Writing my autobiography was interesting, because I was forced to immerse myself in the culture of my past in a combined effort of my personal object from Ethnography: my instrument.

Let me explain.

I choose to personify my alto saxophone, which had a black body, gold highlights and silver keys. My late band teacher had given me that saxophone for a short time coming up to my first solo-lead performance of Isfahan by Duke Ellington at the Apollo Theatre. At the time, I suffered from stage fright where I often froze (even on stage mid performance) and it took a lot of hard work and practice for my band teacher to deem me ready for the task.

My instrument was part of me, and often the tool I found most solace in. I enjoyed soloing and expressing myself through the power of notes to those I trusted, but it took a serious conversation with myself to get the self-confidence I needed to push myself into the light. I did my best to capture his wisdom, that self-revelation, and the role my precious instrument played on me when no one was watching, in a short story I might even expand on in the future. I did thorough research into the background of not only my saxophone, deemed Price, but also the culture behind both the saxophone and the music we specialized in, which was Jazz. My band teacher was very adamant about us knowing our roots, which meant learning the history of places like New Orleans and other birthplaces of Bebop and Old Age Jazz. Which is why I tried to incorporate that mindset and dialogue in Price. I enjoyed being able to see myself from another perspective, most likely the one my band teacher had of me all that time. Not someone who would forever be too scared to try, but someone who could rise to the occasion despite it. Much love to the incredible Jamison Chandler. 🕊️