Come and join Saxquest and master saxophone mouthpiece technician Eric Falcon from Warburton Music Products this Saturday, JULY 30. Eric will be in the store from 10am to 2pm available for mouthpiece consultation and re-facing and will be giving a mouthpiece master-class at 11AM.

If you’ve ever wondered about the details of what makes a good saxophone mouthpiece work, or if you’ve ever wanted to know about the process of manufacturing and/or re-facing a mouthpiece or have wondered what it would take to get a worn out mouthpiece up and running again, this is the guy who can make it happen.

Eric cut his teeth in the mouthpiece business by working as a facing technician for Jody Jazz. He has continued to develop his skills over the past several years. His latest project is that of chief mouthpiece designer for Warburton.

http://www.warburton-usa.com

At 11:00 am Eric will be giving a master class discussing mouthpiece acoustics, mouthpiece re-facing and the new line of saxophone mouthpieces from Warburton Music products. This event is free and open to the public, free refreshments will also be provided.

Its with tremendous enthusiasm that I invite you out to another wonderful event at Saxquest. Next week on Monday evening (Jul 18) from 5-7PM we’ll be hosting a concert with 3x Grammy Award winner JEFF COFFIN and his Mu’tet. The Mu’tet takes it’s name from the word mutation, giving way to Coffin’s belief that music is constantly changing and mutating. In addition to the Mu’tet, Jeff has been a member of Bela Fleck & the Flecktones since 1997 and has been with the Dave Matthews Band since 2008.

Other members of the group include ledgendary and iconic players:

Felix Pastorius, son of bass great Jaco Pastorius, roots the Mu’tet on electric bass. He has been playing with the group since 2002. Felix has also been touring recently with legendary jazz drummer Cindy Blackman while living and playing in NYC. Felix is a gifted composer and a monster bassist with great chops and sensitivity.

On drums is the legendary Jeff Sipe. He is renowned for his mind bending drumming with the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Trey Anastasio, Susan Tedeschi, Greg Osby, Phil Lesh, Project Z, Jonas Hellborg & Shawn Lane, Leftover Salmon, Alex Machacek, The Jimmy Herring Project, and many, many others. When Jeff Sipe unleashes his whirlwind of rhythms and grooves they have to be seen and, especially, heard to be believed.

Bill Fanning rounds out the horns on trumpet. Bill has performed with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, the Mu’tet, Glenn Frye (of the Eagles), George Garzone, Jon Faddis, Maria Schneider and George Russell. A brilliant improvisor and musician, Bill is stretching the boundries of the trumpet.

Its such a tremendous thrill for us to bring such a fantastic event to you! If you haven’t been to a Saxquest event yet, be sure this one doesn’t pass you by. Please print and distribute the attached flier to as many people you know who may be interested. Thanks for your support!!!

I hope to see you at SAXQUEST next Monday – July 18 at 5pm.

Other upcoming events include:

Eric Falcon of Warburton Mouthpieces, giving a mouthpiece clinic on July 30.

Its time again for another great event this coming Tuesday evening (5/24 @ 7pm) at Saxquest. We’re delighted and honored to be the only St. Louis playing venue for the New York based Adam Larson/John Raymond jazz quintet on their month long midwest tour. Adam Larson (www.adamlarsonjazz.com) is an up-and-coming tenor saxophonist with more talent than I’ve seen from most seasoned professionals. Although his technical facility is amazing, its his creative approach to the music that will leave you nodding your head. John Raymond is an equally gifted jazz trumpeter and has provided many of the arrangements for the ensemble. The group is rounded out by guitarist Nils Weinhold, drummer Bastian Weinhold, and bassist Raviv Markovitz. Don’t miss this blazing performance at the Saxquest shop Tuesday evening 5/24 at 7pm!!!

As always, the setting will be informal and refreshments will be served. Also, HECTV will be here filming the event.

Saxquest has always been a huge supporter of young jazz musicians. In this instance, we have partnered with Jazz St. Louis (www.jazzstl.org) to make this event possible. As many of you know we’re blessed to have an organization such as Jazz St. Louis with all of the education and outreach programs they offer to the St. Louis community, not to mention the 1000′s of musicians they have helped support over the years. I encourage you to help us support them by coming out and checking out this event. In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, I know its hard to take time out, especially when these are names you may not have heard of. However, I can assure you that these young cats not only have something to say, but will inspire and amaze.

I hope to see you all out at Saxquest next Tuesday at 7PM!!!

I’m very excited to present to you a very rare and unique opportunity this weekend at Saxquest. We’re bringing in saxophone guru Peter Ponzol to the Saxquest shop this Saturday from 2PM-4PM. The setting will be informal and refreshments will be served.

Peter Ponzol is an internationally renowned jazz musician. His styles cover a broad spectrum of jazz and improvisational music from hard bop to post modern impressionism.

As a player, Peter has performed in most countries around the world, and has received not only a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Performance grant, but was also invited to Germany by the prestigious German Academic Exchange Service. He has given clinics and workshops worldwide and has taught in several universities.

In addition to his playing prowess, Peter is well known for his contributions in both the design and manufacturing of very successful high-end saxophone products. Peter’s experience and talents were also utilized as a consultant and designer by some of the world’s oldest and most respected saxophone companies in Germany and France.

Don’t let this clinic pass you by. This is truly a unique opportunity! Peter has amassed a great wealth of knowledge over the years and will prove to be both entertaining and informative.

I’ve attached a flier with all of the details. Its free and open to the public.

I’m delighted to bring Peter Ponzol into St. Louis and hope to see you on Saturday at the Saxquest Shop. Remember, our enthusiasm to continue hosting these kinds of events depends on how many people we get coming to check them out. Thanks for your support!!!

I’m very excited to invite you out to a great event this weekend at the Saxquest shop. We’re bringing in the Willie Akins quartet as part of their “Alima” reunion tour. Every member of this group is a master musician in their own right.

They’ll be giving a riveting performance at the Saxquest shop this Saturday starting at 11AM on February 5. The setting will be informal and refreshments will be served.

Willie Akins is a St. Louis jazz icon. At the young age of 18 Willie moved to New York in 1957 and stayed for eleven years. He was right there on the front lines during one of the most innovative eras in jazz history, influencing and being influenced by all of the great players of that time. He returned to St. Louis in 1968 while Gas Light Square was still in full swing. Our city has been so blessed to have him remain here as an active musician since that time.

This performance will be a rare opportunity to hear Willie live with all of the members of his debut recording album “Alima”. Whether you’ve never heard Willie Akins or whether you’re a long time Willie Akins fan, don’t miss out on this unique opportunity. This quartet plays at an incredibly high level with wonderful energy and creativity.

Willie Akins Quartet the “Alima” reunion tour
Willie Akins – Sax
Simon Rowe – Piano
Willem Von Hombracht – Bass
Montez Coleman – Drums

I hope to see you at Saxquest this Saturday! Remember, our enthusiasm to continue hosting these kinds of events depends on how many people we get coming to check them out. Thanks for your support!!!