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Hi! I am Steve Neff

I have been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for the last 30+ years. I love teaching and anything to do with the saxophone. I hope you find this website helpful in your musical journey. Thanks, Steve

Scott Hamilton & Harry Allen Blues Up and Down Transcription

December 6, 2014 by Steve 8 Comments

Here’s another great solo transcription from one of my favorite recordings.  This is a fast blues called “Blues Up & Down” and is from the CD entitled “Heavy Juice”.  This CD features Scott Hamilton and Harry Allen both on the tenor saxophone.  Both of these great musicians swing like crazy on this album.  This is a recording I would […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: blues solo, Blues Up and Down, Harry Allen, Heavy Juice, jazz sax, Scott Hamilton, tenor saxophone, transcription

Benjamin Allen Brighter 10E+ Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

December 6, 2014 by Steve 4 Comments

Today, I am reviewing another hard rubber tenor saxophone mouthpiece from Benjamin Allen. It is the 10E model but it is a Ben’s brighter version of this model.  This model doesn’t have a name yet so for the sake of this review I will just call it the 10E+. Benjamin Allen mentored under “Doc” Tenney […]

Filed Under: Tenor Low Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: 10E+, Benjamin Allen, Doc Tenney, hard rubber, jazz saxophone, tenor mouthpiece

Benjamin Allen 10E Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

December 5, 2014 by Steve 13 Comments

Today, I am reviewing a hard rubber tenor saxophone mouthpiece from Benjamin Allen.  It is called the 10E model and if that sounds familiar it is because I reviewed a 10E years ago that was crafted by Paul “Doc” Tenney. Benjamin Allen mentored under “Doc” Tenney and after Doc’s death decided to carry on his […]

Filed Under: Tenor Low Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews

Danny Walsh Chameleon Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

November 27, 2014 by Steve 4 Comments

Here’s another great solo transcription from a Youtube video that I started working on a few days ago.   This is from another terrific tenor sax player, Danny Walsh.   I believe Danny went to Berklee College of Music and left shorty before I got there in the mid 80’s.  I’m not sure I have ever heard him live although the […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Chameleon, Danny Walsh, jazz sax, solo, tenor saxophone, transcription

Great Lenny Pickett Clinic

November 25, 2014 by Steve 3 Comments

I just found these videos on Youtube a few minutes ago and started watching them.  Lenny Pickett is a tenor sax player known to almost all saxophone players.  If you have ever watched Saturday Night Live, you have heard Lenny Pickett.  He’s the sax player in the middle of the TV screen playing notes so […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, Jazz Videos Tagged With: clinic, Jazz Education, jazz sax, Lenny Pickett, masterclass, tenor saxophone

New Lesson Series: Playing Outside-Approach Note Matrix

November 19, 2014 by Steve 2 Comments

I started a new lesson series this last week based off of my books “Approach Note Velocity Vol. 1 & 2“.  This is a cool series and might even lead to another book on the subject!  Last week I started working on using some of the approaches in my book to approach the upper structures […]

Filed Under: NeffMusic News

Liam Byrne Tenor Saxophone Blues Solo Transcription

November 19, 2014 by Steve 5 Comments

Here’s a nice swingin’ blues solo transcription I started working on a few days ago.   This is from a young tenor sax player, Liam Byrne.   The group is called BBQ and stands for Brownfield/Byrne Quintet.  Here’s a short Bio about Liam Byrne from his website: ‘…Saxophonist Liam Byrne, from North Wales (UK), studied at Leeds College […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: BBQ, blues, Jazz Improvisation, jazz sax, Liam Byrne, tenor saxophone, transcription

Great Chris Potter Performance and Interview

November 13, 2014 by Steve 6 Comments

Here’s a great interview with Chris Potter that I came across just now on Facebook. Chris Potter is one of the top tenor saxophone players in the world.  There is an unbelievable solo performance in the beginning of the video and this is a very insightful interview.   Chris talks about practicing and different aspect of […]

Filed Under: Jazz Videos Tagged With: chris potter, Improvisation, interview, jazz music, practicing, tenor saxophone

Donny McCaslin Blues Solo in 4ths Transcriptions

November 12, 2014 by Steve 5 Comments

Here are 2 more solo transcriptions I started working on yesterday. This is from a clinic recording of Donny McCaslin demonstrating using fourth intervals while improvising over a standard blues on the tenor saxophone.  I have no idea what this is from or even where I got it but it must have been on the […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: blues solo, Donny McCaslin, fourths, jazz sax, tenor saxophone, transcription

Viking M58 and M60 Valkyrie Cognac Tenor Saxophone Review

November 7, 2014 by Steve 36 Comments

Today, I am reviewing the Viking M58 and M60 tenor saxophones. This is another great saxophone that is manufactured in Taiwan. I had been hearing about the Viking tenor saxophones for a few years now and have been very curious to try them out.  Rich Maraday is the owner of Viking instruments and he was happy to […]

Filed Under: Sax Reviews Tagged With: LOR neck, M58, M60, tenor sax, tenor saxophone, Valkyrie, Viking instruments

