Renowned Ugandan saxophonist and composer Herbert Rock developed interest in the saxophone at the age of 21. The 30-year-old has played with Ugandan popular artistes as well as some international music icons. 

He has also played at several local and international festivals. The soft-spoken and talented saxophonist is currently a resident of Kigali, and a member of Neptunes band.

The New Times’ Linda M. Kagire interviewed him on his journey as a jazz musician and his thoughts on how jazz is impacting the music industry.

Excerpts;

How long have you been involved with music?

I developed interest in music at the age of 10 years. At the time I was under an organisation called M. Lisada, which was an orphanage that used to teach music, and also paid our school fees. I used to play the Bariton instrument and I used to be the best.

VIDEO: Herbert Rock-Jazz Junction-III. Source: Neptunes Band/YouTube

Do you remember your first encounter with the saxophone?

I started playing the saxophone at the age of 20. One day I was home watching a gospel show on TV, and saw one of their instrumentalists playing a saxophone- it was a rare instrument that surprised me because we did not have it in the band. And most surprisingly, the instrument I used to play had only three buttons but the saxophone had over twenty buttons and you use all the ten fingers to play it. And on top of that it makes you look unique because very few people can play a saxophone in Africa. And I also wanted to join live band music.

What was the first song you learned to play?

My first song to play was called-Take Five, a jazz piece composed by Paul Desmond, and it’s one of the most popular jazz songs in the world. The song is very difficult play.

What are the challenges of playing a saxophone?

It requires continuous practice for one to maintain their class, so it takes most of your time. It’s also an expensive instrument that when it breaks it costs you a lot of money to buy a new one—because we have no people that repair them so it requires a lot of care when handling it.It’s also a loud instrument that getting a safe place for practice is hard because it inconveniences people.

Tell us a bit more about Herbert Rock

My real name is Herbert Kiggundu though most people know me as Herbert Rock. I’m a Ugandan saxophonist and composer. I started my musical journey at the tender age of 10 from a Non- Profit Organisation called M-Lisada that ran a project which offered music as a way out for street and orphaned children.

Through this organization where my elder brother was a founding member, I joined the M-Lisada brass band and first learnt to play the Baritone horn from the earlier beneficiaries of the project using musical instruments provided by the organization.

At 21, I developed an interest in the saxophone although this particular instrument was not among those owned by the project. My quest for the sax led me to the Uganda Police band where I paid for the lessons to learn the saxophone. I’m also a Christian, who loves watching movies in my free time, clubbing and bike racing.

What’s something that most people don’t know about you?

I am a God fearing person, a devoted Christian who goes to Church whenever I’m free.

Who is your favourite saxophone player? And why?

I have a couple of favorite saxophonist players like Kirk Whalum, Grover Washington Jr, Sonny Rollings, Stan Gates and Dexter Gordon. The reason why I like Sonny Rollings, Dexter Gordon, Stan Gates is because their style is old school, their tones are unique and they do the roots of Jazz. Grover Washington and Kirk Whalum are my best when it comes to smooth Jazz and I like them when they are playing Tenor Saxophone.

Do you have any advice for aspiring saxophonists?

It is a nice instrument because you can even have your own performance without a singer, and it does not have a lot of competition and if you want to learn it you have to sacrifice most of your time. Despite the challenges, it is well paying.

Worldwide the Saxophone is the most romantic instrument, and I’m so proud of that. In fact, on Valentine days, I’m always fully booked.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw