Those familiar with my blog will know that I am originally a lounge pianist, who has performed in many locations such as the Royal Palace, Turin.
Yet since returning to England shortly after the turn of the millennium, it began to become ever moreso apparent to me that the Piano was only a burden on my freedom.
Whilst passionately in love with the instrument since only a child, it would become both the heartbreak and the revelation of my musical destiny.
The result? A finely tuned and responsive, totally radioactive Keytoy.
It had been begging me to do it. In fact the day it arrived the first thing it said was, “Please don’t call me a Superforce 37…”
Damn right. Whilst my favourite Keytoy, or Melodica, or whatever you want to call it, the name SUPERFORCE 37 has never settled with me on any particularly personal level, at all.
Hence, in addition to the reed adjustments I spent a good couple of hours undertaking, the abominable logo has now gone from its now most graciously decorated face.
After somewhat of a round the world trip, I have finally began to gather a collection of Pocket Sax Masters. I will no doubt be updating this playlist as time goes by.
Click this on screen icon for video list.
Herewith, a ‘pocket saxophonist’ is the term given to a most talented Xaphoonist who’s sound is almost en par with that of a larger Sax.
Whence reading my blog you will know, I have spoken many times about how true virtuoso Xaphoonists are very hard to find.
They are more precious than star dust.
Therefore, it was only inevitable that I would eventually begin searching the endless vaults of recordings, in the hope to start compiling a playlist of Pocket Sax Masters, those of whom have truly began to take hold of the heavens and channel this truly special instrument’s secret divine heart.
There are of course, many talented Xaphoonists out there, yet my excuse for not including them is purely a consequence of musical arrangement or presentation, rather than any absence of talent.
Also, whilst a Xaphoonist of good calibre may impress in one aspect, for example fluidity of scales, he or she may be weaker in another aspect, for example maturity of voice.
Of course, the Xaphoon as I have written often, harbours a rich diversity of voices, such as like Trumpet, Clarinet, Oboe, Sax and even Armenian Duduk. Yet the instrument itself requires a translator of its soul. Its disposition is of a linguistic unorthodoxy, as opposed to any social illegitimacy.
Thus, when addressing one as a Pocket Sax Master, I am saying the performer has acquired a substantial understanding of how the Xaphoon itself wishes to be interpreted and translated to the listener.
It cries, “My body may be finite, but my soul is eternal.”
Indeed thence, as time goes by and existing novices become more adept at their craft, I expect not only to find more and more quality performances, but much, much more well practised individuals who have truly taken The Art Of Pocket Sax unto another musical dimension.
Please enjoy.
This is a song I wrote for Blues Harp, composed to the tune of Popeye. It is completely Ad Libitum, as most blues harmonica songs are.
Chorus
Well I’m stranded and I’ve got the blues,
Well I’m stranded and I’ve got the blues,
Can somebody ship me over to Sidney,
‘Cos I’m stranded and I’ve got the blues.
~ 4 bar harp solo ~
Vrs 1
Well I’ve met Dwongo d’Orangutan,
Well I’ve met Dwongo d’Orangutan,
He don’t need pyjamas ‘cos he eats bananas,
Yeah I’ve met Dwongo d’Orangutan,
~ 2 bar harp solo ~
Well I’ve met Isac The Third the Parrot,
Well I’ve met Isac The Third the Parrot,
He keeps all his feathers whatevers the weathers,
Yeah I’ve met Isac The Third the Parrot.
~ 2 bar harp solo ~
Most of these things are regular novice issues which can be researched and remedied easily enough.
When it comes to the Pocket Sax however, there are a handful of hurdles remaining on the horizon even whence one has acquired a good grasp of the instrument.
The first time I heard your voice it was in 2003. I was strolling the streets of Turin and your song Maybe That’s What It Takes was playing on my portable radio.
Then, as it does there sometimes, it started to rain.
I love the rain. In fact I love the rain just as much as I love the sunshine. Especially both at the same time… that’s really nice. Makes you feel all exotic.
As the water began to swoosh along the foot polished pavements of this romantically architectured metropolis, the radio hostess announced to the world this was your debut album and, like a gentle arm around my shoulder, the next song Here Comes The Rain Again began to play.
To be honest I couldn’t believe my ears when I first heard your singing. Oh of course, I expect people have often said, “she’s no Opera queen”, or, “too husky for my taste”… but, looking at your face right now, as the rain pours down outside against my tin-roofed Somerset apartment in the middle of nowhere… it’s the only voice I want to hear.
It was first recorded in print around 1800 and the lyrics were notably captured by the Welsh folklorist Robert Bryan (1858–1920). The song’s title simply means lullaby (suo = lull; cân = song).
Here is a wonderful painting created by a female artist in Maui, Hawaii, who goes by the name Zariah.
As far as I am aware, this piece is actually called “Riddle”, but what draws one’s attention is the unique instrument tucked under the boy’s arm.
Without doubt, a Xaphoon, since the artist herself is from the exact same region where Brian Wittman invented it back in 1972.
This picture is actually a cropping of a much larger work of art, featuring this loveable but mischievous boy, having a laugh amongst the gardens with his friends.
Strikingly, he reminds me of Peter Pan, yet more to the point, if the Pocket Sax had actually been invented during J.M. Barrie’s lifetime, would the Xaphoon have then been the actual flute of Peter Pan?
Looks fairly conclusive to me.
Yet it would literally blow your mind to know that in the far reaches of all the Earth, there are in existence, uncountable different kinds of flutes, the sounds of which are beyond the imagination.
This Note section of my blog will as time progresses, be detailing many of these flutes. Indeed, in this blog I will make you believe a flute to be as powerful as thunder.
