Definitions
Altissimo – the extreme upper register of the saxophone or other woodwind instruments. On saxophone, it is sometimes referred to as the "Third Octave". Diaphragm – the muscle (or group of muscles) in the...
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Clarinet Shed
Tools in the Clarinet Shed – Study Materials The Clarinet Guide (good place to start) Major Scales Mr. Clarinet Scales (Jr. High) Tonguing Exercises Basic Jazz Scales Ladybird Turnaround Cycle of 4ths and 5ths Vibrato...
Read MoreHow I Remember Mike:
Michael Brecker was among the first saxophonists I listened to for direction and inspiration. No, I was not alone – but I felt Mike was playing especially for me – I still do.
I first met Mike at a clinic held in St. Louis. I don’t remember the college but I was playing at a hotel club in the area. The drummer with our road band heard an advertisement on the radio telling that Mike would be at the local college for a daytime clinic and nightime performance. I was able to make the clinic, borrowing a van from the keyboard player.
The clinic opened with Mike introduced and then sitting on the edge of the stage answering questions from the audience. Only at the end did he play with a student rhytm section. He may have played drums – it’s been a long time and my memory fades.
During the Q and A, I asked Mike if he relied more on the studio or live performance for the bulk of his income. His answer was “both”.
Read MoreWolfe (Tayne) Taninbaum
Wolfe Tayne is a legendary name among saxophone mouthpiece manufacturers, professional musicians and entrepreneurs in the music manufacturing business. The same Wolfe Taninbaum – now 90 years old – had an illustrious career playing in the studios and sound stages in New York during the Big Band Era of days gone by. His seven-year tenure with Les Brown's Band of Renown is well documented. However, he also shared the stage with big band greats Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Doris Day and the studio orchestras at NBC and CBS. His self-starter spirit has seen him envision and develop companies including Wolfe Tayne Music Studios, Wolfe Tayne Mouthpieces and BARI, Inc. – all the while maintaining a place among New York's finest recording musicians dating back to the 1930s and 1940s.
Wolfe Taninbaum, a native of Mt. Vernon, New York, has been living in South Florida for nearly 30 years. He still resides in Ft. Lauderdale where he enjoys a "boring life" among other retirees. In June of 2007, Wolfe Taninbaum lost his wife Sylvia to a long-term illness. He and Sylvia were married for almost 67 years and shared many successes as well as challenges along the way. His feelings of loss were still raw at the time of this interview but Wolfe Taninbaum continues to move forward. He still seeks to help others with mouthpiece facings and the search for the perfect mouthpiece.
Read MoreSal Lozano
Sal Lozano is one of the most sought-after saxophonists and woodwind players working in Los Angeles today. Equally comfortable in the theater, studio or on stage as a featured member of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Sal’s presence has become somewhat expected among section players in Los Angeles. Although his name may not be familiar, this native Californian is one of the most recorded woodwind players in recent years. During the past three years, his visibility has increased with his weekly contributions on the hit shows Dancing With The Stars and American Idol.
In addition to his commercial success, Sal Lozano remains a wonderful jazz soloist, serious woodwind player and of course – trained saxophonist. He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, San Diego Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic.
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