Senior Saxophonist Goes to the Grammys
 When LHS senior Toby Forman went to the 50th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California this February, he got to see it all. From the glitz of the red carpet to the glamour of the nominees, Toby got to live a musician’s dream in a week filled with concerts, recordings, and the all-important Grammy Awards because of his selection in the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensembles.
Although he did not hear about the opportunity until his freshman year, Toby picked up the alto saxophone at age ten, after admiring his uncle’s mastery of the instrument. Beginning his jazz studies in sixth grade, Toby began to practice seriously his sophomore year, preparing him for the Grammy band audition this year.
Some of the perks of acceptance in the Gibson/Baldwin Jazz Ensembles came before Toby departed for Los Angeles. Along with two other Massachusetts ensemble members, the LHS senior was interviewed for the local news channel, CBS before playing a small set in the television studio. While humbly admitting that the experience was “the scariest thing alive” because of the other instrumentalists’ immense talent, Toby believed that the interview was “a good thing to do before [he] went to Los Angeles.”
While in California, Toby and the other high school jazz musicians were given the opportunity to play in a number of concerts (after grueling daily four-hour rehearsals to rehearse their repertoire of 8-9 songs), in addition to their recording session at the Capitol Records Studio. The first concert, called “Salute to Jazz,” annually honors two current musicians who have made a name for themselves in history; this year, the two honorees, pianist McCoy Tyner and tenor saxophone player Sonny Rollins, rehearsed played with the young jazz players. Before the performance, they were entertained by world-famous comedian host Bill Cosby. Other concerts featured alto saxophonist Eric Marienthal, trumpet player and Berklee School of Music graduate Christian Scott, and a benefit for the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which provides hearing aids to families in need. The tunes performed by the Gibson/Baldwin ensemble were among the first sounds that the children heard after receiving their new hearing aids. In return for their service, the players were fitted with custom-made ear phones that fit perfectly into the mold of their individual ears and even got to meet celebrity hip-hop artist Akon, actor Alan Tudyk, and actress Danielle Fishel of Boy Meets World fame at the Grammy Pre-Nominee party. While touring the Staples Center two days before the Grammy Awards, the group met many famous jazz artists, such as Terrence Blanchard, Maria Schneider, John Patitucci, and Herbie Hancock. To top off the whirlwind week, the Grammy Band members walked the red carpet at the Grammy awards and played at one of the Grammy after parties. In fact, their dressing and storage area was adjacent to Stevie Wonder’s room!
When soloing with other top musicians from around the nation, he learned a valuable lesson. Because of the high level of musicality of each of the members of the ensemble, each player had a solo during every concert. Instead of playing his natural technique, Toby tried to “listen to what was playing inside the others’ heads” and imitate that. Eventually, he realized that playing like himself and listening to his own ear would always bring him success. Toby’s current philosophy regarding performance requires the soloist to be able to sing the tune that he/she wants to play before soloing, although he does believe in experimenting as a growing musician. Gradually, Toby says, the maturing musician will begin to hear the same ideas in their own heads, and be able to rely on his or her ear.
Toby’s experience inspires and motivates us all to reach for our dreams and to persevere to reach a lifelong goal. His selection in the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz
Ensembles brings honor to our school, community, and the entire world of music. The LHS Music Magazine applauds Toby’s efforts, wishes him luck, and hopes to hear more of his achievements in the future.
- Abha Gallewale
(Images: Jose Colucci)
15 May 2008
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