In 1977, I went to see one of my music heroes, David Sanborn at the Leona Theatre in Pittsburgh. It was a packed house, Dave was at his peak, with his regular band featuring his guitar comrade the late and great Hiram Bullock. Everyone was smoking weed in the theatre except me, I hadn't smoked anything at that point in my life! They were passing joints down the row, it was a party, and then they brought out a birthday cake, cause it was Dave's birthday! I remember hearing over the mic, David said, "Oh man, there's a joint in the cake!"
David and Hiram were as one, in those days it was more jazz fusion than smooth jazz. I was elated, many years later, to meet David at Quinnipiac College, I was playing with The Sonny Constanzo Big Band and Dave was playing on the bill. I spoke to him about that concert, and how exciting it was and he remembered that particular show. He said back then we could let loose and play, later on he said the record company controlled a lot of the shows, and wanted the tunes to be more like the album release. He and Hiram had a magnetic effect when they played back and forth sax to guitar, speaking the language of jazz as they stood stage front. They really had a vibe, it was something else, and they would stand next to each and were playing licks band and forth. It was amazing.
I had walked to the front and stood with the crowd looking up with joy. It was then I decided, I wanted to be on stage doing that! When my high school buddy and I got into the car, I was driving and gleeful. Suddenly I turned to him and said, "man, I can't feel the wheel!" He started laughing hilariously and said you got a contact high! Wow, I was blasted. We were laughing.
He had just broken up with his girlfriend so we decided to drive to her house and just stand in front and look it at. HA!! It was just like a movie.
Dave remains to this day one of my greatest influences, and music that moves my heart and soul. David was a game changer for the music. I knew I had seen history and Dave Sanborn changed the sound of the alto saxophone and pop music forever.
He began playing saxophone because he had polio as a child, it had damaged on lung, lost nerve feeling on half of his body, and other conditions. His doctor suggested he play saxophone to improve his breathing. He excelled at it, and put the emotions of his experience into his horn. Touching peoples hearts, and moving lovers and souls. David Sanborn. One of my musical heroes, and a nice cat too.
