Saxboy, Welcome to SOTW.

[Balladeer]

I really enjoy your tone and style on "Just To See Her Again" and "When I Fall In Love". The former gets daily airplay on Houston's KHJZ "the wave". Your playing reveals a classical core within your smooth jazz interpretation. Very nice, and welcome to SOTW.

[Balladeer]

Perhaps I should state Saxboy's identity: Greg Vail. His website is www.gregvail.com

[saxboy]

Thanks Balladeer,

The Time-Life Recordings are pretty mellow and not real impressive as far as Sax Playing goes.

They are melody playing 101 and very influenced by my years at Long Beach State, studying Classical Tenor Sax.

For the Jazz guy that thinks classical study sucks I would say that any study with a Sax in your hands is going to apply across board to every style of music.

But, of course to the Classical player that thinks Pop and Jazz suck; dude, you gotta be old and gray before you can get any gigs and limiting your playing style will make a teacher, usually college guy out of you.

The best thing all of us can do is learn as much as we can from everywhere. That’s why I check in with the sax community at large to see what is going on and what guys are talking about.

Thanks Balladeer for the mention.

SAXBOY (Greg Vail)

[saxboy]

BTW
Not bagging on College Teaching guys.
I just love playing for people and never wanted that to be my primary job. The cool thing about music is the number of job options you can explore; teaching included.
To be fair; I have not had anyone offer me a good College gig yet, so we will see.
SAXBOY

[Mike W]

Hi Saxboy. Gee I am a college teacher--geological engineering, not music (sax is my hobby). I really liked the sax by candlelight album. It stays in my office and gets played about once a week. Great work!

Saxboy (Greg Vail)....I got your Time-Life series "Sax by Moonlight" as a Christmas gift....Very enjoyable and right you are (pretty mellow stuff) but done very tastefully...very pleasing to the ear and sexy too.

Glad to see someone of your caliber talking to us on SOTW. :D

I've been around awhile (since the R&B heyday of the early 60's)..heard alot of good saxmen...played with a few in my day too.... 8)

Im impressed with the sound of the Smooth Jazz sax men of today such as Kirk Whalum, Dave Koz, Boney James, Gerald Albright, Marc Russo, David Sanborn, Warren Hill to name a few.

I include you as one of the elite group of sax men out there today trying to make a living in the very competitive world of musical entertainment.

All the best with continued success.

[Andrew]

Yeah Mr. Vail. I, too, have that Time-Life album, and man...you sound so GORGEOUS. I wish I had a sound remotely close to yours on tenor... :oops:

[saxboy]

So glad some of my peers have nice things to say about the Time-Life stuff. Thanks so much!
My site has sound clips for other CDs and the Time Life tunes too for anyone wanting to hear some of my CDs.
Thanks again,
SAXBOY
www.gregvail.com/sys-tmpl/soundclips/

[Tim Price]

I like the emotion and SOUL Greg plays with.You can hear a beginning,middle and end to every solo.
His playing is..as Duke said... is beyond category.It's great to see a player of his level getting his due.
Everytime I ever heard Greg, I was struck by his command of the music he was playing.But, his heart and passion make it a extra special thing.
He's saying something on his horns.Keep doin' it Greg!

[saxboy]

Tim,

We all need a few kind words from time to time. We all need to take the time to tell our fellow players how appreciated they are.
Thanks bro and blessings to you,

Greg Vail - SAXBOY

[sessionsax]

Yeah, from his posts, I gather he knows what he is talking about :D