We are all told to check out other saxophone players when we are trying to develop our own sound. But is this the ONLY way?
This week I filmed a “Guest Session” for Sax School with Simon Willescroft.
Simon is a brilliant player and the regular sax man for UK Pop Icons Duran Duran.
He has also toured and recorded with a “who’s who” of artists including Michael Buble, Seal and Paloma Faith.
Oh, and he also tours with Tony Hadley – that’s right, he gets to perform the “True” sax solo with him! Very cool.
How to develop a great pop sax sound
Simon has a brilliant, distinctive sound on sax, which is why he is so in demand as a player. In this session he shares his top tips for building a great tone on saxophone. Plus, how he drew inspiration from other musicians too.
In the excerpt above, Simon talks about listening to singers like Michael MacDonald, Sting and Stevie Wonder for inspiration on phrasing and feel.
Could you use the same tactic to develop your sound?
Sax School members can watch the full Guest Session inside the Sax School Members Area.
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