There’s nothing quite like hearing directly from the people who design the gear we put on our horns every day, and at the NAMM Show 2026, we had the chance to do exactly that.
For Episode 262 of the Everything Saxophone Podcast, Donna sat down live at NAMM with Jody Espina, world-renowned jazz saxophonist, educator, and the founder of JodyJazz, to talk about his newest release: the Quasar Alto Sax Mouthpiece.
Jody has spent decades exploring how mouthpiece design shapes sound, response, and feel. That hands-on experience as a working saxophonist is at the heart of every JodyJazz mouthpiece. Each one is individually gauged and play-tested by professional saxophonists, ensuring consistency and performance you can actually feel when you play.
In this conversation, Jody walks us through the thinking behind the Quasar, including what makes it different from previous JodyJazz designs and who it’s really built for. As with all JodyJazz mouthpieces, the Quasar reflects a deep commitment to precision, innovation, and musical practicality; balancing cutting-edge design with the real-world needs of both professionals and advancing students.
⏯️ Tune in for more of Jody Jazz Mouthpieces:
👇Here’s the timestamps of what we’ve talked about:
00:09 Jody warming up on the new Quasar mouthpiece
00:24 Introductions
00:45 Jody demoing the new mouthpiece using various dynamics
01:01 Introducing the new Quasar alto sax mouthpiece
01:22 What inspired Jody to create this new mouthpiece
01:42 Considerations for making the altissimo easier
02:11 What makes the Quasar very unique
02:44 How to get more ‘bottom’ in the sound in the design
03:21 Saxophonist Baron Raymonde – background
03:34 Which ensembles/situations are best for the Quasar mouthpiece
04:29 What Baron loves about the Quasar
04:54 Baron demoing the mouthpiece (notice Donna and Jody’s reaction 😳)
05:18 What Baron loves about the new Quasar
05:59 Debunking an altissimo register myth
06:55 A question from a Patreon subscriber
07:57 Difference between the Quasar and the SuperJet
🔗 Stay Connected and Explore More from Jody Jazz Mouthpieces:
- Jody Jazz Website: www.jodyjazz.com
- Jody Jazz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodyjazzinc2/
- Jody Jazz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jodyjazzofficial/
- Jody Jazz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodyjazzinc/
- Baron Raymonde website: https://www.saxbaron.com/bio
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💡This episode is sponsored by the free Masterclass, How to Improvise With Confidence
It’s not about memorizing more theory. It’s about unlocking the instincts and tools you already have so you can finally solo the way you hear it in your head.
Click HERE to watch the masterclass now while it’s still availablePodcast: Play in new window | Download
