By: Carey Van Ostenbridge  See all of this user's reviews  on Nov 05, 2012

"The Bari Hybrids are wonderfully responsive saxophone mouthpieces with a strong core and tonal focus.  The pitch is centered in all registers and the altissimo just pops out effortlessly because of the sturdy overtone presence in the sound.  These pieces are heavy and you can see and feel the meticulous precision in design and craftsmanship.  As a player, I appreciate the flexibility factor as well.  You can play and shape the mouthpiece as the musical setting demands, rather than the mouthpiece playing and driving you in one particular way most of the time.  And I've never had so many reeds that work on a mouthpiece before! "

-Don Zentz

 

 

Don Zentz is currently the Director of Fine & Performing Arts at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, FL.  Previously he was the music director of the St. Johns River City Band – Florida’s official band – and has been a saxophonist with them since 1988.  Don has held music professorships at the University of North Florida, Valdosta State University, and Florida Community College at Jacksonville.  Prior to his thirteen years of teaching at the collegiate level, Don was a high school and middle school band director in Georgia and at Wolfson Senior High School in Jacksonville where his programs consistently received superior ratings in all areas of band media.  He is an honor graduate of Valdosta State University where he earned B.M. and M.M.E. degrees and studied with noted jazz educator Bob Greenhaw.

Don is very much in demand as a player, adjudicator, and clinician in both traditional and jazz idioms.  He is a per service saxophonist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and works many of the off-Broadway shows that travel into Florida.  He has performed in concert with many notables that include Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles, Nancy Wilson, Natalie Cole, The New York Voices, Al Jarreau, Doc Severinsen, and Diane Schuur.  Don has directed the all-state jazz bands of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Maine, and also the Delaware All-State Symphonic Band.  He served as the jazz studies coordinator, music department chair, and wind ensemble conductor for the Georgia Governors Honors Program during the 1990’s.  He has presented a variety of clinics and master classes at numerous events for students and teachers alike.  His articles have appeared in The Instrumentalist and Music Educators Journal.  He served for two terms as the Florida Unit President of IAJE and was responsible for instituting the highly successful State Jazz Workshop in Florida.

Don received much acclaim for his work and leadership in jazz education particularly during his tenure at the University of North Florida.  He was originally hired at UNF by jazz education pioneer Rich Matteson.  Don co-taught the saxophone studio with legendary altoist Bunky Green.  As the director of the UNF Jazz Ensemble, Don brought national and international visibility to the jazz program at UNF.  The twenty six artists that performed in concert with his band at UNF reads like a who’s who in jazz.  UNF named Don an Outstanding Undergraduate Professor in 1996.  He also received a TIP Award from the Florida Board of Regents for Excellence in Teaching.  In 1999, DownBeat Magazine awarded Don their Jazz Education Achievement Award for the scope and magnitude of his professional work.

Don has been a Keilwerth performing artist and clinician since 1995.  His career reveals a deep commitment and passion for both the performing and teaching of music.