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Immanuel Wilkins on Incorporating Your Influences, Playing With A Drone, and...
Intro If you aren’t already checking out rising young alto star, Immanuel Wilkins’ playing and projects, here is a rundown of what you need to know. Biography Immanuel Wilkins is a Saxophonist,...
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Anibal Rojas’ Road to High-Profile Gigs, Plus His Method for Incorporating...
Photo by Norm Johnstone Introduction I remember first meeting Anibal at Rafael Navarro’s booth at the NAMM 2014 Show but had been checking out Anibal’s playing for quite some time beforehand. If you...
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The Beginner’s Guide to Purchasing a Student Saxophone
The saxophone can be a very rewarding instrument to learn how to play. You’ll be able to use it in dozens of genres from jazz and blues to pop and rock. However, picking your first saxophone can be...
View ArticleReviewed – The JodyJazz HR* Custom Dark Mouthpiece
Introduction I remember when JodyJazz first came out with his HR* line of mouthpieces for alto and tenor and since then, Jody has expanded his product line to include 9 different models that are...
View ArticleDayna Stephens’ Lessons Learned on a Winding Road to Acclaimed Jazz Artist
Introduction I have been fortunate enough to speak with many great saxophonists over the years, and recently had the chance to sit down (virtually) and speak with Dayna Stephens. While many...
View ArticleQ & A with the Ultimate Saxophonist’s Saxophonist, Jerry Bergonzi
Saxophone giant, Jerry Bergonzi is known not only as a highly-influential saxophonist, referred to by Michael Brecker as “the best tenor player in the world”, but also as one of the great saxophone and...
View ArticleUp and Comer Ryan Devlin on How Many Hours to Shed, the Impact of Quality...
Introduction Every so many years I spot player that really has his/her technique, sound, and rhythm down at such a young age. Ryan Devlin is one of those players. Since being a student of Chad...
View ArticleInsights from Prolific Saxophonist of Many Musical Hats, Matt Steckler
Bio Highlights Primarily a saxophonist and woodwind specialist, he also performs on vocals, keyboards, percussion and electronic media. Matt holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Composition from New York...
View ArticleSaxman Sam Greenfield on Practicing, Building a Brand Online, and Much More
Introduction I’ve been checking out Sam Greenfield’s Instagram account for quite some time, and besides enjoying the creative content he posts, I’ve also been blown away by Sam’s mastery of the...
View ArticleChristoph Irniger on Recording An Album During Covid, Shedding, and More
Short Bio Christoph Irniger, born 1979, is a Swiss saxophonist, composer and bandleader From 2000 to 2006 Irniger studied music education at the Zurich Jazz School, and performance at the Lucerne...
View ArticleVeteran Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery’s Most Valuable Lessons Learned, and Much...
Introduction When someone says, “I was listening to Wayne on tenor”, usually they are referring to Wayne Shorter, but whether you know it or not, there is another burnin’ saxophonist named Wayne. My...
View ArticleThe 10 Best Alto Saxophones For A Beginner
Learning to play an instrument is the dream for many students. Music connects people from across the world in ways that modern machinations, like the internet, simply cannot. But music lessons and...
View Article6 Tips for Recording Woodwinds at Home
My experience with recording various woodwinds at home during the pandemic was full of trial and error. Check out these 6 tips and tricks I learned to help your woodwind recordings sound more...
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The Story of Military Band Saxophonist Geoff Vidal, Along with His Favorite...
Introduction I recently took a trip down to San Diego to visit family and was able to meet up with Chris G (IG: @chrisgsax) who has created some great content under his YouTube Channel Positively...
View ArticleGS Mouthpieces: Do These Replicas Compare To The Real Thing?
Introduction Since reviewing saxophone gear for quite some time, I have had the opportunity to play test quite a few vintage Meyers, Links, Dukoff’s, Brilhart’s, Guardala’s as well as the “new” vintage...
View ArticleA Guide to Purchasing a Saxophone Mouthpiece
The mouthpiece you use on your saxophone contributes a great deal to the sound you produce on the sax. It creates a link and bond between you and the saxophone. Because of how important the role of the...
View ArticleIs Roberto’s New Uovo the One Ring To Rule All Ligatures?
Introduction One of the first saxophone-centered stores I ever visited was Roberto’s Winds. I remember when I first visited, the Vandoren V16 hard rubber line of mouthpieces for tenor and alto sax had...
View ArticleGeeking Out at the Boston Sax Shop and Virtuosity Musical Instruments
Introduction Back in May, I finally made the trip to visit my sister in Boston. While in Boston, I knew before I left I needed to check out the music scene as well as any music shops that focused on...
View ArticleAltoist Danny Janklow’s Road to Success, “Three Pillars” of Improv, and Much...
Introduction The first time I heard Danny Janklow play was some years ago at one of Vandoren’s “Vandojam” concerts, which take place as part of the NAMM show in Anaheim, California each year. I was...
View Article“Bebop Sax Shop” Aims to be NYC’s Next Vintage Sax Epicenter
Introduction Since moving out to the Bay Area 7 years ago, I’ve had the chance to visit various music stores and repair shops and meet saxophonists selling gear from time to time. Now, when it comes to...
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