Everything Saxophone Podcast

Everything Saxophone Podcast, Donna Schwartz
  • 4.8 (61)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Everything Saxophone Podcast

Each episode, your Host Donna Schwartz brings you interviews, news, and reviews with some of the most exciting saxophonists in the world today. This is the place for the saxophone community to come together and learn through getting into the minds of our saxophone heroes. Enjoy the show and make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    The World’s First ‘Screwless’ Saxophone from Victory Musical Instruments; NAMM Show 2025

    Everything Saxophone Podcast Host, Donna Schwartz, interviewed Melvin Quinones, Founder of Victory Musical Instruments, and inventor of the World’s First ‘Screwless’ Saxophone! Victory Musical Instruments has gained recognition among musicians and dealers for its craftsmanship and performance. During the interview, Quinones discussed the meticulous design process and the motivation behind creating a ‘screwless’ saxophone—an idea born from his deep understanding of musicians’ needs and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of instrument design. Can’t wait to share this one! If you love game-changing innovations, you’ll want to tune in! We covered: 🎷 Featuring the screwless saxophone 🎷 Why it’s good for those who travel with their saxophone 🎷 Does being screwless have a great impact on its weight? 🎷 Dominating the global market 🎷 Does Sweetwater carry all their models? 🎷 Upcoming projects A huge THANK YOU to our amazing Patreons! ✨ Your support means the world to us and fuels everything we do. Because of you, we can keep creating, innovating, and bringing even more exciting content your way. When you become a Patron, you’re not just supporting the show—you’re joining an exclusive community of passionate saxophone professionals, players, and enthusiasts who get incredible perks, including: A complete, always-updated listing of all our shows Bonus videos packed with behind-the-scenes content Searchable transcripts for every episode Early access to episodes—hear them before anyone else! Exclusive NAMM Show content: interviews, performances, and highlights—see it first as a Patron! Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come, and we can’t wait to share it with you And the best part? You can join for as little as $2 a month! Be part of something bigger. Join us on Patreon today!

    11 min

  2. FEB 6

    Ron Van Ostenbridge Live from NAMM Show 2025; The New Cobalt Reeds from Bari Woodwinds

    Everything Saxophone Podcast Host, Donna Schwartz, interviewed CEO of Bari Woodwinds, Ron Van Ostenbridge, live at the NAMM Show 2025. If you’re a saxophonist, you know that the right gear can make all the difference. This year at the NAMM Show 2025, Donna had the incredible opportunity to meet with the CEO of Bari Woodwinds for an exclusive interview on my podcast. They dove deep into their newest innovation—the Cobalt Reeds—and more. If you’re as excited about these innovations as I am, you won’t want to miss this episode where we talked about: Bari’s newest cobalt reed It’s characteristics It’s strength availability How is the strength compared to other brands What inspired them to create the cobalt reed How long can it last if used on a daily basis How to tell if the reed has already died Is rotating reeds necessary Demo with Jason Arce What does Jason think of the newest reed from Bari Love our content? Want even more behind-the-scenes access? When you become a Patron, you’re not just supporting the show—you’re joining an exclusive community of passionate saxophone professionals, players, and enthusiasts who get incredible perks, including: A complete, always-updated listing of all our shows Bonus videos packed with behind-the-scenes content Searchable transcripts for every episode Early access to episodes—hear them before anyone else! Exclusive NAMM Show content: interviews, performances, and highlights—see it first as a Patron! Your support doesn’t just unlock these amazing benefits—it powers the show! From video storage and production to hosting and distribution, every contribution helps us keep bringing you the best content possible. And the best part? You can join for as little as $2 a month! Be part of something bigger. Join us on Patreon today!

    11 min

  3. JAN 31

    Jeremiah True Live from NAMM Show 2025; The New Venus Model from P. Mauriat Saxophones — Ep 235

