Friends of Alexander Bruce Johnstone "Discovering Alexander Reeds was a delightful surprise. For some time, I'd been frustrated by the inconsistencies I'd found with some of the other major brands, so it was a pleasure to experience a  consistency of
tone
throughout the whole range as well as sufficient edge and power when I
needed it. In addition, I now find an overall warmth and control
in my sound from subtone to triple forte with the Alexander DC cut.Reed longevity has also been a huge factor for me. These reeds last a long long time and the sound and feel is always reliable and without any dead spots. Alexander Reeds have performed well for me in a wide range of musical settings; jazz, funk/rock, latin, and symphonic pops. All I can say is they work beautifully. Try them and see for yourself... Bruce Johnstone Coming to the U.S. in the early 1970's, Bruce Johnstone emerged as rising a new baritone sax voice employing a different stylistic approach from the legacy of Pepper Adams and Gerry Mulligan. Born in New Zealand, the talented Johnstone started on clarinet at nine and within four years was playing professionally. At 16, moved by records he had heard from baritonists Adrian Rollini, Harry Carney, Gerry Mulligan and Serge Chaloff, he decided that the big horn "had his name on it" and thereafter devoted himself to mastering it. Following professional gigs in New Zealand, he then moved on to Australia and later to Europe where he continued to grow as a musician, playing with some top touring bands. In Denmark, he also had a chance to play and hang out with saxophone greats Ben Webster and Dexter Gordon. It was here that another good piece of luck came Bruce's way when Maynard Ferguson's lead trumpet player, Alan Downey, happened to hear his quartet. Within weeks, Johnstone received a telegram from Maynard offering him the baritone sax chair in his lauded big band in 1972.  Besides extensive touring with the Ferguson Band, he recorded three albums with them and wound up being placed in the #3 spot in Down Beat Magazine's Readers Poll behind Gerry Mulligan and Pepper Adams. He held this position for the next ten years and earned the nickname "The Bad Man" as a result of his memorable soloing in the band. After 4 great years in Maynard's band, Bruce moved to N.Y., signed with Arista's new Freedom label and with co-leaders Rick Petrone and Joe Corsello formed the new Jazz Fusion band New York Mary. Both albums produced by this band met with great critical success. While in N.Y. Bruce also recorded with Anthony Braxton (Creative Orchestra Music 1976) with blues singer Luther Allison. (The horn section being Michael and Randy Brecker, Lew Del Gatto and Johnstone.) Bruce with Maynard Ferguson Leaving Ferguson in 1976, Bruce then joined The Woody Herman Band where he recorded another 3 albums and toured with them until April 1978. This particular unit of Woody's included some other great players like long time Alexander Reed endorser Joe Lovano, as well as Jeff Hamilton, Marc Johnson, Frank Tiberi, Fred Hersch and many more who would also go on to make names for themselves. Since 1978, Johnstone has lived and worked in Western N.Y.(primarily Buffalo N.Y. and Erie PA) and maintains a busy concert/clinic schedule and has appeared with The Dave Stevens Big Band, The Buffalo Brass, The Erie Philharmonic Pops, The Bemus Bay Pops, his own small groups, The Don Menza Octet and The Navy Commodores at their annual International Saxophone Symposium in Virginia. He is also currently Director of Jazz Studies at SUNY Fredonia. N.B: I cite Bruce as one of my strongest influences on baritone sax when I started playing it in the mid 1970's. I'll never forget the first time I heard him on the tune "Got The Spirit" from the Maynard Furguson record "M.F Horn 4 & 5 - Live at Jimmy's" and how knocked out I was by his tone...which to me was like almost like that of a "giant tenor", a fresh and exciting sound which undoubtedly influenced other saxophonists as well. From my experience, in almost any discussion about the greatest jazz baritone saxophonists, the name Bruce Johnstone inevitably comes up. It is a real pleasure to welcome our newest Friend, renowned saxophonist, Bruce Johnstone. Tom Alexander Oct. 2011 Lew Del Gatto "I noticed in the jazz magazines that some of my favorite players were using Alexander reeds, so I tried some Superials. I noticed right away that they vibrated much better than the brand I had been using and  they helped me
