hello there! it's been far too long since i've shared anything :0 so i put out a project a year ago where i recorded jazz solos on an alto sax around the time i auditioned for high school jazz band (which can be found here - https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/662627476/ it wasn't a very formal format ahah) it was when i was sort of relearning how to work a saxophone since i hadn't played one for a while! i was playing on a blues scale, no backing track or rhythm section (that's drums/bass/piano) and making everything up as i went :') having spent the past school year in the lower level jazz band, i think i've improved a fair amount! i recorded a voice memo from my pocket during our most recent two performances (april 15th & 19th) and decided i wanted to share them here to show the improvement in my improvisation. i also added a solo from the 24th that was just recorded while practicing at home :D a lot has changed since a year ago! i switched from alto to tenor saxophone, which i personally like better. i'm playing over the same 12-bar Bb blues as the old project - except this time, not only am i playing the notes associated with it, i actually understand the form and chords and theory and i know some licks and i'm with the rest of the band! these recording are not the greatest representation of balance as i sit right next to the baritone sax so that's particularly prominent, but i thought it would be a better angle so that i'm audible :) the april 15th & 19th recordings start with the lead in to the solo, and then the rest of the band plays backgrounds during the beginning as well as the last chorus (basically the last third of the recording!) there is a rhythm section, although they aren't very easy to hear in this recording because i sit on the opposite end of the stage from them :') the april 24th recording is played with a backing track from iReal Pro and goes through three choruses! i still have a very long way to go with improvisation - especially hearing my classmates, whose solos i wish i could include in here - but i think i've come pretty far from last year as well! so hopefully i'll be able to continue posting some recordings as i get better ^^