Bob Mintzer Blues Solo Transcription in 12 Keys

October 31, 2014 by Steve 7 Comments

Here’s another solo transcription I just finished this week. This is another solo from one of my favorite tenor sax players, Bob Mintzer and is from a youtube clip of Bob soloing on a blues in all 12 keys. I love Bob’s playing because it is so melodic and thematic. He always plays ideas that […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: blues in 12 keys, Bob Mintzer, jazz sax, jazz transcription, Russell Ferrante, solo, tenor saxophone

Bob Mintzer’s Solo Transcription on Invitation

October 22, 2014 by Steve 3 Comments

Here’s another solo transcription I started working on a few weeks ago. This is from one of my favorite tenor sax players, Bob Mintzer. I love Bob’s playing because it is so melodic and thematic. He always plays ideas that you can grasp on to and that are catchy, yet he mixes in some pretty […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Bob Mintzer, Bop Boy, Invitation, jazz solo, tenor saxophone, transcription

Bob Malach Solo Transcription from Ishimori Demo Video

October 9, 2014 by Steve 5 Comments

Here’s another transcription that I worked on this week.  This is from a video that Bob Malach put out on Youtube about Ishimori products.  Bob talks for the first part of the video about his Ishimori ligature, neck, screws and thumbrest. On the second half of the video he plays a nice funky solo over […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: blues, Bob Malach, Ishimori products, solo transcription, tenor saxophone

Bob Mintzer Solo on “I Love You”

September 17, 2014 by Steve 6 Comments

Here’s a solo transcription I started working on a few weeks ago.   This is from one of my favorite tenor sax players, Bob Mintzer.   I love Bob’s playing because it is so melodic and thematic.   He always plays ideas that you can grasp on to and that are catchy, yet he mixes in some pretty […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Bob Mintzer, Cole Porter, I Love You, jazz sax, jazz transcription, solo, tenor saxophone

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Testimonials

I’ve been a member of Steve’s site for about six months now and the difference it has made to my playing is immeasurable. The (many) benefits of this membership are that you can have lessons at time convenient to you, they work out A LOT cheaper than face-to-face lessons with a teacher of the same calibre and you can replay them ad infinitum. I don’t know how many times have I had lessons in the past where I’ve ended up covering the same concepts when really a ‘replay’ of the last lesson would h… Read more
Nick
Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for being you, your playing, your website and your desire to help others. I’m a professional musician in the US Army and I’ve visited your website almost every day since discovering it a couple of months ago. Your lessons are profound and easy to use. I’ve purchased most of your PDF books and now am starting to delve more into the video and audio lessons.  Thank you for being a great resource!
James
Thank you so much for the great job you are doing to help further our jazz studies. Though I make my living as a repairer of musical instruments I am a student of jazz and have been fortunate enough to be involved with a big band and a combo for the last several years. As my children began to leave “the nest” I had decided to dedicate the next half of my life to a more serious study of the sax but I didn’t know exactly how I would go about doing this until a friend of mine turned me onto your si… Read more
Jon
Just a brief note to compliment you on your teaching skills and in particular for the honesty of your lessons.  I am a returning alto sax player in my 50’s and I was looking for a no nonsense, straight to the point kind of guidance. I had intended to email you with a few questions regarding the use of the bis key but then I noticed that there was a lesson on that specific topic and after viewing it,  all my questions were answered. I once took a group lesson with a well known professional sax … Read more
Patrick
Hey Steve, I’m a 22-year-old from Australia. I thought it would be worth saying. You’re an absolute legend. I can’t thank you enough. You have helped me rekindle my love for the saxophone and music as a whole. All the best for the future, your work doesn’t go unnoticed. PS. I am loving your devastating minor lines pdf.
Sapph
Thanks so much for putting all this great learning material out there. I don’t often have the time to take a lesson with a teacher, so the ability to download lessons is really invaluable. My playing has improved enormously (I think :)) – and the lessons are so varied there’s always something to be inspired by. Incredible value too!
Roger
Steve really changed my way of practicing: I got a whole lot of new ideas for my playing the tenor.  His lessons are really helpful, give a lot stuff to practice and give clear answers to complicated stuff.  Steve has a lot of humor and I wish I had laughed so much in my former days with the horn.  All topics, from Blues to Approach note are dealt with clearness that wet ones appetite to play and practice that great ideas.
Uwe

Love your lessons!  I have been using your lesson packages for many months now, and am learning a lot.  It is so perfect for me with a very busy adult schedule and difficulty in taking jazz/improv music lessons from reputable instructors who live and hour or more away from me.

Lenore
Thank you for the wealth of helpful lessons you’ve provided over the years.  I truly feel as though it has improved my playing more than the 4 years I spent at Berklee… and that’s not a slight on the school as I loved my experience there.
John
John
I just wanted to write a thank you note to you for this website. I play and teach saxophone, but I have always been intimidated by the gear aspect. Your website has helped me become a lot more knowledgable. Your knowledge is staggering! I’m telling all my students about your website. Pierre
Pierre

Steve, just a note to say thanks.