improvise more freely and concentrate more on the music.After a little while I moved to the DC reeds. I found that I usually don't have to use a mic on live gigs because these reeds have great projection and I can always be heard. The DC's have a full-bodied sound with just the right amount of brightness to carry the sound and they record really well. Last year I started playing a new mouthpiece (A Theo Wanne GAIA 7*). It takes me a while to get used to a new piece, and in the first weeks I got a little frustrated and thought, "It must be the reed". So I went back and played the 'old' brand I used before switching to Alexander reeds. WRONG !!!.... the 'old' brand felt dead in comparison to the DC. I put the DC back on, and it felt like I was 'home' again. I follow Tom's recommended break-in method and I find that the reeds get a little stronger and last longer. I try to rotate 2 to 4 reeds and find that even when they dry out, when they are wet again they play great!" If there is one word to describe the woodwind work of Lew Del Gatto, it is versatility...In Lew's long and illustrious career he has covered just about every base there is to cover stylistically and his credits seem endless. To be able to pull off playing through such a wide range of musical styles takes exceptional talent and Lew has been "delivering the goods" in countless recording, TV and film score sessions, concerts and live gigs for decades. Lew's switching over to our reeds is a testament to how well they work in a myriad of different musical settings such as he is involved in. You will be amazed at how many of the greats Lew has performed with, a list filled with names too long to mention here but we welcome you to visit his detailed bio page to learn more about his illustrious career. Lew Del Gatto, a saxophonist's saxophone player who can do it all, one who has put our reeds to the test and one who honors us with his endorsement. Gregory Tardy "These are outstanding reeds! I found out about Alexander Reeds over a decade ago from mouthpiece expert Ralph Morgan. Since then, I have been using the combination of Morgan mouthpieces and Alexander  Reeds (DC
Cut). I find the Alexander Reeds to be very consistent and
vibrant
without being buzzy. The reeds give me the flexibility I need to
go
many directions musically. I love the cane that they use.
It is very
evenly textured and durable. I believe that these are simply the
best
reeds available for saxophone." New Orleans born, New York City based Saxophonist Gregory Tardy is a long time player of our reeds and joins us a Friend, one with many credits in both performance and recording. After early gigs with New Orleans icons the Neville Brothers and Allen Toussaint, Greg joined the band of Jazz drum master and legend Elvin Jones's Jazz Machine, and moved to the Jazz capitol of the world, New York City. From here his career jettisoned ahead through either performances or recordings with wide array of some of the top artists in jazz including Tom Harrell, Dave Douglas, Wynton Marsalis, Jay McShann, Steve Coleman, Betty Carter, James Moody, Bill Frisell, Rashied Ali , John Patitucci, Andrew Hill, Joe Lovano, Mark Turner, Chris Potter, Dewey Redman, Ravi Coltrane, Steve Swallow, Terrance Blanchard, Donald Brown, Don Byron, Uri Caine, Andrew Cyrille, Cornell Dupree, Roy Hargrove, Graham Haynes, John Hicks, Jazz @ Lincoln Center Orchestra, Jazz Composer’s Forum, Oliver Lake, Bill Lee, Brian Lynch, Jack McDuff, Ellis Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, David Murray Big Band, Eddie Palmieri, Bernard Purdy, Rufus Reid and many more...In addition Greg has played at major Jazz festivals and taught individual saxophone and clarinet, master’s classes, ensembles, theory, and clinics. In short, Gregory Tardy is happening and on the scene! Frank Macchia "I have fallen in love with the Alexander reeds. I'd been going through a period of trying many different brands in order to get a fuller, richer sound while keeping vibrancy and projection intact.  