Alan Merrihew

Alan has been playing saxophone since the day he heard the sound of a live saxophone played by the band director in his 5th Grade classroom.  Alan studied saxophone with Joe Brazil and Bill Smith at the University of Washington, with Denney Goodhew at the Cornish School of Music, and piano with Randy Halberstadt.  He has performed locally in many Pacific Northwest clubs and schools, at Jazz Alley, in concert at St. Michelle Winery, and as a guest conductor for Marcus Tsutakawa and the Garfield High School Orchestra.  Alan has attended workshops with many jazz luminaries including Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon, Bud Shank, Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley, Grover Washington Jr., Richie Cole, and Stanley Turrentine.


Alan visited the Theo Wanne Factory and was impressed by the breadth of mouthpiece sounds available and by the quality of saxophone mouthpieces offered.  He started Saxophone Insights to bring the Theo Wanne mouthpiece experience to Seattle area saxophonists.  Saxophone Insights is a unique, by appointment, Theo Wanne mouthpiece test studio that features personal consultation in an acoustically neutral studio and provides mouthpiece measurement and analysis for easier mouthpiece decision making.


Alan released his newest album, San Juan Serenade, in March 2023.  Alan played Soprano, Alto, and Tenor Theo Wanne mouthpieces on the project.  He worked with pianist Jojo Jose, guitarist John Morton, and the Grammy Award winning Bass player and Producer/Engineer Garey Shelton on the project.  

Alan released his first recording, Angels at Play, in 2006.

Check them out at http://alanmerrihew.com/