Otto Link Tone Edge 7* I recently had my Otto Link Tone Edge 7* mouthpiece refaced by Phil-Tone Mouthpieces. While this mouthpiece is now much improved after I had it refaced, you can probably hear the slight lack of projection and tubbiness. Low notes don’t speak as well as I’d like either. However, the altissimo […]
Otto Link Tone Edge 7* – Mini Mouthpiece Review Read More »
The Intrepid 7* This Intrepid 7* mouthpiece was my main piece for a while before my current mouthpiece testing frenzy. This is from Phil-Tone Mouthpieces. What do you think of the sound? I miss this piece a bit but have so many more to get to know at the moment. Also dusting off a standard
Phil-Tone Intrepid 7* – Mini Mouthpiece Review Read More »
Had the pleasure of hanging out and catching up with the fabulous Grace Kelly on Instagram the other day. We talk about how we were able to make music our profession while also swapping old stories, having a few good laughs, and nerding out over the saxophone. Watch the full chat with Grace below. If
Jay Metcalf and Grace Kelly talk about Sax and more Read More »
The Tribute Ltd 7* This mouthpiece is the Tribute Ltd 7* for tenor saxophone from Phil-Tone Mouthpieces. I really love this kind of dark, yet powerful mouthpiece with lots of overtones. What do you think of the sound? Let me know in the comments below! Want more mini mouthpiece reviews? Check out the “Intrepid 7* –
Phil-Tone Tribute Ltd 7* – Mini Mouthpiece Review Read More »
Recording with GarageBand With today’s technology, there are so many cool ways to record yourself and share your music. So let’s talk about how you can record yourself over a backing track in GarageBand for iOS. To start, I’m also using the app iReal Pro. This is a fantastic tool that simulates a real-sounding band that
How to Record Over an iReal Pro Backing Track in GarageBand Read More »
Today’s Questions Hey there, In today’s Q+A, I’m answering YOUR questions from Instagram and beyond. Questions like: “Can I learn saxophone just from watching YouTube videos?” Or “How can I get better faster?” And the age old question of “Why are Mark VI saxophones so overpriced?” What Keeps You Motivated to Practice Daily? That’s easy.
Why Are Mark VI Saxophones So Overpriced? | Q+A #5 Read More »
Today I want to talk about my latest new instrument, the Roland Aerophone AE–10. This particular instrument is a wind synth. This means it synthesizes playing a wind instrument in the same way as a digital piano synthesizes playing a real piano. Roland Aerophone AE-10 There are other wind synths out there, but this one is different.
Want to Practice Quietly? The Roland Aerophone AE-10 Can Help Read More »
Today I’ve got 5 amazing alto sax Jody Jazz mouthpieces to play test for you. One of which is my top recommendation for any student wanting to upgrade to their first jazz mouthpiece. The mouthpieces we will be looking at today are all from Jody Jazz and are being played by some of the
Dark to Bright Alto Sax Tone – Jody Jazz Mouthpieces Read More »
If you’re bored with practicing with a standard metronome click, here’s a fantastic app called Drum Genius. It adds some new dimensions to practicing and it’s become one of my favorite apps. Drum Genius This app allows you to practice with a variety of drum loops instead of just a metronome click. By using a
Coolest App for Sax Practice – Drum Genius Read More »
Learn this relatively easy pentatonic lick for saxophone or any instrument by ear. This is a real public domain lick that can be used in all styles of music. It can be heard in lots of different musical situations and styles. Easy Pentatonic Lick This pentatonic lick is a great vehicle for practicing technique and
Easy Pentatonic Lick II Read More »
What’s the best saxophone in the world? In this video I try out a bunch of Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophones in Copenhagen, Denmark where I used to live and work repairing horns. Maybe it’s the pink lacquered Selmer Mark VI that used to be Dexter Gordon’s back in 1969? It only spent 1 hour
The Best Saxophone in the World? Selmer Mark VI Read More »
Are you practicing with a metronome? If not, you should be! Rhythm is usually the biggest weak spot for developing saxophone players. Part of the problem is we’re always focusing most of our energy on what notes to play, when we really should be paying closer attention to the rhythms of those notes. Today I’m
How To Improve Your Rhythm & Time Feel with a Metronome Read More »
In today’s edition of “gear I can’t live without”, I’m going to show you the JazzLab Sax Deflector and why I can’t play a gig now without it. I’ve been using it non-stop for gigs. One time I went out without it, played a few notes, and decided that I had to go back and
JazzLab Sax Deflector Review Read More »
How to Not Mess Up a Performance… Wanna hear a cool story? Lately, I’ve had a very specific task in the practice room. Which involves learning the horn lines to dozens of songs by ear and memorizing them. The music I’m playing is from a band called the California Honeydrops. If you don’t know about
How to NOT Mess Up a Performance Read More »
Today we’re going to talk about a very simple blues lick. You can hear this in almost everything. Singers do it, saxophone players do it, piano players do it. It’s everywhere! Be sure to download this free lesson pdf and backing track so you can play and follow along. This lesson is a great introduction
Blues Lick for Saxophone – Old as Dirt Read More »
I sat down with a veritable star of the saxophone, Grace Kelly. I’ve been following Grace on Instagram for a while now loving her content, her music, her style, and her positivity. But after having spent time with her one on one I became even more of a fan since she has so much going
The Air Sax Ear Training Exercise – with Grace Kelly Read More »
The video for this week is top 10 list of great tenor saxophone players. It’s a follow up to my top 10 alto sax players video. I’m going to talk about Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, Illinois Jacquet, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley, and John Coltrane. In
Top 10 Classic Jazz Tenor Saxophone Players Read More »
Rigotti Reeds Rigotti Reeds are some of the best in the business. How many times have you bought a box of reeds and think, damn these things are really expensive… I know I do! During the summer of 2019, I toured the Rigotti Reeds Factory in the South of France near St. Tropez. After putting
Why Are Saxophone Reeds So Expensive? Rigotti Reed Factory Tour Read More »
My Production Setup When I create my videos I have a fairly elaborate production setup to help me create the best possible content for you all. A lot of people ask about the equipment I use and what my creative process is like, so I’ve put together my list of production setups and equipment recommendations.
Jay’s Production Setup and Recording Gear Read More »
Alto Sax Mouthpieces Today, I’m going to play test and review 5 different alto sax mouthpiece upgrade options. I get asked every day about mouthpieces. Which one is better, which one should I buy, how can I get a more jazzy sound? The list goes on and on… I never tell anyone buy this particular
Play Testing 5 Alto Sax Mouthpiece Upgrade Ideas Read More »
Update for 2024- The BetterSax Alto Saxophone Since the release of this video, BetterSax has launched the BetterSax Alto which is now our top recommendation for student alto saxophones. The BetterSax Alto saxophone was designed to fill a gap in the market for an affordable, reliable, and desirable instrument. Unlike other low-cost options, the
Student Alto Saxophones – Buyer’s Guide Read More »
