Testimonial from Alec Haavik

Aizen Saxophones

Music jumps out of the Aizen horn. It is easy to play the fingering is great and the horn has a strong sound in all registers. The sound has integrity and holds its own, even when playing with drums or electric instruments. The Aizen records well in the studio and mikes well in live performances. Although I own a Selmer Mark VI, I consistently choose to play my Aizen Jazz Master Tenor Saxophone.


The Aizen mouthpiece is superb — both powerful and subtle. It has big projection combined with emotional depth of tone, and perfect response with lots of character in every register.

It is at home in acoustic situations which call for a beautiful sound, and also has plenty of “kick” for loud and energetic musical situations. Its beautiful contours and Japanese engravings are a joy to behold!

The Aizen LS Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece – 8
a Haiku poem

altissimo soars with grace
low notes sing sweetly
mid-register connects like silk

Biography

Shanghai music icon Alec Haavik performs on tenor and soprano sax, painting an interdimensional world of musical explosions. Melding modern jazz, rock, and shamanism, Alec leads a fleet of ensembles known as the ・ｽgFriction Universe,・ｽh questioning the nature of jazz.

Originally from New York City, Alec is now the most famous saxophone player in Shanghai. His bilingual (and humorous) discussions of jazz techniques and history transported him to host ・ｽgMore Than Jazz・ｽh, a TV show for ICS / Shanghai, and lead jazz improvisation workshops for the Saxophone Society of Guiyang. Ever-expanding, Alec・ｽfs universe also included a performance at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center based on the music of classical composers Messiaen, Schoenberg, and Bach.

From intergalactic to international, Alec has performed in jazz festivals across China including many appearances at the Nine Gates Festival in Beijing and the JZ Festival in Shanghai. He has been a featured performer for lifestyle brands such as Mercedes Benz, Cartier, and Ballantine・ｽfs. Alec has also been profiled by Lonely Planet Television (Discovery Channel) and Shanghai ICS.

During a wild five-year residency at Shanghai・ｽfs JZ Club, Alec welcomed such powerhouse guests as singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, drummer Han Bennink, and erhu virtuoso Ma Xiao Hui. While orbiting Shanghai, Alec has performed with Mike Stern, Antonio Hart, and Chinese jazz legend Liu Yuan. Alec continues to perform with Taiwanese pop star Shunza (・ｽgHui Jia・ｽh).

2012 sent Alec to seven international jazz festivals, including Blues to Bop in Switzerland, where he premiered his original tune ・ｽg42 Bus・ｽh as a big band ballad. Alec also appeared in the Daegu Jazz Festival in South Korea, and the Shenzhen Jazz Festival (China). Alec・ｽfs ・ｽgFriction Alliance・ｽh CD landed this year; the trio pulses with rock-edged operatic jazz. The 15-minute anthem, ・ｽgStep Into the Red Ball・ｽh was encapsulated as a video short for the aptly-titled ICS/Shanghai show ・ｽgEdge.・ｽh Rounding out 2012, Alec was featured on the CD ・ｽgLive in China・ｽh by the jazz bassist David Friesen.

Alec・ｽfs primordial musical soup includes cello at age 5, trombone as a teenager (performing with guest soloist Branford Marsalis), and two recording contracts as an ・ｽgindie・ｽh rock artist. Alec received his Master・ｽfs Degree in Jazz Performance at the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Dick Oatts and Mark Turner and performed and recorded with schoolmate Jane Monheit.

http://www.alechaavik.com/