I'm working on my topic proposal for a presentation, "The Influence of Saxophonists on Jazz Flute Playing: a Developmental Study"- I see some things I could improve, but wondered if anyone had any thoughts on how I could improve it:
"The Influence of Saxophonists on Jazz Flute Playing: a Developmental Study"
Much like some people believe they have a spirit animal, the combination of playing the saxophone and the flute have been the chosen spirit instruments of accomplished jazz musicians. Players such as Lew Tabackin, demonstrate "entirely different personalities...on the two instruments..." In Tabackin's case, this has been described as a "rather disputatious, talkative sax, and a refined, spiritually adept flute." Like other players, Tabackan obviously loved the sounds of both horns so much that he invested the hours and resources necessary to become a master of both. Yet, he is quoted as saying:
"It's not easy to balance the two instruments because they are great enemies."
Sounds like a complicated relationship.
This iconic and emotional photo reveals the connection John Coltrane felt for both saxophone and flute:
In the world of jazz, saxophone players are often expected to play both the flute and the saxophone, despite the fact that they are completely different instruments. As far as woodwinds go, they are in completely different categories. Saxophones are canonical pipes, such as oboes and bassoons, whereas flutes are open pipes. They completely differ in how the driving force of the air's oscillation is applied. In flutes, air is blown transversely into a hole in the side of the instrument, while saxophones use a single reed.
Other differences to be explored include differences in frequencies (in their regular ranges, alto and tenor saxophone dip down around100 Hz lower than flute, and flute soars above at around 1000Hz. higher). Recording techniques are different for both instruments. The two instruments also have significantly different weights. The saxophone is a relatively new invention of about 150 years while the flute is ancient, the oldest one found reportedly being made from a bear's femur 43,000 years ago. Because of this, there is significantly more notated music available for flute.
But there are also many similarities that provide familiarity for the flute or saxophone player to pick up the other and play it fairly readily, not the least of which is the fact that the fingerings are almost identical. Flute and saxophone also share almost the same register. They also both use tone holes to effect the length of the pipe.
This presentation will focus on six jazz musicians who mastered both instruments as evidenced by their use of both instruments in small groups and each player's pivotal role in the development of the jazz flute:
Frank Wess
James Moody
Eric Dolphy
Lew Tabackin
Joe Farrell*
Steve Wilson
This exploration will include learning about the academic study of the different players on both instruments, listening to groundbreaking recordings and considering the historical musical and cultural context. In order to gain an understanding of the music, transcriptions of selected solos will be analyzed, including comparing the basic musical language and vocabulary that is employed. The players' sounds on both horns will also be considered, in terms of whether the sound for one is bigger or more laid back than the other, and whether or not their flute playing expands their palette on saxophone. It will also look at repertoire chosen for flute vs. saxophone- whether it's different and/or interchangeable in their sets.
This presentation seeks to explore how the combination of playing the saxophone and the flute have effectively been the chosen medium for selected, notable jazz musicians to express themselves intellectually and spiritually, to the point of developing an entire new voice in jazz, with one of the newest instruments in the musical world bringing in one of the most ancient.