Gospel Saxophone, Saxophonist Greg Vail, Soprano Sax

[docholloway530]

The churches answer to kenny G. Play on man.

[DavePlays4Jesus]

I think I almost watched all of your videos and I love your tone..., you play so fluently and your riffs are so perfect, I like to hear you playing the Tenor most, your tone + growling is wonderful. I hope you are still with the lord, god bless you! (btw I also play the sax (tenor - selmer Mark 7, an heritage from my grandpa. I would appreciate if you tell me how to improve my tone quality, it became better than last year, but I want to improve it more and more haha)

[algarcia1165]

This such wonderful expression of worship

[MrBASSMANBROWN]

Found the DVD the,bass arrangement in this is awesome.

[MrBASSMANBROWN]

Does anyone know if this video is on a DVD,possibly on Billingsleys website?

[insectodroid]

Greg vail has gotten big !!

[wcwsax]

you are to me the greatest saxophone player ever since coltrane your my favorite player and ive been playing for 4 years i have practiced literally everyday and my tone has grown but i do not know what should be my first tenor i should buy any suggestions ?

[gvSAXBOY]

@wcwsax - Thanks for the kind words. There are many great sax players to learn from here on You tube and I hope you continue to view and learn! A first Tenor - I really love Yamaha saxes but they are pretty expensive. I would start looking there and see what you can do. Best wishes, greg

[wcwsax]

@gvSAXBOY wow i am not only stunned u replyd u just made my week wow ive been trying to learn Europa aha its coming along and i have obtained a alto bundy two and a selmer tenor i am going to sell the alto i also have a semi pro mouth piece i would like to post a video and would love your opinion on it and any advice would be more than appreciated

[miusicsax15]

buenísima interpretación excelente

[iamthesaxmaster]

What did you do at 3:51? Players are always breaking in to these cool riffs but they're to fast for me to transcribe. How can I learn to do fast licks?

[gvSAXBOY]

@iamthesaxmaster - Slow and faster is the game. Got to get it under your fingers and the speed will get faster. There are some software based programs you can find pretty cheap that will slow things down to half speed and an octave lower so you can hear the faster runs - big help!

[thesoundofwarfare]

nice playing man I have been playing since 6 1/2 years and picked up the soprano 2 1/2 years ago and i love it i try practicing 4-6 hours as well but most on the week its like 2-3 bc i have school and work and i have worship team practice but i love playing so keeping on playin dat sax!! oh and if you tell me what your set up is and if you have any advice on how to break in a new metal mouthpiece thanks and god bless

[gvSAXBOY]

@thesoundofwarfare - haha - I think they break US in..... Time - over time it becomes a friend - can't rush friendship.....

[thesoundofwarfare]

@gvSAXBOY thanks for the advice the only thing is everytime i play it it sounds flat like dancing the fine line of flat and in tune its tough to tune for me at least

[molly968]

Wonderfull!!!!!! Hugs from Italy

[Stomp204]

Jesus!!

[MrBASSMANBROWN]

Who's your bass player in this video.You guys are having a grreat time doing this one I can tell.

God Bless

[MrBASSMANBROWN]

Awsome stuff,man I haven't played bass in a while this is inspiring.Who's the bass player. Hey checkout Sherman Trivette "Amazing Grace"

[Asafechok575]

very beautiful voice, ta of parabens, between improvisation saxophone, trumpet and guitar melody enriched further, making me discubrisse atravez here from you tube yet another form of inspiration. thanks

[EddieRamon]

lol wow paul jackson. he played on human nature from thriller. legend

[caiosaxviolao]

a moleque

[eyeheartchrist]

hmm, is this some of the members of the Brentwood Jazz Quartet? If so, I've wondered where you guys have been! :-P

[gunit10113]

I wish this church was in my area!

[matiasxx007]

Excellent,Thanks for share

Regards

Matías

[BlaizeJB]

Oh yea those are some smooth chords on keys

[1ness1da]

wooow this is real soul music..The keyboardist is tight and that sax player has it in his blood

[ExcellenceAlways]

Greg; You are such an inspiration! Love your talent, but the zest you put into it... Marvelous. :) Keep it up - so encouraging, so uplifting!! May God bless you in every way.

[lavernejazz]

Ahhhhhhhhhh this is so beautiful,,,

[2312LANENA]

God bless you so much and continue giving to you more talent, this comentary is from Dominican Republic. GBU

[sopranosaxophonist]

Saxboy, I saw a lot of articles written by you and This is the first time for me to see you clearly in video

Actually you soprano tone is awesome,please bring more beautiful soprano tone to the world

[MrGordonjoe]

Que bonita essa reharmonização!!!! Deu origem a belos arranjos!!!!

