I visited my friend John Leadbetter of JL Woodwinds in New York City last month and we had a great time making this video about the most sought after vintage saxophones ever. I think you’ll really enjoy this one. Details of each saxophone in the video are listed below, and John played each one […]
Top 5 Vintage Saxophones Read More »
This list has many of the things I use everyday and think other sax players will find quite helpful or at least, nice to have. Think of it as a gift guide/idea generator. No shame in getting yourself any of these items, but if you are shopping for a saxophone player I’m sure you’ll
25 Things Sax Players Need/Want Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I recently had the chance to sit down with saxophonist Vincent Herring, a prominent figure in the world of jazz. We discuss his role in carrying forward the legacy of great alto saxophonists in jazz, and delve into his musical
Vincent Herring – Carrying on the Alto Sax Legacy Read More »
This summer I visited Japan for the first time, and was blown away by how crazy they are about saxophones. Not only are some of the finest instruments in the world made there, like Yamaha and Yanagisawa, there is also a smaller brand you may not know about called Ishimori, based in Tokyo. They’ve
Ishimori Mouthpieces and Ligatures Read More »
Last year I reviewed the Yamaha YDS-150 and while I really wanted to like that instrument, I found it to be a big let down. Since then, Yamaha has released another version, the YDS-120, which I’m going to review for you in this video. Let’s find out if they have fixed the problems I
It’s Fixed! (Sort of) Yamaha YDS-120 Review Read More »
If you play the saxophone or just enjoy seeing how amazing things are made you’re going to love watching this entire video. I recently visited the Selmer Factory in Mantes-la-Ville just outside of Paris, France where they have been making some of the world’s finest musical instruments for over a century. In this video,
How the BEST Saxophones in the World are Made – Selmer Edition Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In this fascinating conversation, I talk with Grammy nominated saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Patrick Bartley, to delve into the world of music and the evolving role of artists in today’s landscape. We touch upon various aspects of Patrick’s musical journey,
Jazz Beliefs that Need to Die – Patrick Bartley Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In a recent interview with saxophonist Andy Snitzer, we dive into the musician’s illustrious career, including his extensive studio work and collaborations with music legends like The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Sting, and Paul Simon. We get a behind the
The Sax Solo that Changed Everything – Andy Snitzer Read More »
The legendary saxophone maker Selmer Paris just released another brand new saxophone model. This has left a lot of people confused. Why did they do this? What is the difference between the new Signature and Supreme besides $1000 bucks? Is one for classical and one for jazz? Which one is better? Which older models
Why Selmer Released ANOTHER New Saxophone – Signature Review Read More »
I had the chance to meet up with Tower of Power tenor sax soloist, Tom Politzer, after their show at the 2023 Nice Jazz Festival. We had a great conversation that you’re sure to enjoy. https://towerofpower.com/tom-e-politzer Early Musical Influences and Journey Tom Politzer began his musical journey with the clarinet at the age of eight.
Playing Burnin Funk Sax Solos with Tower of Power – Tom Politzer Read More »
Everyone loves the bari sax, but there aren’t nearly as many specialists on this instrument as there are on alto and tenor saxophone. To celebrate the release of the new BetterSax Burnin’ Baritone Mouthpiece, I put together a list of some of the greatest bari sax players of all time. Consider this part history
Top Baritone Saxophone Players Read More »
Imagine getting a call one day out of the blue and being told you have a job with Miles Davis. This is exactly what happened to saxophonist Rick Margitza and he tells us the incredible story in this week’s YouTube video. Rick’s Background: Rick Margitza is a highly accomplished saxophonist with a wealth
Why Miles Davis Hired Me After Hearing My Demo – Rick Margitza Read More »
Today is the big day, you can now order BetterSax Jazz Cut Reeds, and to celebrate I made this video with my best reed tips that I have learned over decades of playing, studying with masters, and lots of trial and error. If you have any additional tips that don’t get covered here, please share
14 Reed Tricks You Need To Know Read More »
Hey Guys, quick lesson on learning and playing melodies. This month in the BetterSax Studio we are working on “All of Me”, and I always tell my students to learn melodies by playing along with recordings. You can learn them from sheet music, there’s nothing wrong with that, but if you want to sound
How to Learn Tunes (Without the Real Book) Read More »
I recently visited the factories of the 3 world-leading saxophone brands: Selmer, Yamaha and Yanagisawa. Perhaps the most important lesson I learned is that there is more than one way to make a saxophone! Each of these manufacturers has their own unique processes, techniques and systems that result in quite different outcomes. In this
How the Best Saxophones in the World are Made Read More »
I met up with saxophonist, producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Terrace Martin for an interview about music, saxophone and life. In this conversation, he shares insights into his journey, influences, and the keys to his remarkable career. Terrace Martin’s label – Sounds of Crenshaw: https://soundsofcrenshaw.com/terrace-martin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundsOfCrenshaw/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundsofcrenshaw/ Terrace Martin’s Musical Journey Terrace Martin’s
How to Succeed in the Music Business – Terrace Martin Read More »
I recently had the chance to meet up with saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins at the Nice Jazz Festival. We had a great conversation about what he worked on to develop such a beautiful sound, his backstory and how he started playing saxophone, the setup he plays on, and how he was able to get his
How He Got a Golden Saxophone Tone – Immanuel Wilkins Read More »
During my recent trip to Japan, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nobushige Yanagisawa, the President of Yanagisawa. He gave me a wonderfully detailed look at the history of Yanagisawa and how it has evolved over the years. This is a translation of our conversation, in his own words. How was Yanagisawa started? It’s
The Origin of Yanagisawa Saxophones Read More »
On my recent trip to Japan, I visited the Yanagisawa Croche workshop in Shinjuku, Tokyo. While I was there, I was able to meet with the chief saxophone technician, Mr. Yamada, who did a quick adjustment for me. Learn about saxophone repair from a master in this video.
I Got My Saxophone Repaired by a Master Technician in Tokyo Read More »
I had the chance to catch up with Jaleel Shaw, a veteran of the New York jazz scene, at the 2023 Nice Jazz Festival to check out his performance with the Dave Holland New Quartet. In this conversation, we talk about what it’s like to tour internationally with jazz legends such as Roy Haynes
Going on the Road with Jazz Legends- Jaleel Shaw Read More »
There are endless videos about what to do physically on any given instrument to get better. Those are great, but the biggest problem every single musician faces is largely in the mind and not the body. So here are 10 affirmations, things that if you just say them to yourself on a regular basis,
10 Fixes for Struggling Sax Players Read More »
