Tracing the Saxophone’s Divergent Paths: Jazz Influence and Classical Repertoire Development

This study explores the saxophone’s complex role in music and investigates how it has come to be widely linked with jazz despite its extensive repertoire in classical and contemporary art genres. With over 29,000 non-pop works documented from 1844 to 2012 in Jean-Marie Londeix’s guide, the saxophone has a rich history beyond jazz. However, its jazz identity, shaped by icons like Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Kenny G, and Joshua Redman, remains dominant. This paper traces the origins of the instrument’s strong association with jazz and examines influences from the 1840s onwards, namely military bands, vaudeville, and the saxophone “craze” in early 20th-century America. This study uses a mixed-methods approach and combines quantitative analysis of discographies with qualitative insights drawn from existing literature, including previously conducted surveys and interviews with saxophonists, composers, and audience members. Delimited to Western perspectives, particularly Europe and North America over the past two decades, the research assesses current uses and perceptions of the saxophone. By integrating historical context and contemporary artistic practices, this study offers a nuanced understanding of the saxophone’s evolving cultural significance and its versatility across musical genres.