[PikeAdoy]

so is that a sax or a clarinet? its shaped like a clarinet but makes a sound like a saxophone

[Tenor4Christ]

I love the message and the smooth sound !!!

[SuperXavier30]

Musicianship of the highest caliber!

Thanks for the Post!

[sgtBicho]

Increible!!!!!

[blaqueroc]

this is my kind of church where is it

[gvSAXBOY]

San Diego - Shadow Mountain Church

[danidanga5885]

nui rau

[matthew1040]

What a show off on 4:06, trumpet player pissed off.lol.

[Alphamale69]

Is this the same Greg Vail I just saw on a 1995 video??

[gvSAXBOY]

Yes - one in the same, but never looking like the same guy for long....

[assa123assa123]

very nice and gentle performance with cool solo conversations. Actually don't remember seeing such a consistent and lively guitar-sax cross-solo at all! Let alone gospel-jazz as a form. Thanks for sharing.

[saxophonic0327]

hey man awsome sax playing. Is that a curved neck 62? also im going to guess you play a custom z alto with a silver g 2 neck in your other video

[100luks]

What concert it is? I love gospel jazz concerts :D

[chocogarcia]

Great voice and performance guys. Really enjoy it.

[toweryman]

only greg vail would make the soprano sax look like a toy. haha hes so good!!!

[jm92057]

what soprano sax is that?

[mikaylasax]

Go Greg Vail !!

[Saxobari]

Hey Greg,,nice playing!

Great sound on that sop!

Mario from Canada

[AmundLauritzen]

These cats can play man! I love the soprano sax.

[zivley]

Great tune! Greg, you rock!

Why does the singer looks like he's in pain?

Now tell me, seriously, how many hours a day and for how many years do you need to practice to be able to make those crazy things on your sax?

[gvSAXBOY]

I practiced a lot for many years to get better on the sax. Back in the day it was 4-6 hours a day, spread out as to keep my lip from dieing. The last few years have been harder to practice. I get a couple of hours in and feel much better every week.

[ronipioson]

You mean there's no way I could get to do it in my life, maybe when I retire at my 60's I'll have the time, I can barely spend an hour or two only on weekends!

That's why it will remain a hobby for me.

Too bad I decided to start only at my 35 b'day...

[jamolaydz]

Samuel L Jackson at 1:45 :)

[FrankySnot]

Ok. The fat boy with the Soprano got my attention.

[gvSAXBOY]

Thanks Snot! haha

[meir4gtr]

wow...amazing players at this band

[matheusinnn]

Hi, I'm from Brazil.

What is the name of that song?

Very good, saxboy!

[mrkandyman1911]

Greg is real good man that on point

[Brianmystic2]

That trumpet vs. sax part was pretty funny. Especially when the sax guy started showing off with all that crazy fingering.

[falseaddress010]

how do u do the krzy fingering thingy?

it sounds awesome... I think I heard something similar in some other solos

[Ezekio3160]

It's cord progression

[gvSAXBOY]

It is just old bebop type playing. Sometimes it a little sax trick thing. Depends on what it was....

[dinadanna]

Hi Greg Vail. I really like your style. Thanks for playing for us. I'm learning the tune, "The Old rugged Cross" in C maj. I want to improvise on this tune. could you please give me some advice on how to approach this.

[Pablo18z]

wow you really rock, is good to see how God use you, carry on!!! blessings!!

[GotFlem]

awesome!!! God bless u all!!!!!

[lovethisong]

wow!! Brillant! Lord GOD, i lov u so! GLORY TO GOD! Thanks "saxboy"!

[crazydaisydoo]

Very tasteful Greg, and a great guitar solo too. What a tight band!

[gvSAXBOY]

Thanks - It was an amazing band and totally awesome night!!

[qs3845]

who is on the trumpet? Great perfomance!!

[gvSAXBOY]

The trumpet player is the singer and worship leader - all in one that night. Charles Billingsley, found at CharlesBilingsley dotcom.

Thanks for watching,

gvSAXBOY

[lalosax2006]

AWSOME MAN!!!! :D

[gvSAXBOY]

Thanks Lalo! Blessings!

gvSAXBOY

[2Godbdaglori]

Wow an actual gospel saxophone player, who is good at playing, giving praise to God and actually answers comments sent to him by viewers. To God be the Glory geat things he has done. I've been learning to play for 3 years, thanks for your encouragement. I have loads a questions so look out for me.

[gvSAXBOY]

Nice to see you on You Tube! Love meeting sax players and think it's great that you enjoy playing for God! Love to answer any thing I can... My channel has an email thing if you want to use it, or messages on the channel too.

Blessings,

gvSAXBOY

[2Godbdaglori]

I've been a student for 3 years and just settling into intermediate level, so I need to buy a different mouth piece, ligature and reed set up any tips.

