Everything Saxophone Podcast

London-born saxophonist Alex Hitchcock is regarded as one of the UK's most virtuosic young jazz musicians. His group AuB, which released its debut album on Edition Records in 2020, was described as 'ready to make cataclysmic waves in the sound of UK jazz' by Jazzwise. His quintet's critically acclaimed 2018 debut on Barcelona-based label Fresh Sound New Talent (home to debuts by artists including...

Matt Stohrer has been repairing, selling, and trading saxophones for a long time. He takes pride in his work, and cares deeply about what he does. He learned his craft in New York City, working for Sam Ash Music on the famed Music Row, 48th St. in Times Square, Manhattan where he started as a coffee-running apprentice and worked his way up to Head Woodwind Repairman of their flagship store.  After...

Born and raised in Lima, Perú, Lucia Sarmiento has been influenced by classic jazz players like Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, as well as modern players such as Chris Potter and Michael Brecker.  After graduating high school, Lucia moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina to study at the Conservatorio Manuel de Falla, where she studied jazz performance.  Wanting to fulfill her lifelong dream of learning...

Saxophonist & educator, Godwin Louis, was born in Harlem, New York and began playing saxophone at age nine. Godwin grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut and Port au Prince, Haiti.  Godwin was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Saxophone Competition, and has performed all over the world. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute for Jaz...

Saxophonist and mouthpiece creator, Matt Lee uncovered his passion for music when his grandmother bought him his 1st alto saxophone.  From that point, he knew he found his calling.  Matt followed his dream from California to Nevada, and writes most of his own music and produces from Las Vegas.  He is a self taught saxophonist with no formal training, learning how to play by ear from listening to h...

Saxophonist, composer and author Walt Weiskopf began his New York career performing with the Buddy Rich Big Band in 1981 at the age of 21.  Since then, he has made an impressive mark as both a leader and sideman with over 20 critically acclaimed CDs and countless sideman credits, including performing and recording with Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Frank Sinatra, Michael McDonald, Boz S...

This episode is super special because I have not just 1, but 2 guests with me. My first guest is  Stefano Bedetti , the Italian saxophone phenom.  (At the beginning of this episode, you heard an excerpt of him playing Shiny Stocking.) Stefano is a self-taught musician who began to play tenor saxophone at the age of 14. He discovered jazz listening to the records of Charlie Parker, Michael Brecker,...

Mention the Beets name pretty much anywhere in the world, and any jazz enthusiast in the room will know what you're talking about: quality, and a strong brand of bop and swing.  And swing… that's one thing tenor saxophonist, Alexander 'The Hurricane' Beets brings each year to the Amersfoort World Jazz Festival and every festival and show he performs. His nickname 'The Hurricane' comes from his exp...

One of the most decorated saxophonists of her generation, Nicki Roman, has won prizes at prestigious competitions such as the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Solo Competition, Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Solo Competition, William C. Byrd International Competition, Fischoff, and the Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship.  Her latest album,  Unquiet Waters , features exp...

Fuller is a Grammy-nominated Mack Avenue recording artist, composer, educator and bandleader who is currently balancing the worlds of performance and education, fulfilling a demanding schedule as both a busy touring, recording artist and a full-time professor at the Berklee College of  Music in Boston. She has recorded five full-length projects with her own quartet and her most recent album,  Diam...

Ramon Manas, Founder of Odisei Music, and Creator of the Travel Sax wanted to find a way to practice his saxophone more. His time was limited and his living situation didn't allow him the freedom to practice whenever he wanted. Because of that, he was starting to get self-conscious about playing at all. Having an engineering background, Ramon got to work on creating the Travel Sax, a practice tool...

Billboard charting saxophonist, Chris Godber has become a highly sought-after performer in both the Smooth Jazz & Gospel Jazz realms.  His 2015 album "Starting Over" launched him into the Smooth Jazz spotlight with the chart topping hits Rain  and  Chill.  His goal when he performs is not to just entertain, but to inspire. At an early age, he was told he could not play saxophone due to the severit...

Saxophonist, Composer, Educator, Advocate, Steven Banks is an Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Ithaca College in NY. He is the first saxophonist to earn a place on the Young Concert Artists roster in its 59-year history, capturing First Prize at the 2019 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. He has won numerous other awards, including Korean Concert Society Prize (for support of his Ke...

