Steve Fischer - Saxophone (Band Leader)

In 1957 after about five lessons, my dad bought me an old Conn alto sax that I still have. From then on it was playing in bands that taught me the love of playing. I played in the eighth grade band and three different high schools, the last year for Leroy “Red” Hughes at El Camino High School in Sacramento, where he lead an aggressive, progressive program with high expectations. That year I also played in my first extra-curricular combo, and was thrilled with the $4.00 for my first gig. 

In my second year of college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, I tried out for the Collegians dance band and set my path for a musical future in big band jazz. Under the leadership of music department founder H. P. Davidson, I spent three years learning more than I realized. It’s a tribute to him that over forty years since his passing, alumni of his bands still gather in SLO once a year to play the music and socialize. 

Through my years in the U. S. Air Force, I played with various groups wherever I could, even took a small group to the “Best In Blue” competition right out of basic training. After the service I settled into Redding and played with the Shasta College community jazz band, then called the “Daddios,” and with a few small groups around town. Then, for some reason, I went through a down period, where I just left the horn in the closet for probably ten years. Somewhere along the line I saw an ad in the paper for the community bands again, and dug out the horn and got busy. 

After playing in the concert and jazz bands for a few years I was approached about playing with a rehearsal group being put together by Roger Hogan and Bill Rummel. That group became the Straight Ahead Big Band, which I inherited a few years later. The rest is pretty much here to see, with a web site and five CDs, and an active performing schedule in the north state.