I'm still considering topics for this graduate project thing I'll be doing in the next few semesters. I'm a flute/saxophone player and have always loved both equally- picking one would be like picking between my two children! I think of the iconic picture of Coltrane with his tenor and his flute- love that pic! I was considering different topics I could do that would discuss some aspect of these players who express themselves so well on both. Some things that would be interesting to look at: level of training on both,
role of classical training,
extent of solo work on both horns,
role of flute in big band saxophone work,
similarities/differences in embouchure, purity of sound, etc.
emotional aspects of sound, etc. of both
I'm interested in your thoughts, recommendations for recordings, book etc.
It’s one of Eric Dolphy’s flutes and it was among the instruments that Eric’s mom sent Trane after her son died. I believe it’s a plateau keyed C foot Haynes or Powell.
What? No mention of Hubert Laws (brother of Ronnie Laws of EWF fame and "Always There"). He was trained classically (The Juilliard School) but picked up jazz by playing with some pretty heavy young players such as The Crusaders in the Houston area.
He doesn't play much saxophone, but the great differences in education in the jazz genre and in the classical genre pose some interesting issues. ( Wikipedia states that he plays saxophone and has recorded on sax for a theme song for a UK TV show called "Family". I'd love to hear him on sax. If his technique approaches his technique on flute, It would be an awesome, if not frightening thing to hear).
Recommended recordings : The Rite of Spring (Bob James, Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette et al), The Stravinski recording is a bore but the group's take on the third movement of The Brandenburg Concerto swings like crazy.
Also, check out Ron Carter's "Blues Farm". Laws and Carter are front and center of some really hard-driving improv. Laws' pure, fluid tone and TECHNIQUE is unparalleled by very few players in the world of jazz (and perhaps the world of classical music).
Your welcome Sonja and while we’re at it add David Newman and Herbie Mann (just a flautist I know) too. As much as I love Hubert Laws speculating on him being a great sax player is quite different than having recordings that would make it valid thing to look into. He had a great teacher of course in Julius Baker. I think he’s as equally an excellent piccolo player as a flautist. He’s an absolute monster on both. Don’t know if he ever recorded on alto flute though.
What did you think of the Dolphy alto example? Have to give South Street Exit on the same album a listening again, it so beautiful and an example of his flute playing.
Excellent call! Eric's teacher and then some. He would be the first to emphasize sight reading skills as well as disciplined practice to excel at jazz.
Mongo Santamaria's album " Soul Bag " had a young Hubert Laws taking tenor sax solos in 4 cuts , flute solos in 2 plus section work on both instruments . This may have been before he was at Julliard .....
It’s not really a classic jazz album though, being excellent in its concept of cover tunes played very well nonetheless. It’s not Dolphy or Farrell, and the slew of other very complete sax players who are also equally at home on flute. If Laws started attending Julliard in 1961 and this album was recorded in 1968, it’s obvious he no longer was matriculated there, finished his education and was doing session work. The flute playing is excellent, a bit trite in this context but thank goodness it doesn’t sound completely like muzak.
It's not really a classic jazz album though, being excellent in its concept of cover tunes played very well nonetheless. It's not Dolphy or Farrell, and the slew of other very complete sax players who are also equally at home on flute. If Laws started attending Julliard in 1961 and this album was recorded in 1968, it's obvious he no longer was matriculated there, finished his education and was doing session work. The flute playing is excellent, a bit trite in this context but thank goodness it doesn't sound completely like muzak.
Yeah! I had forgotten about Joe Farrell. He is one of the very few Saxophone players that I've heard who had an excellent flute technique as well as an excellent sax technique. IMO most sax players don't sound too good on flute unless they've studied flute. Though the two have basic fingering, the flute requires a much different technique and has a much longer history from which to draw its vocabulary.
Herbie Mann always sounded like he was spitting into a coke bottle.
Regarding Eric Dolphy album you posted Lambros: I totally dig it! I used to not be able to get it but sometimes the free stuff like this can seem like it levitates you!
I completely understand what you're saying here Sonja and what's fascinating to me about Dolphy is that he's about as complete a musician you will ever find. Schooled and yet undaunted in the adventurous nature of his craft. And there's the trifecta of mastery in 3 distinctive voices. Bass clarinet par excellence as well as alto sax and flute.
There are so many great ones here- I don't think Yusef Lateef has been mentioned. A true original, and another mega-multi-instrumentalist, of course... a personal favourite, worth getting a copy of the whole album: The Centaur and the Phoenix
Check out Steve Kujala. Has played with Chick Corea. He and his father are great flute players.
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