Please join us for a solo clinic with the extremely talented Jaleel Shaw on December 21, 2019 at 2pm. This event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

Alto & Soprano saxophonist and bandleader, Jaleel Shaw, won the 2014 Downbeat Critics Poll’s for Rising Star Alto Saxophonist. He is a longtime member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Tom Harrell’s “Colors Of A Dream” and has performed with Christian McBride, Jason Moran, the Mingus Big Band, Pat Metheny, Stefon Harris, Roy Hargrove, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Jimmy Cobb and several others.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Shaw picked up the alto saxophone and surrounded himself with music at an early age. Immersing himself in the local jazz scene, he studied and performed with many of the city’s great musicians and educators and, following high school, received a full-tuition scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where he received a dual degree in Music Education and Performance. While at Berklee, Shaw was awarded the Billboard Endowed Scholarship for Outstanding Academic and Musical achievement (1998), Woodwind Department Chair Awards (1998 & 2000), The Boston Jazz Society Award (1999) and The Outstanding Student Teacher Award (2000). He later received a scholarship to Manhattan School of Music in New York, where he obtained a Masters Degree in Jazz Performance.

Shaw’s debut album, Perspective (2005), received rave reviews from The New York Times and Jazzwise Magazine and All About Jazz named the album one of the top five debut albums of 2005; his composition “The Heavyweight Champion” received an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award.

In 2006, Jaleel joined the Roy Haynes Quartet and was featured on the legendary drummer’s Grammy-nominated album Whereas. Two years later (2008), Shaw founded his record label, Changu Records, on which he released his second album entitled Optimism. The album received reviews from The New York Times, Downbeat and All About Jazz among others. That same year, he received his second ASCAP Young Composer Award for his composition “The Flipside” and was nominated for the Jazz Journalist Association’s “Up-And-Coming Jazz Artist” award.

Shaw was among the musicians listed in the 2011 JazzTimes Magazine’s Readers Poll for Alto Saxophonist of the Year, sharing the honor with Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Bunky Green and Kenny Garrett. In 2013, he released his third album of original compositions entitled The Soundtrack of Things to Come (Changu Records). The album features his current working quartet, and has been favorably received by various publications including the New York Times, New York City Jazz Record, and All About Jazz.

2019 Saxquest Woodwind Musical Instrument EXPO * November 16 *

I want to personally reach out to you about a fun and hopefully musically inspiring opportunity. I’m super excited to announce that Saxquest is hosting a huge woodwind musical instrument EXPO on November 16. Its FREE and open to the public. Nothing else like this happens in St. Louis so its a great opportunity to experience the latest and greatest instruments and equipment and talk to the manufactures. This is our fourth year hosting this event and it really is an amazing experience!

Where: St. Charles Community College – Donald D Shook Fine Arts Bldg. – St. Louis, MO
When: November 16 from 9AM-5PM
Reserve a spot here: http://www.tinyurl.com/2019SQExpo

The Saxquest Woodwind Instrument Expo will feature hundreds of custom, professional, and step-up woodwind instruments including saxophones, clarinets, flutes, double reeds and accessories. We’ve invited all of the major manufactures to set up booths and bring their best/most popular instruments and gear for trial. Brands participating include: Buffet-Crampon, Selmer, Yamaha, Yanagisawa, Keilwerth, P. Mauriat, Eastman, Haynes, Powell, Muramatsu, Fox, Loree, BG, D’Addario and Vandoren. Maybe you’ve been to a car show. This is the same idea only with musical instruments. Parents, band directors, students, professional musicians, amateur musicians, and weekend warriors alike will have the opportunity to play through all of the instruments and equipment and experience together the difference a professional or step-up instrument can make.

We’ve set up the event to be a good time for everyone with door prizes from Vandoren, D’Addario and BG (mouthpieces, reeds, swabs, other accessories, T-shirts, etc….) and a big giveaway at the end for those who booked an appointment in advance. It’s meant to be an enjoyable event to get music students excited about music and give them the opportunity to experience a large variety of professional and step-up instruments in a relaxed environment. While special one-day discounts will be available, there’s absolutely NO pressure to buy!!

