Everything Saxophone Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Joyce Spencer, an award-winning saxophonist, flutist, and vocalist from Dallas, Texas, showcases a diverse range of musical styles. Her repertoire spans traditional to contemporary jazz, classical to R&B, funk, fusion, blues, pop, and Gospel/Christian.

With a background in instrumental music education, Joyce holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Performance. After a 20-year corporate career, she returned to her passion for music as an independent artist. She composes and produces her own albums and singles, including "Sweet Dreams," "Many Colors," “Cherish,” “Sax-O-Phunk,” and “Nature Walk.”

Joyce's music has garnered global recognition, earning her prestigious awards and features in magazines, radio stations, and Indie Artist Charts. Her accolades include an NAACP-Garland Award, Black Women in Jazz Award, Grammy consideration, and various other media mentions.

For 14 years, Joyce has been performing with her band, Joyce Spencer and Expressions. In 2020, she expanded her musical repertoire by adding a Sade Tribute Show to her performances.

In addition to her own band, Joyce is a member of Jazz in Pink Band, The Satin Dolls Band, and I.Tina, a Tina Turner Tribute Band.

The link to her full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.

🎷 What motivated her to join this event for Sax Girls Rock
🎷 People that influenced her the most
🎷 Joyce’s live performance of Cold Duck Time by Eddie Harris

Our Patreon supporters get access to tips from many of the artists we have interviewed over the years.

These tips are not shared anywhere else.

To get access (and show your love for the show), go to our Patreon site for more info.

Nancy Saenz, aka ‘Lady Woodwind’. Started her musical journey at Marshall Jr High School in the heart of Houston’s old barrio Northside.

She started on flute, going to many competitions all over Texas. Nancy was introduced to the saxophone in high school, and quickly excelled, going to many jazz festivals and winning Jazz Musician of the Year.

Nancy has performed with local Tejano groups, recorded a CD, arranged songs and co-wrote a polka song for saxes.

In February 2024, she was awarded the Tejano Legends Award special artist recognition for her contributions to Latin Music.

She also performed with and wrote horn parts for the Grammy-nominated group, SISTER SISTER. 

She received a commendation from Sheila Jackson Lee for her contributions in music, and earned the name, Lady Woodwind, for being fluent in all woodwinds. 

Nancy has her own CD out, Just Me, available on her Bandcamp site.

She performs at South by Southwest every year, as well as all over the United States, and  Europe.

The link to her full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.

In this episode, we talked about:

🎷 Her influences when it comes to tone
🎷 What motivated her to attend Sax Girls Rock concert
🎷 Influences when it comes to style and technique

Our Patreon supporters get access to tips from many of the artists we have interviewed over the years.

These tips are not shared anywhere else.

To get access (and show your love for the show), go to our Patreon site for more info.

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.

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.

Tenor, soprano and alto saxophonist, bandleader and composer, Pernille Bévort is a graduate of the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, Denmark. After completing her degree, she has become increasingly in-demand as a member of various jazz ensembles in Denmark and Sweden.

Apart from working with small ensembles, Bévort has performed with several professional Big Bands in Denmark during the last decades: The Ernie Wilkins Almost Big Band, Kroner’s New Music Orchestra, The Danish Radio Big Band and the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra (Klüver’s Big Band) among others.

As a frequent substitute, or regular member of, different professional big bands, she has performed with many international artists. Among these are: Randy Brecker, Tony Coe, Putte Wickman, Tim Hagans, John Scofield, Charlie Watts and Richard Bona.

Since 2015 Pernille has been a regular member of the Swedish Monday Night Big Band in Malmö and from 2016 she has been playing several projects with another Swedish Big Band: the Bohuslän Big Band in Göteborg. (One of the last tours with BBB was in oct. 2017 with Maria Schneider).

She is also part of the new Danish 13-piece ensemble Maluba Orchestra with Marilyn Mazur, Fredrik Lundin and Kasper Bai as the 3 co-leaders and composers. The debut album with this group ‘Maluba Orchestra’ won a DMA jazz in 2020 as album of the year.

Since 1995 she has been leader of several diverse ensembles. At present these include her trio, Bévort 3, and the septet Radio Bévort. Pernille Bévort has released 14 albums as band leader (Feb. 2022).

