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Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)

March 26, 2023 by Steve 4 Comments

*BRAND NEW NEFFMUSIC BOOK* Super excited to have finally finished this book. I have been working on this over a couple of years and am ecstatic about the content and it’s potential for students of jazz improvisation. Working on this material has radically changed my own playing and given me a new tool to use […]

Filed Under: NeffMusic News Tagged With: blues, dominant pentatonics, Jazz Improvisation, jazz method, minor sixth pentatonic, soloing, steve neff, video lesson

KPoudavoff Zimberoff Dukoff Hollywood 6* with Dexter Gordon’s Facing Curve Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

February 16, 2023 by Steve 9 Comments

Today, I am reviewing another tenor saxophone mouthpiece made by a young mouthpiece maker, refacer and saxophone player from Russia named Kirill Poudavoff.  Kirill is a great young tenor sax player that is in his fourth semester at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Kirill sent me four 3-D printed examples of his tenor saxophone […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Low Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: copy, Dexter Gordon, double ring, Dukoff Hollywood, facing curve, florida link, Kirill Podavoff, KPoudavoff, otto link, replica, review, sax mouthpiece, tenor saxophone, Zimberoff

KPoudavoff Zimberoff Dukoff Hollywood 7* Copy Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

February 13, 2023 by Steve 7 Comments

Today, I am reviewing another tenor saxophone mouthpiece made by a young mouthpiece maker, refacer and saxophone player from Russia named Kirill Poudavoff.  Kirill is a great young tenor sax player that is in his fourth semester at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Kirill sent me four examples of his tenor saxophone mouthpieces made […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Low Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: copy, Dexter Gordon, double ring, Dukoff Hollywood, florida link, Kirill Podavoff, KPoudavoff, otto link, replica, review, sax mouthpiece, tenor saxophone, Zimberoff

KPoudavoff Florida Otto Link Copy Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

February 4, 2023 by Steve 16 Comments

Today, I am reviewing another great tenor saxophone mouthpiece made by a young mouthpiece maker, refacer and great saxophone player from Russia named Kirill Poudavoff.  Kirill is a great young tenor sax player that is in his fourth semester at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Kirill sent me four examples of his tenor saxophone […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Medium Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: copy, Dexter Gordon, double ring, Dukoff Hollywood, florida link, Kirill Podavoff, KPoudavoff, otto link, replica, review, sax mouthpiece, tenor saxophone, Zimberoff

KPoudavoff Florida Double Ring Otto Link Copy Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

February 3, 2023 by Steve 4 Comments

Today, I am reviewing the work of a young mouthpiece maker, refacer and great saxophone player from Russia named Kirill Poudavoff.  Kirill is a great young tenor sax player that is in his fourth semester at Berklee College of music in Boston. If you haven’t heard Kirill Poudavoff yet, check him out in the video […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Low Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: copy, Dexter Gordon, double ring, Dukoff Hollywood, florida link, Kirill Podavoff, KPoudavoff, otto link, replica, review, sax mouthpiece, tenor saxophone, Zimberoff

Phil-Tone Rift Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

January 24, 2023 by Steve 24 Comments

Today I am reviewing another great tenor saxophone mouthpiece made by Phil Engleman at Phil-Tone mouthpieces.  I have reviewed quite a few Phil-Tone sax mouthpieces on the site already and am always interested when Phil announces a new Phil-Tone saxophone mouthpiece model. A couple of months ago he announced that he had a new Phil-Tone tenor sax mouthpiece model […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor High Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: jazz sax, mouthpiece, Phil Engleman, Phil-tone, review, Rift, tenor saxophone

Avel Sound Concept (ASC)-Mistral Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

January 19, 2023 by Steve 8 Comments

Today, I am reviewing the Avel Sound Concept (ASC) Mistral model alto saxophone mouthpiece made by Max Even at Avel Sound Concept Mouthpieces.  These are really reasonable priced, quality hard rubber alto saxophone mouthpieces that play incredibly well.  The hard rubber ASC Mistral alto sax mouthpiece I am reviewing today has a 6* tip opening […]

Filed Under: Alto Medium Baffle Reviews, Alto Mouthpiece Reviews, Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Alto Saxophone, ASC, Avel Sound Concept, jazz sax, Max Even, Mistral, mouthpiece, review

