Search - Jean-Philippe Rameau, Roelens, Fonse :: Marcel Mule: "Le patron" of the Saxophone

THE essential saxophone recording.

Kevin Norton | Morehead, KY USA | 07/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can now truly understand why Marcel Mule is considered "Le Patron" after hearing this album. On every single piece, he performs with impecible musicality: tight articulations, great breath control, nice understanding of volume, and tone and vibrato that a great violinist would kill for. Another interesting aspect is the excerpt from Francois Combelle, showing a history of how the instrument used to be played as if it were a clarinet.Every single saxophonist should own this album, for it is a perfect example of how the saxophone is supposed to be played."

The Best Recordings of Vintage Music

Benjamin D. Sorrell | Boston, MA | 01/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is fabulous. Marcel Mule's vibrato while considered outdated, is beautiful, his sound is one of the most beautiful I have ever heard. Technique, intonation and articulation are some of the best ever. His playing is light and accurate. His playing reflects a sound, that should be strived for, even when playing contemporary music. When he plays fast passages, it is still musical. The recording does not leave an empty feeling of, "WOW, he played and tongued really fast!" But one of awe at his ability to control and manipulate the saxophone is to doing whatever he wants. Since all of these Mule recordings are dated between 1930 adn 1940, they were recorded on LPs, and the background noise that is heard the noise that would be heard if listenting to an original LP, it most likely hasn't been taken out to preserve the original quality of the recording to prevent the loss of certain pitches and overtones that are contained in the recording.

This Marcel Mule CD is one that should be owned by all saxophonists."

I Only Wish I Could Have Met Him

Robert S. Avila | Manhattan, KS | 01/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like the title suggest, I wish I had met hime before his death in 2001. Even though this disc is of original, "poorer quality" recordings, you can still hear Mule's mastery of timbre and vibrato. You can also tell that Mule was originally a violinist from his use of vibrato. I had fellow musician listen to these recordings without telling him who it was and the instrument, and he immediately thought srings. I recently had the opportunity to met and play with Eugene Rousseau, a former student of Marcel Mule and a saxophone genius. I also have the honor of studying under a star pupil of Rousseau, Anna Marie Wytko. Rousseau discussed Mule and through these recordings and my meeting him, I understand why Marcel Mule is called "Le Patron"."