Try this on, Boo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyfOS5g7SXM

Local Philly guys, Larry McKenna and Tony Micelli ... saw Larry last night at a local music shop in my neighborhood. Now, THAT'S tone!
Russ ... nice vibes, huh?

or this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhom0OO5DEg

Dave, tone, phasing, choice of licks, dynamics etc. are as good as it gets.

1. Why haven't I heard of this guy?
2. Do you know his age?
3. Does he make any money playing "Swing Jazz?"
4. Does he just play local or does he travel?
5. Is he only playing weekends or more nights a week?

Thanks for introducing me to this guy and any info is appreciated. You can email if you have time. He's a mixture of Getz and Zoot Sims with a style all his own. He's great. Thanks again.

Larry is the best...

Dave , the first time I met Larry was at John Mangano's funeral service(late 80's)..It was me, Larry and Stan in attendance..other than John's wife and son...so sad..even you were absent..

Here is a video with our local friends...Lynn worked with Dave in the Disco days, Don (bass) owns the music store and married to Lynn.., Tom on piano and Larry on sax..

Fran, that's some of the nicest ensemble horn work I've heard in many a day. Ahh, the good old days when musicians could play, singers could sing, and there were audiences to appreciate them. You were free to be an artist without having to worry about filling up the dance floor. A real treat. BTW, was that in or around Philly?

chas

Boo, I like every note Trane ever blew. I like every inversion he ever played. His ballads were STELLAR. What I said is, I wasn't a big fan of his TONE. It's a little thin for my taste.

As you know, tone is something you're born with. One of my best friends is a monster on tenor. But, he has a harsher, leaner tone than Trane. And there's nothing he can do about it. Horn changes...reeds, etc. make little or no difference.
He's fantastic on flute, and that's what he plays when he works with me.

Listen To Gato. His tone is both fat and really dirty. Sandborn is really clean and a little fuller than Trane. But, I'll be the first to admit that, good as they are, neither could hold Trane's sax case when it comes to comparing ability and over-all musicianship. I simply like their tone beterr than Trane's.

You can't get a bigger Trane fan than me. I'm just not really crazy about his Tone. That being said, for inspiration, I listen to him all the way to Louisville and back (1 1/2 hours each way) on my weekly trip.

It's just my opinion, and in no way is intended as a criticism of his brilliant technique, improvisational skills or impact on the art of jazz performance.


Russ

Chas, that location is in Fairless Hills, between Langhorne and Morrisville..

http://prolinemusic.com/home.html

Fran, it's sad, sad, sad that so many shops such as that (Proline) which produced so many fine musicians, have mostly succumbed to internet sales. I don't feel as though anything has REALLY filled that gap. Even most secondary school systems have made music programs a secondary priority. Just compare the budgets of the average football program to the average band and orchestra programs. That's why we have 50 self-taught 3-chord (key of E....only) guitar players to every 1 trained horn player.

chas

Chas, you are right on the money...or lack of it....

My Grandson plays sax with the local high school (Truman) marching band..
They have no budget allowance for transportation (band)...so the kids walk to home games...the gear and uniforms stay in school..
There are no away games for the band...

This is not supporting the band...

My High School Alma Mater just cancelled their marching band last year ... so sad. They DID pick up an orchestra teacher (a nun) from a large Philly school that closed, so they still have music, but nothing at the football games. I used to love gameday when the football team would play before and after the BAND SHOW!

Boo,
Glad you like Larry - he's among the best I ever heard, and he's a gem of a human too. Works local to Philly and wherever the wind blows him. I think he's pushing 75-80, but I'm just guessing, based on what I've seen him do and following the timeline. I'm sure he's at least 15 years my senior, and I'm not yet 60.

Don and Lynn's shop (Proline Music) exists mostly on the success of their teaching program. They have 300+ students each month ($85 per), and they feature a band program that gets 4 or 5 students together, they learn 5 tunes and then showcase them in a local place .... great PR and great for the kids. The internet is as bad as it is good ... I think you need a good balance of cyber to bricks for any business to survive today. Without the internet - many of us here would never have met!

Russ,
I agree about all your points about Trane - great technician, stylist, pioneer etc ... just need more tone. I just GOTTA have more tone! I got a feevah .... and the only prescription is ...
(well, you see where I'm going with this)