During Mobile Aerofest, saxophonist Karl Denson sat down to talk about his daytime main-stage set, which preceded Dumpstaphunk and Robert Randolph. A fixture of the festival circuit, Denson’s Tiny Universe has built its reputation on tight musicianship and long, extended sets.
Stamina and the Gulf Coast Crowd
Asked how he sustains multi-hour performances, Denson pointed to discipline. “When I was in college and beyond I practiced from 8 to 10 hours a day, so doing two hours for a show is not really that much of a challenge,” he said. He sees Gulf Coast audiences as no different from crowds anywhere: “People are people everywhere. When the music moves them, they’ll respond in kind.”
Honoring the Military
Aerofest was created to honor military service members, and Denson was glad to take part. “I am a strong supporter of our military, although I fall squarely on the side of not sending our kids into harms way unnecessarily,” he said. “When we got the offer to play Aerofest, it seemed like a big honor.” For aspiring festival musicians, his advice was simple: “Practice, practice, practice.”