The Northampton Jazz Workshop has been going strong for nearly six years with an amazing array of guest soloists, none more impressive than Gary Smulyan, who I think of as a player who could hold his own on any bandstand in jazz history. That Gary’s the best in the business on baritone saxophone is attested to by his perennial placement at #1 in all the polls, both Critics and, the ultimate endorsement, Readers, i.e., fans. He’ll be back in Northampton tomorrow night, and he’s in my playlist tonight.
Here’s a nice new feature on Gary where he recalls his early years playing alto saxophone on Long Island and the sudden switch he made to baritone, an instrument he’d never considered playing, when he was offered a job with Woody Herman. He recalls his May 25, 1978 premiere with Woody as a “trial by fire,” sitting next to Joe Lovano in the band’s classic “Four Brothers” style saxophone section of three tenors and a baritone. Gary’s my favorite kind of cat: a monster musician and a passionate fan of the music. Both qualities are evident in this documentary, Gary Smulyan: Beyond Category. Enjoy! And plan to arrive early tomorrow night to see him in person.