Brian Sacawa: Sounds Like Now

Meme me

I wasn't tapped, but I couldn't resist. The "Four" Meme. Found via OGIC. And now, the shocking tell-all:

Four jobs you've had in your life: saxophone professor, army guy, theme park saxophonist, record store employee.

Four movies you could watch over and over: The Triplets of Belleville, 1998 Tour de France (Pantani untouchable), The Godfather, Aliens.

Four places you've lived: Tucson, Ann Arbor, Baltimore, Amherst, MA.

Four TV shows you love to watch: Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (yes, ok, I'm addicted), Seinfeld, The Wire (my old neighborhood).

Four places you've been on vacation: Japan, Nashville, Cooperstown, Ocean City, Maryland.

Four websites you visit daily: CyclingNews, Engrish, The New York Times: Music Page, Sequenza21.

Four of your favorite foods: chicken salad sandwich from a cheap New York deli, 설렁탕, chocolate Power Bar, uni. (Good individually, but lined up together like this . . . yuck.)

Four places you'd rather be: onsen-ryokan in Hakone, L'Alpe Duez, Baltimore, flying.

Hey, Patti. You game?

To do

Now that the semester's over, it's nice to have all this free time. In order to use it most effectively, I've made a really long "To Do" list. The problem is that even though I check things off on a daily basis, the list keeps getting longer.

A joyful NOISE

Tonight we performed Phil Kline's Unsilent Night in Tucson's First Annual boom box Christmas parade--an event that, judging by this year's enthusiasm, will only get better and more exciting each time. We had a good crowd--filled out by several youngsters and three very fanatical four-legged groupies--and could have been confused for an angry mob walking down the street had it not been for the ethereal sounds emanating from our boom boxes. This evening's festivities began as we gathered outside of Centennial Hall just as another large crowd was loitering outside, waiting for the performance of Oklahoma! to begin inside. Tapes and CDs were distributed, directions were given, and the we pushed PLAY. What a sound. Those waiting for the musical turned around to stare and wonder what the hell we were doing! But it seemed like they were enjoying the music--and perhaps secretly wishing they'd brought their boom box so they could ditch the musical. Their loss, I say. The journey down University Ave was fraught with strange looks here and there but then always a smile as we passed by. On 4th Ave we were invited inside a grocery store to parade around the aisles but denied access to Che's Lounge by the bouncer despite some of the patrons' passionate pleas. It was a very beautiful event and everyone had a great time making a really big noise. Thanks to everybody who came out. See you next year!

In good company

Many thanks to Lynn (ahem, I mean, Mister) Klock for including me as a featured alumni on the University of Massachusetts - Amherst saxophone studio website. It's an honor to be featured alongside both David Pope and Wayne Tice, but especially Wayne, who was my teacher for three years in high school and who I credit the most for giving me the foundation on which I've been able to build for the last 10 years. Thanks, man.

See everyone at tonight's performance of Unsilent Night!

Pick of the Week

Music in the Streets by Irene Messina. Tucson Weekly, Dec. 15, 2005.

Baltimore diary

I'm back in Tucson now after a fun and successful trip to Baltimore. Actually, the previous post was a little misleading because I didn't really go home on the 11th as planned. A combination of delays and bad weather at Chicago Midway forced me to rebook my flight for the following day. Well, I wasn't forced, but there was a chance that they wouldn't hold my connecting flight in Chicago and the last thing I wanted was to be stranded in the Chicago airport for a sleepless night. Besides, I wasn't really ready to leave Baltimore anyway.

My set at the Red Room on Saturday night was one of the best live performance experiences I've had in recent memory. My being there was a little bit of a stretch for the folks who book the talent simply because I was playing composed music--despite how experimental it might be. But they take chances at the Red Room and I'm glad that gave me the opportunity. I was humbled by the crowd--which included a surprise appearance by a couple of great friends--that absolutely filled the room. This was not a normal crowd though. Everyone was completely engaged with the music. I was an incredible experience and one that I wish I could have everytime I perform. A room full of individuals interested in experimental music and improvisation makes for a very embracing and warm atmosphere. John Berndt and the rest of the crew there have done an amazing job of developing a loyal and appreciative following for the venue. They deserve an immense amount of credit for cultivating an audience for music on the edge.

There is something to be said for the intimacy of venues like the Red Room. Performer and audience are on the same level--literally, as there is no stage figuratively elevating the performer. Those who come to shows places like that are usually very engaged in the moment of music making. Being up close and almost "wrapped up" in an audience like that transmits a certain energy. The audience wants to concentrate intensely, which in turn augments the performer's mental state and communicative abilities. At the Red Room, some were swaying to music that didn't have a pulse while one was moved to do yoga poses during Michael Pisaro's trance-inducing, mediatative here (2/2). The experience was truly cool.

The rest of my time in Baltimore was as anticipated--very fun. I was able spend time eating at some of my favorite old spots like the ever hip City Cafe. I also got some very good uninterrupted practicing in and was able to reconnect with a very special girl. Ah, Baltimore.

Homebound

The bells

The carillon across the street was chiming loudy this morning with festive holiday cheer, but something wasn't quite right. My first thought was, "Man, that's a bad carillon player." But as I listened, I noticed the real problem--the bells were out of tune. One in particular. Kind of an important one too. The major thirds were minor and "Silent Night" took on a more ominous and sinister tone.

We're snowed in!!!

It was a snow-day in Baltimore today, which meant that all classes at Morgan State, including my masterclass, were canceled. Looking out the window at 5am, it was near blizzard-like conditions. However, just a few hours later, the sky was blue and the snow was beginning to melt. When I lived in Baltimore, I always thought that school officials had a quick trigger finger when it came to canceling classes in the face of a snow storm. I remember one time in particular. I was hanging out with a friend from college, who was teaching public school in Perry Hall, a northern suburb of Baltimore, and there was a huge snow and ice storm predicted for the following day. He got a phone call that night telling him that school was canceled the next day--before it even started snowing. It never did snow. Anyway, back to today. I hung out with an old friend and got some good practicing in. Show tomorrow night at the Red Room.

And . . .

. . . the nominees are . . . See Jerry Bowles' "quick and dirty" page for the classical music Grammy nominees. Hey, I played saxophone on the Bolcom album! That's me with the solo on Disc 2, track 1.