Does Gerald albright really play a big bell alto?

[jazzy655]

I'm just curious to know if he really play the global big bell alto? It seems like a great horn, in fact i just bought one. Since it's made in taiwan, it makes me wonder if a serious pro like gerld would really play it?

Do any of you know? or does he play a higher model of cannonball?
thanks

[Russ]

According to the FAQ page on Gerald's website, the answer is yes.

It also looks like he playes Gerald Albright Series horns from his photo gallery. (Unless it's just a promo add kinda thing)

http://www.geraldalbright.com/g10.jpg

[Martin Williams]

The pic on Cannonball's website shows him playing a big bell alto in black nickel. I hope this answers your question!

Martin Williams

[Martin Williams]

The pic on Cannonball's website shows him playing a big bell alto in black nickel. I hope this answers your question!

Martin Williams

[Bill Mecca]

I saw him on that lame a** smoothjazz tv show and he was indeed playing the CB big bell. Heck he would probably sound good on a comb and wax paper.

[dpwadw]

I saw him on Emeril Live playing a black nickel alto with a sterling silver neck. He played very, very well. Just sick altissimo.

He lists Cannonball Adderley as a primary influence (along with Grover), so I'm expect that Cannonball Music heard this and rushed to sign him as soon as they could.

[saxybeast]

If you look at his 2002 (?) CD Groovology, he has the black nickel big bell global series with the sterling neck. I agree with Bill Mecca, Gerald could make just about anything sound good, though. I think he also uses the same thing on tenor.

[Randall]

Love G man...but you guys are really missing out if you haven't tried the Cball alto....It is dynamite and altissimo is a breeze on this horn.

I will be the first to admit that the big 4 makers have a more polished product in terms of fit and finish...but the sound of these horn is just incredible.
A Ref 54, Selmer Millenium, and JK SX90 straight all take back seat to the Cannonball.

[Andrew D]

On most of the tracks of the last two albums where he plays alto. It sounds like he's using his Selmer Mk V1.

Although I agree it hardly makes any difference as in his case it is definitely the player :wink: .

http://www.geraldalbright.com/images/June%202002%20Gallery%20Pics/Gerald%20and%20Will%20SPAC%2034.jpg

[Dave Dolson]

Randall: I'm not so sure that every CB will ouitplay every Ref 54, etc. That sure wasn't the case with any of the CB's I tried. My Ref 54 is far superior to the CBs I played. DAVE

[Randall]

My Ref 54 is far superior to the CBs I played. DAVE

Key point here is that's for you, Dave..
(FYI, I hand-picked both my 54 and Millenium from a group of horns, so I got the best one that was available).


The only horn I have played that was better in tone and response than my Cannonball was the sterling silver Yani.
What is even more interesting is that I have let numerous pros and advanced players play my my Cannonball alto and they all immediately ask me to sell it to them!

In the same way that Gerald Albright sounds like Gerald Albright, no matter what the horn, I too have the same experience. Basically I sound like me on every horn I play, but the Cannonball definitely has something the others don't.
If it didn't I wouldn't always end up on it after a stiint on the other horns.

Even my students comment that they prefer the sound of me on the Cannonball to all the other horns.

I believe Cannonballs are set-up/mouthpiece-picky.
If you are a tight-embouchure, narrower-facing, harder reed person, then you will most likely not get the most out of a Cannonball, sound-wise.
(just as an interesting side note, I find the people who prefer the Ref 36 tenor over the Ref 54 tenor tend to be the same as the aforementioned-tight embouchure, harder reed, etc...)
This is a trend I have noticed.


2 other points of interest on the Cannonball...the body tube is quite heavy and thick when compared to the bow and bell- far, far heavier than other horns I have seen taken apart. I have speculated that this has a lot to do with the sound of the Cball....speculated, mind you.
:wink:
Secondly, is the hand"adjusted" necks of the Cannonballs....supposedly Tevis Laukat does something to each of the necks, personally, to make them sing.
All I know is that altissimo is ridiculously easy for me on my Cannonball. I have never been able to say that about any other horn I have played or owned, and that, as many of you know, is a lot of horns!

Like Gerald, I keep several horns for different playing needs/wants, but I gig with the Cannonball almost exclusively.

[Dave Dolson]

Randall: That was my exact point! That WAS my experience, therefore I think your claim was a little overboard. That is one example of CBs not having the front seat. You claimed the CB would take front seat over several horns you listed, and that just isn't true across the board.