Curiosity got me to try a box of Alexanders. As soon as I played them I knew I had found the answer and now I feel they are the best reeds I've ever used! Not only did they give me the best sound I'd ever achieved, but almost every reed in the box is a winner! Whether I'm playing with a jazz quartet or with an orchestra I find these reeds the best." We welcome 2008 Grammy Nominee (Category 86, Best Instrumental Arrangement) Saxophonist/Composer/Arranger Frank Macchia as our latest "Friend". Frank Macchia is s Berklee College of Music graduate, having studied woodwinds with Joseph Viola, Joe Allard, Steve Grossman and composition/arranging with Herb Pomeroy, Phil Wilson, Greg Hopkins, Tony Texiera, and Ken Pullig. He received a National Endowment Grant for the Arts to compose a 90 minute continuous jazz/classical suite for large ensemble also won Down Beat magazine's DB award for original big band composition in 1979. After graduating with a degree in traditional composition, Frank taught at Berklee at the tender age of 20. In 1981 Frank moved back to the San Francisco area where he continued working as a musician and composer/arranger over the next ten years, performing concerts with such artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Rita Moreno, Tony Bennett, Jack Jones, Clare Fischer, Chuck Mangione, and the Temptations, to name a few. Frank Macchia has played with the following performers, among them others Billy Childs, Bonnie Raitt, Brian Wilson, Dionne Warwick, Eric Marienthal, George Russell, Jay Leno, Jimmy Giuffre, Johnny Mathis, Les Elgart Big Band, The Tonight Show Band, Tony Bennett, Vinnie Colauita and many more. Since 1992 he has worked as a composer/orchestrator on many films and television projects, including Superman Returns, Pirates of the Carribean 3, The Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Guardian, Miracle, X2-Xmen United, Men of Honor, The Contender, The Apt Pupil, Santa Clause 2, and television shows Night Visions, and the Tonight Show. In 2003 he completed his CD The Galapagos Suite, based on the animals of the Galapagos Islands. His CD, Animals was released in Fall 2004, featuring Frank on multi-woodwinds and a roster of some of Los Angeles best musicians. The follow-up CD, Mo' Animals featured Billy Childs, Vinnie Colauita, Howard Levy and many others. In 2006 he completed Emotions featuring the Prague Orchestra and showcasing Frank’s tenor saxophone skills. In December, 2007 Frank was nominated for the Grammy Awards, the category is Best Instrumental Arrangement for the song "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair" from his CD Landscape. This work shows the depth of Frank's talents as both a player and writer and we think we'll be hearing more from this inventive musician in the years to come. Kenny Berger “In the roughly 40 years I've been a professional jazz and studio baritone saxophonist on the New York scene, I can say unequivocally that Alexander reeds are the best I have ever played, and believe me, I've  tried virtually
every type of reed there is.
The quality and consistency of the cane and the solid core of sound I
get from them are just what I have been looking for." A
mainstay of the New York Baritone Sax
world, Kenny Berger has performed and/or recorded with the following
jazz artists: "As a young
saxophonist in today's Saxophonist/pianist and composer Jameel Roberts, began playing saxophone at the age of 11. He played in the Baptist church and found the sounds of reggae and calypso at home from his Caribbean born parents. By high school he was playing professionally in many different venues. In the fall of 2000, he was granted a full scholarship to attend William Paterson University and study with Don Braden. While there, he also studied with the late legendary Jazz Messenger pianist, James Williams. Upon graduating from William Paterson University, Roberts caught the ear of trombonist John Mosca, musical director of the acclaimed Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Mosca asked the young saxophonist to play with the band and he now performs frequently with the Vanguard Orchestra. Jameel's uniqueness lies in his ability to play in multiple genres of music. Roberts is never limited to one genre and has developed ties to the Hip Hop and Gospel music worlds. He is currently the saxophonist for rap veteran LL Cool J. He has also recorded with Wu tang Clan's member Redman and the Soul Diggaz production team. In the jazz world he actively plays with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and has performed with Clark Terry, the late James Williams, Bill Mobley, Richard DeRosa, Jim McNeely, and numerous others. He currently lives in NYC and is working on his piano/Rhodes & saxophone debut recording. "Superial
reeds are Gene Walker is a jazz saxophonist, composer, bandleader and recording studio musician, and Professor of Saxophone at Ohio State University. Since 1956, Gene has toured with the Beatles, Arethan Franklin, King Curtis, Wilson Pickett, Sam Cook, Jackie Wilson, Jimmy McGriff, Etta Jones, Elvin Jones, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, the Drifters, the Platters, and others (the list goes on and on).
