Hello Nigel. I am one of your students and yes, l have played with a singer. Not play solos but accompaniment. What l mean by that, the song was Bésame Mucho and l played the actual notes to the song while the singer paused. Then she sang again and so on. It went pretty good since l know the entire song by heart. This July 23rd, l will be flying to Puerto Rico to play the “Wedding March” and Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love”; l have done this in the past at other weddings.
In my quartet, we play jazz standards, and my piano player does the vocals on almost half of them. I take the lead on the rest. This is a great arrangement because it takes a lot of pressure of me being the front man for a full show. When I accompany him singing, I use the silences as you suggested to insert sax lines. In a song like “all of me“ there are lots of easy places to play, so you just wait your turn. A good rule of thumb is to not play more notes than him, if he sings all of me, three notes, then you answer with three notes. Another tactic that I like to do is that when he is holding notes, a little longer, say on the end of “why not take Alllll Offfffffff Meeeeee”. You quietly harmonize those 3 with him,say, by playing up a third.
Thanks for this video. I have played many times with a singer, especially at church. I have violated Matt's rule number 1 many times.I will be more cognizant of this in the future.
Unless you happen to be a big name star, most bands are going to view the sax as a side man, and you are expected to know your place. You may be more melodic than the singer, more technical and stylistically succinct than the lead guitar player, and a great crowd pleaser given the chance to shine. But if you upstage anybody you are not likely to get a return gig with the group. Be a team player and be aware of the politics.
Hello Nigel. I am one of your students and yes, l have played with a singer. Not play solos but accompaniment. What l mean by that, the song was Bésame Mucho and l played the actual notes to the song while the singer paused. Then she sang again and so on. It went pretty good since l know the entire song by heart.
This July 23rd, l will be flying to Puerto Rico to play the “Wedding March” and Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love”; l have done this in the past at other weddings.
Awesome! Congrats on your gigs in Piero Rico!
In my quartet, we play jazz standards, and my piano player does the vocals on almost half of them. I take the lead on the rest. This is a great arrangement because it takes a lot of pressure of me being the front man for a full show. When I accompany him singing, I use the silences as you suggested to insert sax lines.
In a song like “all of me“ there are lots of easy places to play, so you just wait your turn. A good rule of thumb is to not play more notes than him, if he sings all of me, three notes, then you answer with three notes. Another tactic that I like to do is that when he is holding notes, a little longer, say on the end of “why not take Alllll Offfffffff Meeeeee”. You quietly harmonize those 3 with him,say, by playing up a third.
Great tips here too!
I've always been told that fewer notes and less playing brings the best out of the sax. This video proves it in Tip #3.
That’s always a good strategy Ron.
Thanks for your tips
Thanks for this video. I have played many times with a singer, especially at church. I have violated Matt's rule number 1 many times.I will be more cognizant of this in the future.
Glad it helped you.
Playing the title of the song helps me.
Cool
Have i missed something here? Dont play over the singer/look for gaps?
Sounded great but certainly playing over the singer
Unless you happen to be a big name star, most bands are going to view the sax as a side man, and you are expected to know your place. You may be more melodic than the singer, more technical and stylistically succinct than the lead guitar player, and a great crowd pleaser given the chance to shine. But if you upstage anybody you are not likely to get a return gig with the group. Be a team player and be aware of the politics.