    Everything Saxophone Podcast Host, Donna Schwartz, interviewed Saxophonist and Educator, Jeremiah True, live at the NAMM Show 2025.  With a diverse background spanning orchestral, jazz, theater pits, and rock ‘n roll, Jeremiah True brings a wealth of experience and artistry to every performance.  P. Mauriat instruments are renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship, innovative technology, and timeless beauty. Each instrument is meticulously handmade by experienced technicians, using only premium materials such as high-quality French brass. Through an intricate process of hand-hammering and casting, P. Mauriat creates instruments with unparalleled resonance, offering players a uniquely rich and expressive sound. Musicians who play P. Mauriat instruments can expect excellent responsiveness, a warm and melodic tone, precise intonation, and fast key action that elevates their performance to the next level. To know more about Jeremiah along with other resources in this episode, head on to our website. In this episode, Donna and Jeremiah dive into: P. Mauriat’s latest model - ‘Venus’ for alto and tenor saxophones Does copper alloy affect the weight that much? The new P. Mauriat artists Is changing your set-up necessary when playing different styles of music? Why Jeremiah True loves the Rousseau 3.0 mouthpiece Rolled vs. drawn tone holes - how they affect your sound P. Mauriat’s Touring Case And more!  Unlock Exclusive Access and Keep the Show Alive! When you become a Patron, you join an inner circle who get to enjoy exclusive perks like: A complete, always-updated listing of all our shows Bonus videos packed with behind-the-scenes content Searchable transcripts for every episode Early access to episodes—before anyone else! Exclusive NAMM Show content, including interviews, performances, and highlights—watch it first as a Patron! Your support doesn’t just get you these amazing benefits; it keeps the show running! From video storage and production to hosting and distribution, your contribution fuels it all. And the best part? It starts at just $2 a month! 💡 Ready to be part of something big? Head over to our PATREON site today and be a part of the community!

    24 min

  4. JAN 23

    Don Braden Podcast; How Teamwork Impacted His Jazz Journey

    Everything Saxophone Podcast Host, Donna Schwartz, interviewed Saxophonist, Composer, Educator, Don Braden for Episode 234.  We talked about:  His early experiences with the saxophone and his first gigs The creation of the Earth Wind and Wonder album His journey to mastering improvisation, including studying the Aebersold books His transition to becoming a professional musician Memorable stories about Wynton Marsalis and Freddie Hubbard, and their influence on his playing All about the melody How his bandmates put their own stamp on the music The surprising role of real, wholesome food in supporting the health of musicians And more! Don Braden has toured globally for over 40 years, leading his own ensembles on saxophone and flute, performing as a special guest, and working with jazz legends like Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, and Freddie Hubbard. A prolific composer, he has released 24 CDs as a leader, contributed to over 80 as a sideman, and created music for film and TV, including Nickelodeon and CBS. His latest album, Earth, Wind and Wonder, Volume 2, is available on his website, Spotify, and Bandcamp. As a world-renowned educator, Braden directs the Harvard Jazz Combo Initiative, teaches at the Prins Claus Conservatoire, and leads the Litchfield Jazz Camp and Texas Jazz and Blues Camp. He has also earned awards like the Doris Duke Foundation’s New Works composer’s award and judged prestigious music competitions. Braden endorses the Antigua ProOne tenor saxophone, JodyJazz DV NY mouthpiece, and D’Addario Reserve reeds. For his complete bio, visit our website for this episode saxophonepodcast.com. Be our Patreon!  If you're loving the show, consider supporting us to keep these amazing episodes coming! For just $2 a month, you'll gain access to searchable episode transcripts, bonus videos packed with extra tips and content, a complete podcast directory, and the chance to suggest future guests. Head to our Patreon page for more info and join the community that makes it all possible!

