Tenor sax (no EQ, other than with the mic, and not otherwise edited) plus a backing track created with Moises from the version recorded by Sári Vörös and Zoltán Nagy on the album, "Nem Jön Levél."  

This is a classic Hungarian folk song.  My mother, who died in 2000, was from Hungary.  This song first grabbed at me when I was looking for Hungarian folk songs that had inspired me as a child when we returned to Hungary.  I found a wonderful recording by Sandor Lakatos of this tune.  What a beautiful surprise for me to learn that the song's title translates in English to, "If you write, mother."  Here are the lyrics in Hungarian, which Google can easily translate:  https://m.zeneszoveg.hu/m_dalszoveg/19188/magyar-notak/hogyha-ir-majd-edesanyam-zeneszoveg.html.  In the song, a young man writes to his mother, and she replies.  The lyrics are filled with poignant observations of nature, sadness over the death of a beloved girlfriend, and so on.  For me, it conjures a spiritual connection with my mother, even though she left this earth in physical form nearly 25 years ago.  

This is the first of several traditional Hungarian folk tunes and csardas dance songs that I plan to learn, so stay tuned!

Hogyha ír majd, édesanyám - Tenor sax, backing track

With a backing track made (somewhat hastily!) with Moises and Studio One.  For demo purposes only.  And, for some New Orleans-inspired dancing!

In The 6th - Baritone sax with backing track

The backing track was made via Moises and Studio One.  This is for demo purposes only.

A God Like You - Bari sax with backing track

Two mini-takes for a short solo over the A section.  Transposed to Bb (G minor) for a vocalist rehearsal via Moises.  Yes, that means that low A on the bari (C concert) works in this key!  Edited with Studio One.  For demo purposes only.  This is the Arthur Hamilton version, not the Justin Timberlake one :)

Cry Me A River - Bari sax, backing track (2 mini-takes)

Tenor sax, backing track prepared with Moises and Studio One.  This got me inspired to think about doing club gigs with DJ's and ripping solos over beat drops!

Higher and Higher - Tenor sax with backing track

Performed for my dear father -- who died unexpectedly from a massive heart attack on the Fourth of July -- at his memorial service in Brunswick, Maine.  With Larry "Flash" Allen on piano.  This arrangement played in the style of Hubert Laws.

Come Ye Disconsolate - Soprano sax, piano - live church performance

Backing track created with Moises, StudioOne.  For demo purposes only.

Wanda's Theme - Bari sax with backing track

Bari sax spotlighted with a backing track based on Dirty Dozen (modulated to a different key)

Close Walk with Thee -- Bari sax, opening w backing track

Tenor sax spotlighted with backing track (based on Dirty Dozen; key modulated)

Closer Walk with Thee -- tenor opening, with backing

That's me on bari and sax, dubbed in parallel, over the same backing track based on the Dirty Dozen (key modulated).

Tenor, Bari closing out Closer Walk with Thee

I was surprised by how much fun I had ripping a solo on music from a kids' movie (Trolls) with N*SYNC!

Better Place - Tenor, take 2

Backing track created from the recording, minus vocals

Better Place - tenor, take 1

Bari sax, *mostly one take (I re-recoded the ending part).  Backing track based on Preservation Hall.  I trimmed (snipped?!) the file midway for length.

Do Lord - Bari, Take 2, trimmed

Tenor with backing track built from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band (vocals silenced via Moises).  Minimal production, editing (just an FX Limiter filter in Studio One)

I'll Fly Away - tenor, take 4

Versatile saxophonist focused on NOLA brass bands, R&B, smooth jazz, gospel/spiritual, EDM/club dance, and Latin genres.  Has performed with Daveed Diggs (of "Hamilton"), Rafael Casal, Jeremy Jones (Grammy-nominated drummer), Branford Marsalis, Paul Jeffrey, Lou Donaldson, The Getback (of Oakland), and many others.  Plays tenor, baritone, and soprano saxes.  Doubles on flute, rhythm guitar, ukulele, and hand percussion.

JAndrew McKee

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