Mark Maxwell, Saxophonist

Wahe Guru: the ecstacy of God is beyond description; similar to Hallelujah (from the Sanskrit/Gurmukhi, the ancient mantric language of India).

This week’s song is a new and exciting departure for me. Musically, it’s a collaborative effort between our friends, Jai Dev Singh and Simrit Kaur, and Roberta and I.

Roberta and I have been practicing Kundalini yoga with Jai Dev and Simrit for some time. About 6 months ago Roberta suggested to me that I get together with Jai Dev and arrange and record one of the chants that we do in yoga class. Take it and jazzify it, jazz musician meets yogi. My reaction was, “What would I do?” because I really had no idea. (But as is often the case, Roberta had the great vision.) So we invited Jai Dev over, had him record the chant over a simple beat, then I went to work.

Over the next few weeks, along with lots of feedback from Roberta, Jai Dev, and Simrit, I fleshed out the music. We immediately realized that we were onto something, because in the world of spiritual chant music you don’t hear anything like this. This new piece was exciting, dynamic and different. And when we recorded Simrit’s beautiful floating vocal over the top, well, the whole thing became sublime.

So here’s Wahe Guru, this week’s Song-A-Week. This one’s both hip and transcendental; I hope you enjoy hearing it as much as we enjoyed recording it!

Listened to Looking For Adventure and I liked it lots.  Gets you moving and a great one to get things done around the house too.  I have almost every CD and love the music.  Keep up the great work and I love being by you at the Harvest shows so I can listen to you all weekend.  A true fan,  Jeanette

I was soooooooooo excited to get your newsletter and all that it contains ESPECIALLY your newest Frequency of Knowing. It is just as beautiful as all your work, loved it. Loved the blip about the song and you and your wife. I have met you both several times, in SF at a crafts fair, in Nevada City last (you had just lost your dog, I think had to be put down, very sad for you and your wife)..but I always introduce myself, small blond, always excited about your music and tell everyone who walks by. I told you I should really sell your product because I love it so much. Anyways, I had surgery a week ago and will be off work for 6 more weeks, this was a real treat and I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT TRYING TO CONTACT YOU off one of my Cd’s I have as I want more. Can’t wait for you to make a CD with all your weekly tunes. I think I will have to go shopping and get some more Mark Maxwell! - Sherrie Blum

I am listening to Frequency Of Knowing right now, (at work)……. very soothing…….. and yes, the wah=wah is cool…… grooving to it right now, as i speak! Very cool….. the “freq. of knowing”……. i’m pleased that you and Roberta have that…..and it makes me smile to know that you know……….. okay, that sounded really hoaky……. none the less, I meant it deeply, i even had tears in my heart as i wrote it….. and a deep feeling in my chest. Think I will listen to it again, as it makes workk and things seem lighter today. - Rachel Mathews, Glendale, CA

Here’s this week’s installment: Lookin’ For Adventure.

Are you lookin’ for adventure? Well, here’s a little tune that speaks to the yearning for something beyond the daily grind of life as usual.

This one’s hot off the press - finished it just this morning as a matter of fact. Its been in the works for a couple of years now, and has matured nicely.

It features some world sounds: tabla, sitar, Erhu (Chinese fiddle), African drums. It also features to nice effect quite a bit of sax section work, one of my specialties.

Here’s the Lookin’ For Adventure song page with more details about this piece.  This week’s Song-A-Week. Enjoy!

In response to my article “7 Reasons Why The Saxophone Rocks“:

We need more of these in the world don’t you think? Check out those sexy suits.  And how often do you see a saxophone that huge (that’s a rare bass saxophone)?  Wow!

Thanks, Jay Taska, for the pic!

It seems that everyone loves the sax. People tell me constantly how much they love the sax. (You probably do, too, or you wouldn’t be reading this.)

But why? What is it about the sax that’s so wonderfully cool? And why does it effect so many people so strongly? Here are my thoughts on the subject:

1. Sax makes you feel good. The very sound of the sax does something to you. It touches you. It tickles your nervous system. In a good way.
2. Sax sounds great anytime, in just about any kind of music, and makes almost any band more fun to listen to, even lousy ones. Even country music. Even polkas!
3. Sax creates great ambiance. The sax sounds hip, sophisticated, relaxed, sensuous and romantic, and always creates great atmosphere.
4. The sax looks cool. Even just the look of the instrument itself is artistic and fun. Even just having a sax laying around the room creates a hip ambiance.
5. Sax music takes you… A good sax player can really take you places like no other instrument. Sure, guitar players would argue with that, but its true!
6. Sax players are cool people. Almost universally. And I know a lot of them.
7. Sax & Sex. And I think you know what I mean. Need I say more?