The event will be open to walk in traffic all day, but we strongly recommend booking an appointment for those who are seriously considering an instrument purchase to guarantee total access to all of the Expo. Both private sound rooms and personal sound coaches will be available all day. For those interested in a possible purchase, we’re offering a 10% discount and financing options on most all new instruments and special 0% financing and double rebates on Yamaha instruments along with our everyday discounted pricing. Note that a professional set-up is included for FREE on any instrument purchased ($350 value)! You would not buy a professional bicycle or set of golf clubs without being professionally fitted. The same is true for a musical instrument. Experience the Saxquest difference.

The goal of every musician is to “elevate your performance”, continue to grow, and have fun while playing and performing. As a high-end woodwind specialty shop here in St. Louis, we’re delighted to be able to host this unique event.

By booking an appointment now, you’re reserving a spot along with being placed into a drawing to win free reeds for a year or $500 in store credit (no purchase necessary)! For more information check out our Facebook event. To register an appointment call or email or register online.
(314) 664-1234
[email protected]

We hope to see you at the EXPO!

Cheers,
Mark Overton – Saxquest Inc., owner
(314) 664-1234
[email protected]
www.saxquest.com

Join us on Sunday afternoon to listen to world renowned saxophonist, Jeff Coffin, discuss the fundamentals of improvisation at the Quest!

JEFF COFFIN is a globally recognized saxophonist, composer, educator, and is a member of the legendary U.S. rock group, Dave Matthews Band. You may also know him from his 14 years, and 3 Grammy Awards, with the genre-defying Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. Jeff fronts his own numerous groups when not touring with DMB and has released 15+ solo CD’s on Ear Up Records.

Coffin is known for his passionate and fiery soloing, his melodically driven compositions, his deep involvement with music education, and his continued dedication to the improvisational musical art form some call Jazz. He is one of the top, in demand, saxophonists in the world as well as a first call studio musician in Nashville, Tennessee, where he has lived since 1991. Jeff is both a Yamaha & D’Addario Performing Artist and Clinician, teaches improvisation at the prestigious Vanderbilt University, authored The Saxophone Book, co-authored The Articulate Jazz Musician, and runs his own awesome record label, Ear Up Records.

Originally from Normal, IL, Adam Larson is an American saxophonist, composer and author. An endorsed artist for P. Mauriat saxophones, Boston Sax Shop “Heritage” necks and Vandoren reeds, mouthpieces and ligatures, Adam began playing saxophone at the age of 11.

Adam has been a part of several tours that have allowed him to see more of the world than he once thought possible. He was a guest artist at the 2017 Sopot Jazz Festival in Sopot, Poland and has toured India,Taiwan, Holland, and Germany as well much of the United States. In 2015 Larson’s quartet was selected as one of ten ensembles to tour on behalf of the U.S. State Department’s “American Music Abroad” program and toured Africa for 35 days visiting The Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin and Ghana. Beyond maintaining an active touring and recording schedule, Larson continues to be a sought after clinician and master class presenter at several high schools and Universities across the Midwest and beyond. Adam is currently on faculty at University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, where he teaches saxophone and music business.

Along with Conversation Starters, Adam has two other etude books; “Leaps & Sounds: 12 Contemporary Etudes for Jazz Saxophone” Volumes I and II, that have been sold in over 30 countries and States. He is also the author of “Conversation Starters: 180 pieces of Jazz Vocabulary”. He maintains an impressive portfolio of commissioned ensemble writing for school jazz ensembles, having written more than thirty original works to date. Adam was commissioned by the Illinois Music Educators Association to compose the All-State composition for the 2020 convention. Larson is a Teaching Artist for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “Let Freedom Swing” program, The New York Pops Ed education programs, and has a diverse private lesson studio of Skype students from the U.S. and abroad.

Larson currently resides in Kansas City with his beautiful wife, Tierney and sons Jack and Clark.

Please join us on Saturday, June 1 at 2pm for St. Louis-based saxophonist, Matt McKeever and his quartet!

Featuring:
Dave Black – acoustic and electric guitar
Ben Wheeler – acoustic bass
Kyle Honeycutt – drums

Matt McKeever is a musician, educator, and composer based in Saint Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Webster University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education degree and earned his Master of Music Education degree in 2016 from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. Matt is currently the Assistant Band Director at Fort Zumwalt South High School and Middle School, where he teaches Concert Band, Beginning Band, and Marching Band classes.