Saxophonist, Composer, Educator, Advocate, Steven Banks is an Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Ithaca College in NY. He is the first saxophonist to earn a place on the Young Concert Artists roster in its 59-year history, capturing First Prize at the 2019 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. He has won numerous other awards, including Korean Concert Society Prize (for support of his Ke...

Matthew Steckler (aka  Matty Stecks ) performs and composes in several musical settings internationally. Primarily a saxophonist/woodwind specialist, he also performs on vocals, keyboards, percussion and electronic media, bringing a dynamic, holistic approach to the live musical experience.  As an artist, Matthew has appeared at prominent festivals and concert series, and has received commissions...

Jennifer Price, creator of Vigilante Mouthpieces,  attended Berklee College of Music where she was a flute major. After graduating, she left Boston for NYC, where she worked on 48th Street in the music district by day as a woodwind buyer for various shops and played all sorts of jazz and classical gigs nights and weekends.  She didn't own a saxophone at Berklee but learned to play after college.  ...

Today's episode is going to give you some insight into one of the best resources for saxophone players at any level. Harri Rautiainen is the original Founder of the Sax on the Web Forum, a website created over 20 years ago that not only has a vibrant Discussion Forum on a wide range of topics, but also Article and Resources from well-known and respected saxophonists and educators, such as Paul Coa...

To celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month, we are really excited to present New York-based saxophonist and composer Sam Newsome. Sam often works in the medium of solo saxophone, an approach for which he received a five-star review in Downbeat magazine & gained world-wide critical acclaim with his 2009 recording, Blue Soliloquy: Solo Works for Soprano Saxophone.  Ed Enright, from Downbeat magazine, call...

To celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month, we are really excited to present Jaleel Shaw, who has been a long standing member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, the Mingus Big Band and recently joined Tom Harrell's Color of a Dream band.  A bandleader in his own right, Jaleel's solo recordings have been met with rave reviews from publications including The New York Times, Downbeat Magazine, and Jazztimes Magazi...

Shelley Jagow (PhD.), Professor of Music at Wright State University (Dayton, OH), is Director of Bands conducting both the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony, and teaches conducting at the undergraduate and graduate level.  She is a Vandoren Artist-Clinician, as well as a music education clinician for Conn-Selmer and Meredith Music/GIA Music.  Shelley has presented clinics and performances at severa...

March is Women's History Month, and we are really excited to present the phenomenal multi-genre performer, educator and composer from the UK, Emma McPhilemy. As a classically trained musician, Emma takes great pleasure in using her refined instrumental skill to experiment and collaborate with other performers.  From classical, contemporary and improvisational to folk, pop, R&B and dance, she thriv...

Los Angeles-based saxophonist Bob Reynolds is a Grammy-winning member of the instrumental group Snarky Puppy, an award-winning composer, and a prolific recording artist with 10  top-selling solo albums  to his credit. Widely known for his work with both  Snarky  and  John Mayer , he's been a featured soloist with Grammy-winning instrumentalists like Larry Carlton, Chris Botti, and Jeff Lorber and...

Our 101st guest is Brent Vaartstra, a professional jazz guitarist living in New York City, and the Director of the internationally renowned jazz education company, Learn Jazz Standards.  Even though Brent plays guitar, we thought it would be incredibly valuable for you to know about Learn Jazz Standards and to get into the mind of a really great jazz teacher. Brent has helped hundreds of thousands...

Alexa Tarantino is an award-winning, vibrant, young jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator.  Tarantino was recently named one of the "Top 5 Alto Saxophonists of 2019" by the JazzTimes Critics' Poll.  She has performed regularly as a leader and side woman with the Alexa Tarantino Quartet,  Cecile McLorin, Ulysses Owens Jr., LSAT (the quintet co-led with baritone saxophonist, Lau...

Over the last 30 years, British saxophonist Tim Garland has forged a reputation as a highly distinctive and in-demand musician and composer. Whilst often inspired by influences from the diverse European classical tradition, his celebrated virtuosity as a saxophonist and improviser maintains his position as one of the UK's most authentic jazz voices. He has toured with Ronnie Scotts and with Chick...