Holy Grail of set-ups?
"This really is cutting edge thinking for contemporary saxophonists: Today's pro player has to deliver in a wider than ever variety of contexts, ranging from straight ahead jazz to pop and fusion - to classical or commercial playing such as theatre or session work. For the past two years I have been alternating between the Mauriat 66R, rolled tone hole tenor for my jazz work, with Stan Tracey, Martin Drew or the Three Jazz Tenors, and the Mauriat 500BX Black Pearl, nickel silver tenor for a brighter, more contemporary sound. With the Mauriat Magnum, nickel silver crook I can brighten the 66R sound and get the best of both worlds. The fatness and depth of the 66R tone is still there, but I now have the added ease of articulation, and projection from the crook. I can move between the genres, with ease, without changing horns. For sax players who like to change mouthpieces for different gigs, switching crooks is a much easier way to refocus the sound. No problems with embouchure or reeds, just stick to one mouthpiece set up. The Magnum crook has made a definite improvement to my sound. Last week I had an album date with the great Welsh drummer Dave Barry, playing classic Miles Davis tunes from the mid 60s, and I have to say it was one of my easiest ever days in the studio, thanks largely to this new crook. I strongly recommend serious players to give it a try"
Mornington Lockett, London 16/09/09