Jazz Baritone mouthpiece

[Jazzsax93]

Hi,
i'll try and kick off this forum, by asking if anyone can recommend a moutpiece they've used/use still that is good for playing Jazz and it's various branches? I've tried one not too long ago, the BL4 from Vandoren, that provided a really 'fat' sound, there's no other word for it. It was great for getting the sound across and a good tone, not however, you're traditional Baritone harshness.

Any others you know of?

[Scotty J - Sax Specialist]

Hi Jack, welcome

Quite surprised you got that out a BL4, it's a classical based mouthpiece lol, never mind, we all get different things out of different mouthpieces, I use to use a Lawton ebonite for my classical work on my alto, figure that one out!

Anyway, currently, I'm using a Yanagisawa ebonite for mine, find I can get a nice set of genre's out of it, I use it in big bands, sax quartet's, even soul band/function band work, and it covers all occasions nicely.

One that my pupil has got, which is amazingly loud and works well for him (he does a lot of big bands and solo work on bari), the Jodyjazz DV, huge large sound, brilliant sounding too.

Hope this has helped.

Peace, love and saxophones!
Scotty J

[Jazzsax93]

Thanks Scotty, will definitely have a look at those two.

Quite surprised you got that out a BL4, it's a classical based mouthpiece

There may be a bit of "Wow, what a difference that was" to that. It was quite a step up. But the first thing I did on that was a charleston blues bass line in a saxophone class led by Pete Long. Best half an hour of playing i've had in a long time It felt right playing on that one, despite it's classical design. I'm as confused as you are.

Jack

[Jules - Sax Specialist]

Always found the BL4 great for that 'play a baritone as if it was a cello' sort of approach that seems standard for classical work. My top tip on baritone for jazz, R&B and section work is the Rousseau JDX, great pieces- big sound, a bit of edge and- useful- quite a small profile so they don't feel too alien to those used to tenor mouthpieces....