Artist Spotlight: Enoch

“It’s for the love of the music, man.”  The words flowed smoothly down the Prairie Street block as the self-proclaimed “Musical Raconteur,” Enoch, took a pause from his saxophone set to describe his motivation for playing his horn.  He’s in Houston now, last week he was in Austin, by this time next week he’ll be in New Orleans.  For the past 50 years, the Houston native has dedicated his life to expressing himself through music.  The traveling musician carries his saxophone like an inseparable limb, attached not to his body, but to his soul.  Growing up in the city during the civil rights years, Enoch witnessed a profound shift in not only the structure of Houston, but the culture as well.  As the city moved from a segregated town into the multi-racial powerhouse that exists today, the change has been well noted and reflected in Enoch’s music.  “I used to play for different crowds, so I played a different style,” says Enoch.  “Now music demands more speed and less control…like Democrats and Republicans…” he says with a chuckle.  If there is one thing that is distinctly profound in Enoch’s sound, it’s the unusually fluid of how he adjusts from high to low pitch sounds, still managing to stay on beat.  He begins to draw a crowd of on lookers who have also been transfixed by his unusual sound.  But he continues to play without care of the crowd encircling him.  It’s just another day at the office for the talented veteran.  Then suddenly he stops, and as if feeling that the mission is complete, the message has been delivered, the hearts have been touched, he walks away.  On to another town, the legend continues…