I'm not claiming CBs are junk nor am I claiming all Ref 54's are better. But to say CBs are better is just too subjective - and cannot be true across the whole line of saxophones you mentioned. I'll grant that some CBs may play well, but I've yet to play one. Choose what you like and don't get involved in the contest of whose horn is better, that's all that should be done. That you like your CB is great, but that doesn't make it better than ALL others. DAVE

[Randall]

Dave, admit it, you think anything I write is overboard because I take a stance on my broad and long experience and stand by my opinion....and then you come back with a relativistic retort to elevate yourself above the fray....

That's ok....

However, I have seen it too many times (immediately after one of my posts) to allow it to continue without making it noticeable to other readers....


We are all aware of the variables with each player and horn condition being a factor.... I readily admit to anyone and everyone, YOUR RESULTS MAY VARY!
But as usual, you try to negate MY opinion (and one of the MAIN purposes of this board- which is an exchange of anyone's opinion) with a relativistic retort.

:cheers:
That's why I call you "all-is-relative-Dave".

But You telling ME that my experience is not valid is simply ludicrous and arrogant.
That you like your CB is great, but that doesn't make it better than ALL others. DAVE

Well Dave, that's my experience.

Just for posterity,
let me list the horns that I have owned or played that I compared my Cannonball to...(this is an A/B testing, mind you):

Selmer Ref 54
Selmer Millenium
Selmer Padless (3 of them- all laq)
Selmer BA( 2 of them-silver and laq)
Selmer SBA (silver plate)
Selmer MK VI (2- laq and gold plate)
Selmer MK VI Low A (2 of them-silver and laq)
Selmer SA I
Selmer SA II
Selmer Series III (laq with harmonic key)
Selmer Series III platinum plated (very nice VI-ish sound)
King Super 20
Yamaha Custom
Yamaha Z unlaq.
Yamaha student model
Buescher Aristo
Buescher Elkhart
Buescher 400 (later one, and also very close to the Cball)
Conn 6M (2 horns-laq)
Conn 26M
Conn Chu
Martin Committee
Martin Handcraft
Martin Typewriter
B&S 2001
B&S Medusa satin (veeery close to the Cball)
B&S Medusa laq
Guardala NYC model in silver plate
Guardala black nickel model
Jupiter artist
Jupiter student
Unison 300 (in gold plate, your old horn)
JK SX90R nickel silver
JK SX90R black nickel
JK SX90R straight black nickel
JK SX90 straight silver plate
JK Toneking straight
JK EX black nickel
JK EX laq
Yani solid silver (Simply the best alto I have ever played.)
Yani bronze
Yani regular laq
Yani "pink gold"
Yani 800
Grafton
R&C R1


...and a few more I can't remember at this moment.

Believe it or not, it is my long term goal to play every make and model sax in the world with the same mp/reed set up.

And as Forrest Gump would say,
"That's all I have to say about that".

[Randall]

Dave, admit it, you think anything I write is overboard because I take a stance on my broad and long experience and stand by my opinion....and then you come back with a relativistic retort to elevate yourself above the fray....

That's ok....

However, I have seen it too many times (immediately after one of my posts) to allow it to continue without making it noticeable to other readers....


We are all aware of the variables with each player and horn condition being a factor.... I readily admit to anyone and everyone, YOUR RESULTS MAY VARY!
But as usual, you try to negate MY opinion (and one of the MAIN purposes of this board- which is an exchange of anyone's opinion) with a relativistic retort.

:cheers:
That's why I call you "all-is-relative-Dave".

But You telling ME that my experience is not valid is simply ludicrous and arrogant.
That you like your CB is great, but that doesn't make it better than ALL others. DAVE

Well Dave, that's my experience.