Apart from her own groups, Pernille has composed for several other ensembles such as . Among these are The Copenhagen Art Ensemble, Moving Circles and a variety of ToneArt workshop ensembles (ToneArt is a composer association). 

Right now, she is composing a new tune and arrangement for the Swedish Norrbotten Big Band (a commissioned work).

Pernille Bévort has been awarded the prestigious Ben Webster Prize and the JASA prize (jazz reviewers) in acknowledgement of her work. Furthermore, Pernille has received several composer grants from the Danish Arts Foundation within the last decades.

From 2011 until 2013 she was part of the committee for composer grants in the Danish Arts Foundation (the jury concerning rhythmic composers). April 11th 2021 Pernille Bévort received an honorary award from the Danish Conductors Association (an association of conductors and band leaders).

The album BLIK with Radio Bévort (May 2020) was among the top 10 Danish jazz albums of the year (2020) according to the jury from the Danish jazz magazine Jazzspecial. Oct. 2020 Pernille was also nominated for a Danish Music Awards Jazz as composer of the year with this album. 

Pernille’s trio album ‘On Fire’ with her trio Bévort 3 was nominated for a Danish Music Awards Jazz in the category ‘Album of the Year’ (Oct. 2021).

Her Latest album ‘Bévort 3 Live 2020-2021’ was released Feb. 18th 2022.

The trio is now heading towards ‘Jazz A-Head’ in Bremen, Germany, where they are going to perform a showcase on the Danish Club Night Scene (30. April 2022).

The link to her full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.

Legere Reeds!

To learn more about why Derek Brown, Gerald Albright, and Eddie Daniels exclusively play Legere, visit www.legere.com

And for a limited time, if you live in the US or Canada, use the code  EVERYTHINGSAX for 10% off at their store at shop.legere.com.

The store is only available to US and Canadian residents.  

• People that inspired her the most
• Conceiving your saxophone sound
• How to be in the moment when performing
• Keeping technique on point
• How she manages practice time
• Her role in a Septet vs Trio
• Finding your own voice 
• and 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.

Paul Cohen is one of America’s most sought-after saxophonists for orchestral and chamber concerts and solo recitals. 

Dr. Paul Cohen has rediscovered and performed lost saxophone literature, including works for saxophone and orchestra by Loeffler, Florio and Dahl as well as chamber works by Grainger, Ornstein, Sousa, Cowell, Siegmeister, and Loeffler. 

He has published more than one hundred articles on the history and literature of the saxophone in the Saxophone Journal, Instrumentalist, CBDNA Notes, Clarinet and Saxophone Society Magazine of Great Britain, The Grainger Society Journal, and the Saxophone Symposium.  His seminal column, “Vintage Saxophones Revisited,” was featured in the Saxophone Journal from 1985 – 2002.

Recent CDs include American Landscapes, (American music), Common Ground (chamber music), New York Rising ( American music for saxophone quartet),  Heard Again for the First Time (premiering lost music) and his latest,  Soprano Summit  (soprano saxophone).

Dr. Cohen is currently on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music, NYU, Columbia University  and Rutgers University.

The link to his full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.

Legere Reeds!

To learn more about why Derek Brown, Gerald Albright, and Eddie Daniels exclusively play Legere, visit www.legere.com

And for a limited time, if you live in the US or Canada, use the code  EVERYTHINGSAX for 10% off at their store at shop.legere.com.

The store is only available to US and Canadian residents.

We talked about:

• How Paul finds vintage horns (this was before the internet!)
• How the tonal qualities of saxophones changed over the years
• Why people play vintage saxophones
•  His reed strength choice for certain vintage saxes
• and 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

Paul Cohen is one of America’s most sought-after saxophonists for orchestral and chamber concerts and solo recitals. 

He has appeared as soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, New Jersey Symphony,  and the Charleston Symphony.  

His many solo orchestra performances include works by Debussy, Creston, Ibert, Glazunov, Martin, Loeffler, Husa, Dahl, Still, Villa-Lobos, Tomasi, and Cowell. 

He has also performed with a broad range of orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera (NYC), American Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra.

Recent CDs include American Landscapes, (American music), Common Ground (chamber music), New York Rising ( American music for saxophone quartet),  Heard Again for the First Time (premiering lost music) and his latest,  Soprano Summit  (soprano saxophone).

Dr. Cohen is currently on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music, NYU, Columbia University  and Rutgers University.

