Everything Saxophone Podcast

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 from Chamber Music America, Meet the Composer, American Music Center and American Composers Forum. 

His recordings with projects Dead Cat Bounce, Persiflage and Musical Tramps – on Ropeadope, Cuneiform and Innova labels – have made Best CD lists in Downbeat and Jazz Times. 

Matthew has written for concert music, theatre, film and game settings, and continues his own foundational work in embodied composition and electroacoustics that began with his 2013 research-based, extended work Eco Beat Heresy. 

He most recently taught at Brandon University School of Music. Matthew holds a Ph.D. in Composition (NYU) and M.M. in Jazz Performance (New England Conservatory), and a B.A. in Music (Wesleyan University).

We talked about:

• His transition from playing by ear to reading & playing at the same time
• How his marching band playing experience shaped him as a saxophonist
• The origin of Death Cat Bounce
• His transition from playing experimental into bebop
• Electro acoustics & multimedia
• And a lot more!

You can watch the Video of this Interview HERE

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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.  Her teachers were the NY saxophonists who helped me to craft my sound. 

As a buyer on 48th Street, she learned a lot through various well-known saxophonists about mouthpieces, which began her interest in what shapes a mouthpiece sound. 

After working for years in NYC, she was offered a job working with Dave Guardala. At that time, Dave was working with the top saxophonists in the world and his work was well respected. Guardala and Price worked together for more than a decade creating works of musical art for Tom Scott, Branford Marsalis, Bill Evans and most notably Michael Brecker. 

She took the skills learned with Guardala to create her own Vigilante Mouthpieces.  

Price has had the honor of working with four former Tower of Power saxophonists as well as Richard Elliot, Paul Taylor, Euge Groove, Jeff Ryan and many others. 

In this episode we talked about:

• Similarities of flute, trumpet, and other horns
• How Dave Guardala met Dave Liebman and Michael Brecker
• How Michael Brecker’s concert changed her perception towards saxophone
• How she picked reeds for Michael Brecker
• What people should look for when choosing reeds
• Her first time meeting Dave Guardala
•  Rules for mouthpieces
• And tons of great stories!

Links:

Websites:

Her music store in Simi Valley, CA: http://www.musicmusicca.com/ 

Store phone number: 818.269.9856

Vigilante Mouthpieces:

http://www.vigilantemouthpiece.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/VigilanteSaxophoneMouthpiece/ 

You can watch the video of this interview (& Subscribe to our channel!) HERE: 

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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 Coates and Tim Price.

We talked about:

• Harri’s initial intention for the website 
• Paul Coates’ first collection of articles
• Early days of Sax on the Web
• Sax on the Web Facebook Group
• Harri’s musical background
• and more!

You can watch the video of this episode HERE or on our YouTube channel

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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, called the 2014 release, The Straight Horn of Africa, “a modern masterpiece.”

Many of the notes and sounds used in his compositions and improvisations stem from his sound palette of extended techniques and saxophone preparations.

Newsome often attaches tube extensions to the neck of the soprano that significantly changes the timbre of the instrument as well as extends the soprano’s range by an octave or two.

Conceptually speaking, Newsome sees himself more along the lines of a visual artist who paints with notes and sounds rather than shapes and colors.

Newsome has also received numerous accolades for his adventurous work, including this year’s 2020 Instant Award in Improvised Music, along with fellow avant-gardists

Peter Brotzmann and John Butcher.

He was also named a nominee for Soprano Saxophonist of the Year by the 2020 Jazz Journalist Association. 

In addition to his solo work, Newsome leads a trio with Hilliard Greene and Reggie Nicholson.

He is a frequent collaborator with drummer Andrew Cyrille, vocalist Fay Victor, and tours regularly with Pepperland, a music and dance work by Mark Morris

and Ethan Iverson that pays tribute to The Beatles.

Sam’s Links:

Websites:

http://www.somenewmusic.com/ 

https://sopranosaxtalk.blogspot.com/ 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/newsome6158/ 

Resources:

Effortless Mastery, by Kenny Werner

Roberto’s Winds: https://www.robertoswinds.com/

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If you want to become a patron and support the show, head on over to our Patreon site, 

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You can watch the YouTube video of this interview here:

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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 Magazine. 

