I could say my exposure and evolution to jazz was a rather odd one, at least for me. As I said previously, I started listening to Dave Koz first, and exposing myself to saxophones. Of course, I can't just listen to one sax player then. And since my knowledge in jazz was still non-existent, the only obvious sax player I could listen to was none other than Kenny G. After I started playing the sax, both Dave and Kenny's music became my biggest influence. I learnt their music and their style of playing, and for several years, I played in their style and their music.
In September 1993, Jazz Malaysia '93 came to existence (and extinction), and brought reknown jazz artists such as Ernie Watts, Eric Marienthal, and Dave Valentine. I didn't manage to go to all the shows (I was still in high school), but I managed to catch Ernie Watts and Eric Marienthal. The person that struck me the most (even to this day) was Eric Marienthal. I've never heard anyone play with such power and eloquence. I immediately got hooked to Eric's music. Subsequently, I began buying Eric's music, and it exposed to me different areas in saxophone playing and jazz, that I've never encountered before. I have not stopped listening to Eric, up to date, as he never fails to amaze me.
After Eric, I began listening to other saxophone players and other jazz players in general. I began getting hooked to other challenging players such as Julian "Cannonball" Adderly, John Coltrane, Kenny Garrett, Miles Davis, Joshua Redman, and more. In a sense, I am moving 'backwards' from contemporary players to more mainstream players. I still listen to contemporary players such as Kenny Garrett, Eric Marienthal, Joshua Redman, etc, but discovering the influence of legends such as Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderly, John Coltrane, and more.
I'm still in the process of discovering the 'old' guys and listening to the 'new' guys... and I would think that this is going to be a non-ending process. But it has given me much joy and pleasure listening to them. Once I start listening to them, I can't stop. And I'm still doing that....
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