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Patrick Specht

College bound Jazz Cat, picking up gigs for both bills and fun

About Me

Growing up in Chicago, there is always live music. Sonny Rollins Played here last spring, and groups like Basie's Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, the Village Vanguard, and local hit The Chicago Jazz Ensemble always play at such a high level. As a newer player, I try my hand at putting my own twist on old standards and new favorites. But sometimes the old favorites are great just the way they are. Heading off to study music is a big deal for me, and the more times I get to play when I am home in Chicago, the better. I love the bandstand, stage, and street corners where I can just pop open my case and let a melodic solo flow from my horn. Contact me if you need a saxophonist for a summer gig.

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My Jazz Story

I love playing jazz because of the amount of soul and passion you can put into the music no matter what set up you have. A good musician has to be able to make his music sound the way he wants to no matter if he has a Mark VI and an Otto Link, or a beat up Yamaha student model. I got hooked on playing standards back as a freshman in high school when my former director Jim Warrick pointed at me and "This kid can swing". Playing at the bottom of the section has always been my home, but hearing recordings like the Four Brothers and Gary Smulyan's "Hidden Treasures" has lead me to expand my melodic playing into new material. I'm going to study music at Marietta College in the fall, but like every other great musician, you have to play in the now!