Concert series continues in Evanston
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EVANSTON — Saxophonist Rob Verdi wowed audience members with his musical talents Friday night at the Saxophobia concert, put on as part of The Arts, Inc., Concert Series.
Verdi showcased an array of rare saxophones at the event, including part of Verdi’s personal collection and many familiar jazz, blues and contemporary songs highlighting the saxophone.
Verdi holds a music education degree from Arizona State University, has taught junior high school band, and helped form the Side Street Strutters Jazz Band, which went on to become the house jazz band at the Disneyland Resort.
“I’ve worked at a little place in Southern California called Disneyland. Have you heard of it?” asked Verdi. “For 35 years, approximately 365 days per year, seven days a week (including weekends and holidays), I have played there. This equates to nearly 17,256 renditions of ‘It’s a Small World.’”
Starting out the night Verdi played a number of jazz tunes, featuring tenor sax, alto sax, a rare sopranino sax and slide sax.
The sopranino is a 1920s saxophone with a curved body, looking much like a small standard-shaped sax, but with a very distinct sound, with tonality somewhere between a sax and clarinet.
“This next instrument I have found absolutely no musical value in,” said Verdi with a chuckle. “I have also not found one recording of this instrument, so I decided to take on the challenge of learning it.”
The slide sax, another rare instrument, has no key buttons like the sax, just a slide feature similar to a slide whistle, with one button the player must engage to reach the higher octave notes.
Continuing on with the concert, Verdi invited the Davis Middle School Jazz Band onto the stage to play one song.
Again, wowing the audience, Verdi selected another one of his collected instruments. This time is was a straight tenor sax, about 5 feet in length.
Topping off the first half of the concert, the Evanston Middle School Jazz Band stepped onto the stage, playing a blues tune, which allowed nearly every student to play an improvisational solo.
During the second half of the concert, Verdi continued to feature his special saxophones — soprano sax and a straight alto saxophone.
Each instrument itself entertained the audience as Verdi skillfully played with the Evanston Civic Orchestra.
Throughout the night Verdi, who said he’s an educator at heart, shared the history behind the instruments he was playing and the songs chosen.
“Adolf Sax was the first person to patent the saxophone in 1846,” said Verdi. “Many people stole his patents, and he died penniless, but the saxophone thrived.”
Verdi’s passion for the saxophone doesn’t stop with playing these instruments, as this passion has resulted in a collection of over 100 saxes and an additional 150 rare wind, brass and percussion instruments.
He said he hopes to someday establish a musical instrument museum where visitors can see, hear and even play some of his rare instruments.
Friday was Verdi’s second visit to Evanston, participating with The Arts Inc., programs. His last visit was as a clinician/faculty member for the 2016 MAT Camp.
The next and final concert in the series is on May 5, with Women of the World.
Those interested in learning more about the Concert Series or other programs offered through The Arts, Inc., can visit www.TheArtsInc.com.