Multi Award Winning Female Saxophonist, Birmingham, UK, Jazz, Gospel, Reggae, Blues, Soul and Originals. 'Music for the soul'
Musicians highlighted due to their work and impact
I learned about Alice’s music through her parents, who I met at a gig a while ago. She has a wonderful voice and great sense of composition; and she has cultivated both these and other skills to grow into a brilliant, independent artist.
Andy Hamilton (MBE) opened the door to the world of jazz for me. As one of the biggest names of the genre in Birmingham, if not the biggest, his residence was always brimming with it. He was a fantastic player and amazing teacher with whom I advanced leaps and bounds in terms of tone, chords and improvisation.
A teacher can make you or break you. I’m very glad I crossed paths with Jonathan Johnson, who only ever sought to lift me up and help me forward. If you’re facing some rejection at any step of your journey, learn from my experience with him. Find someone who believes in you—only one person is enough—and keep pushing. I promise that it’s worth it!
I want to start here a series to pay tribute to seven people whose influence helped shape the musician that I am today. Through their teachings and example, they allowed me to explore my ways of expression and hone my skills. Their support kept me on track despite the challenges and setbacks I found along the way, and really, every time I play, I celebrate them with my music.
To enhance the beginning of your day, let me recommend you this once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between two legends of music: Luciano Pavarotti, the operatic tenor known as the “King of Opera”, and James Brown, the “King of Soul” and father of funk music.
Sax Girls Rock, an online community of female sax players I’ve been in contact with for several years, will offer their first live concert on August 3rd. If you’re in the USA, don’t miss it!
Enjoy this wonderful scene of musical prodigy and African American rights advocate Hazel Scott, playing two pianos at the same time in the set of ‘The Heat’s On’ (1943).
It’d be great to be a fly in the wall during the recording sessions of people like JR Robinson. The next best thing is listen to him describing how things happened, as is the case with this clip about the making of Michael Jackson’s ‘Rock With You’
Grace Bumbry passed away on May 7th, 2023. One of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation, and the first black singer to perform at the Bayreuth Festival, she left behind an incredible legacy of music and wisdom.
