IAm Alex Foster, musician and alto saxophonist of Saturday Night Live for more than 20 years- AMA!

Hey guys, I forgot to mention a really great way to support me and instrumental music would be to check out my latest album (or god forbid, buy it), "Alex Foster's Condition"- I'm sure you internet people will find it somewhere.

or... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/alexfoster

EDIT: I can tell if you buy it... YOU ALL MAKE ME SAD. D: At least listen to it on Spotify?

What is this? Some sort of shameless plug?

Just kidding, upvote!

P.S. Do you partake in the burning of trees?

I do not! I am completely sober.

What do you think of this guy..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaoLU6zKaws

... he's a bit out of tune?

[deleted]

Gain as much mastery of your instrument as you can, so if you want to be a professional musician you can fit into a lot of different musical situations. That way you will not be limited to what musical situations you can fit into. Be prepared.

What school did you go to? Any advice for how to choose a music school? I'm getting my grad degree at the University of Maryland and it was SO hard to figure out where to apply/how to find a school. I'm lucky I landed in the right place.

I went to San Francisco Conservatory, Curtiss Institute and the Institute for Advanced Musical Studies in Switzerland... I dropped out of all three- I am not a good person to answer this question!

I have a great friend at the San Fransisco Conservatory and another friend who dropped out of it (still a fantastic oboe player).
Have you found the things you learned at your schools to be valuable? What are your thoughts on theory and aural skills (I'm getting my phd in theory so I'm extra curious about it).

What I learned in schools is what gave me the confidence to move to New York. I think theory and aural skills are absolutely imperative if you're going to be an improvisor, there is no avoiding it! It doesn't mean that you have to be able to look at chord changes, but you have to understand the relationships between chords and scales. You have to know what to do what you hear it! Look at all of the great "sightless" musicians. If you want to be a fluent musician, it's necessary.

Do you feel any pressure to laugh during the monologue? I always feel second-hand uncomfortable for the band when the host is bombing.

No, because I'm off camera usually, but I can't speak for anyone else! But I'm assuming... let a smile be your umbrella probably goes into effect.

who is the one gentlemen center row right who is ALWAYS on camera laughing. He has dreadlocks.

On the bandstand? Probably Tuffus Zimbabwe, our keyboardist.

What an awesome name

He does.

Do you guys ever do any improv type jams off camera or during practice?

Yeah, we do something we call "sound sculpture" which is totally free improvisation. It generally happens almost every rehearsal at some point between at least 2 or 3 of the band members. Sometimes it explodes to the full band.

Because... we're musicians and we want to be free?

Is there perchance a video clip of one of these "sound sculptures" available for our viewing pleasure?

Unfortunately, not that I'm aware of- sorry!

A couple of questions coming from a rising Jazz Saxophonist who's in high school right now.

• What is the most productive way to practice?
• What can I do when I practice to get the most out of it?
• What was the easiest way for you to get around to being able to play around the changes? I find that I have difficulty connecting my phrases from chord to chord.

Practice long tones for a half hour every day, practice all of your scales and chords and when presented with a new tune to learn- practice up and down the chords (arpeggiations) and locating and determining the scales REPEATEDLY until you get the 'sound' of the song in your head. Find the notes that resonate with the melody of the song and fit into the chord, loop it, you'll start to hear it naturally on your own.

That is awesome advice! I'm a freshman music major with an emphasis on saxophone and I love hearing new ways of practicing! Feel free to share any other tips haha

Definitely play along with records. But when you're practicing your exercises, always push the velocity as far as you can do it. Do the whole range of speed that you can possibly play at, and that way it gets lodged in your subconscious.

Have you ever used your sax as a weapon?

A weapon of loveeeeee.

Does the band ever jam with the musical guests before/after? Any good stories? Thanks!

In the 80s and 90s the band was more involved with the musical guests because in those days horns were more of a part of pop music. So in short, yes. We rehearsed with Bruce Willis for two days to learn one blues... that was interesting.

Do you think that horns are ever going to make a prominent return to pop music?

I'm doubtful.