Matt is in-demand as a private lesson teacher and clinician. His private students have received All-District and All-State honors as well as top ratings at District and State Solo & Ensemble Festivals. Matt has worked as a judge and clinician through the Saint Louis Suburban Music Educators Association, Missouri East Central District, Saint Louis Metro District, East Central College Jazz Festival, and North County High School Jazz Festival.

As a composer, Matt has written a number of pieces for concert band and jazz ensemble that are available for purchase on this website. His piece “Adventure Awaits!” has been performed in four states and was featured on the program of the 2018 SIUE Bi-State Band Festival. Matt performs professionally on saxophone, clarinet, and flute and is a member of a number of Saint Louis-based music groups. He is the founder/leader of the folk-jazz quartet Night Howler and member of the Saint Louis Wind Symphony, Dave Black’s itti bitti Swing Orchestra, and Naked Rock Fight, a funk/jazz group led by trumpeter Dawn Weber.

Please join us on Saturday, May 18 at 2pm to see the talented woodwind quintet, The Waiting Place!

The Waiting Place performs high quality music with a fun, lighthearted atmosphere. Music should be enjoyable and engaging, while playing classics of the woodwind quintet genre, they strive to play contemporary contrasting styles not often heard in the small group setting. A group based on collaboration, the members come from all walks of life.
Anne Luetkenhaus (flute), Abby Auer (oboe), Nick Pyles (clarinet), Abbey Dougherty (horn), and Ian Hayden (bassoon) are all from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Anne Luetkenhaus
Anne Luetkenhaus is a sophomore flute performance major at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where she studies with Dr. Shelly Monier. Anne has won the FSSL College Young Artist Competition when she was a freshman. She has performed in masterclasses with teachers such as Angeleita Floyd, professor at University of Northern Iowa, Claudia Anderson, professor at Grinnell College, and Paul Thompson, professor at Southeast Missouri State University. Anne currently plays in the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, as well as SIUE’s orchestra, wind symphony, and flute choir. Besides playing flute, Anne also loves to read, and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.

Abby Auer
Abigail is studying pharmacy at Southern Illinois University and has been playing oboe since 5th grade. She is principal oboe of the SIUE orchestra. Abigail enjoys playing other instruments for fun as well as participating in musicals. She also enjoys many other hobbies and dancing like nobody’s watching.

Nick Pyles
Nick Pyles completed his Master’s degree in Music Performance at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, having previously finished Bachelor’s degrees there as well. Studying both saxophone and clarinet, he uses his multi-woodwind background to gig around St. Louis and teach private students. Nick is also a tenured member of the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre (the Muny).

Abbey Dougherty
Abbey Dougherty is from Effingham, Illinois. She has been teaching piano since she was 16 years old- when she isn’t teaching or practicing, she loves to bike, run and read (along with making a mean margarita). Abbey hopes to work towards her doctorate in piano performance after completion of her Master’s at SIUE.

Ian Hayden
Ian Hayden (bassoon) holds bachelor degrees in music performance and education, and the M.M. degree in performance from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. An active performer and educator, Ian has held the Director of Bands and Ensembles position at Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville, IL since 2014. He has also served as the woodwind specialist for Alton High School’s Marching 100 staff since 2013. As a performer, he has worked as a pit musician doubling on all woodwinds with St. Louis area theater companies including “Curtains Up!”, SIUE’s “Summer Showbiz”, Missouri Baptist’s “Summer Players”, “Riverbend Youth”, and “Alton Little Theater”. He has also played bassoon for various solo and chamber recitals and for SIUE’s orchestra.

Please join us on Saturday, May 11 at 2pm for a spectacular performance from the cinematic, electro-jazz ensemble, Koplant No.

This event is FREE and open to the public!

Koplant No is a forward-thinking, cinematic electro-jazz ensemble that fuses intricate compositions and jazz improvisation with electronica, progressive rock, and hip-hop.

