Running into a sax legend in a local eatery
By Brian Offenther |
March 29, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LAST Tuesday evening I was having a blissful time, letting the music carry me away.
I was listening to a cover of the classic Procol Harum psychedlic rock song òA White Shade of Paleó performed by Tom and Friends.
Led by Shanghai?s Inner Mongolian mandolin and fiddle bluegrass master, Tom and Friends? album is the perfect way to slow things down after a long day at work. (A review of the album will appear in the next òSuper Sonic.ó)
I wasn't floating too high, though, because I had my warm meal sitting in front of me at a small local restaurant I frequent. Inside my headphones, though, I was definitely defying gravity.
And then into the restaurant walked a man in his 60s with long white hair and three clashing print patterns on his clothing, accompanied by two tattooed and pierced young guys. Needless to say, they drew a lot of attention from the meandering staff, and from myself as well.
I recognized the older man immediately.
His name is Steve Mackay, and he's one of the great saxophonists in rock 'n' roll. In the history of the music, there have been a few sax players who have been critical sidemen in their group, really adding important character to the proceedings: Sam Butera with Louis Prima, Lee Allen with Little Richard, Clarence Clemons with Bruce Springsteen, and Mackay with Iggy Pop.
With each pairing, the saxophone played a counterpart to the singer, dueting with the vocalist, pushing and pulling them back. Of all those saxophonists, Mackay is the only one still alive.
Mackay had jammed the night before at Yuyintang live house as part of the JUE Festival, allowing any musician to play with him. From all reports it was a big success.
On that Tuesday, anyone would have thought he'd be going home, but that wasn't the case.
I approached him, and Mackay couldn't have been warmer. He expressed how great a time he was having in China, and was how he going to tell his musician friends in his current hometown of San Francisco to come visit. We talked about some of his classic performances and his current activities.
He also told me something interesting: He'd be playing that very night at Bee Dee's (433 Dagu Road). Mackay is old friend with Jeff, the friendly owner of Bee Dee's, who is a fixture whether behind a guitar or the bar.
Bee Dee's is a small place where the stage isn't elevated, meaning the audience is always at eye level with the performers. The setting is always welcoming whether you want to sit back, dance, or play.
I promised I'd meet Mackay that night, and he was there to greet me.
After watching a few songs, he got up from a chair and played with some of Shanghai's best jam musicians. From Beatles' cover songs to impromptu pieces, he blew at his sax with intensity all night long.
I'm not sure of the moral to this story. Perhaps that it's always a good idea to check out Bee Dees, perhaps that you should pay attention to touring musicians when you order your next rice. It was just a good time, and that's what the music is all about.
I was listening to a cover of the classic Procol Harum psychedlic rock song òA White Shade of Paleó performed by Tom and Friends.
Led by Shanghai?s Inner Mongolian mandolin and fiddle bluegrass master, Tom and Friends? album is the perfect way to slow things down after a long day at work. (A review of the album will appear in the next òSuper Sonic.ó)
I wasn't floating too high, though, because I had my warm meal sitting in front of me at a small local restaurant I frequent. Inside my headphones, though, I was definitely defying gravity.
And then into the restaurant walked a man in his 60s with long white hair and three clashing print patterns on his clothing, accompanied by two tattooed and pierced young guys. Needless to say, they drew a lot of attention from the meandering staff, and from myself as well.
I recognized the older man immediately.
His name is Steve Mackay, and he's one of the great saxophonists in rock 'n' roll. In the history of the music, there have been a few sax players who have been critical sidemen in their group, really adding important character to the proceedings: Sam Butera with Louis Prima, Lee Allen with Little Richard, Clarence Clemons with Bruce Springsteen, and Mackay with Iggy Pop.
With each pairing, the saxophone played a counterpart to the singer, dueting with the vocalist, pushing and pulling them back. Of all those saxophonists, Mackay is the only one still alive.
Mackay had jammed the night before at Yuyintang live house as part of the JUE Festival, allowing any musician to play with him. From all reports it was a big success.
On that Tuesday, anyone would have thought he'd be going home, but that wasn't the case.
I approached him, and Mackay couldn't have been warmer. He expressed how great a time he was having in China, and was how he going to tell his musician friends in his current hometown of San Francisco to come visit. We talked about some of his classic performances and his current activities.
He also told me something interesting: He'd be playing that very night at Bee Dee's (433 Dagu Road). Mackay is old friend with Jeff, the friendly owner of Bee Dee's, who is a fixture whether behind a guitar or the bar.
Bee Dee's is a small place where the stage isn't elevated, meaning the audience is always at eye level with the performers. The setting is always welcoming whether you want to sit back, dance, or play.
I promised I'd meet Mackay that night, and he was there to greet me.
After watching a few songs, he got up from a chair and played with some of Shanghai's best jam musicians. From Beatles' cover songs to impromptu pieces, he blew at his sax with intensity all night long.
I'm not sure of the moral to this story. Perhaps that it's always a good idea to check out Bee Dees, perhaps that you should pay attention to touring musicians when you order your next rice. It was just a good time, and that's what the music is all about.
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