The opening music was Feathers and Sax, by Amanda Harberg, and the outro music was Lesson from the Sky, by Rodney Rogers, both from his latest CD, Soprano Summit.

The link to his full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.

Legere Reeds!

To learn more about why Derek Brown, Gerald Albright, and Eddie Daniels exclusively play Legere, visit www.legere.com

And for a limited time, if you live in the US or Canada, use the code  EVERYTHINGSAX for 10% off at their store at shop.legere.com.

The store is only available to US and Canadian residents.  

We talked about:

• Why saxophone became the perfect instrument of choice for him
• Listening to Paul Desmond and playing by ear
• How the skill set of today's generation changed
• Saxophone virtuosos students should listen to
• Developing musicianship
• Exploring other types of saxophones
• His new 'Soprano Summit' album and his approach on recording new music

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

London-born saxophonist Alex Hitchcock is regarded as one of the UK’s most virtuosic young jazz musicians. His group AuB, which released its debut album on Edition Records in 2020, was described as ‘ready to make cataclysmic waves in the sound of UK jazz’ by Jazzwise.

His quintet’s critically acclaimed 2018 debut on Barcelona-based label Fresh Sound New Talent (home to debuts by artists including Ambrose Akinmusire and Avishai Cohen) was described by All About Jazz as ‘an exquisitely subtle collection of tunes… the clearest indicator to date of the stratospheric trajectory on which this super-talented quintet is indubitably heading’. 

Their increasingly burgeoning reputation on the international jazz stage was confirmed by a major prize at the 2018 Umbria Jazz Festival, as well as touring to Poland, Spain, Italy and Hungary and performances at legendary UK venues including Love Supreme Festival, the Royal Albert Hall and Ronnie Scott’s.

Named in 2018 and 2019 as ‘one to watch’ by Jazzwise magazine, he has performed with Chris Cheek, Soweto Kinch, Mark Lockheart, Nérija, Andrew McCormack, Ashley Henry, Maria Chiara Argirò, legendary American group the Blackbyrds, and Turner Prize-nominated artist Marvin Gaye Chetwynd.

Performing highlights include North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands), Jazz à Vienne (France), Fano Jazz Festival (Italy), Festival Mas i Mas (Spain) and Glastonbury Festival (UK) as well as at the Barbican, Cadogan Hall, and Glyndebourne Opera House.

His latest project, Dream Band, pulled  together a pool of 15 musicians from both sides of the Atlantic to bring to life a set of forward-thinking music. 

The music was recorded across three London studio sessions in Spring 2021, with a different configuration of musicians each day. The result is a selection of 12 original songs ranging from a delicate duo (featuring the sensational Midori Jaeger on cello & vocals) through to an expansive 7-piece outing with guest stars Chris Cheek and David Adewumi.

The link to his full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.

Our sponsor for this episode is:

Legere Reeds!

To learn more about why Derek Brown, Gerald Albright, and Eddie Daniels exclusively play Legere, visit www.legere.com

And for a limited time, if you live in the US or Canada, use the code  EVERYTHINGSAX for 10% off at their store at shop.legere.com.

The store is only available to US and Canadian residents.

We talked about:

• Tone matching concept and process
• Practicing proactively instead of reactively
• What he meant by 'singing through the horn'
• How his undergrad influenced his storytelling when it comes to playing
• His approach to improvisation & writing
• and so 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

Matt Stohrer has been repairing, selling, and trading saxophones for a long time. He takes pride in his work, and cares deeply about what he does.

He learned his craft in New York City, working for Sam Ash Music on the famed Music Row, 48th St. in Times Square, Manhattan where he started as a coffee-running apprentice and worked his way up to Head Woodwind Repairman of their flagship store. 

After working for Sam Ash, he opened a small saxophone specialty shop in Brooklyn, where he repaired many horns to exacting standards for the best and brightest of New York’s saxophone crowd and also bought and sold vintage horns and mouthpieces.  He had a view of the Manhattan skyline from his roof in an old warehouse by the Gowanus canal, and was busier than ever.

But something was missing- personal space, clean air, a yard for my kids, a place to work on my car, seeing the stars at night, space for some hobbies.  So one day in 2010,  he picked up and moved to beautiful North Carolina, where he found a cozy and warm house in the woods between Durham and Hillsborough. Here, he continues to grow his business, learn new things and perfect his craft.

