…gong fu actually means skill that transcends mere surface beauty. A martial artist whose technique is decorative but without power “has no gong fu,” whereas, say, a calligrapher whose work is no pretty to look at but reflects a strong, austere taste certainly “has gong fu.”
(Mark Salzman, pg 30 Iron and Silk
A saxophonist should also have gong fu in his or her playing.
Part of that means, really mastering the basics before moving on. And having a solid foundation beneath any flashy technique.
Sometimes I hear a musician grooving and then they ruin it by playing something fancy that loses the groove.
Mastery of anything involves the same processes, so I would recommend the book Iron & Silk even you don’t study martial arts. And the author, Salzman, also plays cello and he took his cello to China on his stay there.
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