Just for posterity,
let me list the horns that I have owned or played that I compared my Cannonball to...(this is an A/B testing, mind you):

Selmer Ref 54
Selmer Millenium
Selmer Padless (3 of them- all laq)
Selmer BA( 2 of them-silver and laq)
Selmer SBA (silver plate)
Selmer MK VI (2- laq and gold plate)
Selmer MK VI Low A (2 of them-silver and laq)
Selmer SA I
Selmer SA II
Selmer Series III (laq with harmonic key)
Selmer Series III platinum plated (very nice VI-ish sound)
King Super 20
Yamaha Custom
Yamaha Z unlaq.
Yamaha student model
Buescher Aristo
Buescher Elkhart
Buescher 400 (later one, and also very close to the Cball)
Conn 6M (2 horns-laq)
Conn 26M
Conn Chu
Martin Committee
Martin Handcraft
Martin Typewriter
B&S 2001
B&S Medusa satin (veeery close to the Cball)
B&S Medusa laq
Guardala NYC model in silver plate
Guardala black nickel model
Jupiter artist
Jupiter student
Unison 300 (in gold plate, your old horn)
JK SX90R nickel silver
JK SX90R black nickel
JK SX90R straight black nickel
JK SX90 straight silver plate
JK Toneking straight
JK EX black nickel
JK EX laq
Yani solid silver (Simply the best alto I have ever played.)
Yani bronze
Yani regular laq
Yani "pink gold"
Yani 800
Grafton
R&C R1


...and a few more I can't remember at this moment.

Believe it or not, it is my long term goal to play every make and model sax in the world with the same mp/reed set up.

And as Forrest Gump would say,
"That's all I have to say about that".

[Dave Dolson]

Randall: WOW, two posts about the same thing. You must really be tweaked. I am not angry about this discussion, but it seems that you are.

I deny that I always come back with a counter-opinion to your postings. I often agree with them. Fortunately for you and other readers, I have forgotten more horns than you listed, so I won't bother listing them all.

That I constantly point out that everything is relative continually needs to be stated because of the constant postings about which horn or which mouthpiece is best from posters who don't bother to review the whole site before asking such questions. They need to be told the truth, not catered to with claims that Horn X will outplay Horn Y.

Suffice to say, I am not "dissing" your experience, only your claim that CBs are better than anything else. Maybe your personal CB is a great horn, and that's wonderful. Regardless of how much you write about the topic, I still think your claim about CBs putting everything else in the back seat is over-stated.

I also deny being arrogant. Contrary? Maybe; but I don't claim to know it all. Elevating myself above the fray is also incorrect; I've been in the mud (physically) probably more times than you can imagine. I'll join the fray anytime. I just won't claim something is always that way because I had an experience with it (at least as far as saxophones go; and at least as I can recall - but I'll bet you'll go back through all my posts and find something where I made such a claim). DAVE

[Joe Jazz]

I just want to say I think highly of both you guys and value your opinions, keeping in mind that that's all they are. I understand that you are sharing YOUR experiences with YOUR horns, and that in the end I will have to make my own decisions. Life is too short to get too excited about this stuff. By the way, Randall, have you played the Cannonball curved soprano? Any thoughts? :D

[Randall]

Hi Joe,
Not yet...working on that possiblity right now though....What's your take? If you have played one, what model and finish?
I used to have a CB Arc tipped bell that was, admittedly, one of the worst sops I have ever played.
I have heard so many good comments on the curved BB soprano that I want to see for myself. It will be hard to top the JK tho!
I have always liked being able to hear the soprano sound coming up at me.

and....
true to form and as expected, A.I.R.Dave....I rest my case. :laughing:

[Joe Jazz]

Randall-

Nope, haven't tried one yet! Curious about the Raven curved sop, but have been planning on going back to a Rampone & Cazzani R1(silver finish this time)since I just sold my SX90II(I know, don't bite my head off...).....I missed playing a curved sop....what can I say? :wink:

[Dave Dolson]

Joe: I played a CB curved sop a couple of years ago - it was a gorgeous thing, black "whatever" as I recall. And, it played pretty good, too. But I also had my SC902 along and played it side-by-side with the CB. Of the two, the SC902 was clearly superior in every area of comparison. Had I not had the SC902 and wanted a curvy, maybe the CB would've worked for me. DAVE

[Joe Jazz]

Thanks Dave! :)

[shmuelyosef]

Randall,
Are those ALL altos? Do you have a similar list of tenors? Does your tenor list include a CB BB as well as your B&S (2001 as i recall)? If so, curious about this comparison...seems like apples to apples by me...

[saxophrenic]

Dave and Randall,

Come on you guys --- the dialogue between you two on the CB issue is getting almost "alt.music.saxophone"ish. :pain10: :pain10:

Like Joe Jazz, I have a great deal of respect for both you guys, your experiences AND opinions. I like to hear what both of you think and make my own decisions. I doubt that either of you is going to convert the other.