Amazing pics of Gene on tour with the Beatles in 1965. _ _ "After 50
years of performing in Alaadeen is a real Kansas City legend, having started his career at the age 14(!) after studying with Leo Davis, a teacher of Charlie Parker. He has performed with the likes of Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Jay McShann, Ella Fitzgerald, The Count Basie Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, and Motown stars Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and Sam Cooke. He has also been honored with no less than the US Congressonal Award, the Missouri Governor's Award, the Jazz Heritage Award, the Missouri Humanities Council's Community Heritage Award and the Missouri Arts Award. We are honored to have this musical cultural treasure Mr. Alaadeen become a Friend of Superial. ° We regret to announce that Ahmad Alaadeen passed away on August 15, 2010"I've been
putting up with New York City based saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree has gigged with, among others, the following jazz musicians: Bob Moses, Jim McNeely, Howard Johnson, Ronnie Matthews, Pete Yellin, Odeon Pope and many more. Dennis also plays with the American Music Group, which presented his "Suite No.1" at Carnegie Hall in 1995. Gunnar Mossblad "Superior
cane, Masterful Gunnar Mossblad is active as a saxophonist, composer/arranger, and educator in both the European classical and American jazz idioms. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies and a Master of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of North Texas. He is currently the Director of the University of Toledo International Center for Jazz, and has formerly taught at James Madison University (VA), and West Chester University (PA). His performing credits include collaborations with David Liebman, Marv Stamm, Royce Campbell, John Díearth, Hod Oíbrien, Woody Herman, Mel TormÈ, John Coates, Jr., and many others. As the founder of Visions, a contemporary jazz quintet, and more recently, The Manhattan Saxophone Ensemble, and the Mph Trio Gunnar has gained an outstanding reputation as a performer, composer, and improviser. He also serves as the musical director for the David Liebman Big Band. His compositions as well as performing can be heard with his jazz quintet on the Four Leaf Clover Records release, Visions (FLC-4098), with the Manhattan Saxophone Ensemble on David Liebmanís Classique (OWL-066CD), and with Liebman on Joy: The Music of John Coltrane (Candid Records CCD79531). Convergence (MM-CD2002) available through North Country Distributors has received critical acclaim and features both his performing and his compositions. A clinician/soloist for the Selmer Company, Elkhart, IN., Gunnar teaches and performs master classes and clinics. For information on his performance schedule or bookings please contact Gunnar at: 401
S.
Bradford Ave. "I've used
your Superial reeds exclusively since Ralph Morgan introduced them to
me in the mid 90's. Larry is the last of the playing band leaders with his own orchestra from the swing era. His career started at age 15 playing Lead Alto with Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman's first herd, Jack Jenny, Red Norvo, and others. He has recorded 55 albums, and his "Hooked On Swing" recorded in 1982, has the distinction of being the biggest selling big band or swing album in recorded music history.Larry is performing at concert venues across America and Australia and has been invited as a guest soloist with various orchestras in the US and abroad, and a big band cruise aboard the Queen Elizabeth II. Bill Pierce "I've found Superial "DC" reeds to be dark, resonant, and vibrant. I can push them and keep the same quality of tone. They remind me of reeds from the past...the cut and cane quality is very consistent and they tend to last for a very long time. Once I find a one that works for me, I use it for weeks and that's a lot for me. I'm enjoying the "DC"s a lot,They work great!!!!!! Bill Pierce has performed and recorded with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams, Art Farmer, James Williams, Hank Jones, Art Blakey, Branford Marsalis, and Wynton Marsalis, as well as being a featured saxophonist at major international jazz festivals. "It is rare
in this day to Jazz
saxophonist
Daniel Ian Smith is a saxophone instructor at the Berklee
School of Music, and Boston big bandleader.
