Hi Bill – You might have been referring to a couple clips I put out here. I got a curvie soprano for Xmas and have been breaking it in – I posted two links to videos I made w/that horn. Here is the link to Rio De Janeiro Blue
http://www.saxyguy.com/uploads/Rio_Movie_Small.wmv

And here’s the link to Besame Mucho:
http://www.saxyguy.com/uploads/besame_Mucho.wmv

From my experience, the soprano is one of the most challenging saxes with respect to controlling the tone. The straight horns definitely play in tune much better (the bend in the curvie’s bell separates the keys and results in lower register always playing out of tune). Sounds like the guy who played the clip you posted may have been using a metal mouthpiece. If I use a metal mouthpiece on my straight soprano, I get a bit thinner and edgier sound. I’m using a hard rubber mouthpiece and a harder reed to try to get more of a mellow sound. But for all sax players, it is always a work in progress! The guy on your clip did a good job and you’re right – his sound reminds me of Sidney Bechet who is one of the forefathers of soprano playing. Grover Washington turned it all around and put the soprano in the R&B and smooth jazz mainstream.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Randy