:banghead: :banghead:

Just keep the opinions coming. That's what I come here for.
I dig you guys :salute:

[Randall]

Yosef, Yes those are all altos that I A/B'd the Cannonball with....that means side by side playing comparison.....something Dave couldn't possibly have done since he doesn't have a Cball (to my knowledge).

THAT is relative to my irritation! :lol:

I began the quest on horns about 5 years ago, and I have had the Cannonball the whole time. It is my tonal/playing benchmark. Everytime I borrowed, bought, sold or traded, I compared the Cball to the list above-not a memory comparison.

Honestly I keep thinking that there will be something better- and there is (the Yani ss alto)- but nothing in the price range of the Cball. The difference between the Yani and the Cball was so insignificant for me that I couldn't bring myself to even consider the Yani ss price, even in my most fevered GAS state.

Phrenic- those of us who know
everything are getting reeeeeeaaaal tired of those who think they know everything! :lol: :twisted: :lol: :twisted: :lol: :twisted: :lol: :twisted: :lol: :twisted:
( I read that one on my uncle's office wall once a long time ago!)

[amiri]

[quote="saxophrenic"]

Come on you guys --- the dialogue between you two on the CB issue is getting almost "alt.music.saxophone"ish. :pain10: :pain10:

Like Joe Jazz, I have a great deal of respect for both you guys, your experiences AND opinions. I like to hear what both of you think and make my own decisions. I doubt that either of you is going to convert the other.

:banghead: :banghead:
quote]

Touche, saxophrenic, and I couldn't agree more. (and the alt.music.saxophone joke made me laugh out loud!) Dave & Randall, I haven't been posting on the board long but combing through the archives has been definitely a benefit in part thanks to both you cats. Frankly, I haven't met a horn player, much less a saxophonist, without an opinion on horns. So by now I think we all know that we trade opinions on mpcs, horns, plating, necks, set-ups ad infinitum and then think what we wanna think anyway.

But definitely keep the discourse coming--I love hearing you guys' thoughts and experiences, even when you're butting heads. (A la Randall's list of altos that he a/b'd--irritation might've motivated you to list them all like that, but I for one am glad you did. I can barely imagine seeing all those horns over time, much less play testing--and remembering--each and every one!)

But that's me--enjoying the spirited discussion as well as the polite ones! Just keep in clean--remember that this is the kinder, gentler saxontheweb forum! :roll:

[Morry]

In the infamous words of that great American Rodney King...Can't we all just get along?". :-)

[SuperDave]

Do we really have to say "in my opinion" or "for me" or even "I think"?
It gets a little tiresome having to read that obvious caveat. When someone asks for advice they are going to get opinions on the mouthpieces or horn's etc. imho...

Somepeople rave about the ref54 being the best horn ever ...
but when others make a similar statement about a CB (I know,don't laugh) then thats overstated. Apparently only vintage horns or Selmers are superior ... to any modern horn especially Yamaha except for one well playing Z.

oops sorry rant over :)
Merry Christmas

[DirkW]

In the infamous words of that great American Rodney King...Can't we all just get along?". :-)

That's right, he said that during his probation on robbery and assault in 1996, which was before his conviction on spouse abuse in 1999.

In regards to the equipment discussion, picking the right pro horn or mouthpiece is dependant on your own physiology and playing style. Why would you expect your favorite horn to be someone else's too?

[tonyg]

I am curious, what mpc is Gerald playing on the Cannonball alto.

[dpwadw]

Gerald Albright's mpc: Beechler Diamond Inlay S10S

[goodsax]

In the infamous words of that great American Rodney King...Can't we all just get along?". :-)

I just caught up to this brief flare-up and can't believe how ironic it is that with me as the middle man, and because I'm so fickle about altos, Randall wound up with Dave's Unison satin gold alto and Dave with Randall's sandblast gold B&S alto. True story! I kid you not.

I've had wonderful dealings with Randall including delightful email exchanges connected with each. And I consider Dave a personal friend whom I met at a local club where he was playing in a jazz band, have seen him there several times since, and each time he has been very gracious to me and my friends.

And irony of ironies, I'm sure as a retired LAPD captain, Dave knows a lot more about that Rodney King quote that he would be willing to share. And as someone working on his second PhD, Randall could probably add a few relevant quotes he's picked up in pursuit of those academic goals.

These two are both fine gentlemen with tons of sax playing experience between them and I know most of us benefit from, and appreciate, their opinions on a variety of sax-related matters. That's "sax," spelled with an 'a'.
:wink: