The saxophone was invented in 1840 by a Belgian instrument maker named Adolphe Sax. On June28, 1864, the saxophone was patented. most saxophones are pitched in either B flat or E flat. it is commonly used in classical music, military concert bands, marching bands, and jazz bands. Sax players are call saxophonists.
Saxophone Types
The Saxello
There are also unusual sax variants. There is the saxello, which is basically a straight B flat soprano. There is also the straight alto sax and the straight tenor sax. There are cheap, bamboo, key less instruments that were invented in the 1900s by makers in Hawaii, Jamaica, Thailand, Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Argentina. Hawaii's instrument, called the xaphoon, is sold as a "bamboo sax" even though it looks more like a clarinet.
Famous Saxophonists
Charlie "YardBird" Parker
One famous saxophone player is Charlie "YardBird" Parker. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri when he was young which was where jazz was flourishing. He played the alto saxophone when he was fifteen and loved it. He stayed with local bands until 1935 which was when he left school to lead a career in music. In 1945 he led his very own group in New York. He worked at nightclubs and radio studios for four years. He died on March 12, 1955, while in a friends apartment due to his drug and alcohol addiction.
Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins is currently a jazz tenor saxophonists. He is recognized today as one of the most influential jazz musicians. He was born in New York. He started as a pianist, "Hawk" Hawkins was one of the first great jazz musicians. He moved to Europe in 1934 and played with Jack Hylton's Orchestra in England. He returned to America at the beginning of WWII. hanged to alto sax, and then to tenor sax. He played in his high school band with some future jazz stars.
John Coltrane
John Coltrane was born in Hamlet, North Carolina on September 23, 2926. His dad played many different instruments and influenced Coltrane's musical life. In 1960 he formed his own quartet. He died in 1967 due to a liver disease.
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter was born in New Jersey in 1933. He played with some other very famous saxophonists. In high school he made a band named the Jazz Informers. He still writes music today.
Lester Young.
Lester Young was born on August 27, 1909. Ht played the sax, violin, trumpet, and drums. He died in 1959 but had a great impact on the development on saxaphonists which included Wayne Shorter
Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson was born on April 24,1937 in Lima. Ohio. He played the tenor sax. He appeared on about thirty albums between 1963 and 1968. He died on June 30, 2001 because of heart failure.
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley
Julian "Cannonball" Adderly was born on September 15, 1928. He plaed the alto saxophone. He was admited to Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity. He died in 1975 due to a migraine.
Stan Getz
Stan Getz was born on Feb. 2, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He got mostly straight A's in school. His first sax was alto and was 35 dollars. His favorite saxophone was the tenor because of its sound. He died on June 6, 1991.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Rahsaan Roland Kirk was born on August 7, 1935 in Columbus, Ohio. He played the tenor, flute, clarinet, stritch, manzello, nose flute, cor anglais, keyboard, and percussion instruments. He became blind while he was young and made his name Rahsaan after hearing it in a dream. He died on December 5, 1977.
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins was Born on March 9. He played the sax, violin, and the trumpet. He was one of the leaders for the free jazz movement. He is currently still alive.
Conclusion
The saxophone is a very interesting instrument. It's fun to know cool facts about people that play my instrument. If you look them up, you can find some very interesting things.
