Roi's Altos

[werkinsnake]

I've been listening to a couple of Live DMB shows and have noticed distinct differences in Roi's Alto sax tones. After looking up the corresponding videos, it seems that the tones are dependent on the particular saxophone that Roi is using. So I was curious as to which sax DMB fans prefer. BTW, for those who don't know, the alto sax is the horn Roi uses in WWYS, #36, Jimmi Thing, Sugar Will, and Big Eyed Fish, as well as several other songs.

Alto number 1- Roi's Gold Lacquered Mark VI. As far as I can tell, this sax seems to be his weapon of choice and is the most often used. This horn probably has the darkest tone of his three alto's. Used on Red Rocks, Listener Supported, Folsom Field, and Central Park.

Alto number 2- Roi's Silver Plated Mark VI. It is rare to find Roi using this horn as I can only find one release in which he played it. An interesting note is that this horn has a cirular engraving on the bell. This type of pattern indicates that the horn was manufactured in Europe and is less common than the standard floral engraving. Used on Live From Chicago.

Alto number 3- Roi's unlaquered Yamaha 875 Custom? It's hard to pinpoint what this horn is. There is no engraved S on the register key, which indicates that it is NOT a Selmer. I believe that it's a Yamaha Custom because of 1) the unlaquered finish which is identicle to the Yamaha model 2) Roi began using this horn in 2002 (the same year Yamaha introduced its 875 model) 3) Yamaha was giving this horn to well known saxophonists to get their feedback 4) Roi started using this horn around the same time he began using his Yamaha soprano saxophones. This horn has a mellow vintage like sound (further proving it's an 875) and was heavily used durring 2002 as well as both shows I've seen in 2004. Used on The Gorge.

It should be noted that Roi did use a Black Laquered Selmer Super Action 80II on the WWYS video. However, I have not seen or heard the horn being used since, so I have not included that particular model in this pole.

So now that you know a little bit about the horns, which one do you think gives Roi his best sound?

[YknSTONE]

I say "Alto #1" I dont know that much about the horn section of the band though. But thanks for filling me in on what is used and what was used. You learn something new everyday.

-side note- I dig the Saprano sax.

[JaZzBounty]

I haven't really been paying much attention to which horn he uses, just more his tone quality. But now that you mentioned it I've gone back and listened to some of the different concerts previously mentioned, and I'll have to go with his Gold Lacquered Mark VI.

Though I really like his playing on the Soprano, in particular Seek Up from The Gorge 2002.

[saxlover]

Alto number 3- 2) Roi began using this horn in 2002 (the same year Yamaha introduced its 875 model)
Yahama has had this horn in its arsenal for quite some time. I know that the 875 Custom has been around since at least 1996, probably before that. The Custom was the horn of choice for my sax studio.

[saxlover]

I've been listening to a couple of Live DMB shows and have noticed distinct differences in Roi's Alto sax tones. After looking up the corresponding videos, it seems that the tones are dependent on the particular saxophone that Roi is using. So I was curious as to which sax DMB fans prefer. BTW, for those who don't know, the alto sax is the horn Roi uses in WWYS, #36, Jimmi Thing, Sugar Will, and Big Eyed Fish, as well as several other songs.
do you what kind of setup he uses on the various horns? i'd really like to know what mouthpieces he favors.

[werkinsnake]

do you what kind of setup he uses on the various horns? i'd really like to know what mouthpieces he favors.
According to David Saull, Roi's tech, Roi favors vintage hard rubber Berg Larsens, Meyers, and early Selmers. They also soak the reeds in water before using them, which they claim leads to a 90% success rate in their reeds.

I would really love to know what type of tenor mouthpiece Roi was using in the early 90's. His tone was slightly more gutzy than what it is today. The Central Park concert is the closest I've ever heard him come to his old tone.

Oh, and I made a mistake when I said the 875 Custom. Yamaha has had that model out for a while now. 2002 is when they introduced the 82Z to replace the 875.

[YknSTONE]

This might be a 'stupid question' but I dont care. Im interested to know if any truth is in this. I have heard some wicked Roi solos to where, I swear to y'all, Roi sounds like he "splits his reed" ....is this possible? ...or highly unlikely at all. any info on this I'd be interested to hear! thanks.

[PilotC150]

If he split his reed playing I'm not sure he could make any sound with his horn. So if it happened, the solo would be done.

[werkinsnake]

This might be a 'stupid question' but I dont care. Im interested to know if any truth is in this. I have heard some wicked Roi solos to where, I swear to y'all, Roi sounds like he "splits his reed" ....is this possible? ...or highly unlikely at all. any info on this I'd be interested to hear! thanks.
Actually, you're not too far off. The sound that you are refering to is called "growling". There are several ways to perform this sound.

The first is to hum a note that is a 3rd or 5th off from the note that you are fingering. For instance, if you are fingering a G, you would hum a B or D. Clarrence Clemmons performs this type of growl all the time. When you hum a note that is different from the note you are fingering, you cause the reed to oscillate in two differnt patterns. In a way, it tries to "split" itself apart. Humming is the more common method of growling, however I've never heard Roi use this method. In fact, I believe that this type of method eludes him as it does many saxophonists. Not to fear, there is another method.

Method two is the trickier method. This requires overblowing notes and using trick fingerings. The result is a very rough tone that sounds like it is almost screaming. Roi is a master of using this type of growling, though he uses it sparingly in his solos.

There is another sound that a saxophone can produce called flutter tongue. This requires you to roll your tongue. If you do it just right, you will hit the reed very rapidly, which creates the harshest rock and roll sound you can get out of the saxophone. I've heard Roi use this trick only twice. The first is on his Tenor solo in Bartender (Lillywhite Sessions). The second was during the first DMB show I ever attended on 8/2/02. Roi used the flutter tongue on the last note of his Jimi Thing solo. Very cool indeed. To hear what flutter tonguing sounds like listen to the old Champs song "Tequilla".

Hope this answers your question.

[icedaddy6]

To use the "growling effect" you can also simply "growl" in the saxophone. Think of a dog when they growl at something or someone and do the same thing in the saxophone. Where the 3rd's and 5th's come in is the volume of the note. Some intervals you growl will make the note sound softer or louder, depending on the interval.

I've also heard Roi use a technique called multiphonics where you use a certain fingering and embousure (mouth position) and the saxophone can produce multiple notes at once. He has done this during a few Jimi Thing solos, and I've only heard him do it on alto.

[werkinsnake]

I've also heard Roi use a technique called multiphonics where you use a certain fingering and embousure (mouth position) and the saxophone can produce multiple notes at once. He has done this during a few Jimi Thing solos, and I've only heard him do it on alto.
I like doing multiphonics by playing a low note and forcing some of the overtones to come out. I've heard that there are also some trick fingerings that do not correspond with any other note. Does anyone have these types of fingerings?

[Jaj858]

one really easy one is just like fingering a low c, but you take away the f key.

I have some more that i can post later

[icedaddy6]

at www.dornpub.com (http://www.dornpub.com) search for Ron Caravan in woodwind etude books. He has three books, "Paradigms I and II" and "Preliminary Exercises". At least two of those books have multiphonic fingerings included information on the other extended techniques, slap tonguing, flutter tonguing, altissimo, etc.