It’s pretty much a slam-dunk that the saxophone is the most popular jazz instrument. I can’t very well dispute that, although I have always wondered why the piano hasn’t had that distinction. I sometimes go with the flow, like now, as I offer this tribute to the beauty of the saxophone. I will confess that when I decided to do this week’s playlists (tributes to jazz instruments), the saxophone was the first instrument that came into this lovely brain of mine. And part of this tribute comes about because I let the birthday of Antoine-Joseph Sax slip past me last year (November 6th). Yes – better known as “Adolphe Sax”.
I’m quite familiar with the history of Mr. Sax, but I never knew of all of the mishaps that haunted him as a child. Here’s your homework: look him up! Why homework? You may well be amazed. And because I’m not going to go into those troubles that he experienced as a child, amazing as they are. The main thing that stuck in my mind was how he overcame those woes and grew up to overcome those adult troubles, as well, that plagued him as an inventor. His legal troubles pushed him into bankruptcy three (3) times over a twenty (20) year period, stemming from instrument makers attacking Sax’s legitimacy as an instrument creator. He ended up suing them for patent infringement. Although he didn’t win all of the lawsuits that he pursued, the most important thing is that, in the end, he IS the acknowledged inventor of the saxophone. I’d give him ten (10) thumbs up for his “stick to it perseverance”, which is the main thing that finally earned him the proper kudos as “the inventor of the saxophone”. So, why not 10? I only have two. Thumbs. I only have two thumbs.
Pardonnez moi, Monsieur Sax!! As for you kats and kitties, I know that YOU know what comes next!! But, first up – bottle of red? Kewl. Comfy? Alrighty, then, go ahead – hit it!! Enjoy.
copyright 2025 jblackstarr for SMOOTHE
Jazz, jazz, and nothing but jazz.
Listen on SPOTIFY:
Listen on TIDAL:
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/a3261e98-bd2b-4f28-88b5-6fa628bda364
Smoothe 