Personality Test: Eric DeFade
Music is more than a profession for Eric DeFade.
It's the heart of the family. His wife, Kelley, is a singer. His brother, Ray, is a drummer with Gathering Fields. His father, multi-instrumentalist Ray, for years was the zany pianist at Bimbo's in Bethel Park. His nephew, Anton, is the bassist with the jazz band Elevations.
DeFade, 49, is equally busy. Besides being a star saxophonist with the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, Salsamba and Firm Roots, he has performed with stars such as John Scofield and Ahmad Jamal as well as with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera orchestras. He also has been on Grammy-winning projects at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild on the North Side.
He is director of jazz studies at Carnegie Mellon University and teaches at Seton Hill University in Greensburg.
DeFade considers himself a “better saxophonist than a jazz player” and is dedicated to the sound of his instrument. He complains that some classical sax teachers try to erase the jazz sax sound, which is really the musical voice that has become identified with the instrument.
He will show off that sound Feb. 14 at a John Coltrane tribute at the James Street Gastropub & Speakeasy, North Side.
DeFade, his wife and their daughter, Kiela, live on the North Side.
The star who would play me in the movie version of my life:
Now that I have a 4-year-old daughter, it has to be Liam Neeson. I'm sure he could add saxophone playing to his “very specific set of skills.”
Childhood hero:
John McEnroe. His unique style made him a champion despite having somewhat ordinary athleticism.
The piece of memorabilia from my childhood I wish I still had:
Community Little League championship trophy, although I did very little to help win it
The superpower I wish I had in real life:
Teleportation. So very tired of driving.
Favorite app:
I like the Around Me app. Enormously helpful on the road. However, Trivia Crack is becoming habitual of late.
Favorite ethnic food:
Thai, hands down
I spend the most time on:
The song I want played at my funeral:
“After the Rain” by John Coltrane
My favorite cable channel:
Food Network. I wish there was a cable package with just Food Network, ESPN and HGTV.
My favorite TV or movie villain:
John Malkovich
The dessert that matches my personality:
Tiramisu. Many layers and not all of them sweet
Show I have or want to binge watch:
“Chopped”
Movie I could watch every time it appears on cable:
“Poltergeist”
If I were auditioning for “American Idol,” my song would be:
“Willow Weep for Me”
The first band I saw in concert:
Philly Joe Jones quartet at the Encore in Shadyside in 1979
The best concert I've ever seen:
Pitt Jazz Seminar concert at Carnegie Hall, multiple years
Celebrity crush:
Evangeline Lilly (“Lost”)
Something I would do over if I could:
Probably my 20s. Very unfocused.
Pick one: Pirates, Penguins, Steelers or other:
Steelers
Favorite lunchtime spot:
Kaya
My favorite sandwich, plus fixings:
Giant fried fish sandwich with tomatoes and tartar. Pickle on the side.
Pick one: Cheetos, Cheezit or Cheerios:
Definitely Cheezit. Plenty of cheesy crunch and virtually no orange-finger residue.
My most embarrassing junk food:
Doughnut gems
My favorite Pittsburgh pizza:
Mt. Troy Inn
Favorite season:
Fall
The most dangerous thing I've ever done:
Whitewater rafting in Alaska. Way beyond my skill level.
Top thing on my bucket list:
I'd like to take my wife and daughter to Europe.
Favorite guilty pleasure:
Eating massive amounts of pizza while driving to far-away gigs
Best vacation ever:
Cancun with my wife
Place I'd most like to visit:
Rio de Janeiro
The movie that always makes me cry:
“Field of Dreams” (I know, cliche.)
In five years, I'd like to:
Release a recording project that celebrates the incredible stylistic versatility of the saxophone
I wish I had more time to:
Practice
The Disney character most like me:
Goofy. I like his work ethic.
My favorite thing about Pittsburgh is:
It doesn't generally try to be something that its not.
Three people I'd love to have dinner with:
Wayne Shorter, Mario Lemieux and Ellen DeGeneres
My quirkiest inherited trait:
When my phone rings, I automatically assume it's bad news. (Thanks, Mom.)
One word my mother would use to describe me:
Precious
When I was 10, I wanted to be:
A saxophonist
In high school, I was:
Highly disorganized
If I could go back, I'd tell my teenage self:
“Nice abs”
My childhood nickname:
Never had one, though, for the past decade, I'm often referred to as “sideman.”
My first job:
Orange Julius
My worst job:
Playing strolling saxophone before a Kenny G concert at Star Lake. (I was young; I needed the money.)
I'm deathly afraid of:
Folk music
Favorite Pittsburgh area :
South Side
The person I'm most often mistaken for:
Ray DeFade
My most memorable fashion mistake:
I wore a “Miami Vice”-style sport coat with the sleeves rolled up. Only once though!
The last book I read:
“The Reason for God” by Timothy Keller
If I weren't a musician, I'd be:
A journalist
My favorite website:
If I could live my life as someone else, it would be:
An Iron Chef
The song that always gets me out on the dance floor:
“Everybody Dance Now!” Just doing what I'm told.
What you'll always find in my glove compartment:
Vitamins, Starbucks napkins
Happiness is:
Being at the center of God's will
My personal motto is:
You're only young once, but you can be immature your whole life.
Overused phrase I hate most:
“It is what it is.” So defeatist.
My favorite Pittsburgh athlete:
Mario Lemieux
People would be surprised to know that I:
Never learned how to swim, even though I spent months on end playing on cruise ships when I was younger. Don't tell anyone.
