In 1984 I heard a song from David Samborn on the radio for the very first time. It was Rain On Christmas from his album As We Speak. I don't know why and I can't explain it, but this music got right under my skin. After this first encounter with David Sanborn's music, which impressed me so much, I wanted to buy that album immediately. But at that time David Sanborn was not well known in Switzerland yet and so I had to order the LP and to wait for it - for what seem to me like an eternity.

  Then, in 1986, I saw him for the first time live in concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival. I was totally overwhelmed and from this moment on I was a huge fan of David Sanborn's music. At the record store located in the festival aera I bought two other LP's, Taking Off and David Sanborn and of course I wanted to have them signed personally by David Sanborn. But how to set about? By chance I met the director of the festival. I knew his brother who was a collegue of mine and so I simply asked him if it would be possible to have these two LP's signed by David Sanborn. He spontaneously answered: "Come with me" and he guided me directly backstage. You can imagine that I was very happy to meet Mr. Sanborn personally but I suddenly was also afraid. I couldn't believe that I really had the chance to meet that great artist himself. I was so excited and nervous that I wasn't able to say one single word to him or to thank him for the wonderful show. But he was very kind and charming and he signed the two albums. This was the beginning of my "signed6quot; album collection. Up to now I saw him in concert almost every year somewhere in Europe. It was not always easy but I succeded mostly to meet him and today I naturally have all his solo albums and 13 of them signed personally by Mr. Sanborn. The latest one this year on July 23 in Zürich.

   The most incredible concert however I saw at "La Cigale" in Paris on November 29, 1992. He played with Ricky Peterson, keyboards, Paul Peterson, bass, Dean Brown, guitar, Sony Emory, drums and Don Elias, percussion. As usual, David Sanborn's performance was great. I was lucky to get an excellent seat near the stage and I enjoyed the concert so much. But suddenly, in the middle of the show, there was a power cut. Nothing worked anymore - no keybords, no bass, no guitar, no amplifyer - nothing! Just the light was still on in the hall. The stage people ran hectically there and back. After a while David Sanborn came in front of the stage, shrugged his shoulders and said: "Sorry, we have no power". And then, Sonny Emory started a long and exceptional drum solo until he was totally exhausted - still no power - so Don Alias started his fantastic percussion solo. The audience applauded enthousiastically to these two solos, but there was still no power. Then David Sanborn came in front of the stage and played an unplugged saxophone solo. (Today I don't remember exactly whether it was First Song or Dukes & Counts). But it was fantastic and inexpressible. Dead silence reigned in the audience. One could hear a needle falling down to the floor. And then, after a wile of silence an uproaring applause bursted out. Finally the power cut was repaired and the band could continue normally with the show.

   I will never forget this exceptional and owerwhelming concert. After the show was over, I waited together with four or five other people in the entrance hall where the musicians were expected to leave the building. Of course we all hoped to get a CD, the concert ticket or whatever autographed. Despite the security staff, who wanted us to leave, we waited for about one hour and it was worth the patience. Finally David Sanborn came down the stairs, accompanied by his charming wife. He was very relaxed and joked as every time I met him and he signed Upfront for me. I gave him my thanks for his wonderful music and wished him good luck for his ongoing tour in Belgium and Germany. Then we shook hands and I went with a happy feeling back to my hotel. Needless to say that this was really a very special and unforgettable weekend for me in Paris and I would like to thank David Sanborn so much again for his wonderful music.