Bob Sheppard
Soprano Sax Solo on
Pure Imagination

About

Bob Sheppard's soprano saxophone solo is the sole improvisation on this rendition of "Pure Imagination" from Alexis Cole's 2021 album Sky Blossom: Songs From My Tour of Duty. Sheppard, a veteran session musician and educator, takes one chorus over the 35-bar AABA' form in B-flat at a medium 109 BPM with a straight feel. The song, originally composed by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley for the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, provides a whimsical harmonic framework for Sheppard's lyrical soprano sax work. The choice of soprano saxophone adds a bright, singing quality that suits the song's sense of childlike wonder.

Bob Sheppard was 68 to 69 years old at the time.