Fresh off a North American tour with iconic rock n’ rollers The Rolling Stones, master saxophonist Karl Denson sat down with L4LM contributor extraordinaire Rex Thomson to talk about pretty much everything under the sun. From playing with the Stones to finding out the real size of Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, read on to see what Denson had to say:

L4LM: First of all, thanks for taking time out to answer some questions!

KD: No problem.

L4LM: Are you ready to have some fun out there with The Tiny Universe?

KD: It’s gonna be fun.  We’re having a really good time these days, so it’s gonna be fun to get back out in the fall.  You know, I’ve had a really busy summer, doing a multitude of things, so it’s gonna be nice to get back to my band.

L4LM: I was wondering about that.  How does it feel to have so many irons in the fire at the same time?  Does it ever get confusing onstage?

KD: A little, y’know, going back and forth from one thing to the other can be confusing, but it’s great to be this busy…but then…all of a sudden you get tired and it’s like “Okay…I’m done.”  That happens a lot.  At the beginning of August I was like “Okay, I’m ready to go home.”

L4LM: That raises another question.  How long can you go before you hit the wall?

KD: This summer was the longest I’ve been away from home in years.  I left home at the end of May, and I just got home like, a week ago. [The middle of August]

L4LM: And now you’re getting ready to leave again!

KD: Yes! (Chuckles)

L4LM: At least you’re out there bringing joy to all the people.

KD: Yeah, it’s a good job!  It’s a great job, I love my job.  I always say “I get paid for the travel, not the playing.”  That’s the hard part, the playing part is always a joy.

L4LM: Your live shows are always a party.  Besides your own material you seem to like to mix it up with entire cover sets of music from the likes of Ray Charles, Beastie Boys, Rick James & Run DMC.  Is that just to keep it fresh for you?

KD: Yeah!  It’s always fun to do something like that and it’s a nice little learning experience for the band as a whole. We get to learn someone else’s music, learn what they do that really makes them great, and learn things we don’t do.  It turns into a nice little education.  

L4LM: You’ve credited the Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers cover set shows as helping get you your new gig playing with the ACTUAL Stones.  Have you considered covering any of the other big touring acts, just to plant the idea out there?  Maybe a Justin Bieber set?

KD: (Laughs) That’s funny.  No, it was by accident, we were just doing what we like to do but I also feel like it was kinda one of those things where..y’know…you prepare your whole life for something in that I’ve been a Bobby Keys fan for years and years and years so I feel like it was where I was supposed to be.  I was kinda bucking for the Bruce Springsteen gig at one point, but I’m not nearly as familiar with Springsteen as the Stones so I feel like I ended up in the right spot.  

L4LM: Yeah, and Springsteen is always playing those four and five hour shows.  You probably came out with a better deal.

KD: (Laughs) Yeah. Plus, I’m just a big fan of the Stones.

L4LM: Speaking of the Rolling Stones gig…what’s that like…stepping on to one of the biggest stages in the world, with like, actual for-realsies music icons?

KD: It’s like being a kid in a candy store, pretty much.  I watch the opening of the show, every night, and it’s just so amazing to be onstage, just being there, and see the (video) montage roll and the band start the show and hear the crowd…it’s incredible. And they, and I, am equally excited every night.

L4LM: Honestly, everything else aside, I (and our community) was just so proud and happy to see you get this big shot.

KD: It did feel good for me, especially in terms of my fans. It’s humbling.

L4LM: You’re once of the healthiest people I’ve ever seen in the music industry.  Has Keith Richards asked for any tips or a blood transfusion yet?

KD: (Laughs) Not yet man, not yet.  Actually, I want a blood transfusion from him!  He’s got some weird old vampire tricks going on.  He’s in great shape for seventy years old.

L4LM: I would recommend to be sitting down if you got a blood transfusion from him though.

KD: (laughs) For sure! (Laughs)

L4LM: You’ve always looked like you could bench press your tour bus.  Was getting into that kinda shape to save money on roadies and security?  I mean, looking like you do I can’t can’t see anyone bum rushing your stage and surviving.

KD: Yeah, in the end I am my fathers son.  He gave me these muscles for a purpose.  I don’t really work that hard for them.

L4LM: So the “Karl Denson Exercise Regimen” is just get born that way?

KD: Yeah, just get some gorilla blood in ya.

L4LM: Nice! (Laughs) You released New Ammo last year and it was great, and now you say you’re already working on your next disc…how’s that going?

KD: It’s going great.  We’re about sixty percent done, we’re gonna go back after the little vacation my daughter and I are on right now and start doing real vocals..it’ll be done by the end of September.  

L4LM: Alan Evans (Soulive) just joined your touring band.  Is he gonna play on the new record?

KD: Yes he is.

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L4LM: So how are you liking having him keep time for you?

KD: Oh it’s great, y’know he’s one of the smartest people I know.  He always brings an interesting perspective to things.  He plays like, “Okay, here I am, let’s work together” kinda thing.  It’s not like a business thing with him, it’s like “Here’s what I have, let me contribute to the project.”

L4LM: You’re one of the few artists who’s played every Jam Cruise.  

KD: Yes, me and I think just Galactic.

L4LM: What makes Jam Cruise special to you?

KD: I think…I think just watching all my friends grow.  I know pretty much every musician on the boat, and I have for many, many years so it’s just interesting watching everybody grow.  On about Jam Cruise 7 or 8 I was thinking to myself “Well…is this year gonna be better than last year?”And every year it just gets better because the music, the people playing it get better.

L4LM: I reached out on my social media to get a few fan questions for you.  Do you mind answering them rapid fire?

KD: Not at all.

L4LM: How did you get the nickname “Diesel”?

KD: That’s a evolution…I didn’t make that up.  Friends and fans just started calling me that and it kinda stuck.

L4LM: At this point in your life, do you have a preference between your sax playing, flute playing, singing or dancing?  You busted some cool moves during the Run DMC tour…

KD: No…It’s all the same stuff.  

L4LM Lastly, how tiny is the Tiny Universe?

KD: It’s infinitely tiny! (Chuckles)

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L4LM: Well, thanks Karl for taking the time to chat with us.  Enjoy your mini vacation and we can’t wait to see you out there on the road.

KD: Thanks, appreciate it!

KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE Tour Dates

September 11 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre ^
September 12 – Arrington, VA – Lockn’ Music Festival ^
September 13 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
September 15 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
September 16 – Charleston, SC – The Pour House +
September 17 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater 
September 18 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre +
September 19 – Asheville, NC – New Mountain Theatre +
September 25 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater ^^
September 26 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre ^^
October 1 – Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
October 2 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up
October 9 – Atlanta, GA – Georgia Theatre
October 10 – Charlotte, NC – U.S. National Whitewater Center
October 11 – Birmingham, AL – Vulcan Park & Museum
October 16-18 – Ozark, AR – Phases of the Moon Festival
January 6 – Miami, FL – Jam Cruise

^ w/ KDTU featuring Chuck Leavell^^ w/ KDTU featuring Robert Randolph+ w special guests Earphunk