Produced by multiple GRAMMY®-winner Judith Sherman, SECOND FLIGHT unites today’s foremost compositional figures with the inimitable talents of saxophonist Dan Goble and pianist Russell Hirshfield, who celebrate 20 years of collaboration in the arts with this release.
Today, Dan is our featured artist in the “Inside Story,” a blog series exploring the inner workings and personalities of our composers and performers. Read on to learn about his passion for cooking, and his vast musical library that holds over 2,000 vinyl records…
What were your first musical experiences?
I started out as many American children do… in public school music programs. I learned how to read music in general music class in grade school, and we all learned to play the “flute-o-phone,” which was basically a plastic recorder. That really made a difference when I started playing saxophone in 5th grade because the fingerings translated so well from the recorder to the saxophone, I don’t remember ever not knowing the saxophone fingerings because of that. I also learned guitar at about the same age. Growing up in the 1960’s, we all wanted to play guitar in a rock and roll band, and I was no different. Playing the guitar and idolizing guitar greats like Hendrix, Clapton, Blackmore, Page, and Townshend, and then eventually jazz guitarists like Joe Pass, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Wes Montgomery; really influenced my approach to the saxophone, which still has a bit of edgy rock and roll and jazz energy even to this day.
How do you prepare for a performance?
I always over-prepare; meaning I practice not only the repertoire or the orchestral excerpt(s), but I study all scores and practice foundational elements, including scales and extracted melodic patterns from the various pieces in different permutations. I make sure I know everything I can about the composers, and I analyze everything melodically, rhythmically, and harmonically. Russell and I rehearse meticulously, always with a metronome. We make sure we have sufficient rehearsal time. For recording, we always perform the works live prior to a recording.
Where and when are you at your most creative?
I get into a creative space through collaborating with great musicians. It is actually really very easy to get to a creative place when I am working with Russell and Judy Sherman… they both push me to be at my best and to find musical heights that I never thought possible. They are both extraordinary musicians. I also get to a creative space when listening to great musicians or viewing great art. When I lived near NYC, my go-to creative muse was the Museum of Modern Art, and especially the Picasso and Pollock displays.
Take us on a walk through your musical library. What record gets the most plays? Are there any “deep cuts” that you particularly enjoy?
I have a very eclectic collection of recordings with over 2,000 vinyl records; including classical, rock, jazz, country, comedy, hip-hop, and musical theater. Right now I am down a very serious Steven Wilson rabbit hole, including any and everything by his incredible group Porcupine Tree. The very deep cut Porcupine Tree record to check out is What Happens Now off of the live album Anesthetize. There is a metric modulation towards the end that is mind blowing. The record that is currently getting the most plays is Porcupine Tree Harridan Live, which I highly recommend. Other favorites are vinyl copies of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, The Beatles’ Revolver, Steven Wilson’s Hand Cannot Erase, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Stadium Arcadium, Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, and Michael Brecker’s Michael Brecker.
What are your other passions besides music?
I love to cook and enjoy really good cooking by friends and family. Russell and I often joke that getting together to perform and/or record is merely an excuse to plan some great menus. I also love dogs, and love who I am when I am around dogs. I love to spend time with my wife, Patty walking our Welsh Springer Spaniel, Dottie; and also hiking and fishing. I am passionate about the Rocky Mountain west, especially the mountains of Wyoming and Montana.
What’s the greatest performance you’ve ever seen, and what made it special?
This is a tough one, because I have been fortunate to have been involved with some of the greatest musicians in the world, including the incredible New York Philharmonic for the past 25 years. Out of all of the performances that I have been involved with, the NY Phil concert in North Korea was among the greatest and most special. It was special because the transformative power of music as a universal language of love and respect was on full display. The musicians of the NY Philharmonic truly rose to the occasion that evening, delivering an inspiring and mesmerizing performance of a lifetime. As a spectator, the greatest performance I have ever seen was the first time I heard the Pat Metheny Group live. This was one of the greatest ensembles I have ever heard, delivering over 2 hours of fully memorized, highly complex and exceptionally performed original music. Outstanding.
Dr. Dan Goble currently serves as the director of the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at Colorado State University in Fort Collins CO and was previously the Dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury CT. An arts administrator who is also an active performer, Goble performed with the New York Philharmonic for over 19 years, and was featured with the orchestra as the saxophone soloist on Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and Ravel’s Bolero, among other works. In addition to the New York Philharmonic, Goble has performed with the New York City Ballet, The American Symphony Orchestra, The Mariinsky Orchestra, the New York Saxophone Quartet, and the Harvey Pittel Saxophone Quartet.
