R&B, Funk, and Smooth Jazz Saxophone Styles
The course focuses on the performance and analysis of saxophone styles in the R&B lineage including funk, blues, soul jazz, acid jazz, Motown, pop, smooth jazz, and fusion. Covered topics include: repertoire and tunes of the different periods and styles; improvisation techniques and vocabulary; transcriptions of major players including David Sanborn, Tom Scott, Hank Crawford, Gerald Albright, Junior Walker, Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington, Jr., Michael Brecker, Maceo Parker, Kirk Whalum, Ed Calle, Eric Marienthal, and others; understanding various grooves and rhythmic approaches; and applying jazz language and playing outside. These topics are learned through in-class playing, weekly handouts and assignments. Students will gain a working understanding of these various approaches as well as an ability to apply them to their own music in their own way.