SAXQUEST GRAND OPENING
June 14 – Noon to 6:30PM
Saxquest is happy to announce the Grand Opening of its new store front location and the Grand Opening of the Saxquest Saxophone Museum. The museum showcases a huge collection of many of the finest and rarest saxophones in the world as well as a collection of vintage saxophone accessories and other historic saxophone memorabilia. The museum is located on the 2nd floor of the Saxquest shop and is free and open to the public.
Included in the museum’s collection is a fully restored quartet of original pre-civil war Adolphe Sax saxophones (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone). Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone in 1846 and very few of his original instruments still exist. Also featured is a Conn-O-Sax, made by the C.G. Conn company in 1928. This wonderful and fascinating instrument was the brainchild of their ill-conceived idea of replacing the orchestra’s English horn with a saxophone. Other highlights from the collection include a quintet of 1920’s vintage gold plate artist model Conn saxophones (alto, c-melody, tenor, bari, bass) with exquisite hand cut engraving, a 1950’s vintage arcrylic Grafton saxophone (made famous by Charlie Parker at Massey Hall in New York), a Selmer Paris saxophone commemorating their 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair gold medal for clarinet design, and many other rare and one-of-a-kind saxes. From the huge bass saxophone to the obscenely small sopranisimo saxophone, the Saxquest Saxophone Museum is a real St. Louis treasure for the music lover or the eclectic museum goer.
Saxquest has established itself as one of the most trusted saxophone specialty shops in the United States and the only one in the St. Louis metro area. Saxquest carries one of the largest inventories of vintage saxophones in the country as well as a full line of saxophone and clarinet accessories offered at the lowest prices anywhere. The Saxquest repair shop has garnered national attention. Two full time master-craftsmen and one apprentice perform complete mechanical restorations on woodwind and brass instruments and cater to musicians demanding top-professional level work. As such, Saxquest takes in work from some of the most discriminating professional players all over the country in addition to doing many local repairs.
Grand Opening Day Events
The Saxquest Grand Opening Day will include numerous activities marking this unique event including performances, recitals, clinics and master-classes by top level professionals, all free and open to the public. Saxquest is a strong advocate of the local St. Louis music scene and believes whole-heartedly in supporting music education for adults and our city’s youth. Food and drink will be served and door prizes awarded. We invite everyone to come celebrate with us, and encourage St. Louis visitors to make the Saxquest Saxophone Museum a must-see stop on their journey through our great city. Detailed schedule of the day’s events below:
NOON-1PM – Chamber Project St. Louis new music ensemble – Catch a sneak peak of St. Louis’ newest performing ensemble! Chamber Project Saint Louis is composed of a group of professional musicians dedicated to offering exciting performances of mixed ensemble chamber music in intimate settings. Here, CPSTL will be presenting a Woodwind Sextet (woodwind quintet + saxophonist, Adrianne Honnold). Adrianne has her Master’s in classical saxophone performance from U of I (Champaign) and is one of the top-call saxophonist for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. The other members of the group include: Jennifer Gartley – flute, Laura Guyer Ross – Oboe, Dana Hotle – Clarinet, Gregory P. Caldwell – Bassoon and Carole Lemire – French Horn.
1PM-2PM – James Bunte recital and master class (Yamaha supported clinic) – Dr. Bunte is the saxophone professor at CCM (Cincinnati Conservatory of Music) and Yamaha clinician. He’ll be giving a classical saxophone recital and master class with piano accompaniment. Program details to be announced. As a concert saxophonist, Bunte is a principle with the Cincinnati Symphony and has performed with the Dayton Philharmonic, Eugene Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Richmond Symphony (IN), Kentucky Symphony, the Springfield Symphony (OH) and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra. An active recitalist, he has performed and given master classes throughout the United States, and gave his Carnegie Hall debut in February of 2006. An accomplished doubler, Bunte has performed on flute and clarinet with the Cincinnati Symphony and was clarinetist for the Lyrique en Mer opera orchestra in summer 2006.
2PM-3PM – Paul “Doc” Tenney mouthpiece and embouchure clinic – Dr. Tenney “Doc” has worked with many of the greatest players on the “who’s who” list of jazz throughout the years. He’s an expert mouthpiece refacer and master-craftsman. This is a rare opportunity to hear Doc expel his wisdom on tone production, embouchure, equipment, and other insights related to playing the saxophone.
3PM-4PM – Paul DeMarinis jazz quartet – Paul is director of jazz studies and associate professor of music at Webster University He’s an active and well-respected jazz performer and clinician on both the national stage and the St. Louis scene. He has a long association as a saxophonist with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and other playing credits too numerous to mention.
4PM-5PM – Kim Bock jazz performance and clinic – Kim Bock is one of the truly great young jazz musicians on the New York scene today. His playing draws on a multitude of influences including Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane and exudes a deep musical sensibility and instrumental expertise. Born in Denmark, Kim got one of his first big breaks when he was picked up by Maynard Ferguson in 2000, touring extensively with his Big Bop Nouveau Band. He has since gone on to record with his own quartet and most recently an organ trio (SteepleChase label).
“Kim Bock is a player that fits into the category of world-famous jazz artists that have passed through my band, to name a few; Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Peter Erskine and Slide Hampton. As my featured tenor saxophone player, Kim displays, night after night, outstanding musicianship with exceptional skills on the saxophone and a deep knowledge of the jazz idiom that makes a truly great jazz artist” – Maynard Ferguson
“Mr. Bock is an exceptional player who has matched the physical challenges of his instrument, as illustrated by impressive technique and an appealing tone, both of which he has achieved through genuine talent and serious wood shedding. He’s done lots of listening, and his playing on tenor has reminded me of John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter” – Phillip Booth (contributor to DownBeat & Jazziz)
5PM-6:30PM – OPEN JAM SESSION – Hang out and play with Kim Bock and others………..