woodwind mouthpieces

Robert Brilhart is the eldest of the sons of mouthpiece pioneer Arnold Brilhart. Arnold was a well-known saxophonist in the early days of recorded jazz and throughout the Big Band Era. All the while, Arnold kept making small adjustments to his equipment such as his mouthpieces, mutes, and even simple accessories such as the saxophone neck strap. Both sons provided personal insight into their father’s career. Bob Brilhart became President of the Brilhart Company during the mid 1960s and was later hired by Kaman to help market the Ovation Guitar. 

William Brilhart grew up in a house of music. His father, Arnold Brilhart, was the jazz saxophonist who established a mouthpiece and accessories company and introduced innovative products to the music products industry. His mother was a world-renowned harpist who traveled the world and made several well-known recordings. Arnold Brilhart was a sought-after musician in the 1920s and 30s who recorded with a number of jazz and big bands. After he established the Brilhart Mouthpiece Company, Arnold focused on creating a unique line of products.

Rocky Giglio has been a strong leader in the development and marketing of the JJ Babbitt mouthpieces product line. For years. Rocky has listened to customers and professional musicians for ways to improve the line, all the while keeping a focus on the traditions and quality so closely associated with JJ Babbitt’s innovative products. Rocky has also been a strong supporter of the NAMM Oral History program, providing much appreciated advice and ideas, contributing to the meaningfulness of the collection. 

Bud Reglein’s uncle formed a small mouthpiece company in Elkhart, IN and named it J.J. Babbitt as he felt it sounded better than Jessie James Babbitt. Bud took over the company in 1939 and, in the 1940s, engineered a custom facing machine to ensure each mouthpiece made could be consistent, thus setting the stage for a much larger product line. His creative thinking and dedication guided the company through expansions and growth. Bud’s son, William, took over as company president and has clearly inherited his father’s love of the industry.

William Reglein has played a key role in the growth and development of the J.J. Babbitt Company since taking over its presidency from his father, Bud. William’s great uncle was the company’s founder, Jessie James Babbitt, who began creating musical instrument mouthpieces out of his small garage in Elkhart, Indiana. The company, in large part due to Bill’s efforts, has grown to include several well-known mouthpiece names and has developed into a place where musicians can count on top-quality production and even custom-made products.  

Wolfe Taninbaum was a leader in the development of synthetic reeds, although he is best known for his mouthpiece designs. The Taninbaum mouthpiece company was established in 1952 to provide a range of tones he was unable to find as a musician. He performed and recorded jazz and dance band music under the name Wolfe Tayne. He was hired by the CBS radio orchestra and followed that band to television in the early 1950s. When Wolfe established the Bari Company, he became a leader in plastic reeds and developed a noted soprano saxophone mouthpiece that remains one of the company’s biggest sellers.

Abe Wollam was a close associate of Bud Reglein. Beginning in the 1940s, Abe worked with Bud at the J.J. Babbitt Mouthpiece Company out of Elkhart, IN. Abe developed strong engineering skills, which proved to be invaluable as the company grew over the years and required specialized tooling. As product development manager, Abe is credited for a host of unique designs as well as manufacturing methods, all of which have helped establish the fine reputation of the company and its products.