Jon Griffith profile picture

Jon Griffith

The Mad Saxer

About Me

Hey everyone, I'm Jon Griffith. I've been playing saxophone since I was 11 years old. Started taking jazz lessons on saxophone with Larry Harms when I was 16 and then when I was 17 took up the bassoon and started taking lessons with Ed Winkler. Now I am a Commercial Music Major at Millikin University studying with Perry Rask on saxophone and Mark Avery with bassoon. I play in the Wind Ensemble on bassoon and I'm also in the Advanced Combo and Jazz 1 on tenor sax. I play gigs around Decatur, IL and anywhere else I can. Besides all that I just have been trying to write some tunes and practicing my doubles. I'm not sure exactly what I'm planning on doing once I graduate Millikin, probably play on a cruise ship or something. For now I'm just trying to become a great saxophone player and musician. Let me know if you have any questions for me or are in my area and need a sax player. Later everyone :). I created my layout at KillerKiwi.net

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/26/2007
Influences: There are so many but some main ones are John Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Kenny Garrett, Joe Lovano, Charlie Parker, Vincent Herring, Eric Alexander, Miles Davis, Roy Hargrove, Arturo Sandoval, Bob Mintzer, Dexter Gordon, Cannonball Adderley, Conrad Herwig, Dave Holland, David Liebman, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Frank Rosolino, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, and so many more
Sounds Like: just myself :)But if you would like to know what I play on I have a 1959 "The Martin" Tenor Sax and play on an Otto Link 7* with a Francois Louis Ultimate Ligature and Vandoren ZZ's size 3. I also own a Yamaha Custom Tenor Sax that I use on occasion as a back up horn for some stuff. For Alto Sax I have a SX90R Black Nickle Keilwerth with a Meyer size 6M mouthpiece with a Francois Louis Ultimate Ligature and Vandoren ZZ's size 3 reeds. I also own a Bari size 62 mouthpiece for Soprano Sax and a Berg Larsen 110/0 for Bari Sax
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None

My Blog

wrapping up the summer

Hey there everyone. Well I just have one more cruise after this one so I thought I'd write a blog about this summer. I have to say, this job on the Constellation has been a great experience. It rea...
Posted by Jon Griffith on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:53:00 PST

Finishing out the year

Hey everyone, so I'm almost done with this year.  I've gotta say this semester has just gotten me exhausted.  I've been doing a lot of performances and recitals and stuff this semester but i...
Posted by Jon Griffith on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:07:00 PST

update on 2008 spring semester

Hey everyone, just thought I'd put something up for anyone who wants to know what has been going on lately.  So far I've been getting pretty busy already with ensemble stuff here at Millikin...
Posted by Jon Griffith on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:11:00 PST