Let’s Talk About Sax(ophones)

Adolphe Sax invented and patented an invention in the 1840s. He was looking to create an instrument that was basically a blend of the brass and woodwind instruments. And then, of course, his secondary goal was to name something after himself. To fulfill both these goals (and probably to make his dad proud), he created the saxophone.

The saxophone is made out of brass, but it is a woodwind instrument. Say it ain’t so/How can this be? It’s because whether an instrument is a brass or a woodwind isn’t determined by material, but by how the sound is produced. Please allow us to gloss over some detail here and say that the main difference in how sound is produced basically has to do with whether or not the player’s lips vibrate. Brass = Yes. Woodwinds = No.

So, to get back to the point, there are many, even several, types of saxophones. The four main kinds are the soprano, the alto, the tenor, and the baritone. The Big Band Experience showcases three of these: soprano, alto, and tenor. So, let’s take a little bit of a deeper look at these, shall we?

Aaron Moe takes care of soprano and alto duties while Ronny Loew holds tenor patrol.

The soprano saxophone is usually straight (think of the instrument Kenny G plays) and is similar in tone to the oboe.

The alto saxophone is larger than the soprano and, along with the tenor, is one of the most commonly played types of saxophones.

The tenor saxophone is lower and bigger than the soprano and alto. As shown in the picture above, you can spot a tenor saxophone by the bend in its neck (near the mouthpiece).

Famous saxophone players include the aforementioned Kenny G, John Coltrane, and Bill Clinton. Wearing sunglasses is often a prerequisite for playing the instrument.

Photo credit: Adil113

3 Characteristics of a Big Band

Did Someone Order a Big Band? 

Big Band music dominated the scene in the late 1930s and early 1940s, a time also known as the "Swing Era". The Swing Era was known for dance floors filled with jitterbugs and evokes images of tuxedo-clad big bands. Today, few big band dance halls exist, but that doesn't mean that big bands went away. Big bands have evolved with the times but they hold on to some of the same characteristics and values that their Swing Era descendants held closely. Here are three ways you can spot a Big Band today.

Number of musicians
They call it big band for a reason. A big band consists of large group with multiple sections for brass and rhythm. In comparison to improvised jazz combos, an arranger primarily crafts big band music in advance. A big band can be viewed as a team of musicians; it's up to the arranger and director to get the most out of his or her team's talents.

The sound
Big band sound consists of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments. Big bands today can be found playing all styles of jazz music respective to the swing era. While the big band sound has adapted with the times, there are still groups that cherish the original sound that big bands were known for in their heyday.

Fashion
Many big bands performed in ballrooms that had dress codes. Tuxedos are iconic to the swing era and therefore worn by big band musicians. Big band musicians today are often seen wearing more modern tuxedos which is just another way big band music continues to adapt to modern culture.

Five NPOs to Consider

 Five Midwest Charities That Are Moving Mountains

 

Even though the 2013 "Spirit of the Season" Holiday Tour has come and gone, the shaun johnson Big Band Experience mission remains. Shaun and the rest of the Big Band Experience members were honored to have played a small part in helping multiple charities bring joy to thousands of people in need. The following highlights what some of those charities do best.  

 

Wishes & More 

Wishes & More creates extraordinary experiences for wish children. The goal of this children’s charity is simple: grant wishes to children with terminal and life-threatening illnesses and provide hopeful hearts, happy memories and assistance to those who love them. This November, the Minnesota Wild's Matt Cooke wrote a new page in the memory book by inviting Wishes & More families to enjoy a Wild game in a box suite. 

 

Lunch is Served, Inc.

Lunch Is Served, Inc. is a nonprofit with the unique mission of delivering simple sack lunches for working men and women who are attempting to break the chains of poverty and hunger.

 

 

 

Make-A-Wish® Iowa
Every 38 minutes Make-A-Wish® grants the wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition in the United States and its territories. We believe that a wish experience can be a game-changer. This one belief guides us in everything we do. It inspires us to grant wishes that change the lives of the kids we serve. One child, 6-year-old Esther who was adopted from Uganda, wished to go to Disney's Animal Kingdom to see some familiar animals. When her family of 17 and two helpers (picture below) made the journey from Cedar Rapids, Iowa in February of 2013, they became the largest for Wish party in Iowa history.

 

 

Open Door Mission
Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission founded in 1954 committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 816 safe, shelter beds to homeless men, women and children, serves over 2,000 hot, nutritious meals and provides preventive measures to more than 275 people living in poverty.

 

 

360 Communities
Founded more than 40 years ago by a group of volunteers, 360 Communities provides hope and support to more than 14,000 individuals each year with 11 programs in over 40 locations, including a network of five food shelves, two domestic violence shelters, two resource centers and three programs that support school success from birth through high school graduation. A group of Burnsville food shelf volunteers is pictured below. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rochester kicks off 2013 Holiday Tour on December 5

In just over a month, the 2013 Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience “Spirit of the Season” Holiday Tour will take flight from Rochester, Minnesota. On December 5, at 7:30pm, the first of ten December shows will treat Minnesota’s third largest city to a night of contemporary big band music with a pop flair at Mayo Civic Center's Presentation Hall. The folllowing is a brief background on the Rochester venue and a list of tips for attending the event.

Rochester's Mayo Civic Center

Rochester has rich tradition of performing arts and Shaun Johnson BBE could not be more honored to kick off the tour in such a storied city. The Mayo Civic Center, a venue that also has a rich history, has four main performance facilities. Presentation Hall, the premier concert facility, is where Shaun and a collection of superior big band musicians will take the stage on December 5.

In 1938, community leaders deemed the original “Mayo Civic Auditorium” as the area’s premier entertainment venue. Since then, the city has continued to expand and update its facilities. Now the largest event center in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, the Mayo Civic Center plays host to over 1300 events per year. The way in which Mayo Civic Center is positioned in the Rochester community makes it an ideal place to host a winter concert. Here are a few tips for attending the show:

Parking
• Look for city wide “Parking Logos”. They will direct you to open parking lots and ramps.
• Rochester meter parking and parking ramps are FREE after 5pm.
• In addition to the ramps, Civic Center “South” Lot has 240+ parking spaces available.

Get Involved 
• Join the facebook event page.
• “Like” and “follow” Shaun Johnson BBE for news, photos, and cool contests leading up to and continuing through the Holiday Tour. 
• "Spirit of the Season" Holiday Tour dates and locations. 
• Who is Shaun Johnson?

More Ideas 
• Planning to purchase “What’ll I Do” but don’t want to wait in line at the show? Order your copies here. 
• Consider booking a night or weekend in one of Rochester’s 5000 hotel rooms.