The Art of Mouthpiece Refacing with Thomas Occhiuto
Introduction When it comes to making a mouthpiece change, the question as to whether to purchase a new one or to reface a mouthpiece you already own comes up quite a bit, and the answer really depends...
View ArticleHow Woodwind Pro Mike Livingston Built an Instrument Repair Business from the...
Introduction Depending on where you live in the U.S, a good repair tech can be hard to find. Most cities don’t have the demand to support a saxophone specialist. If you’ve struggled with this lack of...
View ArticleReviewing the Marc Jean Evolution 4 Ligature
Introduction I had the opportunity to review Marc Jean’s original ligatures , (see picture below) back in 2014 for alto and tenor saxophone. Although I have play tested many ligatures over the years...
View ArticleDeveloping Technique Through the Use of Palm Key Risers
Introduction For some saxophonists, developing palm key technique is a challenge. These keys, used to finger the notes of the upper register, specifically high D, Eb, E and F, can feel awkward to many...
View ArticleEric Wurzelbacher’s Saxophone Journey, Practice Material, and More
Introduction Getting caught in the YouTube rabbit hole can be a blessing and a curse. At times, you will be taken to videos of new players you’ve never heard of and are glad you checked out and at...
View ArticleA Conversation with In Demand Saxophonist Alexa Tarantino
Introduction Although I mainly play tenor saxophone, I still pick up the alto from time to time and like to listen to various alto players such as Kenny Garrett, Baptiste Herbin, Jaleel Shaw, Will...
View ArticleReview of JL Woodwinds Artist Edition New York Signature Tenor Saxophone
Introduction It’s been over five years since I last visited John’s shop and much has changed since then. Besides having a large assortment of modern and vintage saxophones, John has expanded his line...
View ArticleMulti-Faceted Saxophonist Kirsten Edkins on Power of the Mind and Much More
Introduction After returning from NAMM 2024, I was approached by Jennine Peter at 82 Rogue about checking out Kirsten Edkins’ new album Shapes & Sound. Kirsten Edkins is a saxophonist, composer,...
View ArticleThe Principles of Saxophone Sound Production
Concept! The first and most important thing about developing a sound on the saxophone is a concept. Our sound is our voice and the first thing people hear when they listen to us. We must do the best we...
View ArticleRundown of the Latest and Greatest New Sax Gear (2024)
Mea Culpa OK, so, maybe this article is based on an event that, at the time of this writing, happened about 5 months ago (aka NAMM 2024). And maybe we were a bit embarrassed to mention that in the...
View ArticleAdam Niewood – From Sax Pro to Refacing Mouthpieces for Living Legends
Introduction When searching for a new mouthpiece, there are quite a few options to consider. One main question that comes to mind is: “Do I buy a new mouthpiece or consider getting my current...
View ArticleReview: Theo Wanne’s Price Conscious “Essentials” Mouthpieces
Introduction Theo Wanne has expanded its saxophone mouthpiece lineup with the new Essentials series, offering “Concert”, “Contemporary”, and “Jazz” models for soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone...
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