Jay C. Easton is skilled on an array of woodwind instruments from around
the world and across the centuries, including the gargantuan contrabass
saxophone. He is one of the few musicians in the world to perform on the
entire saxophone and clarinet families.
Visit jayeaston.com for a look into the musical world Jay is immerssed in, and see the
many instruments he plays.
 Listen to a sample of
the monster
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| Contrabass
saxophone in Eb |
It's the biggest woodwind instrument
there is. It plays a full octave below the baritone saxophone or
bass clarinet; it's lowest note is the Db at the bottom of the piano
keyboard, but its power and presence of sound is indescribable.
There were about thirty of the instruments built over the last 80
years, but many of them are missing (how do you lose a seven-foot
tall saxophone!?!), and only about six of them are in active use.
This particular model was built by Orsi of Milan for Jay C. Easton
in 2000.
A large saxophone choir creates a truly amazing
sound,and when a contrabass is added to the group, it magnifies the effect
immeasurably!
As for saxophone quartets, while the baritone saxophone
is a supremely flexible instrument, the contrabass adds a true low end
to the group, and a creates an entirely new range of timbral possibilities.
In a wind ensemble, the contrabass sax can be used to give the woodwinds
equal footing with the low brass by transposing from contrabassoon, contrabass
clarinet, or string bass parts. |
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