you can always be another guitar star whenever you like.
Guitar Hero's makers, Harmonix Music Systems, were truly not expecting the kind of success it brought. Their initial thought being that most kids were no longer interested in rock music having fallen for hip hop. Well, Guitar Hero's success might be proving otherwise. Or maybe, it is proving that once it is a great game that helps people fulfill their fantasies, they will go for it.
If you've always longed to be a guitar hero, if you've ever wanted to meet with rock hall-of-famers, if you've ever wanted to be the toast of a great crowd, Guitar Hero's waiting to give you your opportunity.
Bill McRea is the publisher of Guitar Warehouse the best place to buy a guitar We specialize in electric guitars. Best Price Guarantee and free guitar lessons too.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_McRea
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