Testimonials
"Carlo, Thanks for the amazing work on the horn. Everything feels really good, it's like new! I am so grateful you made the time to work on it - thank you so much! I was really feeling resistance last week which was discouraging, and that resistance is now gone. So I'm looking forward to get back on the horn and start work on new stuff. It's very motivating and makes all the difference!! I'm so happy that I'll be able to bring my horn to Switzerland for Focus Year in such amazing shape."
-Katie Webster 2023 Focus Year Basel Recipient
-Katie Webster 2023 Focus Year Basel Recipient
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"Carlo, When I first got that horn I could tell there was something about it I really liked, but I felt like the essence of the horn was buried under a bad repair job. I couldn't get it to do what I wanted, and it even hurt to play because it was leaking so bad. My throat was strained trying to force the horn to sound decent. Now it just sings. I'm primarily a tenor player, but the quality of this job is making me reconsider that. This horn is really something special now. It is so easy and fun to play. I can do everything on it with ease, and it feels so good that it makes me want to play things I cannot yet play. It's in tune, the keywork is snappy, sometimes it feels like the notes come out the instant before I play them, because the response is so great. It showed up early yesterday so I've been taking some time to get to know it. It's a very special horn now. It's everything and more that I wanted it to be. One hundred percent worth the wait." Thank you so much. - Michael Conklin |
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"Carlo, your work restoring the Al Epstein 30M is nothing short of miraculous.
The action is even, fluid, and the spring tension is balanced. The left hand pinky table is a joy to experience (to the extent that I can just do circles with my pinky across the Bb, B, and C# forwards and backwards), and I've been enabled to take advantage of the Bb to C#, which I had previously avoided on this and other horns due to ergonomic difficulty. 
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Also, the altissimo, now being more reliable than on any horn I've previously owned, I now feel empowered to adjust my fingerings to optimize for intonation/sound instead of compromising between that and consistency, so I'm practicing a lot of altissimo and loving that I can rely on the horn speaking without compromising on intonation. Finally, the convex pearls on the front F and bis Bb feel great in contrast to the concave pearls elsewhere.
In short: The horn feels and plays immaculately from top to bottom, with noteworthy ease of execution in the lowest register and far into the altissimo register. Consistent, reliable, inspiring, and possessing great resonance! Beautiful work! You're the man." -Kevin Sun thekevinsun.bandcamp.com/music |
Musicians In The Workshop:
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"Carlo, the work you did to my Buescher 400 has completely redefined my perception of how a saxophone should play. Every time I pick up the horn I find something new that I can appreciate. I'm extremely happy. Thank you."
-Christian Nicoll |
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"Carlo, I am literally speechless. I can only say Thank You! I'm a sound and soul guy, period. I play many styles and don't identify with any one in particular, nor do I claim to be an authority in any one. I'm only concerned with my personal sound and feeling a connection that serves as an extension of what's in my heart. This Conn 30M is special to me. I knew it was hurting when I picked it up 3 years ago, but there was a connection and it had a SOUND!
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I am grateful and humbled by the results of your work. I am enjoying a special horn that looks like 1936, plays with a soul enchanted by 85 years of music history, and feels new. You're incredible man! Thank you for caring enough about these special instruments to dedicate your efforts to their longevity. It's a good feeling knowing you can play a special horn into its centennial because of the hand of Carlo Cennamo.
-Carlos Menezes |
"Last year at Centrum's Jazz Workshop in Port Townsend, you gave my tenor an adjustment. When you handed it back to me and I played it, it almost jumped out of my hands and ran twice around the block playing Ko-Ko."
-Peter Hinsbeeck
-Peter Hinsbeeck
"Carlo did a fantastic job with this horn! I'm very impressed with his craftsmanship and dedication to his craft! He is a true master, which
I deeply respect."
-Theo Wanne of Theo Wanne Mouthpieces.
I deeply respect."
-Theo Wanne of Theo Wanne Mouthpieces.
"Hi Carlo,
I work with Ed and Kat at Bellingham Wind Works. I tried out the Super 20 tenor that you recently overhauled, and I wanted to thank you for giving this horn the attention it needed. The work you've done is exquisite."
- Marcel Wayne Helland
I work with Ed and Kat at Bellingham Wind Works. I tried out the Super 20 tenor that you recently overhauled, and I wanted to thank you for giving this horn the attention it needed. The work you've done is exquisite."
- Marcel Wayne Helland
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"Carlo,
Thanks for making my horn work in such a way that my imagination is not curtailed by faint whiffs of pessimism about whether the horn will go. You wanna come in at mp near the bottom of the horn? You wanna whisper? How about some wider intervals? Go ahead. No worries. At 1:25 in this video, you can hear somebody who trusts his horn." -David Evans |
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"Carlo,
This horn has magically come to life. I play it and every note sounds so beautiful that I can't help but hear my favorite recordings in my head at the same time. The sound just keeps inspiring me to play things I've heard in my lifetime without even thinking about theory. The music just flows out of the sax. And the action and immediacy of it is incredible. Also I’ve had to work really hard lately for dynamic contrast but now it's like you said, the horn responds to the smallest change in air. So changes in volume become so much more natural and musical.
