Inside the saxophone and the clarinet

Seven working professionals - from Cologne to Lima to Florence - share exactly what they play, the biggest mistakes players make when choosing a mouthpiece, and how they knew it was time to change.

This guide breaks down the documented saxophone, mouthpiece, and reed setups of 12 of the most influential saxophonists in history - from Charlie Parker and Lester Young through to Wayne Shorter and Michael Brecker. We look at what each player actually used, why it shaped their sound, and which Syos mouthpiece gets you closest to that same tonal territory.