Many bands Field prolific sax player By Bob Young Boston Herald, Friday, July 1, 2005 - Updated: 09:22 AM EST Ken Field has no problem connecting the dots between ``Sesame Street'' and the reform school where James Brown did time for breaking into cars.      ``They're actually not that far apart in terms of some of the sounds I've created,'' said the Hub-based saxophonist.      What Field means by ``not that far apart'' is that he has composed, produced and performed on soundtracks for ``Sesame Street'' and is currently part of a band that takes its name and inspiration from the Alto Reform School, the lockup where Brown formed a group that would become his Famous Flames.      The Alto Reform School band features three female vocalists, including founder Betsy Nichols. It performs covers of '70s r & b tunes by the likes of Millie Jackson, the Commodores and, of course, Brown.      The band appears tonight at Johnny D's in Somerville.      ``I grew up in New Jersey with a lot of this (music),'' said Field. ``My family didn't have a TV set, but I listened to AM radio and heard a lot of really good stuff.''      Field is one of Boston's true Renaissance music men. He's a full-time member of six bands, including Birdsongs of the Mesozoic and the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, which performs a benefit concert for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on July 15 at the Middle East in Cambridge.      He's a sometime member of another half-dozen groups, including Willie ``Loco'' Alexander's Persistance of Memory Orchestra and the Chandler Travis Philharmonic, with which he'll play Tuesdays in late July at Harry's in Hyannis.      ``Much of what I do isn't commercial,'' acknowledged Field. ``It tends to be left of center.'' Ken Field and the Alto Reform School appear tonight at Johnny D's, Somerville, with the Bad Saints. Go to www.johnnyds.com or call 617-776-2004.

Saxman Ken Field, back right, plays '70s r & b with Alto Reform School tonight at Johnny D's. 0.849349