So after a few months of hard thinking I have come to a decision.  It is now time to hand over the baton of lead alto seat with The Strictly Smokin' Big Band and take on the challenges of the tenor chair.

I have learnt a lot over the last five years or so playing lead but have always felt that playing tenor is when I enjoy jazz the most and it's my horn of choice with any other projects I work on.  Like anything that you do for a long period of time you can become complacent and coast through gigs without full engaging with the music which, I'm afraid to say, is how I've felt playing lead for the past year or so.  Hopefully this switch will be like joining the band all over again and at the same time help me get my tenor playing up to scratch for an exciting new project I'm working on and hope to start gigging in the not to distant future!

The first rehearsal in my new seat is this thursday, so check back on friday to see if I made the right decision?!

So after 8 years or so of hard work I have decided to cut my trusty Yamaha 62 tenor's hours and send him part time.  Joining the party is the beautiful P.Mauriat 66RXUL 'Influence'.  I have previously never had a chance to play on these horns but have been following the buzz about them on various saxophone websites for a while, so taking the xmas down time I thought it time to get my hands on one.  Wow - what can I say - everything just feels in exactly the right place when you need it and with its added weight gives it a solid and commanding sound.  The nice added touch of solid metal key touches really make you feel like you're 'playing' the horn. I'm totally back to the enjoyment of playing sax at the moment, which is great because I have a new band to write tunes for and am taking a side step in my big band (from lead alto to tenor) so that I can really get to grips with this new sax.

It may just be the new romance of a new horn or it may be the real deal.  I'll keep you posted and let you know if it's lasts!