I started playing woodwinds at the age of six just as a hobby. Coming from a musical family, there was usually an instrument laying around the house and I was always curious as to what sound I could make come out of it. In the beginning, I played just by ear and was not interested in learning to read music. I found myself playing along with recordings of some of the great saxophonists like Coltrane, Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker, Richard Elliot, Gerald Albright, Kenny G. I always wanted to play like those guys but no matter how well I could mimick their techniques, it never made up for not knowing how to read music.

In 1998, I wanted to join the Shreveport Metropolitan Community Band. I was certain that I could keep up but still had no clue how to read music. During the rehearsal I found myself lost just halfway through the first song. I sat through the whole rehearsal like a sad puppy that couldn`t find his way home. I knew then that there was going to be more work to becoming a true musician than just playing along with a recording of my favorite artists.

It was like learning the saxophone all over again. By 2000, I had learned to read just about any piece of music you put in front of me along with having the ability to sight transpose "on the fly" music for a C, Eb, or Bb instrument to any C, Bb, or Eb saxophone. It`s quite interesting to sit next to an Alto sax player and play their music on Tenor! Guaranteed to get you some strange looks. Accompanied by other saxophonists from the SMCB, I founded a saxophone quartet. We played at many festivals and venues across the Ark-La-Tex until I left the group in 2007 to pursue John Frazier Ministries on a solo basis. In the 2003 Louisiana All-State Competition I scored perfect on Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxes gaining the reputation as the only Homeshcooled student in Louisiana to have ever made it. I currently play lead alto with the Port City Big Band here in Shreveport and play gospel/jazz concerts on the weekends at the Louisiana Boardwalk.

I also own and operate my own woodwind repair business, JFM Woodwind Repair specializibng in saxophone and clarinet overhauls/restorations. Good to be on here and hope to make many connections! Check out my website at www.johnfrazierministries.com

Rejoicing Always,
John