[2Godbdaglori]

Hi again saxboy, I see Christ as a gentle loving person and want to develop a style of playing that reflects this. Any tips on the type of set up I would need to bring this out

[sa8vsaxman]

U cant go far wrong with a selmer C* or Otto link tone edge(I use a 7 tone edge on my alto). try new reeds too, its supprising what a diffrence the right reed can do for your overall sound. Also a rovner or BG lig will darken and smoothen out your sound. But really you need to go down to your loacal music store and try a range of mouth pieces for yourself to see what works for you - there is no ultimate smooth setup, its all down to the player

[gvSAXBOY]

Beautifully said saxman!

[gvSAXBOY]

Here you touch on that concept of desired end product in your sound. The concept of process would be trying out a single item that moves you in the direction of your goal sound; get used to it for a few months, then see about another little change to move you closer.

Maybe start with a mouthpiece or reed change. Then try ligs a few months later. Do it in pieces and let each change be a spaced change so you can find the sound on that item!

gvSAXBOY

[2Godbdaglori]

Hey saxboy thanks, I didn't really think about that. Sounds like I need to sit down and actually make a plan. wow! When I first picked up the sax I had an idea about the depth of what i was taking on but I didnt realise it was this deep.

I don't understand how the ligature could make that much of a difference though, I thought the mouth piece and reed are what really counts.

[gvSAXBOY]

The ligature can dampen the vibration, making it darker or more dead with the Rovner style ligs, and can brighten the tone with a metal, maybe copper metal lig or by design. They can change the color a bit but are more for fine tuning. I have 2 of the Ishimori Ligs for my Crescent Tenor, and the Gold plate centers the sound while the Copper spreads it more and is a little brighter - same design, just different metals.

[gvSAXBOY]

Thanks for the kind words. Yes I am a real guy and do check my comments and respond when I can.

So glad you enjoyed the Gospel Sax video! Blessings,

gvSAXBOY

[marchingbandisstupid]

smooth jazz sucks

[gvSAXBOY]

Yes, a lot of Smooth Jazz really does suck...

Have to admit I was not a big Marching Band fan back in the day either...

[jasonleos]

paul jackson jr. guitar

greg vail saxophone...

[MDsaxguy103]

u guys are excellent...great inspiration for a younger guy like me...God bless

[gvSAXBOY]

Thanks MD! Be encouraged and continue to work your skills for greater use.

Blessings,

gv

[Memorials1]

I had the pleasure of seeing you in Lynchburg,VA Sunday night, June 29. You are awesome.

[gvSAXBOY]

Thanks! I had a great time in Lynchburg and hope to back soon; possibly late August. It was great hanging with you-all out there and the time we shared was really uplifting and fun!

Blessings,

Greg Vail - Gospel Saxophonist

[ajfx]

which band is coming with you next week, is paul gonna be there??

thanks

AJ

[gvSAXBOY]

I will be there to play with the team in Lynchburg. I am not bringing a band, just playing with the guys from there. I don't think Paul will be there and doubt any of the guest guys featured in the DVD will be there. Sorry bro...

Have a blessed weekend, Greg Vail - SAXBOY

[israeljc]

Charles, you've had my vote since I met you 18 years ago for the most outstanding vocalist! God has blessed & gifted you greatly! Love your friend, Ruth

[gvSAXBOY]

Charles is truly a gift! I have the great pleasure of heading to Lynchberg to play with Charles again next week. I always jump at the chance. The DVD is such a blessing! It has helped me thru a tough time in life yet again. Thanks Charles for your heart and sharing it thru your ministry!

Greg Vail SAXBOY

[stakhiIII]

This is now my favorite rendition of Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us! It was a blessing to have come across this video! You have definitely been blessed with talent and skill! What church is this? Will you be playing in the SF Bay Area anytime soon? Continue resonating those heavenly sounds!

Sam T

[gvSAXBOY]

Shadow Mountain in San Diego, but Charles is not there any longer. He had been at Liberty Baptist and after Jerry died he went back to Virginia to Liberty. I just got lucky to hook up for this DVD while he was close to me. I am heading out to play with him later this month and can't wait. Charles is a truly amazing man of God. Love this guy...

SF? Nothing booked right now but soon I hope. I have a new CD that will be hitting radio in a few months and we will see...

Blessings, Greg Vail

[mikaylasax]

Go Greg Vail. Loved it!! What kind of soprano do you play?

[gvSAXBOY]

Hey Mikayala! Very much enjoyed reading about you and reading your articles. Of course, I discovered you from your subscription to my page. I was very impressed. Thanks for being my friend on the page and posting!

My soprano sax is one of the cool ones - Yamaha YSS-62R. One piece with the bent neck. Many agree that it is the best to date Yamaha Soprano and arguably the best Soprano ever made; but then I am pretty partial I guess.

Blessings in your music and writing futures,

GV