As a repairman, I service all saxophones (and only saxophones), with my specialty being high end, vintage and unusual saxophones done well for picky players. 

He remains a small, one-man business repairing and selling saxophones. He is committed to his ideals,  and doubts he will ever grow much beyond a one-man shop.  Personal interaction and customer relationships built on shared love of the saxophone are paramount, and advice will always be free.

The link to his full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.

Our sponsor for this episode is:

Legere Reeds!

To learn more about why Derek Brown, Gerald Albright, and Eddie Daniels exclusively play Legere, visit www.legere.com

And for a limited time, if you live in the US or Canada, use the code  EVERYTHINGSAX for 10% off at their store at shop.legere.com.

The store is only available to US and Canadian residents.  

We talked about:

• Working with vintage horns
•  The TRUTH about what relacquering does to your saxophone
• Overhauling a Saxophone
• Advise on buying instruments online
• Tips for people with little to no access on repair shops and tools
• 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 and raised in Lima, Perú, Lucia Sarmiento has been influenced by classic jazz players like Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, as well as modern players such as Chris Potter and Michael Brecker. 

After graduating high school, Lucia moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina to study at the Conservatorio Manuel de Falla, where she studied jazz performance. 

Wanting to fulfill her lifelong dream of learning jazz music from its origins and pursuing a music career in the United States, Lucia moved to Minneapolis, MN after winning the Women in Music scholarship at McNally Smith College of Music in 2013. She studied there with Pete Whitman, graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Saxophone Performance.

During her first years in Minneapolis, Lucia was mentored by Eric Kamau Gravatt (Drummer for Weather Report, McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson) as a permanent member of his Jazz Quintet, Source Code. 

In 2016, she joined funk/fusion band New Sound Underground, with whom she has played countless shows around the country.

In recent years, Lucia has gained a massive social media following posting videos showing her charisma and skills as a saxophone and EWI player. 

Lucia has worked as an ambassador for brands like Yamaha, Akai, BG, Jean-Paul USA, Syos, Key Leaves among others.

Besides performing, Lucia is very passionate about providing affordable and accessible music education in Spanish and English. She regularly posts saxophone/jazz educational videos on her YouTube channel and for the past year, she has built a bilingual community of saxophone players on her Patreon, where she offers private lessons and more in-depth tutorials and practice guides.

In October 2020, Lucia released her first single “Escape” and is currently working on a full original album coming out in 2021.

The link to his full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.

We talked about:

• How she takes risks and goes all in
• What Lucia identifies as her strengths & weaknesses
• How she adapted to playing a genre she wasn't used to
• Tips on landing that 'big gig'
• Bonus content! What it’s like being a woman on tour with PitBull in Saudi Arabia

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

Saxophonist & educator, Godwin Louis, was born in Harlem, New York and began playing saxophone at age nine. Godwin grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut and Port au Prince, Haiti. 

Godwin was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Saxophone Competition, and has performed all over the world.

He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute for Jazz Performance. 

Godwin has studied with and performed with Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Roger Dickerson, Ron Carter, Al Foster, Jack Dejohnette, Jimmy Heath, Billy Preston, Patti Labelle, Toni Braxton, Babyface, Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Barry Harris, Howard Shore, David Baker, Mulatu Astakte, Mahmoud Ahmed, Wynton Marsalis, and Terence Blanchard just to name a few.

In addition, Godwin has performed as a sideman, guest soloist and has conducted clinics and master classes worldwide. 

As a composer, Godwin has received the Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Grant, and the Jazz Gallery’s “New Works Commission”. 

As an educator, humanitarian and ambassador, Godwin has traveled from Benin to China to help promote cross-cultural understanding and introduce thousands to America’s indigenous art form, through public concerts, master classes, and jam sessions. 

He is currently full-time faculty for the Woodwind Department at Berklee College of Music.

Godwin is the founder of Experience Ayiti, a nonprofit educational, multidisciplinary arts organization. 

Godwin’s debut album as a leader, entitled “Global”, was released in February 2019.

(The intro music for the podcast is his composition, Thoughts and Prayers, from his album, Global.)   

The link to his full biography, along with more Resources for this episode, is on our website.

We talked about:

• Single vs. double lip embouchure
• How Solfege shaped his understanding of music & helped his improvisation
• What Godwin thinks about when improvising
• and 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