In Jazztimes Magazine’s 2011 Readers Poll, he was mentioned as Alto Saxophonist of the Year along with legendary saxophonists Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Bunky Green, and Kenny Garrett. 

Jaleel is a force to be reckoned with and is noted as one of the most influential alto saxophonists of his generation. 

Jaleel has performed and recorded with the likes of Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove, The Mingus Big Band, Christian McBride, Chick Corea, Jason Moran, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Arturo Sandoval, Nicholas Payton, Dave Holland, Jimmy Cobb, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, and the Count Basie Orchestra.

We talked about: 

• Working with Roy Hargrove and Roy Haynes
• Main influence when it comes to his sound
• Jaleel shares Jazz Articulation tips
• What his composing process looks like
• One lesson he wants his students to remember the most
• His under $100 tool he can’t live without
• and more!

Jaleel’s Links:

Website: https://www.jaleelshaw.com/welcome

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaleelshawmusic

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaleelshaw 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaleelshaw 

You can watch the video of this interview HERE:

Here is Extra Bonus Content!

Want access to behind the scenes interviews not seen anywhere else, along with searchable transcripts of the shows?

With a small monthly donation of $2 or more, keep the great interviews coming by becoming a patron.

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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 several State Music Educators Conferences as well as the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, NASA (North American Saxophone Alliance), ISME (International Society for

Music Education, CMS (College Music Symposium), AMIS (Association for Music in International

Schools), and the United States Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium.

Shelley was previously nominated for both the “Robert J. Kegerreis Distinguished Professor of Teaching”

Award and the “Brage Golding Distinguished Professor of Research” Award. 

She has published numerous articles in periodicals and is a contributing author to both The Music Director’s Cookbook

(Meredith Music), and Teaching Music Through Performance in Band (GIA) series. 

Shelley is the author of Teaching Instrumental Music: Developing the Complete Band Program (2nd edition)

(Meredith Music) – a popular textbook for music education degree study across the United States and

Canada. More recent publications include Tuning for Wind Instruments: A Roadmap to Successful

Intonation (Meredith), Intermediate Studies for Developing Artists on the Flute, Oboe, Clarinet,

Saxophone and Bassoon (Meredith), and The Londeix Lectures—a multi-dvd set archiving the historical

lectures of Jean-Marie Londeix (and translated by William Street).

Quote: 

You can’t play in tune until you play in tone.

Links:

Website: https://www.shelleyjagow.com/ 

Fingering & Tuning Charts App: https://www.shelleyjagow.com/apps 

You can watch the video of this interview (& Subscribe to our channel!) here: 

Want access to behind the scenes interviews not seen anywhere else, along with searchable transcripts of the shows?

With a small monthly donation of $2 or more, keep the great interviews coming by becoming a patron.

Head on over to our Patreon site to sign up: https://www.patreon.com/everythingsaxophone

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Emma McPhilemy

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 thrives most when creating and pushing the limits and boundaries of cross-genre performance. 

As an educator, Emma has taught private students of all abilities, and presented professional masterclasses and workshops at Universities in China, Australia, UK and Europe. 

Recent career highlights include making her debut concerto performance with The BBC Philharmonic, touring internationally as Musical Director and saxophone soloist in Bill Whelan’s production of ‘Riverdance’, traveling to Australia as guest artist at ‘The Melbourne Saxophone Festival’ and launching her own online, saxophone series (#lockthesaxdown) which has since turned into a global project and fully funded album, to be released over the coming months. 

2021 holds her debut album release and a rescheduled tour with Riverdance. 

Emma plans to make an appearance at the 2022 World Saxophone Congress in Japan, and in Trento at the European Saxophone Congress. 

Emma is endorsed by Selmer Paris, Vandoren and KeyLeaves. 

In this episode we talked about:

• Her innovative “Lock the Sax Down” project
• Her experience with folk music as a sax player
• Emma’s approach to improvisation when it comes to different genres
• Equipment and her set-up on alto and soprano sax
• How her musical background allowed her to learn the Riverdance show in a week
• Emma’s approach to teaching
• Her mentors, influences, & inspirations
• The evolution of her practice routines
• Breathing tips for wind musicians
• Above-and-beyond Goal-setting tips!
• The under $100 tool she can’t live without
• and more!

