Ralph Bowen – Due Reverence
Saxophonist Ralph Bowen steps into the limelight for the second time on Posi-Tone Records with his...
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Author: Skip Spratt
Jim Snidero – Crossfire
Alto saxophonist Jim Snidero recently released his newest recording Crossfire on Savant Records....
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Drake Ceramic Instruments
Inventor, craftsman and professional musician Aaron Drake has recently released a new line of saxophone and clarinet mouthpieces and accessories. The Ceramic Custom, Vintage Resin and Ceramic Chamber saxophone mouthpieces all share a common ingredient – ceramics.
At first glance, one might think that a ceramic mouthpiece would be brittle and prone to chipping and breakage. Upon further investigation, it is clear that these mouthpieces are quite sturdy and only partly made of ceramics.
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Fred Lipsius – Only Love Exists
Saxophonist and Berklee College of Music professor Fred Lipsius recently released his spiritual...
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Bob Mintzer – Canyon Cove
Saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator Bob Mintzer has released Canyon Cove on Cheetah Records. The organ trio recording features Larry Goldings on Hammond B3, Peter Erskine on drums and Mintzer on tenor saxophone, bass clarinet and flute.
The title Canyon Cove aptly reflects Bob Mintzer’s new digs on the West Coast these past couple years. The liner notes, written on top of a lovely picture of Bob’s home once inhabited by Arnold Schoenberg, share insights into the tunes and their setting. The classic sound of the jazz organ trio has origins dating back to the 20s and 30s as well as Mintzer’s contemporaries. It is also interesting to note that Joey DeFrancesco was originally scheduled to play this record date and was reportedly stranded in Europe.
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