Derrick James
Alto Sax Solo on
New York State Of Mind

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Derrick James's alto saxophone solo is the sole improvisation on this rendition of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" from Alexis Cole's 2021 album Sky Blossom. James solos over the composition in C with a straight feel at a relaxed 93 BPM, bringing a jazz sensibility to Joel's beloved 1975 ballad. The song, written upon Joel's return to New York from Los Angeles, has become a standard of the pop songbook, and its soulful, bluesy harmonic language translates naturally to the jazz saxophone idiom. James's solo adds an instrumental dimension to the album's interpretation of this iconic ode to New York City.