I’ve been playing a long time, but your material, laid out in such a thoughtful way, helps me to understand concepts in a new and deeper way.

You are a true gift to the jazz community.

60 lessons and going strong,

Kevin Ledbetter

Kevin Ledbetter
I’m an experienced player in the pop/soul/funk areas of music and, previously, classical.  Over the decades I’ve been playing, I’ve always felt that I could do what I needed in those styles of music.  However, recently I began to feel limited by my use of the same old licks. When I discovered Steve Neff’s website, and heard the audio examples based on the exercises in his books, I realized they were what I needed.  I purchased all of them and have been working on them since.  It’s very hard work… Read more
Paul
I have been a member of Neffmusic for more than a year now and have enjoyed every minute of it! I have not only been going thru the Dominant Bebop Scale lessons and book (OUTSTANDING!) but the mouthpiece reviews, solo clips and transcriptions are very interesting. Steve approach to beginning and intermediate improv have given me many new pathways to teach my high school jazz ensemble students. Congratulations Steve, great product!
Craig
I want to let you know that your instructional material is transforming my playing.  It is an immense pleasure to learn and play now, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. The instructional material I got from you is by far the best of any I own (and I have over 100 books, DVDs, and what not). I literally can’t thank you enough! Deric
Deric
It is so refreshing to have a great player, who can provide lessons and examples in a manner which is understandable to most any enthusiastic saxophonist who is ready to improve. not just the, do this, do that, memorize this, memorize that… while all that is absolutely necessary, you go on to give reasons and examples to explain and validate why you have to do all of these things, the benefits, if you will… that is the key for me, you tell, explain, demonstrate, explain some more, you give perso… Read more
Cedric
First, I’m really excited about your materials! This site is a vast resource for any aspiring (and maybe already inspired) jazz musicians. I’m not a sax player, I play mandolin and fiddle, but have been learning jazz and playing weekly with a quintet for the past 6 months and have been struggling with all of the issues you get into in your lessons. I bought several books and lessons and plan to continue with some others as soon as I organize my practice routine. Thanks again for a great site … Read more
Tony Galfano

Mr. Neff,  I want to thank you for sharing your God-given talents through your on-line lessons.  My husband, Michael, is blind, but he is a great sax player and he has been enjoying your lessons for quite some time now.  It’s not unusual for me to hear “Hey, babe, listen to THIS!” – and he will cut loose on his sax, just thrilled at what he learned during his session with you.  His excitement warms my heart!  You have no idea how much you have poured into my husband.  You have opened musical … Read more

Carole B

Thank You Steve. I think that I will be busy for years. Thank You for your great contribution to jazz music. Your books, more than teaching “how to play jazz”, actually teach “how to speak jazz”. I wish I found your methods years ago.  

Jean-Eric
Thank you for all the educational information you provide.  I am a classically trained musician.  Professionally, I am a 4th and 5th grade band teacher.  I have played piano and sax for many years, but now I am starting to gig out more. I have always improvised by ear in the past. I have gotten by with my strong sense of pitch, rhythm and melodic contour. However, I want to go deeper. I want to play with a greater variety of melodic and rhythmic ideas to pull from.  I have studied to gain a … Read more
Ray

Steve,  Just want to say thanks for all you are doing for all of us. I’ve learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.

If you can give some tips on One Note Samba, Ceora, and Wave… that would be cool.  I really like learning how you apply your concepts to actual songs!

Have a great year,

Kevin Ledbetter

I've learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.

I want to thank you for your “Ultimate II-V-I Primer”  which has sent me off on a much better path to improvisation.  The primer and the four bound books I have will keep me busy for a long time.  I like your lessons for two reasons.  The lessons work and THEY ARE FUN.  Thanks again.

Robert

Robert
I am enjoying your style of teaching, and you’ve done a great job with the videos….good sound quality and well constructed lessons.  Balances the more guitaristic material found on the majority of guitar based programs.  Jazz vocab is what I’m all about at this point in the journey.   I especially dig the fact that you’ve studied with Bergonzi…helps me see his voluminous output in a more  bite sized way.
Milton
I like so many other subscribers feel so encouraged by Steve’s learning techniques; you will enjoy reading the comments of praise others have left as you too will feel that you share a common view and path. I feel very lucky to have come across Neffmusic and that feeling will remain with you as you search through a treasure trove of learning materials on offer, you will quickly find the lessons that you are suited to. You will instantly recognize the unparalleled quality of Steve’s teaching … Read more
Stephen
Two years later I began a search for a sax teacher and happened to come across Steve Neff when I was searching YouTube for sax teachers.  I went to neffmusic.com and was very impressed with the lessons Steve Neff was offering.  The concept of selecting lessons was an approach that I thought was unique and purchased a few lessons.  I liked the lessons so much that I signed-up for a 6 month package. I was very happy with all the lessons I selected.  I also purchased Steve’s book Mastering the B… Read more
Michael

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