The Sax Story

In some 400 pages the lives and musical contributions of several hundred leading saxophonists who played in jazz bands, dance orchestras, vaudeville shows, military ensembles, rock and pop groups, world music outfits, symphonic and chamber orchestras as well as in “sax only” line-ups.

There are biographical details and accounts of many significant incidents in the often colourful careers of these famous sax players. Throughout there is discussion of the way that different styles of playing the saxophone have evolved during the last hundred years and how the instrument has been adopted in many contrasting musical formats

There are hundreds of photographs, extensive references and a useful index.

Reviews of The Sax Story have included many positive comments, such as:
“The writing is highly readable, no-nonsense and lucid and keeps impressively focused on the theme–“
“this is a potential treasure-trove to both saxophonists and jazz enthusiasts–” (CASS Magazine)

Copies of the book have been purchased and appreciated by many music lovers, practicing saxophonists and several leading musical colleges.

You will find The Sax Story a fasinating read and an excellent rmusical reference book.

A Summary of the chapter CONTENTS:

1. The Arrival of the Saxophone. Adolphe Sax invents a new instrument.

2. The Saxophone Family. The main instruments in the saxophone family.

3. Early Saxophonists who achieved recognition in the concert halls and vaudeville theatres.

4.Saxophonists in Early Jazz. Their lives and styles of playing.

5.Sidney Bechet. The first great jazz saxophonist.

6.Jazz Saxophone Styles. The essence of jazz style saxophone playing.

7.Saxophones in the Jazz Age. The 1920s “Sax Craze”.

8.Saxophones in the 1930s Move to Swing. New styles of saxophone playing emerged.
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9.Saxophones in the Big Bands. The dance bands saxophonists of the 1930s and 40s..

10. Saxophones in the Swing to Bop. The 1940s new style of jazz sax playing.

11. Charlie Parker. The life and music of this outstanding saxophonist.

12. Bop-era Saxophonists. Leading players of the 1940s and 1950s.

13. Saxophone Stars in Jump, R&B and Rock Music. Saxophone stars in popular small band music.

14. Hotter Saxophone Playing. “Hard Bop” and other hotter styles of sax playing.

15.Cooler Saxophone Styles. Alternative styles of ensemble and solo saxophone playing.

16. Saxophones in the Concert Hall: 1850s to 1970s. The saxophone in “conventional” music..

17. Latin and Bossa Nova Saxophones. Saxophonists who took “latin” music to a wider audience.

18. Saxes in the Continuing Jazz Tradition. Saxophonists who have maintained this style.

19.John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. They achieved wide recognition as jazz improvisers.

20.Freer Saxophone Playing. Saxophonists in the “free jazz” styles.

21.Saxophones in Fusion and Pop Music. Star saxophonists in rock and pop music.

22.Saxophones in African Music. The Saxophones in African countries and in “world” music.

23.Recent Developments: Contemporary Improvising. Saxophones in contemporary jazz.

24.Recent Developments: Saxophones in Concert Music. Saxophones styles in orchestral and chamber music and in “sax only” ensembles.

The Author.

Ken Hyett, the author of The Sax Story, has a BA and an MBA. He spent much of his career in Higher Education as a Principal Lecturer. He was also involved in several projects with the Open University. At the same time he has played the alto saxophone and clarinet in semi-professional bands since the 1950s. Most recently he has joined a chamber orchestra. Ken has had many articles published as well as two other books.