Sam Blakeslee is originally from Columbus, OH where he was a member of the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Todd Stoll. Through that group, he had the opportunity to travel to Italy and perform at the Fano and Mosciligiano san Angelo Jazz Festivals in 2007.

During his studies at Youngstown State University he has had the privilege to perform with Slide Hampton, Allen Vizzutti, Ralph Lalama, Rufus Reid, Vaughn Nark, and the local legend and mentor Shedrick Hobbs. Sam is a member of Mojo: The Generations Big Band. He has also been very active on the Cleveland freelance scene where he has had the pleasure to play with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Heritage Jazz Orchestra, The Paul Ferguson Jazz Orchestra, Sean Jones, Jiggs Whigham, Jim Rupp, Ernie Krivda’s Fat Tuesday Big Band, UpEnsemble, Bobby Sanabria, Carol Morgan, Bobby Selvaggio’s Hendectet, The Brad Wagner Sextet, Dave Morgan, and also has recorded with the pop group O.A.R.

In the spring of 2010, Sam was chosen to be one of fifteen people nationwide to attend the Steans Institute for the Young Artist at Ravinia where he studied with Rufus Reid, Curtis Fuller, Dr. Nathan Davis, and Dr. David Baker. In the summer of 2010 Sam performed at the Parma Jazz Festival in Parma, Italy with an alumni group from the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra. His arrangement of the bassist George Mraz’ composition Blues For Sarka was performed by the University of Akron Jazz Ensemble in a concert that featured George Mraz as a guest artist. This past April he was accepted into Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead Residency at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C where he had the chance to study with Curtis Fuller, Dr. Nathan Davis, George Cables, Chip Jackson, and Carmen Lundy. Through that residency he performed on the Millennium Stage to a worldwide audience.
Sam is currently pursuing a masters degree in classical trombone from the University of Akron. Upon completion of his degree, he plans to move to New York City.

Equipment:

• For jazz, Sam uses a 1970′s King 3B Trombone (This horn was rebuilt for Sam by Everett Beeman and he sounds great on it! Everett replaced any ruined parts, removed all of the lacquer and removed all dents. He then rebuilt the entire main slide and put on a custom finish). Sam uses a Jiggs Whigham 1A signature mouthpiece in this instrument.
• For classical, his set up is a Courtois Legend Bb/F Tenor Trombone with a Vincent Bach 5GS Mouthpiece.

We have both of these mouthpieces in stock and are both King and Courtois dealers.  We currently have a used 3B in stock.  Call today and make an appointment to try it out!  330-673-1525.

We are very proud that Sam has bought his equipment at our store and brings his horns to us for repair.  It is a real treat for us to deal with such a pro player and great guy!

Here is a great video of Sam playing on his jazz setup:

Check out this article about his upcoming performance in the Youngstown Jazz Festival as well!

Used Music Man 2005 Limited Edition Sting Ray

Beautiful 2005 Limited Edition Sting Ray 4-string bass in absolutely excellent condition. Not a mark on it.

• Single humbucker pickup
• 3-band active EQ
• Tortoise shell pick guard
• Compensated nut
• “Unfinished” neck for a very smooth feel
• Limited Edition finish
• Matching Headstock
• Hard shell case

See this used Music Man Sting Ray 4-string bass and all the other great guitars at Woodsys.com

Feel free to come in and try them on your mouthpiece or one of ours.

A new setup could make a world of difference!

-click on the images or titles for more details-

Rovner Dark

Rovner Versa

Rovner Platinum

Francois Louis Ultimate Ligature

Francois Louis Ultimate Ligature (Silver)

Francois Louis Pure Brass

Vandoren Optimum

Vandoren Leather LC27P

Vandoren Klassik

The Olegature

Rico H Ligature

Fortissimo Tension Ring Ligature

We also have an extensive stock of student ligatures.  We have used ligatures as well, including the products you see above.  Please feel free to call for more details or come in and try them out!

Dave Sterner is a saxophonist, composer and educator who has spent his musical career in the Midwest. He holds a degree in Jazz Performance from Indiana University where he spent many years playing in funk and blues bands. He combines those influences with that of swing to produce his unique sound. “I want music to be fun for listeners,” says Sterner. “Easy to understand and enjoy, but with a level of tradition and integrity.”

Sterner is on the faculty of the renowned Cuyahoga Community College Jazz Studies Program. He directs the Lakeland Community College Civic Jazz Orchestra and the Lakeland Jazz Festival, and has been involved with the Fine Arts Association, Western Reserve Fine Arts and the Cleveland Music School Settlement.

