Right Choices: Top Yamaha Saxophone Artists Choose the Ideal Instruments For Players

Phil Woods

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Yamaha's Band & Orchestral Division recently unveiled the new Limited-Edition Saxophone promotion featuring instruments chosen by legendary artists Phil Woods, Dave Koz and Jeff Coffin. The program also features limited number of YAS-82Z saxophones, which were treated via a unique process called cryogenic treatment, which involves the use of liquid nitrogen to lower the temperature in a specially designed computer controlled freezer. The special saxophones will be available for sale through Yamaha dealers during fall 2009.

"These instruments are a bold statement in saxophone design, utilizing the best of old-world design and modern manufacturing techniques," states Kurt Witt, Marketing Manager, Winds, Yamaha Band & Orchestral Division. "Each artist went through a long process testing and narrowing down the instruments to a final group. Repeatedly, the artists praised the instruments they selected and noted that they could literally be played on a gig that very night."

Dave Koz

The complete Artist Selection process has been chronicled through Yamaha's various social websites including the Yamaha Winds blog, yamahawinds.wordpress.com and on also its Facebook page, facebook.com/yamahawinds There, users can view videos detailing the process along with interviews with the artists.

The saxophones specially chosen by the artists include 16 YAS-82ZUPW (Phil Woods), 15 YAS-62SIIDK (Dave Koz), 10 YTS-82ZUJC (Jeff Coffin) and 20 YAS-82ZLN, cryogenically frozen models. The instruments will showcased at nationwide Yamaha Band & Orchestral dealers. Each saxophone will ship with a certificate of authenticity showing the serial number, lot number (#1 of 16 etc.) along with the artist's signature.

Each instrument comes with an array of accessories including a Yamaha Monster sax swab, TD-100 tuner, AirCell neckstrap and a ME-D1 metronome. Additionally, an iTunes giftcard will be included in the package giving the buyer the ability to purchase music by the selected artist. Buyers of the cryogenic treated YAS-82Z will also be given the Yamaha metal thumbhook and metal thumb button, which help give the instrument added projection and tone color along with an extremely high-quality leather flight case.

Jeff Coffin

For more information on the new Artist Selected Saxophones and for a list of dealers visit the Yamaha Winds blog: yamahawinds.wordpress.com and the Yamaha Winds Facebook page: facebook.com/yamahawinds.

For more info on Yamaha Band & Orchestral products, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, Wind Instruments, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/band.