Episode 24 TOM POLITZER - Lead Tenor Saxophonist for TOWER OF POWER

This week is the Season 1 finale. My guest is Tom Politzer. Tom
is the lead tenor saxophone player for the funkiest band around
TOWER OF POWER. Their website is https://towerofpower.com/


Tower just celebrated 50 years as a band and just released an
incredible live album 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the
Fox Theater


This album captures Tower of Power’s storied career with two
no-holds-barred victory lap concerts in Oakland, CA on June 1
& 2, 2018, performing their full spectrum of life-affirming
funk and soul hits.


This historic concert includes special guests Chester Thompson,
Lenny Pickett, Francis ‘Rocco’ Prestia, Bruce Conte and Ray
Greene.


Tom was born in Detroit, Michigan the home of Motown and was
raise in Palo Alto, Calif.


His parents were opera lovers, so he grew up with a strong
background in classical music.


He took up the clarinet when he was ten and became very
proficient playing in the school bands and with local youth
orchestras.


Half-way through his junior year in high school, the Jazz Band
needed someone to fill the baritone sax chair. He was skeptical,
but playing Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and especially “Squib
Cakes” by Tower of Power convinced him. Had he not made the
switch; he probably would have not become the professional
musician he is today.


Tom has been a member to Tower of Power for 20 years now. He is
part of a fraternity of amazing lead tenor players. Lenny
Pickett, Marc Russo, Richard Elliot, Brandon Fields, and Davin
Mann to name a few. The lead tenor chair in Tower is one of
prestige and honor and Tom has filled that chair with his amazing
sound and the hippest licks on every song.


The leader of Tower of Power Emilio Castillo, was instantly
impressed with Tom and his professionalism and if you watch their
shows, he glows with pride every time Tom plays a solo.