Paiste 2002 Black Big Beat Cymbals
Yes, drummers, your fragile vintage Ks are absolute perfection when it comes to old-school spang-a-lang, but what about the higher-volume, higher-energy settings that define the genre-blending state of jazz today? This new line of cymbals from Paiste offers welcome updates to the brand’s 2002 line-since ’71 a staple for drummers playing rock, R&B, country and other styles-including a fresh hammering design and semi-matted finish. Cymbals available in 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 24-inch singles, and 15 and 16-inch pairs. $436-$465 online paiste.com
Kurzweil Forte 7 Keyboard
Typically with midsized keyboards, you’re going to sacrifice some features and functionality for the added portability. But Kurzweil’s 76-note Forte 7 is essentially a stage piano worthy of a permanent spot in your home studio. Among the selling points are 16 GB of top-quality new sounds, Flashplay technology for fast, flowing operations, great-sounding KB3 ToneReal organs, 16 arpeggiators, Kurzweil’s V.A.S.T. editing capabilities and much more. $3,495 online. kurzweil.com
New Books: Sher Music Co.
New from Sher is Jeb Patton’s book/two-CD set An Approach to Comping Vol. 2 ($34), which breaks down the iconic approaches of Bud Powell, Hank Jones, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock and more; Randy Vincent’s Building Solo Lines From Cells for All Instruments ($25), an expansion of his brilliant guitar book that deconstructs classic solos into useful nuggets; Marius Nordal’s Wisdom of the Hand ($30), a guide to making pentatonics more keyboard-friendly; and Tom Kamp’s Rhythm First! ($18), a beginner’s book/CD guide whose title says it all. shermusic.com
Supro 1600 Supreme 6V6 Amp
Yes, this new Supro combo is a tribute to Keith Richards; no, jazz pickers shouldn’t be scared away by that fact. The Supreme 1600 is simply a first-rate, all-tube 1X10 based on one of Keef’s go-to amps. The big difference here arrives with a pair of 6V6 power tubes in the model’s Class-A output stage, which means more headroom, projection and effects compatibility-in other words, the tonal quality of a boutique recording amp but in a small, gig-ready box. $1,249 USD. suprousa.com
Bill Evans Signature Series Mouthpiece
As saxophonist Bill Evans tells the story on his website, this limited-edition signature tenor mouthpiece is in a way a Michael Brecker model: It’s a faithful replica of a custom mouthpiece Brecker and a craftsman designed in 1980, a mouthpiece Evans began playing the following year and hasn’t stopped playing since-through gigs and sessions with Miles, John McLaughlin, his own Soulgrass project and so many more. The 24-carat-gold-plated mouthpiece has a tip opening “somewhere between a 7 and [an] 8,” Evans says, and he points out its versatility and ability to blow strong and free through all registers of the horn. $1,695 online. billevansmouthpieces.com
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