You can also catch the video interview of this episode HERE

Links:

Website: https://www.emmamcphilemy.com/ 

 Bandcamp: https://emmamcphilemy.bandcamp.com/  

Instagram: @emmasaxophone  

Album pre-order: https://www.jenniwatson.com/albumshop/pre-order-lockthesaxdown-album 

Help us bring more amazing interviews to you, AND get extra special Bonus content when you become a patron!

More info is HERE

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 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 worked with a host of pop artists including Michael Bublé, Idina Menzel, Josh Groban, The 1975, and USHER.

The New York Times called him “a self-assured saxophonist and an unassuming yet effective composer,” and his solo albums showcase his melodic improvisational style, tuneful songwriting, and, as the LA Times put it: “hip-swiveling” grooves. His Guitar Band album, filmed live in concert, has over 4 million views on YouTube.

A pioneer in online education, Bob has coached thousands of musicians since 2010 through his innovative Virtual Studio, and more than 76,000 people subscribe to Bob’s YouTube channel where he shares behind-the-scenes videos of what it’s like balancing his music career with raising a family.

In this episode we talked about:

• Biggest influences when it comes to playing, composing, and improvisation
• What does jazz really mean?
• The importance of learning jazz when it comes to improvisation
• Why you should learn and play rhythm section instruments
• His first tool for composing
• The under $100 tool he can’t live without

Links:

Website: bobreynoldsmusic.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobreynoldsmusic 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bob_reynolds/ 

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/bobreynolds

Bob’s Virtual Studio: www.bobsvirtualstudio.com 

You can watch the video of this interview (& Subscribe to our channel!) HERE 

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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 of musicians around the world take their jazz playing to the next level, through his blog, podcast, YouTube channel, and online courses.

In this episode we talked about:

• Brent’s contribution to the jazz community
• How he discovered the tenets of a good improviser
• His approach as a teacher on the internet’s information overload
• What made him start Learn Jazz Standards
• Learn Jazz Live 2021 2-day Virtual Summit
• How basic music theory can go a long way
• The $100 tool he can’t live without

Links:

Learn Jazz Live (Feb 27-28, 2021): www.learnjazzstandards.com/everythingsaxophone  

Website: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/learnjazzstandards/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learnjazzstandards/ 

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/Learnjazzstandards 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LJazzS 

You can watch the video of this interview (& Subscribe to our channel!) on YouTube HERE

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Become a patron!

Patrons get access to bonus behind the scenes interviews not seen anywhere else, along with searchable transcripts of the shows.

And, with their small monthly donation of $2 or more, they help keep the great interviews coming.

If you want to become a patron and support the show, head on over to our Patreon site. 

https://www.patreon.com/everythingsaxophone

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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, Lauren Sevian), Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Sherrie Maricle & the DIVA Jazz Orchestra. 

Alexa is an artist on the Posi-Tone Records label, and her debut quartet record, Winds of Change, released late-May 2019, peaked at #15 on the JazzWeek Charts and landed at #79 for JazzWeek’s Top 100 records of 2019. Her second record is Clarity, released in June 2020, which features Steven Feifke (piano), Joe Martin (bass), and Rudy Royston (drums). 

She is currently on faculty for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Youth Programs, and represents the organization as a Clinician and Educator for various schools, festivals, and workshops. 

Alexa holds a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from The Juilliard School and Bachelor’s degrees in Jazz Saxophone Performance and Music Education from the Eastman School of Music. 

She is Founder and Director of the Rockport Jazz Workshop in Rockport, Massachusetts and Co-Founder of A Step Ahead Jazz virtual workshop with pianist Steven Feifke. 

Alexa Tarantino is a Vandoren Artist and Yamaha Performing Artist.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Her solfege project, So You Think You Can Solfege 
• Her musical background, and the connection with Music Learning Theory
• Working with baritone saxophonist, Lauren Sevian
• How she developed her own voice
• Being a musician during the pandemic
• Her studio set-up
• Her musical influences
• Future of improvised music post-covid
• and more

Alexa’s Links:

Website: https://alexatarantino.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/alexatarantinomusic 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexatarantino/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/alexatarantino 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tarantino_alexa 

So You Think You Can Solfege:  Anthropology episode with Chad Lefkowicz-Brown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl8mBYpbA6s 

You can watch the video of this interview (& Subscribe to our channel!) HERE:

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