Reed instruments include bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, sopranino saxophone, alto saxophone and soprano saxophone. There is also the stritch, tenor saxophone, C-melody saxophone, baritone saxophone, contrabass saxophone and bass saxophone.
The baritone saxophone is used mostly to add a little flavour to large ensembles until the 1950’s, and became popular as a lone instrument used by the likes of musician Gerry Mulligan and Pepper Adams. Over blowing was used by musicians such as James Carter.
The stritch is a variation of the alto horn which was designed and developed by Rahsaan Rohland Kirk.
The soprano saxophone was made either as a straight or as a curved horn. Used in the big bands in the 1930’s and the 1940’s. The soprano saxophone was made famous by John Coltrane in the 1960’s.
The clarinet was the most popular musical instrument used in jazz bands until it was replaced by the saxophone in the 1930’s. The saxophone still remains a popular instrument in jazz bands in today’s modern jazz music.
The bass saxophone was played by Adrian Rollini in the 1920’s. The bass saxophone is the larges of the saxophone family and continued to be played in jazz bands after the Second World War. The bass saxophone is a large instrument which stands at 1.5 meters.
To find out more on reed instruments, contact us for further information.