My bandroom just kept vibrating to the tune of the sax. The timpani and chimes and toms all started to reflect sound back at me. Usually it's just the piano doing that. It's finally a quality horn.
Thank you. This was worth every penny."
- Orlyn Carney, Band Director
This horn has magically come to life. I play it and every note sounds so beautiful that I can't help but hear my favorite recordings in my head at the same time. The sound just keeps inspiring me to play things I've heard in my lifetime without even thinking about theory. The music just flows out of the sax. And the action and immediacy of it is incredible. Also I’ve had to work really hard lately for dynamic contrast but now it's like you said, the horn responds to the smallest change in air. So changes in volume become so much more natural and musical.
My bandroom just kept vibrating to the tune of the sax. The timpani and chimes and toms all started to reflect sound back at me. Usually it's just the piano doing that. It's finally a quality horn.
Thank you. This was worth every penny."
- Orlyn Carney, Band Director
"After experiencing this kind of set up...after experiencing this level of key fitting...I mean, I have never seen a Super 20 octave mechanism work like this, everything is fit so perfectly and all the parts move with the lightest touch...I can't imagine how anyone could want it any other way. You know? This is how it should be."
- Bob Kenmotsu
- Bob Kenmotsu
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"I love this 10M and I look forward to getting to know the Conn ways now! Thank you Carlo." -Anat Cohen |
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"I'm so glad we found you Carlo. Because if we didn't know you, we wouldn't be having so much fun."
- Karlye Varney
- Karlye Varney
"Man, for sure this is the best fucking saxophone I have EVER played!! What an honor to own this beautiful beast! I don't feel like I can thank you enough!!!
- Andrew D'Angelo
- Andrew D'Angelo
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Rebuilding Andrew D'Angelo's '31 Conn was a huge honor because I love Andrew's music, and it was so great to become closer friends throughout the whole process.
Andrew's family lives here in Seattle, so he was in town for a couple weeks prior to it's being completed as well as a couple weeks afterwards. So, there were a lot of shop visits in that time. Andrew would come by with his brother and each visit was full of great conversation. On the last visit Andrew said, "Man, this is starting to feel like 'Tuesdays With Morrie'. Have you read that book?" The subtitle for Tuesdays With Morrie is: "An old man, a young man, and life's great lessons." That's what those visits were like, only I'm not all that much younger than Andrew. Here is the video from that last visit. |
"Carlo,
The horn is quite a different horn. It's so full. It's not stuffy anymore. The amount of air it takes to play it has dropped significantly. It no longer feels like a monster. The spatula keys are perfect on tension. It's balanced throughout up and down the register. It's just so easy to play. As I got used to it my sound grew fuller. The horn really is a joy to play.
Thanks again for the attention to detail on this one. It really made a world of difference! I don't want anyone else to touch it, not even for a cork replacement!"
- Ed Baisa
Ed's Martin Magna came in for intonation issues. I wrote a detailed article about it here: www.cennamowoodwinds.com/blog/december-07th-2016
The horn is quite a different horn. It's so full. It's not stuffy anymore. The amount of air it takes to play it has dropped significantly. It no longer feels like a monster. The spatula keys are perfect on tension. It's balanced throughout up and down the register. It's just so easy to play. As I got used to it my sound grew fuller. The horn really is a joy to play.
Thanks again for the attention to detail on this one. It really made a world of difference! I don't want anyone else to touch it, not even for a cork replacement!"
- Ed Baisa
Ed's Martin Magna came in for intonation issues. I wrote a detailed article about it here: www.cennamowoodwinds.com/blog/december-07th-2016
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"Hi Carlo,
The work on the Buescher Straight Alto is fantastic and I'm thrilled to have it. Someone is going to have to pay a lot if they want to buy this one. Otherwise I will just keep it for myself, and as a show piece. I have to say, your meticulous work and caring for every detail is inspiring. I know we're always trying to be better techs, and seeing others work helps so much. I just overhauled a Buffet Dynaction alto, and felt challenged to improve my level of detail after seeing your work. Thanks for the great job. I love connecting with others in our industry. There's always so much to learn." -Ed Devaney of Bellingham WindWorks |
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"Carlo,
I've been playing my Radio Improved Alto a lot since I brought her home six weeks ago and thought it would be a good time to drop you a note on my impressions.
First, I am glad we went with the white doe pads and tenor madness resonators. They look too cool for words.
