12 Moons Solo Saxophone Project Day 309
Date: 11/05/2013
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)
Notes:
This morning I gave a 20 minute lecture on the music of John Coltrane to a group of 7th and 8th graders before beginning our weekly clinic. I do these brief clinics from time to time, if for no other reason that to show kids that an adult in their life can be whole-heartedly passionate about something. I compared two recordings–“Blue Trane” from the album of the same name, and Jupiter, from “Interstellar Space." I wanted to show them two extraordinary achievements in sound and message. My lecture swayed more towards the later, and I tried to tease out of them what this message could be for each of us–the subjective message–and why it’s worthy of our attention.
After finishing my class, I recorded a few minutes later in the main performance hall adjacent to the band room. The lights in the room were not working, and that end of the building was uncharacteristically quiet for that time of the morning. I decided to carry Coltrane’s soulful energy into my improvisation today. This piece uses wide arches of sound with no pre-scripted approach, save for my own thoughts on Coltrane’s message and its place in my own music.
-Neil
The image Man holding large camera photographing a cataclysmic event, possibly a volcano erupting, 1908/2012 (Tiled Version 3).” accompanying today’s post by Lisa Oppenheim (2012).