    1h 29m

  5. JAN 9

    Mark Overton; Experience SaxQuest and the National Saxophone Museum

    Everything Saxophone Podcast Host, Donna Schwartz, interviewed Mark Overton, Founder of SaxQuest and the National Saxophone Museum. Mark Overton started Saxquest in 2000 with a vision of creating a mecca for saxophone players to find great equipment, share knowledge/learn about their instrument and engage in safe honest transactions with a knowledgeable sales staff in both a brick & mortar retail store and over the Internet.  This vision has led to the creation of two ventures, a retail store front-repair shop, with their online store at www.saxquest.com,  along with a social media website for saxophone players at www.saxophone.org.  Mark has been active in the St. Louis jazz scene since 1993 and founded Code Blue, a Jazz Messengers style sextet and the Saxquest 9-piece Jazz Orchestra.  Mark has performed with many jazz ensembles such as the Allegro Jazz Ensemble, Original Knights of Swing, as well as classical ensembles such as the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Louis Youth Symphony, St. Louis Wind Symphony, and others. Saxquest, a family-run business for over 25 years in St Louis, is a woodwind pro-shop specializing in both vintage and new professional model saxophones and clarinets.  Located on the 2nd floor of the shop, the Saxquest Saxophone Museum showcases a huge collection of many of the finest, rarest and most historically significant saxophones in the world as well as a collection of vintage saxophone accessories and other historical saxophone memorabilia.  The museum is free and open to the public and is a real treasure for the music lover or the eclectic museum goer. The link to Mark’s full Bio, as well as the background information on SaxQuest and the Museum is on our site at https://saxophonepodcast.com Along with getting an overview and tour of the Museum and the SaxQuest shop, we also talked about: The influence of Conn Music in schools Conn experimental horns New invention saxophone Lost Wax mouthpieces How metal mouthpieces started Working on vintage horns Instrument Handling Tips and much more! Timestamps: 00:00 Museum and repair shop overview 05:38 Discussion on St. Louis and connections 12:47 The influence of Conn music in schools 17:12 The Conn Family Bible 23:15 Conn experimental horns 30:18 New invention saxophone 33:15 Lost Wax mouthpieces 38:05 How metal mouthpieces started 40:01 Other unique saxophones 46:02 Exploring the museum and repair shop 49:31 Working on vintage horns 56:33 Instrument Handling Tips 57:39 Case Design Considerations 01:00:50 Long-term Instrument Care 01:02:41 Innovative Drying Solutions 01:03:40 Swab Recommendations 01:07:37 Overview of the Repair Shop   This show was proudly sponsored by the Improvisation Made Easy Elite Coaching Program. If you’re a saxophonist with some experience playing (and a little improvising), and you just don’t know what and how to practice to get better at improvisation,  CLICK HERE to book your Free Strategy Session call to get clarity on your next steps.   Expert saxophone tips straight from top players! 🎷 Our Patreon supporters enjoy access to exclusive advice and insights from the many incredible saxophonists featured on our show - content you won’t find anywhere else! Support the show and gain access to these hidden gems. Learn more on our Patreon site today!

    1h 29m

  6. 12/12/2024

    Saxophonist Mark Hartsuch; 3 Tenets of Being a Great Musician, Plus Tips on Tone and Improvisation

    Saxophonist Mark Hartsuch has differentiated himself by producing amazing horn section recordings and live performances for the world’s top artists. He is most well known for working with India’s top music director, AR Rahman, both in live performance and studio productions. His other collaborations include Ranjit Barot, Mohini Dey, Mr. Eazi, Cece Winans, Bebe Winans, TV networks such as Disney and AE, and others.   Mark attended the University of North Texas where he performed in the Grammy nominated One O’Clock Lab Band on Lab 2014 and Lab 2015. Mark is most known for being the founding member, primary composer and arranger of the Dallas Horns, a 3-piece horn section that specializes in tight, funky horn lines. In 2017, the Dallas Horns traveled to India and performed with legendary Indian musicians Louiz Banks, Gino Banks, Rhythm Shaw and others. They also served as the Horn section for the Grammy and Oscar winning artist, AR Rahman. The group also traveled to Qatar for the first and only performance held prior to the 2022 World Cup. Mark’s newest album, India Jazz Casual, is available on Bandcamp HERE. Mark Hartsuch is an endorsed artist with JodyJazz Mouthpieces, Gard Bags, Roland Instruments (AE-30).  Get access to Mark's links on our site: https://saxophonepodcast.com TIMESTAMPS   00:00 His introduction to music and how it became his solace 07:44 Differences in trumpet and saxophone playing styles 10:35 Transitioning to professional music 13:40 Experiencing the music industry 20:15 How he got into Indian music 27:20 The different vibe and swing in India 37:15 Mark’s standard of knowing a jazz standard 38:50 How Indian musicians play over the bar line 43:33 Music for musicians vs for the people 45:17 The challenge of balancing artistic integrity 48:31 Changes in popular music trends 51:17 Timelessness of classic songs 54:41 Interplay between melody and color using the song All of Me 56:10 Function of a horn arrangement 01:00:00 3 tenets of great musicians 01:01:06 Developing a full-stack show 01:03:49 The economics of performing 01:07:28 The reality of live performances 01:15:00 Advice for musicians 01:26:14 The intricacy that involves music production 01:34:58 The financial realities of music 01:43:39 The reality of the music industry 01:54:23 Pedagogical approaches to teaching 01:56:14 Developing a comfortable setup 01:59:16 The role of voicing in playing 02:05:42 Understanding air pressure in playing 02:06:29 The role of tongue position in playing 02:12:04 The role of doodle tonguing 02:21:28 The role of the oral cavity in sound production 02:24:34 The importance of enclosures in Bebop and the role of chromatic passing tones 02:33:43 Upcoming Performances and Collaborations 02:36:59 The Decision to Move to Nashville   This show was sponsored by the Improvisation Made Easy Elite Coaching Program. If you’re a saxophonist with some experience improvising, and you just don’t know what and how to practice to get better at improvisation, Click HERE to book your Free Strategy Session call to get clarity on your next steps.

