I’ve been in awe of Chris Potter’s music since I was 17. I could share endlessly about how he’s influenced me as a saxophonist, improviser, and composer. While preparing for the GroundUP Festival in Miami this coming weekend, I rediscovered footage from the year Chris was our artist-in-residence. One clip stood out so much I […]
Chris Potter
In the shed 2021-05-23
“The Nearness of You”, Chris Potter on “The Source” (Live), diminished stuff, “Stella By Starlight” in G.
Saxophonist Chris Potter on Practicing, Finding Your Voice, Playing Piano, Charlie Parker, Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny
Chris Potter is one of my biggest influences. I first discovered him on a Red Rodney album, circa 1994. My friend Juan found the disc in the sale bin at a Coconuts Records in Florida. In the 50-minute master class below he shares at least a dozen gems of wisdom on playing the saxophone—and jazz. If you can’t make […]
75 Years after Coleman Hawkins Records Body & Soul, What’s so Great about It?
75 years ago this month, Coleman Hawkins recorded what would become one of the most legendary jazz recordings. I didn’t always like this recording. When I first heard it, as a jazz newbie, all I noticed was the crappy recording quality, the hiss, crackle and pops. How “old” it sounded, etc. Now? I could listen […]
Chris Potter & Kenny Werner’s Beautiful Rendition of Tom Harrell’s “Sail Away”
When I first heard this I thought it was the single greatest soprano saxophone performance I’d ever heard. That was more than fifteen years ago. To this day, I feel the same. (Though Branford’s soprano tone is a favorite of mine.) I’ve been sharing this track a lot lately with students & readers who ask […]
Real Sax Daily: Highlights from the First 50 Videos
For the last couple months I’ve published a mini music video 5 days a week. It began as a challenge to myself to practice more. A small, public-facing incentive to shed (I’ve always loathed practicing…at least the getting started part). “But you have a whole blog called #InTheShed?!”, you say. Yes, that is true. But […]