Called “one of the most innovative ensembles in the Midwest” by Minnesota Public Radio’s David Cazares, they are the recipients of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and have performed at venues across the country in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., St. Louis, and at the 2015 World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg, France.

Their potent music has the rare ability to satiate the most discriminating jazz aficionados, while completely disarming the anti-jazz crowd, and has been described as “a textural feast for the mind’s eye.”

Koplant No is: Joel Vanderheyden (tenor saxophone), Brian Lewis Smith (trumpet, laptop, keys), Drew Morton (bass, synth), and Rob Baner (drums, loops, vibes).

Join us this Saturday, March 30 from 2-4 pm as Paul DeMarinis plays the music of Elvin Jones, the famous drummer from the John Coltrane quartet. This event will also feature Steve Davis on drums and Chris Turnbaugh on bass.

More info on Paul below:
Paul DeMarinis is a native of St. Louis. His early musical training included private study as a clarinetist with St. Louis Symphony members Carlos Camancho, Robert Coleman, and Leland Munger. He then attended Indiana University and studied jazz improvisation extensively with the well known jazz education pioneer David Baker while playing lead alto saxophone in the IU big band. During this time he also studied improvisation with famed saxophonist/educator Jamey Aebersold. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Jazz Studies from Webster University in 1982 and 1987.

He began teaching as an adjunct faculty member at Webster in 1980. By 1988 he was the full-time Director of the Jazz Studies Program, a position he still holds. At Webster he teaches saxophone, jazz improvisation and jazz history, oversees the ensemble and academic jazz program, coordinates the faculty jazz ensemble, and directs the Webster Jazz Series and the Webster Summer Jazz Camp.

He is a well known performer, educator, and clinician and has been active in the St. Louis jazz scene for thirty-five years. He was cofounder of the original music cooperative Brilliant Corners which recorded for the MAX JAZZ label in 1997, and has written extensively for his own trio, quartet, and sextet. A CD of his original jazz compositions, The Sun…The Stars featuring his sextet and vocalist Debby Lennon was released in 2009. He enjoys long term musical relationships with the Kim Portnoy Jazz Orchestra and the St. Louis Jazz Orchestra and was a faculty member of Jamey Aebersold’s Summer Jazz Workshops for ten years. He has also been a faculty member of the International Summer Jazz Academy in Poland.

Prof. DeMarinis has a long association as a saxophonist with the St. Louis Symphony; in addition to many performances at Powell Hall he has performed with the SLSO overseas and at New York’s Carnegie Hall. He has performed with many jazz notables including Count Basie Orchestra, Dave Liebman, Louie Bellson, Gary Foster, and Bobby Shew. In a supportive role he has been a member of ensembles accompanying a wide range of popular artists including Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Nancy Wilson, Doc Severinson, Johnny Mathis, Sammy Davis Jr., Gladys Knight, the Temptations, and the Four Tops.

Clarinetquest is delighted to announce a re-scheduled performance featuring the nationally-renowned Lake Effect Clarinet Quartet on Friday, March 29. This event is FREE and open to the public!! It will be at our store on Cherokee St Friday evening from 7pm – 9pm.

Established in 2011, Lake Effect Clarinet Quartet (LECQ) is committed to the performance of high quality chamber music, unbounded by style or instrumentation, that showcases the unique capabilities and versatility of the clarinet family. Comprised of voices similar to a string quartet, LECQ’s repertoire is focused on translating music originally written for other instrumentation into relevant listening experiences.

As Vandoren artists, LECQ concertizes and presents clinics throughout the Midwest. Lake Effect has performed at the International Clarinet Association’s Clarinetfest (2017), Vandoren Clarinet Ensemble Festival (2013), presented at the Vandoren booth at the Midwest Band Clinic (2013, 2014), and was invited to compete in the quarterfinal round of the 2012 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in South Bend, Indiana. Additionally, the quartet is in residence with Chicago Composer Jonathan Hannau at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute (2017).

Members Nora Shaffer (Clarinet, E-flat Clarinet), Erin Miesner (Clarinet), Cally Laughlin (Clarinet), and Joseph Sanchez (Bass Clarinet) met while students at DePaul University. In addition to giving clinics and performances with Lake Effect, they are each active freelancers and teachers in the Chicago area.