Swingin’ Max Ionata “All the Things You Are” Tenor Sax Solo Transcription

January 14, 2023 by Steve 2 Comments

Here is another masterful solo by the great tenor saxophone player from Italy, Max Ionata.  I absolutely love this short rendition from Youtube of Max soloing on the changes to “All the Things You Are”.  This solo is so full of great jazz vocabulary perfectly crafted into a beautifully melodic solo over this classic jazz […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: All the Things You Are, Max Ionata, solo transcription, tenor saxophone

SYOS Max Ionata Signature Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

January 14, 2023 by Steve 13 Comments

Today, I am reviewing another tenor saxophone mouthpiece from SYOS mouthpieces in France.  This is the SYOS Max Ionata signature model 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece I will be reviewing today.  The SYOS company hit the saxophone mouthpiece scene a few years ago and immediately caught the world’s attention by producing these really bright colored 3D […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Medium Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Max Ionata, mouthpiece, review, Signature Model, SYOS, tenor saxophone

Chris Cheek & Seamus Blake Limehouse Blues Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

January 7, 2023 by Steve Leave a Comment

Here’s another mind-blowing tenor saxophone transcription of Seamus Blake and Chris Cheek totally smokin’ on the jazz standard Limehouse Blues.  This transcription was done by German tenor saxophonist Fabian Willmann (he has studied with Chris Potter, Mark Turner and Joe Lovano).  Fabian was nice enough to let me post this transcription here on my site […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Chris Cheek, jazz sax, jazz solo, Limehouse Blues, Seamus Blake, tenor saxophone, transcription

Get·A·Sax GS Freddie Gregory Super Deluxe MARK II Copy Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

December 25, 2022 by Steve 12 Comments

Today,  I am reviewing the GetASax GS Freddie Gregory Super Deluxe MARK II Copy tenor saxophone mouthpieces in a 7, 7* and 8 tip opening.  These GetASax Mark II tenor sax mouthpieces are replicas of great playing, original facing,  Freddie Gregory MARK II tenor saxophone mouthpieces. These cool white mouthpieces are made by Brian Curry […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Medium Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Brian Curry, freddie gregory, Getasax, mark II, review, sax mouthpiece, tenor saxophone

Insane Michael Brecker Invitation Tenor Sax Solo Transcription from the Jaco Birthday Concert

December 15, 2022 by Steve 8 Comments

Here’s another great Michael Brecker tenor saxophone solo transcription I am excited to share with everyone. This is a transcription of Michael Brecker’s insane tenor sax solo on the jazz standard, “Invitation” from the Jaco Pastorius’ album “The Birthday Concert” (this is not the Invitation solo from Jack Wilkins album “Merge”).  The Jaco Pastorius “Birthday […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Birthday Concert, Invitation, Jaco Pastorius, jazz sax, Michael Brecker, tenor saxophone, transcription

Theo Wanne Battle Royal Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Showdown: Round One-Ballad

November 30, 2022 by Steve 35 Comments

Today, I am posting a battle royal, fight to the death, comparison between six Theo Wanne tenor saxophone mouthpieces that I have already reviewed here at Neffmusic.  Here are the six Theo Wanne mouthpieces doing battle in round one today with links to their reviews: Theo Wanne Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Lineup (From Left to Right-Ambika […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Ambika 3, comparison, Durga 5, Gaia 3, Gaia4, jazz sax, Lakshmi, metal, mouthpiece, review, Roberto's Winds saxophone reeds, Shiva 3, tenor saxophone, Theo Wanne

Theo Wanne Gaia 3 and 4 Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

November 15, 2022 by Steve 12 Comments

Today, I am excited to be reviewing the Gaia 3 & 4 hard rubber soprano saxophone mouthpieces made by Theo Wanne.  I reviewed the original Gaia soprano sax mouthpiece about 12 years ago and have been playing that mouthpiece on the soprano sax ever since.  This week I will be reviewing three Theo Wanne soprano […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Soprano Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Ambika 3, comparison, Gaia3, Gaia4, review, sax mouthpiece, soprano saxophone, Theo Wanne

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NEFFMUSIC PRINTED BOOKS

Testimonials

Hello Steve,

I just want to say thank you so much for your unbelievable work, it is just mind opening, thanks for sharing it.

