Hangin' With Bob Mintzer

Hey Everyone,
You know, I had a great opportunity to hang with New York saxophonist Bob Mintzer last week while he was up here doing some clinics and a concert with one of our pro big bands. I had a chance to hang with him at a club here about 6 years ago, but not for very long unfortunately. Anyway, this time I took care of the logistics of his stay and made sure he was where he had to be when he had to be there.

I got to know more about him which was very cool.....not just as a saxophonist but as a person too. One of the great things about music and why I do it is because of meeting people like him (and then getting a chance to hear and share the stage with him was the icing on the cake). I've followed Bob and his big band since I first entered university back in 1985 and hoped one day I would get a chance to meet and perform with him. I actually first met him in 1990 at a jazz camp in Kansas, but I never did get a chance to hang with him like I did last week.

He had some great concepts and ideas for the students as far as how to successfully navigate this dialect of the musical language we call "jazz". It was so great that he reinforced what I have been saying to my own students for years.....learning this music is like learning another language, and if you've never heard the language spoken before, how are you supposed to speak it yourself?? What is your "point of reference" for understanding how this music is played?? If you were asked to stand up and give a speech on "quantum physics" but knew very little or nothing about it, what would you say?? Basically, that is what you are doing when you are trying to play this music but have never taken the time to hear it played....live and/or on recordings.

One of the other concepts he covered which I think "hit home" with the students was the articulations, inflections, and stylistic traits that are associated with the playing of this music. Many young players learning to improvise play decent notes and ideas for their ability and age, but the notes are played very straight and with not much enthusiasm and/or "attitude". Playing the notes has it's importance, of course, but the "real" music happens with the performer brings those notes to life using the stylistic nuances characteristic of the music......and how could you best identify what those "stylistic nuances" would be or what they would sound like?? Well, how about "listening"?? (geez.....looks like we've come full circle, imagine that!!).

The Yellowjackets are recording another CD this coming January, and Bob let me hear a few of the charts he is writing for the group (with the help of the Sibelius music notation software) and they sound really cool. I'm looking forward to hearing the final product. By the way, right now I am using the "Sibelius 4" version of the software, and it's great.

Anyway, I can honestly say that it was truly an honor to have hung out with Bob as long as I did. He is one of my favorite New York tenor guys to listen to. Unfortunately, in recent years we lost two others I follow very closely......Bob Berg and Michael Brecker. So I truly hope that Bob Mintzer will be around for many years to come. I can honestly say after hearing how he played last week while he was here, he's got plenty of music left to share with all of us, and that's very cool!!

Best Regards,

Pat B.

Who's Blog Is This Anyway??

Hey Folks,
Well, I guess it only makes sense to give you some background information about me and my training, career etc.

I started playing saxophone in 1979 in middle school and have continued on right through the completion of a Undergraduate Degree in Jazz Studies and 1 year completed towards a Master's Degree in performance. I'm an "Artist/Clinician" for Yamaha Canada and I endorse the Yamaha "Custom Z" tenor saxophone. I play soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxes, some flute, and bass clarinet as well. Because I didn't attend one of the "heavy" type jazz schools (North Texas, Berklee, University of Miami, Manhattan School of Music etc.), I ended up learning mostly from recordings, private lessons with various jazz figures, jazz camps, personal practice, hanging out, going on the road, cruise ship gigs, asking MANY questions etc.

It was important for me to hang out at the local jam sessions, meet people, sit in, learn tunes and establish a network of people and musicians that I would later draw on for gigs, inspiration, advice, and so on. One of the things I tell my own students who are serious about going to post-secondary schools to study music is to always take the time to meet new people, hang out, and establish contacts. The contacts you establish in school will likely turn out to be the guys that will be handing you work when they can't do a gig or when they are asked to book or contract a gig.

Anyway, over the years I have been able to develop a decent network of people that I draw on and employ and work with on a regular basis, and a lot of those contacts are people I played/hung out with at university. Be a great player but also be a great guy (gal) as well.....that will make you employable. Leave your ego and attitude at the door and just enjoy playing music and interacting with others to create this magnificent art form.

Best Regards,

Pat Belliveau

PS - For more background information about me (if you're curious), check out my website: http://www.patbelliveau.com

Hey Folks!!

Hey Everybody in Internet Land,
I thought I'd start another blog (I have an online marketing blog too) based on my performing career and my passion. I'm also university educated in this field, have much practical experience as a performer and teacher, and just love to perform.

I hope many people will stop by and that this will be a destination point for them. As I'm sure many know already, musicians LOVE to "talk shop" and share ideas, comment etc. and that's what I intend to do here as well so please do check back from time to time for new material. Until then, keep swingin'.

Pat Belliveau