Saxophonist Mark Hartsuch; 3 Tenets of Being a Great Musician, Plus Tips on Tone and Improvisation

Saxophonist Mark Hartsuch has differentiated himself by producing amazing horn section recordings and live performances for the world’s top artists. He is most well known for working with India’s top music director, AR Rahman, both in live performance and studio productions. His other collaborations include Ranjit Barot, Mohini Dey, Mr. Eazi, Cece Winans, Bebe Winans, TV networks such as Disney and AE, and others.  

Mark attended the University of North Texas where he performed in the Grammy nominated One O’Clock Lab Band on Lab 2014 and Lab 2015.

Mark is most known for being the founding member, primary composer and arranger of the Dallas Horns, a 3-piece horn section that specializes in tight, funky horn lines.

In 2017, the Dallas Horns traveled to India and performed with legendary Indian musicians Louiz Banks, Gino Banks, Rhythm Shaw and others.

They also served as the Horn section for the Grammy and Oscar winning artist, AR Rahman.

The group also traveled to Qatar for the first and only performance held prior to the 2022 World Cup.

Mark’s newest album, India Jazz Casual, is available on Bandcamp HERE.

Mark Hartsuch is an endorsed artist with JodyJazz Mouthpieces, Gard Bags, Roland Instruments (AE-30). 

Get access to Mark's links on our site: https://saxophonepodcast.com

TIMESTAMPS   00:00 His introduction to music and how it became his solace 07:44 Differences in trumpet and saxophone playing styles 10:35 Transitioning to professional music 13:40 Experiencing the music industry 20:15 How he got into Indian music 27:20 The different vibe and swing in India 37:15 Mark’s standard of knowing a jazz standard 38:50 How Indian musicians play over the bar line 43:33 Music for musicians vs for the people 45:17 The challenge of balancing artistic integrity 48:31 Changes in popular music trends 51:17 Timelessness of classic songs 54:41 Interplay between melody and color using the song All of Me 56:10 Function of a horn arrangement 01:00:00 3 tenets of great musicians 01:01:06 Developing a full-stack show 01:03:49 The economics of performing 01:07:28 The reality of live performances 01:15:00 Advice for musicians 01:26:14 The intricacy that involves music production 01:34:58 The financial realities of music 01:43:39 The reality of the music industry 01:54:23 Pedagogical approaches to teaching 01:56:14 Developing a comfortable setup 01:59:16 The role of voicing in playing 02:05:42 Understanding air pressure in playing 02:06:29 The role of tongue position in playing 02:12:04 The role of doodle tonguing 02:21:28 The role of the oral cavity in sound production 02:24:34 The importance of enclosures in Bebop and the role of chromatic passing tones 02:33:43 Upcoming Performances and Collaborations 02:36:59 The Decision to Move to Nashville  

This show was sponsored by the Improvisation Made Easy Elite Coaching Program. If you’re a saxophonist with some experience improvising, and you just don’t know what and how to practice to get better at improvisation, Click HERE to book your Free Strategy Session call to get clarity on your next steps.