Everything Saxophone Podcast Everything Saxophone Podcast, Donna Schwartz

Established in 1974 by Phil Rovner, Rovner® began its journey with the creation of one ligature, the original Dark. Since then, it has expanded its range to encompass four "Classic" models and four "NextGeneration" models. Distributed globally, Rovner® products are cherished by musicians of all levels, from novices to top-tier professionals. Despite numerous imitators, the name "Rovner" commands profound respect and trust within the music community. Musicians consistently turn to Rovner® for its unwavering reliability, exceptional quality, and ongoing commitment to innovation.
Since George Reeder assumed the role of President and Co-Owner of Rovner Products in 2014, the ligature catalog has significantly expanded. Introducing the Next Generation ligatures, including The Versa X, the Star Series, The Legacy, The Platinum, Platinum Gold, and the Van Gogh, Rovner Products has continued to innovate under his leadership. Alongside his wife and Co-Owner, Lynn, they've spearheaded the development of new products, such as the LGX Saxophone Ligature. This innovative ligature was recently unveiled at the NAMM Show 2024, marking a special milestone—the celebration of Rovner's 50th anniversary. 
The LGX ligature is a combination of the Rovner Legacy and Rovner Van Gogh ligatures.
We talked about:
🎷 Celebrating Rovner's 50th Anniversary
🎷 What's new with LGX ligature
🎷 Ligature close-up
🎷 Where can you buy Rovner products
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.
You are never too late to support the show! Unlock the benefits of becoming a Patron, gaining early access to all future NAMM Show episodes. Plus Everything Saxophone Podcast videos, searchable transcripts, and an array of bonus content not available anywhere else.
If you want access to those videos, sign up now by clicking HERE.

There was a ton of action going on at the P. Mauriat booth during the NAMM Show 2024. Despite that, I still had the privilege of speaking with Jeremiah True, Brand Manager at P. Mauriat, who is a really special guy.
Jeremiah True is a versatile woodwind performer proficient in all saxophones, clarinets, flutes, and bassoon. With a rich background spanning orchestral, jazz, theatre pits, and rock 'n roll, he brings extensive experience to every performance. Recently, he concluded a distinguished 21-year tenure in the US Air Force Band Program, marking a celebrated chapter in his musical journey.
P. Mauriat instruments are crafted with unparalleled attention to detail. Each saxophone body undergoes extensive hand-hammering, up to 400 times, ensuring exceptional resonance. Precision is paramount, with each tone hole drawn individually for consistent response and intonation. Their lacquer process, applied in three stages, creates a timeless vintage finish. Hand engraving, done with a simple tool and years of expertise, adds a final touch of mastery. Every instrument is meticulously inspected by their quality control team to guarantee excellence.
In this episode, we talked about:
🎷 20th anniversary alto and tenor saxophones
🎷 P. Mauriat touring case
🎷 How his ability to double changed his life
🎷 How he managed practicing and mastering his craft with an extremely busy schedule
🎷 And much more!
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.
You are never too late to support the show! Unlock the benefits of becoming a Patron, gaining early access to all NAMM Show 2024 episodes. Plus Everything Saxophone Podcast videos, searchable transcripts, and an array of bonus content not available anywhere else.
If you want access to those videos, sign up now by clicking HERE.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Teeters and Tyler Rogers of Claude Lakey Woodwinds at the NAMM Show 2024 to discuss their amazing saxophone mouthpieces.
For over fifty years, Claude Lakey's enduring legacy has thrived within the company he established, evolving from its modest inception in a corner of a music shop in 1962 to its esteemed stature today. Today, as a family-owned enterprise, the company continues Lakey's tradition, offering premium, American-made mouthpieces, compass ligatures, and music accessories of exceptional quality.
Claude Lakey Mouthpieces has a tradition of responding to their customers' needs to give musicians complete diversity in the genre to suit any gig they might play.
Claude Lakey mouthpieces come bundled with Rovner Products ligatures.
We talked about:
🎷 The History of Claude Lakey Mouthpieces
🎷 How Banda Music influenced Lakey Mouthpieces to create a new Clarinet mouthpiece
🎷 Apollo, Ebony, and Rhodium models
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.
Support the show and get early access to all NAMM Show 2024 episodes! Plus Bonus episodes and searchable transcripts.
Go to www.patreon.com/everythingsaxophone for details

