Randy Emerick
Saxophonist for all seasons Randy Emerick first met Ted Knight when they played on a job together in the 1980s.
It was a big band date with Ted's father, Vic Knight, and Ted was impressed not only by Randy's playing but by an instrument he brought to the gig, a straight green alto saxophone (far left).
Saxophones lower than sopranos are usually curved, and colors are rare. It turns out Randy is an expert woodwind technician who also collects saxes. Randy's much more than just a collector, though.
His musicianship makes him a first-call choice for stars coming to Florida. He's played with Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli, Johnny Mathis and Natalie Cole. He played high-energy rock and roll with Wayne Cochran for many years. He's played R&B with the Temptations, classical with the Palm Beach Pops and Boca Pops orchestras, and jazz with Jaco Pastorius and the Brecker Brothers.
He
enjoys the variety that comes with playing Knight Music gigs. At right,
he's on baritone sax with Ted's big band at Olympic Heights Theater in
Boca Raton.
At
left, he's with Ted's seven-piece orchestra for a
Glenn Miller tribute sponsored by
a Boynton Beach veterans group.
He played with the World's Smallest Big Band for a wedding at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, where he did a hot version of Charlie Parker's Donna Lee.
Instruments of seismic proportions
Randy enjoyed the time Ted hired him to play bass sax, the big one in the top picture, with a trumpet-sax-and-keyboard trio for a party. The unusual instrumentation was so successful they ended up doing overtime. Randy jokes he's probably the only guy in history who ever played a five-hour trio gig on bass sax.
He
now owns and plays a new type of contra-bass saxophone, purchased
directly from its German manufacturer, Eppelsheim. It's even lower than
the bass sax, and a full octave lower than the more familiar baritone
sax. It's called a tubax because its range is similar to that of a tuba.
The
tubax is easier to manage than existing contra-basses, like this one
with Don Stevens of the Nuclear
Whales Saxophone Orchestra.
Randy
liked the tubax so much that he also bought a new bass sax from
Eppelsheim. At right, he's pictured with his Eppelsheim bass sax and a few other low-down friends.
Visit Contrabass Mania to learn more about contra-bass saxophones, contra-bassoons, sarrusophones, and other instruments of extreme low range.
Click any picture for a closer look.
The sound of saxophones
Selections below were recorded at Randy's home studio except for Stardust, which was a Mike Lewis arrangement recorded by the Jerry Fischer Orchestra at a commercial studio. Randy plays all saxes except as noted. Backgrounds are from pre-recorded tracks except for Stardust. These are MP3s at 32K, a resolution chosen to allow quicker loading times even with slow connections.
- Sophisticated Lady duet, Bb bass sax and Eb tubax (edit)
- Sophisticated Lady (full length, 1 MB)
- Donna Lee Bb bass sax
- Stardust Eb tubax
- Body and Soul Bb bass sax (edit)
- Body and Soul (full length, 1 MB)
- Pavanne sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass saxes. By Morton Gould, arranged by Robert Sheldon.
- Joey alto, tenor, baritone and bass saxes, a Billy Byers arrangement adapted by Randy Emerick, from Most Happy Fella by Frank Loesser.
- Blue Skies Bb soprillo, Eb sopranino, Bb soprano and Eb alto saxes. By Irving Berlin, a Gregory Yasinski arrangement adapted by Randy Emerich
- Septieme Solo de Concert baritone sax made in 1861 by Adolphe Sax. With Richard Brookens (soprano), Neal Bonsanti (alto), and Scott Klarman (tenor). An 1863 composition by Jean Baptiste Singelée.