The horn performs superbly. The action is mechanically sound and snappy. The regulation is such I don't find the 30's style ergonomics to be a hindrance. The neck tenon fits snug preventing leaks.
Intonation is good and the tone is amazing. I can produce a smooth west coast vibe when paired with my Riffault and a hard hitting Cannonball voice with my Brilhart Hard Rubber.
I played a gig last night and I had my Cennamo-Radio Improved Alto along side my
Stohrer-Handcraft Soprano. Both lived up to their calling thanks to the superior workmanship of you two gentlemen.
Best regards."
-Michael Wade
I've been playing my Radio Improved Alto a lot since I brought her home six weeks ago and thought it would be a good time to drop you a note on my impressions.
First, I am glad we went with the white doe pads and tenor madness resonators. They look too cool for words.
The horn performs superbly. The action is mechanically sound and snappy. The regulation is such I don't find the 30's style ergonomics to be a hindrance. The neck tenon fits snug preventing leaks.
Intonation is good and the tone is amazing. I can produce a smooth west coast vibe when paired with my Riffault and a hard hitting Cannonball voice with my Brilhart Hard Rubber.
I played a gig last night and I had my Cennamo-Radio Improved Alto along side my
Stohrer-Handcraft Soprano. Both lived up to their calling thanks to the superior workmanship of you two gentlemen.
Best regards."
-Michael Wade
"Carlo, I got the Zephyr. I'm just playing it now, and it's like the distance between my soul and the bell of the horn has gotten so much closer. It's like a direct line to the creative spirit; all channels open. Thank You!!!"
- Stuart Bogie
- Stuart Bogie
Hi Carlo, I got the Selmer Super Sax Alto that you overhauled today. Well, I already suspected as much, but based on this horn, I think your pad work is among the best to be found anywhere today. (And in my job, I get to see a lot of different people's pad work.) Extremely even, flat, snappy, just the right amount of spring tension, even across the horn, adjustment materials make sense and are nice and clean. And it looks like you did a real neck fit too, which is super-important but often-overlooked. I am going to start referring people to you who are looking for top quality overhauls. This is the real deal! I hope I can send you some horns for overhaul soon, before too many people find out about you and you end up with a long wait list.
-Brian from Getasax
-Brian from Getasax
"Hi Carlo
This morning I played the SML Gold Medal alto that you just overhauled for me. My ten-minute trial turned into an hour. The horn played OK when I sent it to you but now it plays incredibly well, everything about it is exactly right. I don’t have to work, it’s like the horn knows what I want it to do. The key tensions are perfectly comfortable, the mechanism is utterly silent, the low Bb blows as easily and quickly and softly as any other note on the horn. Diving down to the low B-natural in the solo from L’Arlessienne is as easy as on a clarinet. Particularly impressive is how the different materials makes for a silent and silky-smooth mechanism.
Every time I play a horn that you have serviced, I am astonished by how well it plays. This SML is no exception. This is the best playing alto I have ever known and I am delighted to own it. The extra time and effort and insight that you put into your work, the attention to detail, have turned an OK horn into a real gem. This is the best alto I have ever played. Second best is the Big B that I bought from you.Thank you."
- Robert Howe
This morning I played the SML Gold Medal alto that you just overhauled for me. My ten-minute trial turned into an hour. The horn played OK when I sent it to you but now it plays incredibly well, everything about it is exactly right. I don’t have to work, it’s like the horn knows what I want it to do. The key tensions are perfectly comfortable, the mechanism is utterly silent, the low Bb blows as easily and quickly and softly as any other note on the horn. Diving down to the low B-natural in the solo from L’Arlessienne is as easy as on a clarinet. Particularly impressive is how the different materials makes for a silent and silky-smooth mechanism.
Every time I play a horn that you have serviced, I am astonished by how well it plays. This SML is no exception. This is the best playing alto I have ever known and I am delighted to own it. The extra time and effort and insight that you put into your work, the attention to detail, have turned an OK horn into a real gem. This is the best alto I have ever played. Second best is the Big B that I bought from you.Thank you."
- Robert Howe
"Carlo, I just spent an hour on the horn. Oh fuck yeah. I love the action tight responsive. I am literally thinking of an idea and I'm able to play it. And they're not simple straightforward idea, they're kind of involved. I literally have chills going down my spine I don't usually get that."
- Ian Shaw
- Ian Shaw
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The owner of this 1946 Committee III Martin was considering selling it because the intonation was wildly uneven. I got this text two days after shipping it to him: "Carlo, I'm so into this saxophone! Amazing! It is such a wonderful experience playing this horn. I'm so inspired to play music. I love it so much. Thank you." -Johnny Powell |
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"Got my Eppelsheim Low A Bass Sax repaired by Carlo Cennamo after a catastrophic injury to the side D key when putting it in the case. It now plays so sweetly. It even requires less air to play the low notes softly now"
-Jim Glass
-Jim Glass
Carlo, my Conn New Wonder II feels like a better version of itself. The intonation in the low range feels really good now. I don't have to strain as much and it's now actually easier to play louder and in tune. I'm really happy with it. Thanks for your great work!
