Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Something not many people know about me is that I earned a four-year degree in classical saxophone performance. While my career has taken me down a path of jazz and popular music, those years of intense classical study laid a foundation that has […]
Classical Saxophone Taught Me These 3 ESSENTIAL Concepts Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Saxophone players often struggle with reeds that don’t quite feel right, sometimes punishing themselves by playing on a reed that could be vastly improved with just a minute or two of simple adjustments. Mauro from ReedGeek sees this all the time at trade
Making Average Sax Reeds Play INCREDIBLE Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Every opportunity I’ve gotten has been through jam sessions. That’s a powerful statement from the incredible saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, who has worked with legends like Ari Hoenig, Esperanza Spalding, and Gregory Porter. When we met up at the NAMM show, we had an
Every Opportunity I Had Came From Jam Sessions – Tivon Pennicott Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Altissimo: Underrated by Many At the most recent NAMM show, I had the chance to ask a lot of great saxophonists their opinions on whether altissimo is overrated or underrated. Not surprisingly, the results were mixed. Several saxophonists, including Mindi Abair, Tivon Penicott,
Is Altissimo Overrated? Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I had the great pleasure recently to speak with 3 time Grammy Winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin, most well known from his years of playing with Dave Matthews Band, at the JEN conference in Atlanta, Georgia. We talked a bit about sound, and how
What’s the Point of Your Sax Technique? – Jeff Coffin Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Use This Instead of the Blues Scale You already know your blues scale. Hopefully, you know your major scales and some minor scales. But there’s a scale you probably don’t know or at least you aren’t using yet that can transform the way
The Most Important Scale for Jazz You’re NOT Using Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Are Vintage Saxophones like the Mark VI and Balanced Action Overrated or Underrated? At the 2025 NAMM show, I took the opportunity to ask several professional saxophonists their opinions on vintage Selmer Mark VI, Balanced Action, and vintage saxophones in general, in a
I Asked Pro Sax Players if the Selmer Mark VI is Overrated Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Conversation with Kirk Whalum: Intersection of Music and Language I recently had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with legendary saxophonist Kirk Whalum at the JEN conference in Atlanta, who shared insights on the deep connection between learning music and mastering a language.
Beyond Technique: Kirk Whalum on Playing from the Heart Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I’m about to share with you dozens of things you can do to become a better saxophone player and musician this year. These things are going to apply to every level of player from beginners to seasoned pros. I made this list as
How to Become a Better Sax Player in 2025 Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ted Nash on Jazz, Maturity, and the Art of Music I recently had the wonderful opportunity to sit and speak with Ted Nash at the JENN conference in Atlanta, where he shared his profound insights on jazz, the saxophone, and his lifelong commitment
Overcome Your Musical Fears – With Ted Nash Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. The Truth About Musical Ability Most people don’t understand what separates strong musicians from those who can’t really play. It’s very common for people to say he or she is so talented, I wish I had that kind of talent. As if great
If You Want to Become a Great Sax Player… Do This Read More »
KB Sax Necks There’s a guy who makes saxophone necks by hand in New York City. His name is Kim Bock, he’s from Denmark and his custom made necks are played by some of the top saxophonists in the world. I visited his workshop in 2020 and made a video about the whole fascinating
Putting an ELITE Saxophone Neck on “Student” Horn Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I’ve got a great book on improvisation I want to tell you about and why I think it will make you become a better improviser. Vincent Herring For a very long time Vincent Herring has been one of my favorite alto saxophone players.
This Book Will Make You a Better Improviser Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All Time Best Soprano Saxophone Players Here are 10 of the best soprano saxophone players of all time. Keep in mind that these are limited to Jazz and popular music genres. We’re not including classical saxophonists here. If I leave someone out that
TOP 10 SOPRANO Saxophone Players of all Time Read More »
I’ve been messing around with digital saxophones for over 20 years now and I’ve owned most of these instruments that have been made in that time. In this video I’m going to compare three of the most popular digital wind instruments, the YDS-120, the Roland Aerophone AE-20, and the Travel Sax 2. People ask
Digital Saxophones Compared – Which One to Get? Read More »
The Debate on Lacquered versus Unlacquered Saxophones One saxophone is a 40-year-old Yanagisawa 880 tenor that I bought used about 8 years ago and that I played on it quite a bit. Notice, it has lacquer. The other is a 6-year-old Yanagisawa WO2 tenor saxophone that I bought brand new and have played on
Why Saxophone Lacquer Matters… It’s NOT how you think Read More »
If you’re just starting to learn to improvise or if you’re not happy with your improvised solos, and you think what you play kind of sucks, I’m going to tell you the main reasons why, what you’re probably doing wrong, and exactly what to do to solve the problem starting today. From now on, whenever
The New Way to Learn to Improvise… It Just Works! Read More »
All right, this microphone goes inside the neck of your saxophone. And not only does it have an incredibly natural and even sound, but it fixes some of the biggest problems saxophonists have with standard and clip-on microphones. I’m going to tell you all about it, how to get one, and the ways I’ve
I Think I Found The New King of Saxophone Microphones Read More »
Recently, I asked band directors for their best tips when it comes to teaching the saxophone in the classroom, especially tips that might help other band directors whose primary instrument is not the saxophone. And we got a bunch of submissions, and I’m going to share with you my favorite ones. Everybody who participated,
I Asked School Band Directors How They Teach Saxophone Read More »
The sound that you get when playing a saxophone is created by the vibration of a reed that gets attached to the mouthpiece. You probably already knew that, but did you know that the mouthpiece has a greater impact on the sound that comes out than the instrument itself? You are unlikely to hear
How the Best Saxophone Mouthpieces are Made Read More »
The reed is our favorite thing to blame when we’re not getting the best sound on the saxophone right? It makes total sense that technology can solve this problem for us and be able to provide a saxophone reed that is perfectly consistent, sounds great and lasts a very long time. Who wouldn’t want
I Tried Plastic Saxophone Reeds… Again Read More »
