Lenny Pickett

[Chris-Sax]

Iv always been a huge Lenny Pickett & Tower of Power fan! (im going to there U.K concert in London this weekend :D ) Has Lenny Pickett released any more solo work other than the "borneo horns" c.d? (which is good but a bit out-there) 8)
I know he teamed up with the doctor, & other TOP members for the "strokeland super band" C.D. Does Lenny tour much in the U.S? Is he still in the saturday night live band?
Thanks Chris 8) !

[Frank D]

Lenny currently leads the SNL band, which keeps him in the NY area for most of the broadcast season (Sept-May).

[Tim Price]

Lenny needs a new CD, Hes fantastic.

[DukoffHollywood]

his tenor playing and sound is what inspired me to play saxophone. but his CD with the borneo horns is awful; it's got to the be the most awful purchase i've ever made. the absolute weirdest music i've ever heard... is there a CD with him on it playing SNL material?? i would love that.

[CashSax]

I'd buy a CD of nuthin' but the SNL intro/outro tunes.. :twisted:

[Chris-Sax]

DukoffHollywood,
I have also bought the Borneo Horns C.D and YES it is out-there, but the playing by LP is fantastic!!! The playing on the c.d is text book examples of saxophone Harmonics in use!! I also found some of the various woodwind lines (bass clarinet) to be fantastic!! But it comes down to personal taste!! I would still recomend it to any LP fan!! (though i think it is quite hard to buy now?) 8)

[hornstar]

I paid collector price for The Borneo Horns CD, and I love it. It's unique, which there isn't enough of in music.

[asian sax]

I'd buy a CD of nuthin' but the SNL intro/outro tunes.. :twisted:

tru dat :D

[doug]

Check out Kiss My Blues by Tony Z(Zamagni). LP is there along with Cornell Dupree, Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey and Kim Wilson. Tough to find but worth the effort. I found my copy on gemm.com.

[Bill Mecca]

Kiss My blues is pretty good, but not enough of Lenny, I got mine thru Half.com

[Harri Rautiainen]

Helsinki has seen NYC celebrities during past seven days:
First Conan O'Brien with his film crew and now Lenny Pickett himself.

I was fortunate to be in his concert yesterday where Lenny played his own music with Finnish UMO Big band, conducted by Rich Shemaria.

Lenny is the man, you have to hear and see yourself. What a mastery, yet so humble as person. The altissimo tones where introduced in every piece.

The second last piece was his composition "Stinky Pinky". He wrote it 35 years ago based on his own life, but refused to tell any more details. Maybe better so. :-)

As an encore a piece from Tower of Power repertoire topped off the evening.

An exhilarating night. One can tell that Mr. Pickett enjoyed what he was doing.

[Blackwolf42]

Where can you buy the Borneo Horns album? I have looked around for a Lenny Pickett solo cd, but have never been able to find one.

[jjgold]

Uh I was in biz meetings at Newark Airport a few yrs ago and caught a show in the east village at a little dive that started at about 2 am. It was Lenny and a few of the SNL band members. It is kinda funny I was standing next to some guy at the entrance when the "warm up" band was playing. This guy bumps into me and it is....LENNY. I strike up a conversation. I told him I was in the city on business and had a meeting starting in a few hours. You would of thought I gave him a new car. He was so appreciative, we talked about horns and set-ups. Just before he went on he came to my table and ask me a couple things. THE SHOW WAS OFF THE HOOK!!!! Played for an hour and a half...did "Shot Gun" by (Junior Walker?). Anyhow it was a PHENOMINAL show and I was no more than 8 feet from him up on stage. After the show he came back to my table (my buddy thought it was the greatest thing) thanked me again and asked what I thought! Definately one of the good guys.

[hgiles]

The second last piece was his composition "Stinky Pinky". He wrote it 35 years ago based on his own life, but refused to tell any more details. Maybe better so. :-)

First time I read that I heard 'wife' instead of 'life' -- Glad I went back and checked myself!!

[Mark R]

Before Lenny was Musical Director for SNL it was guitarist G.E.Smith. There is one recording I know of with the SNL band under G.E.Smith entitled "Get A Little". Here is a link to it:

http://product.half.ebay.com/Get-A-Little_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ3141779

Also Lenny does all the solo work on Tower Of Power's T.O.P.. If I recall correctly he also played some on Jeff Lorber's "Step By Step" CD and a Ziggy Marley CD....on the Ziggy Marley he doesn't do any of his trademark blazin' tenor playing but plays lots of exotic stuff like a sarrusaphone. He also played on lots of other projects like Mariah Carrey's Christmas CD and David Byrne too.

[J.Max]

If you don't have it already, find the TOP recording with "Squib Cakes" on it...I believe that it's "Back to Oakland". "Live and in Living Color" also has an awesome Lenny Pickett solo on it...

