On the subject of playing a sax sound on the keyboard, in LIVE Performance, here's something else I've discovered:

No matter how realistic a sax sample (or any other non keyboard type instrument for that matters) sounds, the audience always KNOWS that it's not coming from a REAL saxophone played by a live saxophone player. A sax performance is really only FULLY appreciated if the audience actually SEE a guy PLAYING a 'real' saxophone. I've noticed that if I play a sax solo (on the keyboard) for much longer than 8 bars, the audience becomes bored and distracted, because their mind both expects & appreciates more, a 'keyboard type' sound to come out of the keyboard that you're playing. After 8 bars of hearing a sax played live on the keyboard, they begin to suspect the sax heard is merely a pre-recorded melody track coming from the keyboard and not me playing it live at all. Because of this, I typically keep non-keyboard type acoustic instrument melodies (sax, flute, harmonica, horns, guitars, etc) fairly short (under 8 bars) and more for instrumental relief from the standard keyboard type sounds. For longer solos and to show off my keyboard playing skills, I always choose a keyboard type sound: acoustic piano, elec piano, organ, accordion, or percusion vibes.

So the bottom line imho is that the sound and visual presence of a REAL Saxophonist (or other non keyboard type instrument) cannot be equaled when played on the keyboard.

Boo! don't stop playing your Sax. You're definitely in BIG demand by audiences that appreciate good acoustic music. I really look forward to jamming with you at our Synthzone Get Together in May.

Ok, I'm really interested in hearing from others on this topic now. - Scott