EDIT: To be honest, I don't know if real instruments as a whole will make a return either. Most pop music made in the US and Europe are made with samples, even if it sounds real it is usually a sample. People's ears have become attuned to those kinds of sounds.

When I begin working on my next CD, I am going put real horns in it because there's not enough real horns in music anymore.

Good idea.

I just wanted to say I've been working horns into our music for the last year and have loved it. We have gone in kind of a Amy Winehouse / Dap Kings direction (shameless plug) and the horns fit the motown/funk sound so well. I've always loved the outtro theme of SNL, i can't believe that was you the whole time!

It's actually not me, it's Lenny Pickett- but thanks!

whos the biggest jerk to have hosted?

Well, I haven't had any personal run-ins... but I heard Stallone was a little weird.

Jazz trumpet and guitar player here, also senior in high school, I have watched the SNL band in for years in complete awe. It's the one part of the show that I truly enjoy every time, but always gets cut short. You guys are awesome, hopefully get the chance to hear you guys live.

Thank you.

Favorite guest host? Favorite guest band? Do you have a day job or is SNL a full time gig?

My favorite guest host is probably Alec Baldwin because he's a very nice guy and he's a good actor. My favorite guest band was probably Tina Turner.... SNL has been my full time gig for... a long time.

Hi! Thanks for doing this AMA. I have 2 questions:

• How did you end up working for Saturday Night Live?
• Who are your favorite hosts and musical guests, and why?

I was rehearsing with Lenny Pickett and the Borneo Horns and he told me that they were thinking to call me for the job in 1985, and when I heard that I called the contractor who I knew as a friend, Lew Delgatto, and he told me to come to the rehearsal. I came to the rehearsal which was right around the corner from where I was living at the time, and right after that they told me I was hired.

Favorite host, Alec Baldwin, favorite musical guest, Tina Turner. Alec because he's very nice. Tina because she's amazing.

You play Alto, Lenny plays Tenor. Yet, Lenny can play far higher notes than you, can't he? Not a knock against you, just guessing that the man is unparalleled in his control of the higher registers as I always hear him screaming the shit out of that sax in the end credits.

Yes, you're right and he can. That's his specialty.

What about drinking and drugs before and after the show? Obviously no names, but COME ON there has to be SOMETHING you can share...

After the show, I generally don't go to the after parties but everybody stays pretty contained. The AFTER-after party is a whole other story.

go on...

I wouldn't know because I don't go!

Do SNL read these posts? I'd love to know if they do

There are probably a couple of closet redditors in the band...

SO COOL!!! Two Questions: 1) A lot of people say that Lana del Rey was/ is the worst performance in SNL history. Do you agree? 2) What was the aftermath/reaction backstage when the Ashley Simpson Lip-Sync tape screw up? And, How did it happen? Oops, that's three! :D

1) No, the Ashley Simpson thing was actually the worst thing. I had never seen anything like it. I don't know if it was the WORST but it definitely wasn't on the high end... worst is pretty big. 2) Her drummer triggered the wrong track, a lot of the acts that come on SNL play along to a track... that's how it happened. The aftermath/reaction was pure disbelief. I understand that the drummer was her boyfriend... so who knows where they are today.

Did the romance survive?

That guy was probably blacklisted from her life and the music scene... Or at least he should have been. Oh! Does that happen?

Definitely, not officially but it definitely is there.

Do you know of any actor/ musical guests that are not allowed back or on SNL?

Not that I know of!

What about Sinéad O'Connor?

Not that I'm aware of!

Here's something I don't get to say to strangers very often- Thank you for, in some small way, being a part of my life for 20+ years. :)

Thank you!

Did you ever get to jam with G.E Smith?

Of course I jammed with G.E., but he fired me in 1990. But then they hired me back when he got fired in 1995. Everything was a jam with G.E!

Why did he fire you? Did he want to fire you when he came back? What did you do between 90-95?

