I’ve been meaning to write about this for a few days now.
Ten years ago, we never would we have imagined that bringing a few prototypes to the saxophonist with this cool, funky, eclectic group called Bela Fleck & the Flecktones would result in a great relationship with one of the world’s top musicians playing in one of the most popular bands on the planet.
Of course, we’re talking about Jeff Coffin. And it was about 10-years ago this summer I brought out a couple of prototype YTS-82Z tenor saxophones for Jeff to try while the Flecktones were on tour in Los Angeles. The saxophones were launched a few years later to an amazing response, and now Jeff is on tour with the Dave Matthews Band playing in front of 30,000 each night, still using one of the very first Yamaha YTS-82Z tenors he tried. In the interest of full disclosure, his horn is actually called a YTS-862 (serial number 1004). This was the prototype model number during the development stages.
Last week while Jeff was in town, we did a photo shoot with our favorite photographer Steve Anderson for an upcoming magazine article (he’ll be on the cover), and a Yamaha poster due out in October 2010. Here’s a short video of the shoot, and yes…we had a lot of fun that day.
Jeff’s arsenal of instruments is about 99% Yamaha (we’re working on the clarinet part…) and during every DMB performance you can hear him on his 82Z tenor (and alto), YSS-62R soprano, YBS-62 bari and even a prototype gold-brass C flute that was never launched.
At the end of the day, Jeff is still the same saxophonist I showed some prototypes to in the dressing room of the Wiltern that summer day in 2000. He genuinely has a passion for music, is always on quest to discover creativity, and one of the kindest individuals we have the pleasure to work with.
In case you’re never heard Jeff with the Dave Matthews Band, here’s a good place to start.
Filed under: Gear, Jazz, Saxophone, dave matthews band, Flecktones, Jeff Coffin
