One of the most challenging postions to be in is the lead alto spot in a big band. One of the greatest lead alto players of all time played lead for Count Basie. Marshall Royal's sound helped to define the Basie saxophone section. When asked about mouthpieces and reeds for blowing lead, he was quoted as responding

Well, I’ll tell you�”most of the fellows in that band don’t play any peashooters for mouthpieces. The average section man in commercial bands and so forth uses a three or four lay. These tenor saxophone players with me are using number 10, 11 or 12 lays on these big Links. They’re wide open. And you’d better get something out of it!

It makes you work. You don’t just let the horn play itself. ‘Cause those guys blow loud and strong, with big tones. They’re always trying to excel in getting a good sound of loudness and fullness. If you can do that you can always tone down. But most players can’t get up to this zenith.

..........I’ve had a Brilhart...........It’s a nice mouthpiece�”about a 7 ½ star�”the most open one they make. I use a 4 ½ -5 reed on it�”about as stiff as I can get.

I like to feel (resistance) as though the horn is fighting back at me, rather than me just overpowering it. I like to blow right against the back of the mouthpiece and the back of the horn, let it come back to me�”and I can judge from my stomach.........I can play so soft you can hardly hear me. It’s just control. You’re able to blow with an open throat when you have something to blow against. Most fellows playing the commercial type things use the tight throat, with the straight flow of air into the horn. Which is the good, correct way of playing. But sometimes the trick is better than the correctness�”if you can cultivate the trick.

Before he played with Basie's band, Marshall Royal also played lead with several other groups. He was playing lead by the time he was 16 and played the same chair for the rest of his life.

What was the first band in which Marshall Royal took the section lead?