Perhaps best known as the saxophonist behind the iconic solo from Whitney Houston’s, I Will Always Love You, Kirk Whalum’s passionate playing has been moving audiences all over the world.
Shaped by his Memphis Gospel roots, he shaped his tone through work in the Houston nightclubs in the early 80’s. He initially became known as a sideman and session player with such artists as Barbra Streisand, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Larry Carlton, Quincy Jones, and others. He formed his own band in the 1980’s and has won many awards, including a Grammy in 2011.
Inspired by his faith, Kirk became an ordained minister and earned a Masters of Art in Religion. He serves his community in many ways, including his daily podcast, BIYE (Bible In Your Ear).
In addition to his 25 solo recordings, he is also a part of the popular soul/jazz group, BWB: Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown.
Roberto’s Winds, at 149 W. 46th St, New York City, is one of the very few music shops left standing today in the world-famous area that used to be known as Music Row.
His famous Mark VI Room!
David Halliday is a seriously busy man. Whether it’s playing, teaching, or producing, David really cares about the music and saxophone at the highest level. This week we sat down with David to chat about his career, his time spent studying with the great Joe Henderson and many other points that we know you’ll find very interesting and useful to your own lives as musicians. David is the Director of Jazz Studies at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT. He is also an active recording artist and record producer. Halliday has produced or co-produced 18 albums and appears as a sideman on over 60 more. The list of artists he has performed with is impressive and includes such names as, David Archuleta, Sarah Uriatre Berry, Jeff Coffin, Eddie Daniels, Linda Eder, Kurt Elling, Ben Folds, The Four Tops, Galactic, Dizzy Gillespie, Larry Goldings, and Josh Groban.
What a day in David’s life looks like and how he keeps it all running.
David’s time spent studying with the legendary, Joe Henderson.
What David tells his college students when it comes to making it in this business.
The four quadrants and what David will be focusing on this year.
Connect with David on Instagram!
Miles Osland has distinguished himself as an educator, recording and performing artist, author, arranger and composer.
Currently the Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone at the University of Kentucky, he has appeared throughout North & South America, Europe and Asia as a guest conductor, performer and clinician for Selmer (France) Saxophones, D’Addario Woodwinds and Jody Jazz mouthpieces. His compositions and arrangements, available through ejazzlines, have been recognized and supported by fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kentucky Arts Council, and by numerous other arts foundations. He is also a recipient of the Kentucky Governor’s Award In The Arts for excellence in education.
Professor Osland has over 30 CD’s released on Sea Breeze Jazz, Open Loop and Mark Custom records. Ten of his recordings have been submitted for Grammy nominations.
Three books authored by Mr. Osland are available through Dorn Publications and his scholarly work (which includes over 75 articles and reviews on saxophone technique and jazz improvisation) have been published in a variety of publications including Downbeat, Jazz Educators Journal, Jazz Player Magazine, Saxophone Journal, Selmer Woodwind Notes and Windplayer Magazine. He has three books/CD’s published by Alfred titled: Solo Transcriptions and Performing Artist Master Class CD: The Music of Bob Mintzer, The Music of Nestor Torres and The Music of Eddie Daniels.
His 2-volume Scale Anthology Series; Linear & Vertical Exercises for the Contemporary Saxophonist is a resource for teachers and students to explore and get comfortable with many of the different scales and arpeggios.
the ONE item Miles absolutely recommends for every saxophone player!
If you want to contact Miles, click here for his email.
Jeff Ellwood is an important voice in education and on the tenor saxophone. He is the director of jazz studies at Mt. San Antonio College as well as adjunct faculty at Cal State Fullerton. This week, we caught up with Jeff to talk about his development as a musician, his approach to education, and his amazing book, Developing Bebop Lines. Jeff has studied with some of the the most important teachers over the years and now has become one of the most important teachers in the jazz world.
Jeff has studied with the likes of Billy Pierce, George Garzone, James Moody, Rick Margitza, and Ralph Bowen. He has also performed with some of the top musicians such as, Tony Bennett, Jerry Bergonzi, Bill Cunliffe, Eddie Daniels and Arturo Sandoval.
Teaching music majors as well as non-majors and inspiring a love of music.
Jeff’s time at Berklee and what some of the best teachers in the world did for him.
His book, Developing Bebop Lines and how he approaches teaching this important language.
How he approaches line writing and developing your own sound in the legacy of jazz.
Jeff answers our 5 famous questions!
Consistently acknowledged as America’s foremost classical saxophonist, Harvey Pittel has popularized the very concept of the saxophone in concert and has elevated his instrument to a new level of appreciation by lovers of fine music.
His discography includes twenty-eight recordings of duos, trios, quartets and concertos with orchestra, and he has been featured on soundtracks of several films including Woody Allen’s MANHATTAN. In addition, he has been a guest on the Today show and a featured artist on LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER and SPOLETO/U.S.A. telecasts.
His Harvey Pittel Trio and Harvey Pittel Saxophone Quartet have appeared in hundreds of concerts throughout North America and around the world.
His pedagogy, “Harvey Pittel Presents the Teachings of the Master Joe Allard” and “Harvey Pittel’s Visit With Marcel Mule” can be viewed on the Andreas Eastman You Tube site.
His numerous recordings include BACH AND NOODLES and MOVING ALONG (“Subtlety and technical perfection…exceptional mastery…Pittel’s artistry contradicts all the normal criticisms leveled against the instrument like a David slaying Goliath…Like a fine lieder singer, Pittel is a master”) with saxophone and piano (Crystal Records CD 654 and 655, respectively), THE HARVEY PITTEL SAXOPHONE QUARTET LIVE IN CHICAGO, TEX SAX,HARVEY PITTEL WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WIND ENSEMBLE, Jerry Junkin conducting at Carnegie Hall and performing concertos by Karel Husa and David Maslanka (Mark Records 2106, 2208, 2697 and 3932, respectively), and his recent release of LA LINGE, LA SONORITE: A TRIBUTE TO MARCEL MULE, also on Mark Records, featuring Kol Nidre by Max Bruch, Theme From Shindler’s List by John Williams, the Concerto by Ingolf Dahl, and Concertino by Hye Kyeung Lee. The recent recordings TEX SAX: NEXT GENERATION and OVER THE RAINBOW AND BACH AGAIN were listed for Grammy nomination and are available on the Mark and Longhorn/Naxos labels. The American record Guide referred to Harvey Pittel as “the standard-bearer of American saxophone playing” for his SEXTUOR CD on Crystal records.
Ian Hendrickson-Smith is on top of the musical world. He has one of the most diverse and amazing careers out of any musician playing right now. You can catch him on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, playing with the Roots, at a jazz club in New York City, or recording albums for his label, Rondette Jazz on any given night of the week. Ian was also the longtime bari player for Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. We caught up with Ian for a fascinating conversation about all things saxophone and music this week. Ian is a really genuine guy and had great answers to all of our questions. Get ready to be amazed by the one and only, Ian Hendrickson-Smith!
How Ian maintains such a busy schedule and still finds time to keep doing more.
His development as a musician including starting on another instrument.
Living on the road 250 days a year while playing with Sharon Jones.
Playing all the horns and how he approaches them.
Running Rondette Jazz and how studying the art of recording has affected his music.
Ian answers our famous five questions.
Check out the Rondette Jazz Label!