My ArtsFestFirst: Byron Channer on the saxophone

I am glad I’m starting off my weekend with a bit of saxophone love. I’ve always loved that instrument, and my sax at home urges me to neglect it no longer in our on/off relationship over the past eleven years. So I chose this as a quiet homage to my love.

So I have everything ready for a good opening session and then it dawned on me, where is the industrial gallery??? As moderately travelled as I am, I must admit names do not stick for me. I tend to remember the important places in my life by silly things like the redbrick building that looks like a grand church but isn’t a church signals the left turn to get my gym. Or the taste of the smell of chocolate. Anywho, I rush online to check it out, and o..its in the museum and art gallery.. Ryt, I’m back on track. Everything is set, now to get there..

I leave a friends flat across town at 16.48pm. When I arrive, three minutes late for walking past the entrance (silly google map!) I am greeted with a leaflet and layout which I do not reject, and escape upstairs because I’ve actually been here plenty of times, I am a Brummie afterall, lol.

I fly to the first floor, and I follow my ears to that sweet, sensuous call from the sax. Ooooo he’s killing me softly with his sax, and playing the song! But instantly its as if the saxophone were actually singing words, can you tell I am impressed already?

After ample dithering I finally decide to sit down in the farthest of the three empty chairs and disrobe my cardie.
A lil Peavey solo amplifier rested on a standard easy-fold chair attached to a small cassette-sized player where the instrumental playlist included:
At five past, lately by erm, who did he say? Lionel Ritchie, that’s the story I’m sticking to! Anywho..I love him. The melody dances wonderfully and beautifully from that tool, simply unified.
Ten past, I’ll Make Love to You by Jodeci! Omg yes! I wanna scream right now!
Bridge over troubled waters at fourteen mins past, I think I’m so imaginative in my thoughts that I can actually hear a vocal arrangement in accompaniment.
Next track is sweet n soulful but I didn’t catch the title…but I swear he played louder so I would look up as if I wouldn’t be paying attention to this marvel of a musician! And the poor volunteer, the sounds drew a crowd and she has to keep running out in search of more seats!
Twenty one mins, for the Love of You!. As the song breaks he engages us once more for a quick volume check! Then continues playing only to impress us more, or maybe just me, by wiping his brow during a long note before playing th song to fade.
Twentyseven minutes past and everybody knows this one! Micheal Jacksons’, o lawd wos d title?! I see the introudcer pressing to tell him time but..
Thirtyone mins past and another feel good gem begins. He asks if anyone’s hot…I reply, “just you!” Which makes my next seat neighbour chuckle ever so slightly :). Wow, wow, wow! I wonder if he is playing again, or if he is available for hire..

I ask a representative where I can get a programme, before catching a couple mins of Dodici, the guitar duo in the round room and stick close to the exit to leave discreetly.
The acoustics of the room meant some of their vocals were lost.. In turn, they over compensated for it by oversinging, which sounds like shouting. My snapshot is what it is, however, a snap shot.

On to the next one.