James Saxsmo Gates (Sax and Band Leader), Hannon Lane (Producer, Guitar, Trombone, Engineer, Keys, Arranger), Nate Smith (Drums), Robbie Cunningham (Vocals), Carl Lester-El (Bass), Dr. Weldon Hill (Piano), Brandon Lane (Bass, Trombone), Leonard Jones (Drums),Billy Williams (Drums), Michael Hawkins (Bass), Matthew Steele (Bass), Tom Reaves (Guitar), , Lance Dickerson (Piano), Alvin Spratley (Bass), Eliis Tucker (Keyboards), Charles Chico Wiley (Drums), Bill McGee (Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Engineer)
Influences
James Boo Gates Sr., Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderly, Grover Washington, Eddie Harris, Walter Davis Jr., Dizzy Gillispie, Kirk Whalum, Art Blakey, Dr. Joe Kennedy, Dr. Lonnie Liston Smith, Johnnie Peyton.
Sounds Like
Kirk Whalum, Walter Beasley, Paul Taylor, George Howard, Cannonball Adderly, Charlie Parker, Eddie Harris, Gerald Albright, Branford Marsalis, Marian Meadows, Maceo Parker.
A graduate of Berklee College of Music Saxsmo is one of the young lions of Jazz. Having played with Dizzy Gillispie, Art Blakey, Larry Carlton, Fred Wesley, Robert Flack, and his own group of 804 JAZZ Allstars, Saxsmo is the real deal. James left the music department at Virginia State University to spread his wings in Boston at Berklee. While there he joined the young giants of Jazz. Just the mention of his name brings a smile to the faces of Terri Lynn Carrington, Lynne Fidmont, Walter Beasley, Alex Bugnon, Cyrus Chestnut, Billy Kilson, Brandon Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Jeff Watts, Shelia Ford, Marvin Smitty Smith, Wallace Roney, Mako Ozone, Ron Savage, Omar Hakim, Lala Hathaway, Carl Jenkins, Greg Osby, Kevin Eubanks, Robin Eubanks, Wil Calhoun, Donald Harrison, and many many others. Poised to make a move James has partnered with 804 JAZZ and Bill McGee to take his career to the next level. In his home town of Richmond, Virginia SAXSMO is known as one of the hottest jazz men to pick up a sax. Following in his father's footsteps SAXSMO has made a name for himself as an energetic saxophonist capable of playing all styles from bop to the smoothest progressive jazz. For more information check him out at WWW.SAXSMO.COM. Oh yeah... tell your friends to buy the CD or Downloads.
“I think God gives us tests to see if we're going to stay true to our dreams, our faith and our destiny. It means having to continue to believe when facing the impossible. It means hanging in there just to see how great the end will be … so go ahead and pass the test … you will see that God had your best interest at heart from the very beginning … he loves you and has a perfect plan … so keep expecting the best my friend and watch it come …”
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, Where there is injury, pardon Where there is doubt, faith, Where there is despair, hope, Where there is darkness, light, Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, not so much to be understood as to understand, not so much to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.
Hey James..........thanks for adding me! I will not be a stranger! I don't request friends to build up my page.............I check out their page.......listen to music if need to be and read their profile and learn a few things about them........then I request a friend (not just a number) :) However, i'll turn my back on nonone who request me as a friend!!! Who am I to judge : )
