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Recent Posts

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  What does Jazz Improvisation have in common with Ancient Egypt?

  If you want any chance of confidently finding your way through a jazz chord chart, there are certain building blocks you need to understand, and the Minor 2-5-1 is one of the big ones! I still remember staring at my first chord chart and thinking, this might as well be Tutankhamun’s tomb. Strange symbols everywhere. I felt intimidated and, honestly,

  6 October, 2026
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  Restoring the Mysterious Swanee Saxophone

  This Swanee ‘Slide’ Saxophone was featured at SaxoFest as part of the Saxophone Family display, but it was not in playable condition. I took it home to see what could be done with a bit of TLC. Through some online research I was able to determine that these were made in the UK, probably in the late 1920’s (Samuel Bowley

  9 September, 2026
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  The Magic of Handcrafted Leather Saxophone Accessories

  The production process at MG Leather Work often doesn’t get seen by customers of our handmade music accessories so we wanted to share what happens behind the scenes. There’s something magical in the way a piece of leather turns into a personalised luxury accessory. MG Leather Work handcrafts saxophone straps, pouches for saxophone necks and wireless transmitters, and even instrument

  25 August, 2026
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  The Tenor, The Squeak, and The Seesaw of Doom (Part 1)

  For several years, my tenor sax and I have had what can only be described as a polite but strained relationship. I bought it second‑hand during the pandemic, a time when many people baked sourdough or learned Italian, while I apparently chose to adopt a tenor saxophone that had barely been played. In hindsight, this may have been a warning

  19 August, 2026
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  Performing at SaxoFest – An Unforgettable Experience

  SaxoFest was always going to be a special occasion. Not only was it a celebration of everything saxophone, but it also marked the 10th anniversary of Sax Bandits. What started as an idea to bring saxophonists together to play for fun has grown into a thriving family of musicians of all ages and abilities. After experiencing SaxoFest first-hand, it’s easy

  10 August, 2026
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  SaxoFest – Supporting Younger People With Dementia

  We are incredibly grateful to Sax Bandits for choosing to support Younger People With Dementia (YPWD) through their first ever festival, SaxoFest. SaxoFest raised an incredible £3,564.75 for families living with young onset dementia. Watch our reactions to the official announcement below: Every pound raised at SaxoFest will help us continue supporting people diagnosed with dementia under the age of

  5 August, 2026