Everything Saxophone Podcast Everything Saxophone Podcast, Donna Schwartz

Born in Toronto Canada, Joey Berkley moved to NYC in 1979 after graduating w/honors from the Music Program at Humber College. 
A jazz musician firmly rooted in the tradition of Coltrane, Miles, and Monk,
Joey Berkley incorporated these influences to develop his own sound. 
Berkley’s career as a tenor saxophonist and recording artist has evolved through a variety of stages: from in-demand sideman to the founder/leader and composer/arranger of various bands including: The Joey Berkley Quartet, Funkasaurus Rex, Joey Berkley’s Bandits, The Joey Berkley Band, and more recently the single “Wired”.
In 2015 Mr. Berkley became the director of The Westchester Center for Jazz and Contemporary Music. 
An educator with over 35 years’ experience, he developed a curriculum designed to challenge students with a commitment to excellence, focusing on the fundamentals of jazz and a commitment to artistic expression regardless of the playing level. 
Prior to his role as director of the Center, he served over 15 years at Fox Lane MS/HS, Bedford, NY as their Woodwind Specialist, and directed both the Middle School and High School Jazz Ensembles. 
2019 became a turning point in Mr Berkley’s life when he was forced to end a 40+ year career as a saxophonist due to a neurological movement disorder called Focal Dystonia in his left hand. 
Unwilling to accept his fate, he found a solution at NIH in Bethesda MD in an experimental treatment for Dystonia. 
On Friday March 12, 2021 Joey became Patient #2 and underwent brain surgery to implant an electrode into his brain and connect it to a battery near his collar-bone. Miraculously, this risky choice controlled the symptoms of Dystonia, allowing him to play again. 
Joey was very public about his situation.
He is set to release “A Suite Life”on July 26, 2024. This cathartic release documents his experiences going through the life and career-changing brain surgery to regain his playing ability.
The link to his full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.


In this episode, we talked about:
🎷 The importance of the physical relationship to the instrument
🎷 One embouchure for your entire range
🎷 Joey’s encounter with comedian, Andy Kaufman
🎷 The 1 question Joey has lived his life by (How bad do you want it)
🎷 Duke Ellington’s quote about music (good music vs bad music)
🎷 And much more! 
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We truly appreciate our supporters, who help keep the podcast running!
 

Chase Huna is a saxophonist, national recording artist, and songwriter from Palm Springs, CA who blends jazz, R&B, and pop into his style of music.
Chase started playing saxophone at the age of 10 after his dad bought him his very first sax for his birthday.
Chase put out his first song “On The Chase" to radio at 15 years old. This song was written and produced with the help of jazz guitarist and multi-billboard #1 song writer, Steve Oliver.
Chase continued to write new music with Steve every weekend between school.
He released his debut album “On The Chase" in January 2017. Since then, Chase has released a number of singles and full length albums to his name and is currently working on his 4th studio album.
His newest song release is “East Coast Swing”, which is what you are listening to in the background right now.
Most recently, Chase has been touring with folk-rock legend Al Stewart and his band The Empty Pockets. Al is best known for his songs “Time Passages” and “Year Of The Cat”.
Chase often performs with artists from the 70’s-80’s progressive rock era such as Ambrosia, John Ford Coley, Elliot Lurie (from Looking Glass), Walter Egan, and more! 
Chase's future goals are to further his career as a live performer and songwriter. 
He is endorsed by Cannonball Instruments.
The link to his full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.
In this episode, talked about:
🎷 Importance of broadening your skills
🎷 Underslung vs traditional neck on the Cannonball Saxophones
🎷 Chase’s controversial perfect pitch statement
🎷 Emphasis on staying hydrated
🎷 How did he end up collaborating with producer Steve Oliver
🎷 And much more!
Wanna support the show?
Become a Patron, and for as little as a $2 donation each month, you get searchable transcripts for the episodes, Bonus videos with extra tips and content, a full Podcast directory, and the ability to suggest future guests.
Go to our Patreon site for more info.
We truly appreciate our supporters, who help keep the podcast running!
 

Khari Allen Lee has arisen as one of the most-in-demand saxophonists, educators, composers, and multi-instrumentalists of his generation. 
He has performed and recorded with such luminaries as Ellis Marsalis, Aretha Franklin, Dr. John, Branford Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, DeeDee Bridgewater, Stevie Wonder, Raphael Saadiq and more. 
In 2017, he won a Grammy for his work with octogenarian blues man, Bobby Rush, and appeared in  , winner of the 2018 Academy Award for Best Picture. 
In addition to his own the group, the New Creative Collective, he is lead saxophonist and touring member of Delfeayo Marsalis’ Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Sextets and Quintets, and former lead saxophonist of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra directed by Adonis Rose. 
As an educator, he currently serves as the Auburn University Walt & Ginger Endowed Professor of Practice and Director of Commercial Music Studies. 
He is an artist endorser for Jody Jazz Mouthpieces, Rovner Ligatures, P. Mauriat Saxophones and Légère Reeds.
The link to his full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.
We talked about:
🎷 Discussion on Music and Instruments
🎷 Importance of Music Education and Creativity
🎷 Community and Music Scene in Auburn
🎷 Evolution of Record Labels and Music Industry
🎷 Global and Local Communities
🎷 and much more!
Did you know you can get a complete listing of all our shows, as well as Bonus videos and searchable transcripts? All you need to do is become a Patron!
Patrons play a huge role in helping to defray the costs of storing each episode’s video and audio, and producing and hosting the show.
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.
 

