Today was the open house at the LA Yamaha Atelier with Rico and Yamaha products out in full force! Every sax neck you could imagine, G1, G3, F1, M1, silver plate, gold plate, un-lacquered, cryo, gold lacquer! The full lines of saxophones and clarinets! Specialty options to see and try like cryogenic saxes, metal thumb hooks and thumb posts, wireless pack clip plates, and a laundry list of Frankenstein experiments that must go unmentioned at this time.

 

I love Yamaha saxes and Yamaha staff! Always trying stuff! Listening to players – then trying stuff. Yamaha has many of the best players around to work with and the ideas were flying again today! Love that energy!!!

 

Full line of Saxes included 475 and 875 Soprano’s (silver plate, black lac. gold lac), Z and 875EX Alto’s in all finishes. Same with Tenors, and a great 62 Bari! What a treat to see, hear and play. I had the guys pull one of the Cryo Altos I helped demonstrate last month for video and the response was great on it with all the players!

 

I was pretty metro too when I had them dig out a form fit, leather Alto gig bag to show off too (The Cryo Alto’s come with these bags and they are really pretty.)

 

I was bad and ignored the clarinets since we had a cool guy out from the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and I was not going to play in front of him! His name was Ben Freimuth and he looked too young to have a symphony gig, but really kicked butt!

 

 I really enjoyed the hang with sax players today. A guy I had not met yet, from Australia (but an Englishman living in Australia) was Gary Honor. He was a great player and really awesome guy. I spent a good deal of time getting to know Gary and he had quite a story. Gary had Bell Palsy caused by shingles in his ear, creating a horrible impossibility for playing a sax and some serious tough times in his life.

 

Saxophone Players Gary Honor, Greg Vail and Mindi Abair

Gary stuck with it, finding creative ways to try and play. First thing I noticed today was a weird piece sticking out of the side of his mouthpiece. Gary explained it served as a support and guide to keep it in place while the feeling and muscles were still weak. He even told of an odd contraption he made out of wetsuit material that went around the back of his head and around his chin with a hole in it for the mouthpiece to play. He was attempting to create the support his facial muscles refused him, and refused to stop trying.

 

I was inspired by his passion and love of music. He went thru some stuff that any sax player would freak out about, and he was playing GREAT and a very happy and humbled man from this experience. Inspired is the word! Thanks Gary Honor for sharing!

 

I love Shiltz! He is one dang funny English guy, all the time! You NEVER get a straight word out of him, but some pretty aggressive sax playing can light up the room when he blows! I didn’t get a lot of time with him since he was busy getting the latest set of dents removed from his Tenor – AGAIN!

 

Robert Kyle is an LA regular and I love his playing. Great guy and great player! He snuck in a little later and was in the Frankenstein world for a bit trying little options out, but did hang in the big room and we hung.

 

One person I don’t get to see very often and really enjoyed was Mindi Abair! When Mindi first mover to LA, I met her and worked with her thru the Kilauea organization. Mindi was pretty dang gutsy! She loaded up a little car and drove out here with what she could fit in her Honda. She made the transition from survival waitress gigs thru music related jobs like marketing and tour manager with BrainChild, to playing with me in Kilauea and taking better playing gigs as they came.

 

Mindi really sounds like the American Dream girl with a tenacious approach and determination that has obviously paid off! So funny – Mindi said when she first met me I was doing all the gigs she wished she could do. I laughed because I see her on gigs I wish I could do as 'the' artist in 2009! Funny how things can flip around. 

 

I really love this girl and am so proud of her accomplishments. She is a new Yamaha Artist and was sounding great on her new Yamaha's! We talked for a good long time and as always – I totally enjoyed that ‘catch up time’ – again!

 

Kurt Witt, Jeff Peterson and the guys did a great job today! I hope they do it again, or at least try and find an annual time to do it year to year. Most saxophone players will never get to play all the saxes and options. I see the full line of necks every decade or so. But today, we got them all at one time and in one place with friends. What more could you ask for?? If you hear about an event like this and can make it in - Do it!

 

Pumped me up! I’m already way too excited (see the length of this post) and want ting to write and record the minute I am done here.

 

Get out and play new saxes! Do it! I can’t buy any of them either, but love the life they breath and the passion they kindle. They can make you dream of a change or send you home happy with the sax you've got!!!!

 

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