Wolfgang from Berlin

Wolfgang from Berlin
Hey Steve, My name is Jason Freese and I play keyboards and sax in the band Green Day.  I grew up taking sax lessons from Eric Marienthal when I was a kid and got out of it for a long time. I ran into you on youtube while searching for sax stuff. I bought a whole bunch of your lessons and have been loving it! Thanks! Here is my wikipedia so you can see the albums I’ve played on….Thanks again. It’s sparked my interest in practicing again.   Jason
Jason Freese (sax player for Green Day)
Hi Steve, I have been shedding your materials for quite a while now and I love them! They are extremely well organized and presented and there are tons of ’em! I really appreciate your methodical approach and find myself referring students to your resources often.  Thanks so much!  
Kenyon Carter
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

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
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
Your lessons on playing the blues is so clear . I have been through many books on blues playing and not one of them explains as clear as your lessons . Most of them say “Play the same blues scale over all three chords of a 12 bar blues ” Its very misleading .     Thanks
Martin

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
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
By the way, BIG COMPLIMENTS to you, Steve! Not only are you a great player, you are also a great teacher! I, too, am a woodwinds player/teacher. I have new inspiration to play and teach because of you. The concepts and “thinking” is similar to what I already learned in College, but hearing you explain and PLAY the concepts REALLY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE! Also, your written patterns are more interesting than other books I have seen! Keep up the good work. I will be recommending your sit… Read more
I will be recommending your site to others!
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 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 have NEVER seen material like yours.  Amazing!!
Jerry
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
I just joined Neff Music last month. I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been to be able to pick back up on lessons. I’ve been in a rut and you got me out! I’ve especially appreciated the Lesson Path section. It was so clear I knew exactly where to jump in and start. Many many thanks!
Karin
I’ve been having ‘ online’  lessons with Steve for a few months now. Being a teacher myself I had had some reservations with the idea at first and the practicalities of it .  Let me just say that my playing has taken a huge leaps forward while studying with Steve and continues to do so.Steve studied with some renowned player/teachers such as Bergonzi and Garzone– this in itself is invaluable but Steve teaches from his own books, which cover a a vast amount of  jazz language. Steve h… Read more
David

Steve,

I have played for many years and have enjoyed going “back to the basics” in some of your lessons!  You have such a gift for explaining concepts.  As I have gotten older, some of the basic things have gotten muddled because I just play, not knowing why.  As I refresh myself with “why”, it increases my confidence and expands my playing.  Thank you so much for using your gift!  You are a blessing!

Julia
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
I am a music book junkie and I have to say that your books are the most clear, user friendly, and helpful books I own.  They are my absolute favorites and I only wish I had them years ago.  I wouldn’t change a thing about the experience I had in acquiring my degree at Berklee, but my playing has perhaps grown more in the time I’ve spent buried in your books and lessons.  Keep up the great work!!! Thanks, John
John
I want to say something about Steve Neff’s series of lessons, Beginner Jazz Improvisation. For a couple of years I tried many beginner lessons and my problem was that there was a gap between lessons that were fairly simple and ones that I was not quite ready for and my progress stalled out. That problem was solved with the series Beginner Jazz Improvisation. He guides you step by step along the way and builds a foundation for learning jazz and blues. He leaves no question about what to practice … Read more
Pete
I would like to say that in the last year my sax playing has progressed loads from your lessons. I have had a sax for about 20 years and dabbled with lessons from a few teachers and have learnt very little from them. As you have said in your lessons many teachers tell you to use the blues scale and leave it there, not even showing you the resolution points!!. I am now believing I can in time become a good improviser.
Thanks again,
Shane
Shane
Steve- I joined your site this month and have downloaded 4 lessons and also purchased your new book and video on diatonic patterns. I just want to say I am very pleased with your approach and teaching techniques. I am getting back into playing after laying off for some time. The information you offer on your site is of great value and I am enjoying being a member. Thank you for what you are doing for the saxophone community.
Tony
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
Steve’s monthly lessons are entirely valuable. Without brow beating, he tells you all the stuff you deep down know you really should be working on, instead of just relying on the same old patterns. In spite of the fact that you’re taking a video lesson, Steve’s presentation is comfortable and “real”. In a little more than a year, he’s developed a library of lessons that seem to offer any player a lifetime’s worth of practice material. I’m just glad I stumbled upon it.… Read more
Grant

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