The saxophone section in a big band consists of 5 players: two alto saxes, two tenors, and a baritone sax. In a traditional big band setup, the saxophones are located in the first (front) row of three rows of trumpeters. The trombones and trumpets are located in the rows directly behind the saxophones.

Saxophones are considered nimble instruments, just like the clarinet and flute. They are capable of playing fast lines or performing effects that cannot be achieved so easily on a brass instrument. This feature gives them the ability to cover very fast passages within the ensemble, passages that would be too difficult for the brass section to achieve.

melodic roles

Saxophones are often called upon to enunciate the melody of a big band composition or arrangement. Playing in unison gives them the power to cut through the beats and harmony played by the brass section. When setting up the melody as a section (ie 4-5 part voices), the lead contralto should project the lead line so that it can be heard over other instrumental activity going on within the arrangement at any given time.

Saxophones can also be combined with other instruments to create a consistent sound. The altos are often paired with the trumpet, while the tenor saxophones often share a melody with one or more trombones. These melodic couplings work well because the timbre of the trumpet and trombone are similar to the alto and tenor respectively. The baritone sax sometimes plays the melody alone or in conjunction with the bass trombone.

harmonic roles

Because the saxophone section covers a wide range, it lends itself well to providing harmony and harmonic “cushions” to a big band arrangement or composition. In ballads, for example, the saxophones are often written as lush voices that provide all the necessary notes of a chord. They are used in this way within an arrangement as a background for a soloist or as a countermelody for another instrument.

alone and alone

The tenor saxophone is one of the most popular solo instruments in jazz, so it makes sense that tenor solos are written up fairly regularly in the big band music repertoire. Although any of the saxophones is called upon at one time or another for solos, the tenor seems to improvise more solos than the others. Baritone sax solos are written sparingly in big band literature. Depending on the skill level of the players, the solo sections can be passed back and forth to give good soloists, even bari saxophonists, a chance to shine.

Saxophone solos occur when the saxophone section performs alone playing a composed jazz “solo”. A soli is most often composed in four or five part harmony that is voiced for the entire section. The main line is played by Alto 1, while the rest of the section is voiced below the main line and follows in rhythmic unison. In a four part setting, the bari saxophonist will often double the contralto melody in the octave.

The saxophone section is an integral part of any big band in a variety of ways. Brass players may complain that the saxophones are written with too many solos, but it’s hard to top an excellent saxophone section cutting through a difficult solo by Thad Jones or Don Menza. As they say, if you can’t beat them, join them!