Ideas for a Recording

I’ve had ideas for a recording for some time now, and I’d like to be able to actually follow through with it. I know that it is a time-consuming and expensive process, but it’s totally worth it. I made one as a member of the Sax-Chamber Orchestra when I was just starting my doctoral work at USM, and I recall how intense the process was, and how much preparation was needed.

I’d like to record music that I truly believe in and can play well, not just anything that I can put together on short notice. I have several pieces that I’d like to record because of their artistic quality, as well as my joy and fulfillment when playing them. Works by my colleagues would make up a large portion of the recording, if not all of it.

One thing I’m not sure of yet is whether I should record only works for alto saxophone, or include works on the other saxophones too. Since 2008, I’ve worked with several composers and many have used the alto saxophone, but some have used the soprano saxophone, including Jim Willey who wrote a fantastic piece for me called “Mood Swings” for soprano saxophone and piano. Currently, I’d like to have a variety of works on the program, including unaccompanied works and works with piano, by a variety of composers. I keep vacillating between some choices on the program, but the core pieces have not changed.

I think that the recording may have to be produced in stages – that is, recording a piece or two in one location at one particular time, and then recording another piece or two at another time in another location, etc. This may be the best solution overall, but certainly not the most cost-effective. Finding a pianist is also a challenge – some of the pieces are very demanding. I know a few fine pianists, so I’m going to start with them.

This dream of mine to record music written for me has been in the back of my mind for many years, and I’m hoping to finally produce it and be able to share it with my colleagues, students, and other saxophone enthusiasts. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas that they’d like to share with me, please feel free to contact me.