Victory Musical Instruments remains the top choice for musicians and dealers worldwide due to its commitment to excellence. Offering exceptional sound quality, precise intonation, and improved mechanisms, Victory Instruments are designed with musicians' needs in mind. These wind instruments, prized by musicians globally, stand out for their superb craftsmanship and unique design.
Driven by a passion for music and a commitment to excellence, Victory Musical Instruments strives to deliver instruments that exceed expectations. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a discerning dealer, Victory Instruments promises a superior musical experience through superb quality, innovative design, and a dedication to customer satisfaction.
In this episode, I spoke with Melvin Quinones, the founder and President of Victory Musical Instruments, about their amazing products, including the new screw-less saxophones showcased at the NAMM Show 2024.
We talked about:
🎷 The revolutionary new saxophone design that will change the industry
🎷 Close-up of revelation series horn
🎷 New Low C# key guard
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.
You are never too late to support the show! Unlock the benefits of becoming a Patron, gaining early access to all NAMM Show 2024 episodes. Plus Everything Saxophone Podcast videos, searchable transcripts, and an array of bonus content not available anywhere else.
If you want access to those videos, sign up now by clicking HERE.

Established in 1919 by Jesse James Babbitt, the JJ Babbitt Company, Inc. is the industry's oldest mouthpiece manufacturer for clarinets and saxophones. Still family-owned, it's now led by Steve and Debbie Rorie and remains rooted in Elkhart, Indiana.
Based in Elkhart, Indiana, formerly hailed as "The Band Instrument Capital of the World," the JJ Babbitt Company has crafted millions of mouthpieces over its century-plus history. It holds the title of the world's leading producer of woodwind mouthpieces for students, intermediate players, and professionals alike.
Renowned globally for their craftsmanship, performance, and value, Babbitt products are highly esteemed. Sold solely through music dealers and distributors, mouthpiece variations bear brand names such as Otto Link, Meyer, Meyer Bros, Premiere by Hite, and J&D Hite. Additionally, the company offers custom models and private labeling services, catering to individuals seeking to develop and market their own mouthpiece lines.
In this episode, we talked about:
🎷 History of the Otto Link mouthpieces
🎷 LA mouthpiece
🎷 Tone Master 
🎷 Florida model
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.
Level up your sax experience!
Unlock the benefits of becoming a Patron, gaining early access to all all NAMM Show 2024 episodes. Plus Everything Saxophone Podcast videos, searchable transcripts, and an array of bonus content unavailable anywhere else.
Head on over to our Patreon Site and support the show.

Silverstein Works is an accessories company committed to excellence in the realm of music. 
They specialize in researching and developing premium-quality products, aiming to set the highest standard in performance and usability for musicians.
During this year's NAMM Show, I had the opportunity to speak with Calvin Son, President and Director of Artist Relationships at Silverstein Works, about their new Saxophone Mouthpieces and Reeds, which I am very excited to showcase.
In this episode, we talked about:
🎷 Silverstein ligatures - Hexa
🎷 Leo Alto Sax mouthpiece
🎷 Leo Tenor Sax mouthpiece
🎷 Ambipoly Jazz Reed
🎷 Ambipoly Classic Reed
🎷 and much more!
"The Ambipoly Reeds actually absorb moisture, allowing the reed to have a cane-like sound"
- Calvin Son
You can catch their Bio, and the link to their website.
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.
You are never too late to support the show! Unlock the benefits of becoming a Patron, gaining early access to all NAMM Show 2024 episodes. Plus Everything Saxophone Podcast videos, searchable transcripts, and an array of bonus content not available anywhere else.
If you want access to those videos, sign up now by clicking HERE.