He said he wanted to "shake things up." He also fired the trumpet player, he thought the horns were voiced too high. He thought it'd be a more satisfying sound for him. But after he fired us, they realized that he was wrong. He rehired the trumpet player, and hired another saxophone player. I was hired back when GE was fired from the show. Between 90-95 I toured in Japan with Michael Franks and playing with the Gil Evans Orchestra. Also playing with Steps Ahead- and actually I was in Japan when I got a call to see if I would return to the show.

what was it like playing with the Gil Evans Orchestra? That sounds awesome.

It was sometimes quite fun, in the early days I started playing with the Gil Evans band because George Adams recommended me to play tenor- when he left, I became the tenor player. It was always a lot of fun and I never spoke to Gil until the very last show we did at Sweet Basil. For some reason we just never spoke. But at the very last show, his sons Noah and Miles literally carried him off the stage because he was so sick. I remember asking Gil when I finally spoke to him, "How are you?" and he said "I'm going to the hospital. That's how I am." That was 1988.

What kind of gear do you use (sax, mouthpiece, etc.)

I'm playing RS Berkeley Virtuoso saxophones and I also use a yanagisawa soprano and on the alto I use a Fred Lamberson custom mouthpiece, on the soprano I use an Otto Link 8. My clarinet is a Buffet with a Charles Bay mouthpiece and my flute, which I play occasionally is a Trevor James heavy wall.

Jesus, otto link 8?? You must have wind turbines for lungs. what reeds do you put on that?

2 1/2 Vandoren

If you could choose ANY of the musical guests you've seen on the show and somehow convince them to join the band full-time, who would it be and why?

Paul McCartney, because he's a gifted musician. I worked with him on a music video called Stranglehold in 1989 and he was one of the kindest musicians I've ever met.

Love that song (and your choice)! Are you in the video :) ?

Yes, I am!

EDIT: ... I was chubbier then. They asked me to send them a picture before the video for the audition, and I sent a picture of when I was 15 pounds lighter. When I got there they said, "Oh, our chubby sax player."

Does Steve Turre ever decide to play his conch shells instead of the trombone?

It's been on the air many times! You might have missed it?

Justin Timberlake is a frequent guest-star/host of the show. How would you rate him as a performer, musically?

I give him high marks, he is quite well trained and quite comfortable on stage!

Do you ever get to have conversations with the celebrity guests, or the musical guests?

It usually depends on how comfortable the host is with their contact with the band... it generally has to do with if they're relaxed and comfortable- a lot of hosts are nervous when they do the show so they tend not to talk that much.

Thanks for answering! Another question though. Do you have a close relationship with most members of the band?

Yes, the band has been together as a band pretty much for about 25 years! And before that, I knew many of the musicians of the band. Matter of fact, 3 of us grew up in the same area of California, Steve Turre, Lenny Pickett and myself are all from the Bay Area in California.

What's the most challenging part of your job?

Staying awake until 1 AM.

Are you sure you're a musician?

Wake up at 9 AM to get there and stay there till 1. That's why I'm tired.

Do you have any good behind-the-scenes stories? Who are/were your favorite cast members?

Kristen Wiig is by far one of my favorite cast members and Dana Carvey was great, because they make me laugh. Oh yeah, and Maya Rudolph! One time Lorne Michaels asked me how his suit fit in the wardrobe and I said, "It was nice."

It's a good behind the scenes story because he doesn't talk to anybody.

Is he really that awkward?

I don't know if awkward is the right word. I wouldn't say he's awkward, I just figure that over the years he has found a way to propel the show with minimal interaction with the band.

How much would you say the show has changed, in terms of how its run, since when you came aboard and now?

It's been run almost exactly the same from the time I came on. When I came, they had the routine basically polished and they haven't really strayed from their original format.

Do you have a favorite season?

Summer.

any Norm Macdonald stories? Farley, Sandler stories?

Norm Macdonald was not one of the favorites of the band. I was also fired from the band during the Farley/Sandler period, sorry!

Can you elaborate on that? What did Norm do to draw the band's ire?

Band didn't appreciate his humor

How was working with Doctor Luke? Giant Douche control freak with issues or a good dude?

Doctor Luke is a sweetheart! That's all there is to say about him. We're friends!

