I like both of these pictures for various reasons, but couldn't decide which one to post here. Please feel free to post your opinion here or email me.
The story behind the title and pictures: In the days before I first picked up a camera, I was a musician. I primarily played the alto sax, and for a short time, tenor sax also. In 4th grade, my school district required that all 4th graders play the recorder for a weekly music class. I loved it so much that in 5th grade, I started playing the clarinet. I never liked how wimpy it sounded, so in 6th grade I played the alto saxophone in my jr. high school band. I ended up playing all the way through Intermediate School, High School marching band, concert band, and jazz band; took lessons with 2AZZ1 saxophonist Craig Durst; and played three years with the Cal Poly Pomona Jazz Band and Jazz Combo. I also wrote and arranged a few tunes for the Jazz Combo.
When I quit the college jazz program during my senior year due to over-sized ego (equally sizable mid-section to match) and condescending nature of our director, I started writing and recording my own style of music for myself. I even played tenor sax on a theme song for an indie movie that was to show at a film festival. Music was my life and passion. All the frustrations and emotions I had were channeled through my horn. (Verbally expressing myself has never been comfortable for me though I'm working on it.) I felt that I was near the top of my game by that point and probably could have gone onto being a professional studio musician after graduation but a strange thing happened. I bought a digital camera.
Previously I had shot some 35mm print film to document some trips and vacations but they were all snapshots. Once I got the digital, I was interested in learning how to take good pictures. Once I read a number of books, I decided to give slide film a try and learn to shoot the right way. Due to the high cost of slide film and processing, I took great care in making the best pictures I could and as a result my photography improved. All the while, music was still the main thing in my life.
By then I had just started attending the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. My roommate Brandon and I shared an apartment in the Nob Hill area, coincidentally we both played saxophone. He also played world-class piano in contrast with my hackneyed guitar skills. I kept playing and recording music through the year until I moved out to an apartment near Pacifica. As exhilarating as living in downtown San Francisco was, the urban lifestyle was not for me. The downfall to moving was that I could no longer record music in my apartment. Living near the beach was a lifelong dream of mine so I didn't twice about that. The urge to play remained for a while, but gradually it faded and today several years later I realize that the passion is gone for the most part. I can still play for a few minutes at a time, but my "chops" start to fade after that. It took 13 years worth of playing to build up the muscle control to play at a professional level, and a few years to lose it. Some days I still have the fire in my belly, but sooner or later we all have to face reality. Music was my first love, but photography is my soulmate.
Info on the pictures: The song, "Soul Serenade" was first recorded by the late, great R&B Saxophonist King Curtis aka. Curtis Ousley, then later recorded by David Sanborn. Sanborn was my biggest influence as a sax player. One of his influences was King Curtis. King Curtis was tragically murdered in the early 1970's outside of his apartment in New York City. A long version of "Soul Serenade" was played by his band at his funeral.
In his relatively short life, Curtis recorded with everyone in his era from Ray Charles to Aretha Franklin. Turn on any oldies station and the sax player you hear on most of the songs was probably King Curtis.
The saxophone is my Yamaha alto saxophone. I don't remember which model it is, but it's certainly the best sax I've ever played. (I've owned and tried some terrible ones as well). I've been obsessed with keeping the horn clean since the day I bought it. Now if only I could keep my hiking boots and pants that clean after a day of shooting...
Labels: music, personal, still life photography
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