In addition to his own quintet, Sterner has performed with David Sanborn, Phil Woods, Louis Bellson, Aretha Franklin, Harry Connick, Jr., the Manhattan Transfer, The Temptations, Tony Bennett, David “Fathead” Newman, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band and many more nationally-known artists. He has also recorded with Ernie Krivda’s Fat Tuesday Big Band, N. Glenn Davis Quintet, featuring Phil Woods, (Jazzed Media) and the Jazz Heritage Orchestra.

In 2006, The Dave Sterner Quintet released the self-produced CD What’s What. In 2007, the group received “The Best Jazz Band” award from the Cleveland FREE TIMES magazine, and in 2009 Dave claimed the “Best Horn” title from Cleveland Scene magazine. Just released, Sidetracked (Speak Jazz Records, 2011) is Sterner’s second quintet release, inspired by the traditions of Cannonball Adderley and Horace Silver, mixed with the modern language of Joshua Redman and John Ellis.

Dave’s most recent release is “Sidetracked” (which we carry the in the Woodsy’s band department). Here is a great video of the quintet in the studio:

Dave’s Alto setup:

Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone – We have had these in stock and do repair work on them frequently.  We are a Selmer dealer and have different models in stock.

Frank Wells Mouthpiece

LaVoz Medium reeds – These are always in stock and sold individually as well as by the box

Francois Louis Ultimate Ligature – This is a shop favorite.  If you have not tried not one out you should make it a point to stop in to the store.

Dave’s Soprano setup:

Selmer Mark VI Soprano Saxophone

Selmer S80 D Mouthpiece – Crafted from hard rod rubber and has a square cross section in the chamber.  The S80 D has a medium tip opening as well as a medium facing length

La Voz MH reeds

Francois Louis Ultimate Ligature

As well as being a gifted player, Dave is a very well known educator in the NE Ohio area.  We carry many of the books he uses with his private students.  Some of these titles include:

• Lennie Niehaus’s Jazz Conception For Saxophone
• The Charlie Parker Omnibook
• Bach: 2 Part Interventions by Larry Teal
• Jerry Bergonzi’s Inside Improvisation Series
• J.L Small’s 27 Melodius and Rhythmical Exercises
• 48 Famous Studies for Oboe or Saxophone by W. Ferling

We have a great selection of trumpets, flugelhorns, and cornets in the Woodsy’s band department.  We stock both new and used professional instruments that have a wide price range. Our stock includes, but is not limited to:

TRUMPET

Bach Stradivarius NY #7 (Limited Edition-brand new!)

Bach Stradivarius #37

Bach Stradivarius #43

Bach Stradivarius #182

Getzen Eterna Proteus

Getzen 900S Eterna Classic Silver

Conn Connstellation

Olds Super LA (1932)

CORNET

King Super 20 Silver Sonic

FLUGELHORN

Conn Vintage One

Courtois

Feel free to come in to the store and try out any of these great horns!
We have a great selections of mouthpieces as well.

Our wall is filled with the most quality strings ranging from beginner to professional with many different sound qualities to choose from.

Our stock includes and is not limited to:

• Thomastik-Infeld Vienna (Dominant, Spirocore, Vision, etc.)
• D’Addario (Prelude, Helicore, ProArte, etc.)
• Evah Pirazzi
• Pirastro (Tonica, Obligato, Oliv, etc.)
• Passione
• Larsen
• Supernil
  

Rogers Snare signed by Les Paul and Mitch Mitchell

What we have here is a nice old Rogers snare. Not original at all, the lugs and tension rods have been replaced, but a nice old drum.

The fun part is the autographs. The drum has been signed by Les Paul, Mitch Mitchell, and a third, unknown signature. The signatures were gotten in Nashville in 1996 at a vintage drum show which was put on by Not So Modern Drummer Magazine’s then publisher and editor John Aldridge in conjunction with the Summer NAMM Show.

We don’t have any particular authentication for the signatures other than the say-so of the previous owner, so help us out if you like.  If you were at that show, let us know. If you’ve seen Mitch Mitchell’s signature, and that ain’t it, tell us that too! Or, if you’d like the drum, make us an offer. 1-800-468-1525

Ernie Krivda begins his 6th decade on the music scene “on the move” following 10 years of intense activity, achievement and recognition. In 2009 Ernie Krivda received the Cleveland Arts Prize award for lifetime achievement in music. That same year saw the release of perhaps his most adventurous recording, the critically acclaimed solo saxophone improvisations of November Man. The banner year ended with Krivda being awarded a CPAC (Community Partnership of Arts and Culture) Fellowship worth twenty thousand dollars.

