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Stress Keys Saxophonist's Success

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By HAROLD VALENTINE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 2, 2008

LAKE MAGDALENE - LAKE MAGDALENE - It's a matter of mental health.
Lake Magdalene resident John Hughes, 44, picked up the alto saxophone in his late 20s while unhappily married to his first wife and working a stressful managerial position. He later switched to tenor saxophone and honed his chops at bars in Shreveport, La.

"It was a matter of sanity," Hughes said. "I was in a job I couldn't stand and I had no real outlet."

Hughes has since received a bachelor's degree in music from the University of Tampa and is striking out in the community with his solo business playing gigs at venues throughout Carrollwood and the Bay area. Hughes also teaches private lessons and plays for local jam band Charlie Vegas and the New Blues Combo.

Hughes has been making the rounds at nightspots including Carrollwood's Cork & Olive, Skipper's Smokehouse and Northdale's Choxotica.

Choxotica owner Eric Green said he's considering adding musicians onto a rotation for regular performances.

"It's a really great way to add to our atmosphere," Green said, "especially for couples on dates."

Hughes said that when playing restaurants and bars he focuses on jazz, blues and Latin standards, Motown hits and love ballads. His heroes on saxophone include David Sanborn, Gerald Albright, Grover Washington Jr. and Clarence Clemons.

Hughes said he is grateful for the stressful path that led him back to music. With a background in clarinet from junior high and high school, Hughes went on to receive degrees in religious studies at the University of South Florida. But he said he feels a closer proximity to the while playing live music.

"At this stage of my life I feel more connected to God as a musician," Hughes said. "It's definitely a link to the creator."

Hughes said he enjoys the one-on-one nature of private lessons. Giving young folks an opportunity to appreciate more complex music such as jazz is another perk, he said.

Hughes said like many places, Tampa has a decent local music community "if you know where to look," citing locations where he has performed.

But he added many jazz venues have dried up, leaving more room for rap and techno venues. Though he values an eclectic variety of music, Hughes said most rap lacks tonality and melody, which he adds are major components of expression in music.

AT A GLANCE

VENUES: Tenor saxophonist John Hughes plays at many locations in the Bay area, including with Charlie Vegas and the New Blues Combo at Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, and solo at Choxotica, 3802 Ehrlich Road; the Cork & Olive, 10019 N. Dale Mabry Highway; and Taste Safety Harbor in Safety Harbor.

LESSONS: Hughes negotiates lesson prices for 60- and 30-minute lessons.

CONTACT: (813) 504-1520

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

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