- Levi Gillis
- Levi Gillis
"Wow! What can I say? Both horns play incredibly well, even as rusty as I am. It will be huge fun to grow into these! I cannot believe how crisp the fingering is! Thank you so much.
- Doug Etheridge
- Doug Etheridge
"You are golden! You provide such a valuable service to the community!"
-Alan Merrihew
-Alan Merrihew
"Just wanted to let you know that the BA tenor is far superior playing now than it was before you worked your magic. Night and day difference. Thank you so much."
-Jerry Simon
-Jerry Simon
"Carlo, I just got home and finally got a chance to play the 1941 Conn 10M. It is blowing my fucking mind! Absolutely amazing! And it survived the shipping without any trouble, I just wanted to thank you!
-Andrew Hsi
-Andrew Hsi
This is from a phone call I received from the owner of this SML Gold Medal II Stencil after shipping it to him in NY.
"Carlo, I played the horn for a long time last night and I'm just blown away. I can't get over it. The horn feels fantastic. If I ever need to overhaul another horn again I would take it to you absolutely right away, because the work you did is just so extensive, and so uniformly meticulous, it's just, it's worth every penny. And that makes a huge difference."
"You know, for example, the Selmer SBA I have, it's been overhauled, but I know it doesn't play as well as it could, and if I sent that horn to you to get tuned up it would really sound phenomenal coming back. So I'm...I'm thinking about that next. But I have to absorb all this first, because I've never experienced just playing...I mean the quality...I don't know. It's all just a shocker to me."
-Mike Nirenberg
"Carlo, I played the horn for a long time last night and I'm just blown away. I can't get over it. The horn feels fantastic. If I ever need to overhaul another horn again I would take it to you absolutely right away, because the work you did is just so extensive, and so uniformly meticulous, it's just, it's worth every penny. And that makes a huge difference."
"You know, for example, the Selmer SBA I have, it's been overhauled, but I know it doesn't play as well as it could, and if I sent that horn to you to get tuned up it would really sound phenomenal coming back. So I'm...I'm thinking about that next. But I have to absorb all this first, because I've never experienced just playing...I mean the quality...I don't know. It's all just a shocker to me."
-Mike Nirenberg
"Thanks, once again, for the superb workmanship."
"Carlo, The 6M. It's spectacular. As you said it plays like a dream."
-Jerry Simon
"Carlo, The 6M. It's spectacular. As you said it plays like a dream."
-Jerry Simon
"Carlo, here is my update after getting some chops back. I am more pleased with this horn than I have ever been. The work on the left hand pinky table is especially noteworthy and really makes an impact when maneuvering the bottom range.
Really Great! Thanks!"
-Andrew Long
Really Great! Thanks!"
-Andrew Long
"Carlo Cennamo, my Selmer Super Balanced Action never sounded this good. Thank you!"
-Brandon Willis. Smooth Jazz Now Top 50 Chart lister
-Brandon Willis. Smooth Jazz Now Top 50 Chart lister
"I just want to thank you for the great job you have been doing on my horns for the past four years. I really appreciate a technician that has your care level and obviously loves what he is doing. My horns have never sounded so good."
-Michael Schwartz
-Michael Schwartz
"Carlo, my clarinet played superbly Saturday. I couldn't be happier."
-Sherry Buckler 133rd Army National Guard Band from Camp Murray
-Sherry Buckler 133rd Army National Guard Band from Camp Murray
"Carlo, my horn is playing better than I ever remember. Thanks for the great work!"
Mike Marinig, Tenor Saxophonist, The CD Woodbury Band
Mike Marinig, Tenor Saxophonist, The CD Woodbury Band
"Carlo took my beat up, unplayable Mark 7 and turned it into an almost new horn for a great price.
The horn plays fantastic!"
Andy Sodt, Tenor Saxophonist, Lushy
The horn plays fantastic!"
Andy Sodt, Tenor Saxophonist, Lushy
"Carlo did excellent work on my 1930's King Zephyr; he was both prompt and a pleasure to work with."
Donn Cave, Baritone Saxophonist, Orkestar Zirkonium
Donn Cave, Baritone Saxophonist, Orkestar Zirkonium
"I have been playing straight since I got the horn back. It was almost too intense to have my sax so responsive that I didn't have to fight with it. You have no idea how happy I am. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Dan Pearson, Tenor Saxophonist
Dan Pearson, Tenor Saxophonist
"Carlo, the Selmer Super Balanced Action plays better than I have ever experienced, helluva job. Thanks!"
Jim West
Jim West