David Sanborn Concert

David Sanborn in concert
Santa Rosa, Ca.
October 19th, 2003

A good size crowd.

David Sanborn in that place where he goes.

Diggin' in!

Dave and me.

Man, what a thrill to see one of my favorite sax players! He sounds even better in concert than on recordings. He had a great band behind him and they were pumping! Not only did I get to watch him up close and personal, but I got to meet him after the show. He was kind enough to come out and sign some autographs and meet his fans. I got to tell him how important he was to me when I was coming up and how I would play along with his records at the end of my practice sessions. He was genuinely thankful and appreciative. He seemed like the kind of guy you could sit down with and chew the fat with for hours.
I think David Sanborn is a very important musician because he changed the sound of the alto saxophone. Until he came along I think most alto players were emulating Cannonball Adderley and trying to get that big fat tone that Cannonball had. Not that it's a bad thing to sound like Cannonball. Then along comes Sanborn with a vibrato you could drive a truck through and a thin, nasal sort of tone. But man, what soul and emotion! It just came pouring out of his horn. It was such a different concept for the time. Nowadays, it seems he is one of the most copied alto players of our day. Just about any sax player out there these days has learned a lot from David Sanborn. There are also more than a few players out there who are dead ringers for Sanborn. What's the old saying, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Indeed.

If you ever get a chance to see and hear this man in concert, by all means, do it!