Sam Newsome

Sam Newsome
"The potential for the saxophone is unlimited." - Steve Lacy



2025 Winter Jazz Festival

2025 Winter Jazz Festival

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Groan Tube Improvisations with Balloons

Some of you may be aware of my experimentations with the Groan Tube noisemaker and balloons. If you're not familiar with the groan tube, it's a narrow cylinder tube that makes a "groan" sound when turned on one end--hence, the name. The groan tube has been around since the 1960s and was made by the Japanese toy manufacturer Kureo.




How does a groan tube noisemaker and balloons fit in with improvisation? 

Obviously, as shown in the pic, the groan tube too large to fit inside the soprano. So, as stated I removed the noisemaker inside the tube and placed inside the bell of the soprano.

Balloons: As you know, unless they pop, balloons function primarily as a visual. However, if you place small objects such as uncooked rice or uncooked beans, the balloons then become a percussive rattle. In this video, the rattling sound is created using rice.

As heard in the video, I do have note limitations, but what I like is that it forces me to think of other aspects improvisation such as rhythm and motivic development, which are not always our default devices when we improvise.

This performance took place in Kingston, New York at a performance space run by Álvaro Domene, a wonderful guitarist and improviser who's creating quite a scene in the area. Please check out some of the later clips where we are playing together in trio with drummer Mike Caratti.



Stay tuned for more!






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