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Simbawani Anad

About Me

Alto Saxophonist and Percussionist Simbawani Anad is very passionate about Jazz. He is inspired by the major heavyweights from Trane to Garrett. He began playing saxophone at an early age and still calls himself a “consummate student” of the saxophone. Born in Southern California in 1971 he began his first instrument the piano as a small child. He began playing other percussion instruments until he got his first saxophone. He has been apart of the Grass Roots Jazz scene since then. He credits his grandmother for his introduction to Jazz, remembering her playing “The Best of Coltrane” Atlantic recordings when he was very young, quote: I remember her playing Equinox time and time again, I had no idea who it was, but, I remember how much I loved listening to it, it made me figure out how to use the record player too. I wanted to hear it just that much. On the same album is a tune titled Cousin Mary. It was the first real tune I learned how to play, at least the first intro chorus that is! Today “Simba” is still studying the Alto and still learning. “ This instrument is pure science and pure spirituality, it is a mechanism that really transfers everything from your skill of playing to how you feel on any given day”! I personally really love the Yamaha's and I have found “the perfect mouthpiece”, I play on a Vintage Selmer soloist C* and for me the tone always best reflects my “better sound”! At this point in my Journey I am teaching more than playing out, I have become selective of the cats I jam with only because I really just love to play Fusion. I love the standards too, I'm just in my Fusion bag at the time, dig it? It all started with the Fusion bug in the summer of '89 and a outing to Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey Ca. On the way the cat I was riding with popped in a tape, Steps Ahead N.Y.C. - the bug bit me and that is how the story began.

There are so many cats out there that play sax, and just like me so many want the same thing and for many of us, just playing, and teaching and sharing and passing it on is a great reward.

Sax on.......

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My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it's life music. I was first exposed to jazz by my Grandmother. I met Stefon Harris. The best show I ever attended was Steffon Harris and Blackout. The first jazz record I bought was Blues Walk by Lou Donaldson. My advice to new listeners... keep listening!

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