Tim Price "Superial and
Superial "DC" Reeds Saxophone Journal columnist, author, Selmer Artist, Keilworth Artist (Straight Alto), and clinician Tim Price, has also performed with such players as Don Patterson, Cecil Payne, George Young, Jack McDuff, Al Grey, Billy James, Mickey Roker, Ira Sullivan, Gary McFarland, Lew Tabackin, Aretha Franklin, Dr. John, and many others. _
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musical world I
needed a reed that allowed me to play many different genres of music.
Alexander reeds are hands down the best there are. My biggest concern
with a reed was control. "Superials" have a warm center and they give
me the control I need in all aspects of my sound. This is most obvious
in my dynamics and control of my sub tone & altissimo. Overall the
Alexander Superials seal extremely well and they last longer then any
reed out there. They are my reed of choice for all my gigs with the
Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. But I also love having the option of
playing Alexander DC's for my hip hop gigs. When I play with LL Cool J,
Alexander DC's give me the brightness and response I need to cut
through the band and tracks. Whatever the style of music, I know I can
trust my Alexander reeds to come through for me. Thanks Tom for a great
product and keep up the exceptional work."
the
most
reliable and durable
reeds I have ever used. I recommend them to my students and to my
fellow artists whenever I can. Thank you, Mr. Alexander for
accomplishing what no one else has ever done for woodwinds."
a diverse range of
situations on both tenor and soprano saxophones, the Alexander Superial
DC reeds are by far the best I have found to date. Following the clear
and concise break-in recommendations that come with each box of reeds,
I have found my reed concerns solved in most all aspects. The
discriminating factors that I have found with Tom Alexander's reeds
that place them above other manufactured brands are impeccable
intonation, free and even blowing in all registers, and longevity. I
recommend these reeds without hesitation to both professional peers and
my advanced students alike."
awful reeds for
years. I thought it was just one of those things you had to deal with.
Then I tried Alexander "DC" Reeds on my tenor......AMAZING! The even
tone I could get throughout every register just blew me away. I also
dig the fact that I don't have to blow my brains out to get a great
tone in the upper register and the lower register comes out beautifully
without having to put up a fight. Soft, loud, it doesn't matter; it
always sounds and feels great. Now, I can finally put all that energy
into the music! I recently went on tour and took a couple of boxes of
my old brand with me to hedge my bets. In the middle of the tour, I
used my old brand for two seconds before switching back to the DCs.
There was no comparison....The Alexanders are just the best reeds you
can use.."
craftsmanship, and consistency.
What more could anyone ask from a reed? BRAVO!"
find a reed of such consistent
quality as the Superial and Superial "DC" saxophone reed. How can you
deny the quality of a brand like this that gives you such a high
percentage of good playing reeds right out of the box?! Finally,
Superial and "DC" Reeds offer ALL the important qualities a fine reed
should possess: well seasoned cane which is consistently cut and
finished, and with plenty of "wood" in the "heart" making them last.
contain the essence of a vintage
reed and the state of the art refinements that we as saxophone players
require. Without a doubt, these reeds are a love supreme! I got a new
reed out of the box yesterday on alto. First one I picked out BLEW
INCREDIBLY! I said "It isn't supposed to happen this way." Then I said,
"Sure it is, it's an Alexander Superial." And I've had the same reed on
my soprano for two months."