A few months ago, RicoReeds.com had a survey or something (honestly don’t remember) on their website that, if you took the time to fill it out, they’d send you a neck strap. Well, lo and behold months later, I received said strap. (it looks sorta like the one on the right, sorta. The patterns different.) [Continue]

I picked up an LP of Eric Kloss “Consciousness”. Wow. However, he seems to have disappeared. This is what I could dig up about him via Google “One of the true child prodigies of the ‘60s, saxophonist Eric Kloss holds the distinction of having a record contract with Prestige Records at the ripe young age [Continue]

I came across German Saxophonist Norbert Stein’s website today. He has a TON of stuff up there for FREE. A comprehensive saxophone workbook (more like a book for free), compositions, CDs for sales (of course) and more. Highly recommended. Check it out. He’s getting a place on my “sites” links. [Continue]

This is sad, tragic news: “LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, died Tuesday from complications stemming from injuries he sustained in an ATV accident, the band’s publicist said.” DMB is one of the few good rock bands out there…..he is going to be hard to replace….. [Continue]

I came across this article at the NPR. It is about Taiwan saxophones. “Just how Houli became the world’s unsung center of saxophone making is largely an accident of history. The story dates back to just after World War II. It stars a larger-than-life character named Chang Lien-cheng. He was a farmer’s son who abandoned [Continue]

Canadian saxophonist, Al Gallodoro turns 95 on Friday. Check out his site at www.algallodoro.com. [Continue]

I wonder why things like this get funded. John Coltrane and other famed jazz saxophonists hit piercing high notes that amateurs can’t by expertly changing the shape of their vocal tracts, research now reveals. No shit Sherlock. It’s called having chops. Practicing for a long time. Untangling this mystery has proven hard, since it is [Continue]

After the previous article on a new line of Plastic Saxophones, lets examine a previous, and famous, attempt at making such an instrument. Here is Peter King playing one the legendary Grafton Alto Sax played by Charlie Parker. Here is a great review of the Grafton Alto Sax. [Continue]

There seems to be a resurgence in this idea. Enter the Vibrotosax. To create more saxophonist in the world is our prime concern. Our designer team need to accomplish 3 objectives….Design a saxophone that everyone can afford, provide a standard fingering configuration and producce a solid saxophone sound. The solution: to replace brass with [Continue]

I’m a little late on this, probably due to not having internet during this time, but Frank Morgan passed away on December 14th. Frank Morgan, 73, a jazz saxophonist of impeccable ability, whose claim to the mantle of the celebrated Charlie Parker was clouded by his heroin addiction, died Dec. 14 at his home in [Continue]

When I was in college, I heard the story of Siguard Rascher having a keyless saxophone. Basically, a conical tube in the shape of a sax. Mr. Rascher was reported to be able to play anything on it. Well, looks like you can actually get one and try to be a virtuoso like Siguard Rascher. [Continue]

Ok, are you sitting. Yes? Ok. I play oboe. Take a deep breath It’s not as bad as everyone says. In fact, it is a beautiful instrument, and great classical works composed for it. The only issue I have with playing Oboe is reeds. Right now, I’m using reeds made by the Alan Double Reed [Continue]

hammertime829 writes “I was wondering if anybody could tell me if getting a new neck for a saxophone makes a big difference in the sound or intonation?” Great question. Anybody? I know a guy who plays a Selmer Mark VI with a Yamaha neck………works for him, so he says. [Continue]

From the AP Obit: " Boots Randolph, whose spirited saxophone playing on "Yakety Sax" endeared him to fans for years on Benny Hill's TV show, died Tuesday. He was 80. Randolph suffered a cerebral hemorrhage June 25 and had been hospitalized in a coma. He was taken off a respirator at Skyline Medical Center earlier [Continue]

Sadly, this time around it is true. I had seen a couple of emails in various lists I subscribe to this morning, but someone finally gave me a link to the a news site that has the details. "Michael Brecker, a versatile and highly influential tenor saxophonist who won 11 Grammys over a career that [Continue]