EDIT: he fell asleep on the show one time and hit the pedal board, made a FJKSALDJIWAOJDKSLA noise, I remember

Really cool AMA!!!

Have you ever been asked to take part or have you ever taken part in a skit? Would you ever?

I've been in skits on camera, but never with any dialogue!

Have you ever met Andy Samberg? Is he as funny in person?

I introduced Nat and Alex Wolff to him, they were thrilled. He seems like a really nice guy, I don't know if he's as funny in person. I guess we're acquaintances since we work together.

Doesn't that make you like the longest running cast/staff member?

Do you get to talk to any of the hosts? Who has been the coolest? Who has been the UNcoolest?

Oops, I replied halfway to the one above. I am definitely not the longest running member, the majority of the band on the show has been around longer than any cast member. Our musical director Leon Pendarvis has been on the show for 32 years!

My favorite guest artist to PLAY with is probably Al Greene, because he's very soulful.

I do get to talk to the hosts, the coolest to talk to is Paul Giamotti, the uncoolest was probably a musical guest.. Anita Baker. I can't think of any weird hosts that I've experienced.

I think as further proof you should perform a saxophone theme for reddit!

I can dedicate my album to reddit...

Who have you most enjoyed working with? Your opinion on the best /worst music artists snl has seen? Tell us Tracy Morgan stories!!

In my overall career, I most enjoyed working with Jaco Pastorius. He was the Charlie Parker of the electric bass. That was outside of SNL. The best were Foo Fighters and Paul McCartney. Dave Grohl is killer, and so is the other drummer. Tina Turner was great. The worst... are a lot of the rest.

Tracy is one of the NASTIEST stand up comedians I have ever heard in my life. But he's also a great guy. Well, he told me the other day at the live 30 Rock shoot we did that he has to go through all of his record archives just to find music that he likes.

you worked with jaco? that's heavy.

I'd love to hear some questions about Jaco.

what was he like to work with? i always get such conflicting stories about how his personality was like. what year(s) did you work with him? it sounds like it would have been a hell of an experience, his playing always blows me away.

I worked with Jaco from 1982 to 1985, he was a very complex person but also the ultimate, complete musician. He was full of surprises. Always. You never knew what to expect from him. But especially in the early years, or the first year I would say with the big bang- even though he was already starting to struggle with his personal problems, was probably one of the most incredible ongoing musical experience in my life.

His bass is heavenly! His playing with Joni Mitchell on Hejira always gets me. What was his approach as a creative force to a group of musicians? Would he wrestle for the best performances out of people? How concrete was the sound in his head of what the final song should sound like before a track was even laid?

Well, Jaco had a lot of powerful material that he left for the rest of the world- and live, he was always the most dominant force on the stage. He would just sound himself with the best musicians he could get and he wouldn't worry about it. But, if he wasn't satisfied with somebody's playing he would make it clear. Well, if it was big band, it was orchestrated in a way that he was pretty much getting the sound that he was looking for. In the smaller band, it wasn't as rigid, that was left up to the players.

Thanks so much for answering these questions. Just out of curiosity, did you play on any records with him? If you did, what was working in the studio with him? I imagine it would have been a pretty intense experience.

I played on 2-4 of the Live in NYC records, I played on Invitation and was the lead alto player on Twins. I did do some studio things with him as well outside of those experiences with Pharoah Sanders, and Michael Schreeves (sp?) that were never released. Working in the studio with Jaco was total chaos at the time I did it. It was during his period when he was not as stable as he could be.

Have you worked with the rest of Weather Report too, or just Jaco?

I'm currently working with Victor Bailey, I'm playing with his band May 14th at the Zinc Bar. I've worked with Peter Erskine in Jaco's Big Band, I played Miroslav V. ... I worked with Omar Hakim too.

Can you play the theme from Night Court?

No. I don't watch TV.

(Girlfriend: He watches tv all the time.)

Were you in the band when The Grateful Dead were on? I would love to hear some stories about that...

Unfortunately, no, sorry!

WHAT ABOUT PHISH?!

Yes, I 'think' I was... but I don't remember anything about it

What's your favorite fast food restaurant and favorite color?

Burger King and green.

