Take Five With Noah Becker

Meet Noah Becker:

Noah Becker is a tenor saxophonist. A resident of New York City since 2004. Becker has recorded with Terry Deane, Kurt Rosenwinkel, George Colligan and many other prominent musicians.

Instrument(s): Tenor, alto and soprano sax.

Teachers and/or influences? Pat La Barbera, Bob Mover, Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz, John Coltrane.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when... I found myself practicing a lot and listening to Joe Henderson.

Your sound and approach to music: Dry but wet.

Your teaching approach: Sound and time are most valuable assets. So many young players have sound and time issues in need of attention.

Your dream band: Paul Chambers, Wynton Kelly, Miles Davis and Jimmy Cobb.

Road story: Your best or worst experience: A giant exploding truck tire flying at our car's window missed us. We were touring the southern United States in a car. It was a close call, very scary.

Favorite venue: Hermann's Jazz Club in Victoria, BC, Canada, mostly for the good treatment of musicians.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why? Where We Are. Recording with George Colligan and Kurt Rosenwinkel was a blast.

The first Jazz album I bought was: Joe Henderson, Page One.

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically? That's too big a question to give a specific answer to. I'm always trying to convey some warmth.

CDs you are listening to now:

Bob Dylan, Blonde on Blonde (Columbia);

ODB, Return to the 36 Chambers;

Sonny Rollins, Newks Time;

John Coltrane, Giant Steps (Atlantic);

John Coltrane, Soultrane (Prestige).

Desert Island picks:

Bob Dylan, Blonde on Blonde (Columbia);

ODB, Return to the 36 Chambers;

Sonny Rollins, Newks Time;

John Coltrane, Giant Steps (Atlantic);

John Coltrane, Soultrane (Prestige).

How would you describe the state of jazz today? It's difficult to say but there are a lot of new exciting groups out there.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing? Record sales, concert ticket sales.

What is in the near future? A duo record with George Colligan.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a: An astronaut.