In a career that spans almost 50 years, Krivda enters the new decade with the respect of his peers and the accolades of critics who have called him one of the greatest jazz tenor saxophonists in the world. His very personal and distinctive improvisational style, along with his unique compositions, has been documented on 30 recordings under his name and many others as a guest artist. The last decade has been his most prolific with eight releases since 2003, and more due out in 2010-2012.

Ernie Krivda was born in Cleveland, began his music studies at age 6, and attended The Cleveland Institute of Music before going on the road. Since that time he has shared the stage with some of the great names in jazz. He was mentored by musicians such as Cannonball Adderley, played in the Quincy Jones Orchestra and performed with artists ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Jackie Wilson.

Krivda has made his home in Cleveland for most of his life but his music takes him across the United States, and into the concert halls of Europe and Japan. He also is a highly respected teacher and clinician who mentored many young jazz musicians working on the world jazz scene. He projects include the Detroit Connection Quartet, and has a “Live at the Dirty Dog” recording scheduled for release on CIMPOL this year and two others due out in the near future.

Ernie’s most recent album is a tribute to the late, local cartoonist Harvey Pekar.  It is called “Blues for Pekar“and has been receiving rave reviews, including a Downbeat Magazine Editor’s Choice Award.

Here is a great behind-the-scenes look at the making of the album narrated by Ernie himself:

Ernie’s current setup is:

• King Super 20 Tenor saxophone – This legendary horn was made in the Cleveland King factory and is famous throughout the world.  We have sold these and worked on them in our shop.
• Metal Bay Mouthpiece #10 - We are a Bay dealer and get the mouthpiece that you need!
• Francois Louis Ligature – This is one of our most popular products.  Make it a point to come in to the store and try one out if you have not had a chance.
• Alexander NY #3 Reeds- We keep these in stock at all times. They are a favorite amongst our customers
• Oleg Ergonomic Sax Strap – A very comfortable strap that distributes the weight of your horn evenly on your neck and back.  Bring your horn in and try one out in the shop.

Be sure to check out Ernie’s website for tour dates, more media and cd’s!

We now have Warburton mouthpieces in stock!

A Series Hard Rubber

• Big projection with a very bright sound
• Thin walled body with a long bore
• Hand finished baffle, table and facing
• Includes a Rovner light ligature

C Series Hard Rubber

• Design for classical saxophonist
• French style square chamber
• Hard rubber construction with a silver plated brass shank reinforcement ring
• Handcrafted facing and baffle
• Great response with a warm sound

J Series Hard Rubber

• A great free-blowing Jazz mouthpiece
• Completely hand-finished
• Round chamber design

“Jody, You have humanized, what it is to play saxophone. I didn’t know this level of spontaneity and accuracy was possible before I played your mouthpiece. You have excited me about playing. I feel like there’s nothing in my mouth. Knowledge, Heart and Creativity have gone into making this mouthpiece. Every person who plays this mouthpiece will want one”

-Ornette Coleman

Here at Woodsy’s we have a great selection of Jody’s mouthpieces and most of us even own one!  Jody’s mouthpieces are known for their projection and being extremely free-blowing.  This is a result of superior design and innovation.  Come in today and try one out.  They speak for themselves.  Here is what we have in stock currently:

Jody Jazz Classic

• Extremely versatile mouthpiece suited for jazz, funk, and beyond
• Made of proprietary polycarbonate alloy with a synthetic rubber mix
• Comes with a removable baffle.  A spoiler on the baffle acts as a second reed that vibrates or disturbs the sound waves inside the mouthpiece

Jody Jazz Hard Rubber

• Great “straight-ahead” mouthpiece, suited for jazz and big-band playing.
• Produces a beautiful, warm tone
• Round, medium  size chamber
• Made with hard rubber obtained from a “source” in Germany.  The look and feel is reminiscent of the look, feel, and sound of vintage hard rubber mouthpieces

Jody Jazz Metal DV

• 24 kt gold plated
• Produces a bright, fat tone with major projection
• Considered the contemporary piece of the DV collection
• Pictured above is the secondary window which allows the moving sound wave inside of the mouthpiece to strike the vibrating reed above the bore.
• Jody explains this effect as “similar to a moving ball striking a moving bat.”

Jody Jazz Metal DV NY

• 24 kt. gold plated
• Also has a secondary window with the same effects
• Has a darker, “classic-jazz” sound.
• Deeper baffle/chamber design
• Has a bit more resistance than the DV but still very free-blowing

Jody Jazz Metal DV Chicago

• Silver plated metal
• Darker than the DV with a brighter, more modern tone that the DV NY
• Scalloped chamber which allows for the player to push more air through the mouthpiece
• Powerful and husky

COOL JODY JAZZ LINKS:

Caught on Jody Jazz Vol. I

Free Saxophone Lesson from Jody

Mouthpiece Comparison Chart