That's not just a kid's instrument

January 20, 2012 1:11 PM

People can't decide if he looks more like Tom Cruise or Keanu Reeves. But whoever he looks like, it's the way he sounds and what he can play that make Benoît Sauvé unique.

Other examples:

Blue Train (John Coltrane)
Some Skunk Funk (Brecker)
Have You Heard (Pat Metheny)

...and here he is grooving in Calypso-mode if you like a little bit of body movement with your music.

(The instrument is an alto recorder)

posted by circular (11 comments total)

If the recorder weren't such a screechy, annoying instrument I'd say good on him!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 1:15 PM on January 20 [1 favorite]

People can't decide if he looks more like Tom Cruise or Keanu Reeves.

I can sympathise with that. Although in my case it's Gérard Depardieu and James Gandolfini.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 1:15 PM on January 20 [5 favorites]

He looks like Keanu trying to act his way around an ice pop.
posted by Houyhnhnm at 1:20 PM on January 20

I was very lucky to be given the chance to play alto recorder in grade 7 music class. I got to play the more interesting harmony parts of O Canada in a relatively husky tone, compared to the plastic instruments of pain across the room, plus I was sitting right next to my crush (many years later, I found out that he was my new parish priest, so yeah, like I ever had a chance) for 45 minutes three days a week.

So altos aren't necessarily screechy and this guy does a pretty damn good job of making that instrument sound acceptable.
posted by maudlin at 1:21 PM on January 20

Technically, it seems he can play a well wrought solo on guitar or sax, which any number of players can do just as well if not better than this. Can he improvise and cut loose himself and re-interpret and create? is there any footage of him playing with a band?

Also, I think he mostly looks like a younger version of Richard Belzer. /Wink
posted by Skygazer at 1:31 PM on January 20 [1 favorite]

I've always thought that the whole "Feeeeel the music by mooooving!" thing was bullshit
posted by rebent at 1:44 PM on January 20

What a commanding stage presence!
posted by scottatdrake at 1:50 PM on January 20

Which is all to say: Get up a stage, maaan!
posted by Skygazer at 1:50 PM on January 20

I couldnt for the life of me imagine a face that would ask "Tom Cruise or Keanu Reeves" but damn me if he doesnt look like their jazzy lovechild...weird!
posted by supermedusa at 1:57 PM on January 20

He looks really angry.
posted by Brocktoon at 5:05 PM on January 20

Why does this give me Anchorman flashbacks? Is the alto recorder the fabled yazz flute?
posted by Yowser at 9:12 PM on January 20