    2h 50m

  7. 11/26/2024

    Saxophonist Bennett Wood; Taking Inspired Action to Create His Debut Album Space in Time

    Saxophonist Bennett Wood is a freelance musician, composer and clinician.  He was recently appointed as Director of Jazz Studies at Webster University. He previously held academic appointments at the University of Memphis, Mineral Area College, Texas State University, Texas Lutheran University, and Texas A&M University-Kingsville and served as the Interim Director of Education and Community Engagement and Education Coordinator at Jazz St. Louis. Bennett is an experienced bandleader and an in-demand sideman. In addition to leading his own groups at nationally recognized venues, including Crosstown Arts, the Elephant Room, and Jazz St. Louis, Bennett has performed alongside internationally acclaimed musicians including Nat Adderley Jr., Ralph Bowen, Chris Cheek, John Clayton, Alan Ferber, Andre Hayward, Sean Jones, Doug Lawrence, Butch Miles, Allison Miller, Greg Osby, Bruce Saunders, Maria Schneider, Terrell Stafford, and Kenny Werner. Bennett earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. He holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Bennett’s debut album, Space In Time, is available now on all streaming platforms. Physical CDs will be available soon on Wood’s website. The link to his full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website. In this episode, we talked about: 🎷 Common saxophone embouchure mistake when trying to play softer 🎷 Laryngeal flexibility and Jerry Bergonzi’s No Embouchure Embouchure  🎷 Thoughtful process of teaching that inspires students 🎷 Being aware of the audience’s perspective when performing 🎷 The biggest disservice musicians can do when pursuing teaching 🎷 And much more! If you want to do something well, you have to be willing to be bad at it first - Christopher McBride Looking for pro saxophone tips from top players? Our Patreon supporters enjoy access to unique advice from the many saxophonists featured on our show. These gems are shared nowhere else! Show your support and get more info on our Patreon site.

    1h 48m

  8. 11/07/2024

    Saxophonist Kyle Brooks; How Improvising in Different Contexts Influenced His New Album, Monarch

    Internationally acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and educator Kyle Brooks is a rising performer and pedagogue seasoned by and for the modern music industry. Versed in multicultural idioms, Kyle has and continues to work with organizations that regularly present jazz, rock, hip hop, Bollywood, Malayalam, electronic, and salsa music, just to name a few. As a performer, Kyle has collaborated with artists and organizations such as Tesher, Shayna Steele, Diane Schuur, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, and more. He can be heard on several recordings ranging from EDM to free jazz. Kyle also works with many grassroots musical endeavors, making contributions to ensembles including Kochuveettil Beats, Third Shore Collective, Jina Brass Band, and more. Featuring lifelong friends and collaborators, his debut album, “Monarch”,  features original music inspired by the work of musicians such as Ben Wendel, Terrace Martin, and Marquis Hill. In addition to having a full teaching studio, Kyle has presented clinics and masterclasses across the Midwest, primarily in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Kyle is also on the faculty at Triton College. The link to his full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website. In this episode, we talked about: 🎷 Why Kyle prefers more resistant reeds 🎷 Putting this one common household item into your bell can solve so many problems 🎷 How he gets students to improvise 🎷 Why we shouldn’t take music personally 🎷 Kyle’s approach to composition 🎷 and much more! Looking for pro saxophone tips from top players? Our Patreon supporters enjoy access to unique advice from the many saxophonists featured on our show. These gems are shared nowhere else! Show your support and get more info on our Patreon site.

    1h 40m
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4.8
out of 5
61 Ratings

About

Each episode, your Host Donna Schwartz brings you interviews, news, and reviews with some of the most exciting saxophonists in the world today. This is the place for the saxophone community to come together and learn through getting into the minds of our saxophone heroes. Enjoy the show and make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

Information

  • Creator
    Everything Saxophone Podcast, Donna Schwartz
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    239
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 Everything Saxophone Podcast
  • Show Website
    Everything Saxophone Podcast

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