The Battle of the Saxes
Bechet on Soprano
Bostic on Alto
Butera on Tenor
Sidney Bechet playing the soprano sax.
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Earl Bostic playing the alto sax.
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Sam Butera playing the tenor sax.
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This "Count of Monte Disco Presents" Historical Set was originally played for dancers on January 19, 2024 at our weekly vintage Swing dance at the Mint Tavern.
The Saxophone
The Saxophone was invented in the early 1840s by Beglian musician, Adolphe Sax (think of the coincidence!). He stuck a clarinet mouthpiece on a brass instrument of his own design and patented the invention in 1846. Due to the conical shape and metal frame, the saxophone is able to reach a higher volume than its woodwind counterparts. The new instrument was seen as something of a novelty amidst the established "classical," orchestrations that defined popular music in the late nineteenth century.
However, by the early twentieth century, the saxophone was more common amongst the "ragged" dance bands. Over the course of the first thirty years of the 1900s, "ragtime" became "jazz" and "jazz" became "swing." And "swing" took over the world.
However, by the early twentieth century, the saxophone was more common amongst the "ragged" dance bands. Over the course of the first thirty years of the 1900s, "ragtime" became "jazz" and "jazz" became "swing." And "swing" took over the world.
Sidney BechetSidney Bechet is the only musician who can rival Louis Armstrong in his contribution to the genres of "jazz" and "swing." Born in New Orleans in 1897 into a family of musicians, Bechet was at the forefront of the emerging sounds of the Storyville district. Combining his brass band upbringing and an otherworldly talent for improvisation with the "ragged rhythm" music, Bechet helped solidify "jazz" and "swing" as particular styles of music. In his early years, he was most often recorded playing the clarinet. By the time of his permanent emigration to Paris in 1951, Bechet was re-defining the soprano sax as an instrument worthy of jazz - as well as the chamber music for which it was most often arranged. Here, every Sidney Bechet recording features him playing the soprano sax.
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Soprano Sax
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Alto Sax |
Earl BosticAt the height of his career, Earl Bostic was hailed as the greatest technical saxophone player who had ever lived...and yet he preferred to play popular dance tunes because that's what paid the most. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1913, Bostic grew up playing the clarinet in various midwestern swing bands (notably, The Clouds of Joy). A disciple of
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