He inspired me to play the saxophone too. Well, him and Michael Brecker. I played with a Berg 130/0 for a long time, trying to imitate LP, even though I really couldn't play on it. I read the interview with him in Saxophone Journal so many times that the magazine literally fell apart. He's one of the few players (with Coltrane, Bird,Desmond, and David Sanborn among others) who's sound can justifiably be called "iconic". When the average person thinks of a saxophone player, they either think of Lenny or Kenny G and that's really saying something.

[cjlemas007]

I have a contact in the SNL band and she was able to procure me a copy of one of their evaluation discs (recorded during every show). Sometimes the balance is a bit off (Pickett's much louder than anyone else and the lead singer can barely be heard)...but there's a show's worth of music, plus the opening theme from three years ago and the famous Closing Theme.

Anyone interested?

C.J.

[trinitron]

YES YES YES

[Nefertiti]

If you can play mpeg-4 (itunes format) and accept a 2.75 MB email I can send some of you guys a recording of the opening theme. What if I send it to the first five and then you five can send it to five others yourselves? How's that. Post on the thread if your interested. Steve

[hgiles]

I am interested. I love Pickett!!!

[dirty]

Nefertiti,

I would love to have that track! could you please email it to me?

deadforkinglast at gmail dot com

[Nefertiti]

Dirty,
I sent it. Let me know when you get it. Hgiles I need your email address. I have like 7 other R@B type Pickett tracks of assorted stuff but this is the only one small enough to send I think. Steve

[V1812470]

I'm interested as well. Nefertiti, would you mind emailing it to me also? My email's Mt.Kevin at gmail dot com.

[Nitetimer]

Here's a link to an early TOP video. I wonder if Lenny still has that outfit hanging in his closet.
http://www.warnerreprise.com/asx/whatishipremix_towerofpower-whatiship_300-v.asx

[uksaxman]

Could I have a copy please, I love anything Lenny does, usually the live off the cuff stuff is the best!
Brian

[shortwhite]

Would love it if someone got that to me also.

Thanx

[J.Max]

Me too please!!!!!

[Blackwolf42]

Not to seem greedy, but I would also love to be involved in this as well.

[Nefertiti]

I'm out of town until Saturday. Can one of you guys I already sent it too help a few of these guys out and send it to them. Thanks, Steve

[dirty]

If anyone wants the track, send me an email at: deadforkinglast at gmail dot com.

[Mike Ruhl]

Here's a link to an early TOP video. I wonder if Lenny still has that outfit hanging in his closet.
http://www.warnerreprise.com/asx/whatishipremix_towerofpower-whatiship_300-v.asx
Forget the suit - - LP's playing his Super 20!!! This was made right after he joined TOP.

[mattdzero]

is it too late to get a copy? Thanks

Matt

[Scottysax73]

My opinion is that he sounds best on the intro and going to commercial breaks on S.N.L. On those Best of S.N.L. DVD's anyone know if he plays on those when they go to commercial or the intro? Id buy one if he plays on it

[Nitetimer]

If you really want to hear Lenny play a lot get the DVD Francis Rocco Prestia, Live at Bass Day. They play seven TOP tunes and the vocal parts plus many solos are played by Lenny. This is probably the most Lenny Picket you'll find on any single recording other than the Borneo Horns CD.

[midwestsjazz]

I'd buy a CD of nuthin' but the SNL intro/outro tunes.. :twisted:

I know I would

[Calabrio]

Also- related to the SNL Band-

Buddy Guy released an album called
Buddy Guy - Live The Real Deal With GE Smith & the Saturday Night Live

Buddy Guy is eats up most of the solos, but Lenny Pickett has a couple great ones on that album as well. And unlike "Get a Little," it's still in print.

[MarkVIBari]

Here's a link to an early TOP video. I wonder if Lenny still has that outfit hanging in his closet.
http://www.warnerreprise.com/asx/whatishipremix_towerofpower-whatiship_300-v.asx

What an awesome video...

I was already into TOP at that time (and I still am), but somehow managed to have never seen it before.

[VictorJ7]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3310797852568842371&pr=goog-sl

you should check this video out...how high is that..??? wow

LENNY PICKETT with Tower of Power
March 31, 2006
NYC B B Kings

http://www.myspace.com/victorj7
victor rodriguez

[decade]

If it's not too late for the theme, please forward me a copy 200whp (_at_) gmail.com

[UncleClark]

Heres a vid of Rocco Prestia, the bass player for TOP. Oh and Lenny Pickett is on it also :)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8Pexssa9cIs

[Vader]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3310797852568842371&pr=goog-sl

you should check this video out...how high is that..??? wow

LENNY PICKETT with Tower of Power
March 31, 2006
NYC B B Kings

http://www.myspace.com/victorj7
victor rodriguez

******n. Double altissimo B....wait a minute.....triple altissimo B? I' going to have to listen again when I get back.

[markVIinNorway]

what a man!!!!!!!!!!!! Lenny is the king!

i guess he dont have to workout..