Wasn't it Sanborn that did that signature sax lick in the early theme? Its like a tenor going into alto register? Or maybe that was you all along?

What early theme? Could you please clarify?

Whenever a host does their opening, you can see the band in the back laughing. Do the producers tell you guys to laugh or is it actually the first time you hear the jokes?

No, the producers don't tell us to laugh but it's also not the first time we hear the jokes

Do you get paid per show? A salary? how much?

I get paid for show and I get residuals for reruns! We do 22 shows in the year.

What is the most epic, fun song you have ever played?

Teen Town. For sure.

Do you keep in touch with GE Smith? What's he like? I saw him in Delray Beach once and wanted to say hi but he kind of scares me. But then I see him playing with Hall and Oates and he doesn't. I'm very confused by him.

GE is unpredictable, and like I said earlier... he fired me in 1990- and I thought he was my friend. You never know!

Was there a reason given or did he just decide you weren't sax-y enough for him anymore?

Stated somewhere else in the AMA, he wanted to "shake things up a bit."

What changes have there been since NBC was bought by Comcast?

No noticeable changes... yet.

What are the rehearsals for monologues and pre-show perfomances like? Are they as fluid as the live show or do the performers mess up a lot? Does the band ever mess up?

Of course it's not what finally hits the air but generally it goes very smoothly. The actual monologues are edited up until the live show. We do a dress rehearsal from 8-10 and after that the monologue goes into final edit. Sometimes the band will be edited out or in the monologue. Sometimes we'll be edited into a play off of the monologue... the show is in constant evolution up until the point to when we air- things are constantly subject to change.

What the hell is making that Taser-like sound in the opening credits?

Send me a link so I can figure it out!

Hey man! I have been playing sax as well for the past 8 years, and am first chair in my wind ensemble on Alto, and 2nd Tenor in jazz.

I have a few questions.

1. Favorite style to play?

2. Favorite sax you have?

3. How often do you practice/ did you practice while in school?

4. How is the pay in general for being a saxophonist? How much would you be making if you were not on SNL?

Thanks in advance!

1. Jazz.
2. To be honest, all three that I own are my favorites. None over the other.
3. In high school, I would practice between 2-4 hours a day and now I don't practice much but if I am presented with some music that is challenging I will spend whatever time is needed to feel comfortable playing it.
4. The pay scale generally for an instrumentalist now, especially a horn player or string player (non rhythm section) is quite low. You couldn't support a family in New York on what you would make playing music if that was all you did. If I wasn't on SNL, I'd be hustling a lot harder for other work, I'd probably be teaching at a school. It would be less.

Hi Alex! I am in the studio right now working with Ammo and Dr Luke. They say hello.

WHO IS THIS?

I say hello back... give me a gig!!!

Christopher Walken Stories?

He's one of my favorite hosts, and I hope that he hosts again sometime soon! He was always a professional, other than that I actually don't really have any "stories."

How can I get James Genus to call me up to sub for him?

Actually a lot of the sub calls come from Lenny, not James. A lot of the decision making definitely comes from Lenny- James certainly makes suggestions. If you want to get recommended, go to one of his gigs so he knows who you are.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT TOM "BONES" MALONE?

Tom Malone and I played together in the Gil Evans Orchestra, I did a couple of Tom's solo albums back in the 90s, and I'm going to see him on the Gil Evans Centennial Celebration in NYC on May 21st.

• What are the last 5 (or so) albums you've purchased?

• Have any recent musical guests caught your attention?

• What do you usually do during the sketches?

• Do you choose any of the music you play on the show?

Oh yeah, and FYI, you might hear 2-4 seconds of a song we're playing- but the band actually plays the entire commercial time- most people don't hear that!

I honestly don't remember the last time I bought a record, but people give me their records all the time. Paul Simon's manager gave me his record recently... I've been listening to a lot of indian music lately.

Lady Gaga and Paul McCartney definitely have my attention. During the sketches... I wait for my cue. No, it's all pre-selected by Lenny Pickett- sometimes they are songs I've written, I have a few in the book. However, it's all programmed by Lenny.