After seeing a saxophonist busking in the streets in her hometown, a very young Heidi Radtke knew she wanted to play saxophone. 
She got her wish at age 11, and from that moment on, has studied with some of the best classical saxophonists around to become one of the most well-regarded contemporary saxophonists on the scene today.
Her mentors included Timothy McCallister, Donald Sinta, Debra Richtmeyer, Dale Underwood, and Otis Murphy.
She has become a passionate teacher and clinician, teaching at Butler University and currently at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
As a solo artist, Heidi has performed with the University of North Carolina Symphony Band and Wind Ensemble. 
She gave a premiere performance of Stacy Garrop’s concerto Alpenglow with tubist Anthony Kniffen and the Butler University Wind Ensemble at the 2022 American Bandmasters Association Convention and performed Garrop’s concerto Quicksilver at Butler University in the spring of 2018. 
An avid chamber musician, Heidi has performed throughout the United States with fellow saxophonist Henning Schröder as part of the Hiding Duo. She is the tenor saxophonist with the Iovi Saxophone Quartet and performs with oboist Pam Ajango as part of the oboe-saxophone duo, Metalloboe. 
Heidi has performed as a section player with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. 
She has also done studio recording work for Hal Leonard, Carl Fischer, and KJOS Music Publishing.
"CONVERGENCE" is her debut album, and it presents an elegant meshing of the heartbeats behind the sounds of eight living composers, strung together by the saxophone’s ability to explore these soundscapes, especially in the format of saxophone with fixed media.
Heidi Radtke is a Vandoren Artist/Clinician and Conn-Selmer Artist. She performs on a Selmer Paris Supreme alto saxophone, Selmer Paris Supreme tenor saxophone, and a solid-silver Selmer Paris Series III soprano saxophone.
She is a member of NASA’s Gender Equity Women’s Peer Mentoring Program.
The link to her full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.
We talked about:
🎷 Her early saxophone listening memory at the oddest place
🎷 How studying jazz improvisation influenced her melodic approach
🎷 Line building in jazz and contemporary music
🎷 How to absorb what you listen to
🎷 How she guides students’ listening
🎷 And much more!
Did you know you can get a complete listing of all our shows, as well as Bonus videos and searchable transcripts? All you need to do is become a Patron!
Patrons play a huge role in helping to defray the costs of storing each episode’s video and audio, and producing and hosting the show.
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.
 

Born in a very small town in Denmark (Vejle) in 1982, Jeppe took a keen interest in the drums at a young age.
Jeppe Zacho also started playing saxophone at 15 years old, upon his father’s advice. 
As a teenager, Jeppe traveled to Cuba to study the intricate Cuban rhythms he so loved.
This monumental experience influenced his future compositions and performances.
Since 2008, he has been a saxophone teacher at Frederiksberg music college, where he teaches bands, saxophone and clarinet classes.
Jeppe has been on the Danish music scene for many years and performs in groups such as Jazz Five, The Counterfictionals, Jack Street, and various Big Bands.
Jeppe has received a Danish Music Award twice in the "Jazz for Children of the Year" category, first in 2013 and 2016 with the band Jazz Five.
Furthermore, he has been nominated in the main prize category "Best Danish Jazz Release of the Year" with the band The Counterfictionals in 2019.
His newest eponymous release, Introducing Jeppe Zacho, is his first as a bandleader.
The album highlights the influence of his father, also a jazz saxophonist, and his teacher and mentor at the Rhythmic Conservatory, Christina von Bulow.
You can learn more about Jeppe, and buy his new album on his website, listed below under Resources.
In this episode, we talked about:
🎷 Discussion on his new album
🎷 Jeppe's heroes
🎷 What influenced his style in music
🎷 What made him stick into playing saxophone instead of doing drums
🎷 Next album in line
🎷 And many more!
You can catch his Bio, and all of his links in my website.
Did you know you can get a complete listing of all our shows, as well as Bonus videos and searchable transcripts? All you need to do is become a Patron!
Patrons play a huge role in helping to defray the costs of storing each episode’s video and audio, and producing and hosting the show.
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.

You may not have heard about the new, patented design of the EMEO Digital Practice Saxophone. They started 8 years ago, and have been on the market for 3 years.
At the NAMM Show 2024, it was a big hit – their booth was crowded every single day.
This isn't your conventional saxophone. It features a special patented design incorporating original springs, brass, and other unique elements. Instead of producing sound on its own, it functions as a wind MIDI controller. To generate sounds, it relies on external programs such as Respiro, Audio Modeling, SWAM, or digital audio workstations (DAWs). Moreover, it's compatible with Windows or MAC operating systems, as well as iOS.
I spoke with Oleg Raskin from EMEO, and we talked about:
🎷 Inspiration for creating EMEO instruments
🎷 New mouthpieces for the EMEO
🎷 Random people testing EMEO at the NAMM Show
🎷 Matthias Kuhn showing latest developments  with EMEO software & how  it works
🎷 Saxophonist Carly Stock trying out the EMEO
You can catch their Bio, and the link to their website on our site.
This episode was proudly sponsored by Rovner Products, creators of fine ligatures for saxophone and clarinet for almost 50 years.
If you perform in Rock, Blues, Marching Band, Military ensembles, and are tired of getting drowned out by all the other instruments, you need to try Rovner’s latest offering, the LGX Ligature. Pure power without losing the quality of your tone. Just go to www.rovnerproducts.com for more info and to purchase.
Want to support the show? Patrons who have shown their love and support for the show get a special bonus clip from this episode.
If you want in on this and so much more Bonus content not available anywhere else, head on over to our Patreon site to sign up!