Are you interested in jazz music and looking for the right saxophone to perform?
You found yourself in the right place.
While reading this article you will found out more about jazz saxophone and five models that can be right for you.
Everything You Should Know About Jazz Saxophone
What Is Jazz Saxophone?
Classical and jazz musicians both love saxophones, but quality requires different instrument for each genre. Jazz saxophone with a greater taper will allow players to express their individual style. The texture of the music is the result of instrument buzz and raspy tones.
What is Mouthpiece?
Mouthpiece and reed is the place where sound production begins. This is the most important piece of setup and first contact with the instrument. It has the most influence on the sound quality and quality of the mouthpiece is the most important.
Mouthpiece For Jazz Alto Saxophone
Mouthpieces for the jazz alto saxophones have more open tips. Larger chambers and higher baffle designs. They allow harmonics and upper tones to come through the sounds that will give you extra sounds which we usually hear in jazz, pop and rock music.
V16 is a perfect jazz mouthpiece, which combines power with flexibility. You can choose any chamber size, although medium size is recommended. Small chamber mouthpiece can also be a great choice. Tip opening of the A6 or A5 allows easy response and could be great for the newbies.
Mouthpiece For Jazz Tenor Saxophone
For jazz tenor sax V16 can be great for the classic sounds. They offer a great balance of flexibility, power and warmth. JAVA mouthpiece can also be great of jazz tenor sax with a higher rollover baffle. For the people who are just starting with jazz mouthpieces, T45, T55, and T6 can be a great choice because they respond easily.
Mouthpiece Jazz Bari Saxophone
For the jazz bari, B5 produces a warm sound. It could be also used in concert bands. With the B7 you can also add some warmth into sound, but you can manipulate sound with a bite, which can be a great choice for the big bands.
The Best Jazz Sax Performers
One of the best performers in the jazz sax music is Sidney Bechet, the first one who developed virtuosic approach to the saxophone, Frankie Trumbauer, presented a new alternative “hot jazz”, Coleman Hawkins, one of the first virtuosos on tenor saxophone, Johnny Hodges, best known for leading Duke Ellington’s orchestra for thirty-eight years, and Sonny Rollings developed a quirky and melodic style.
5 Best Models For Jazz Alto Saxophone
Best Alto Saxophone For Jazz
Yamaha YAS-480 Intermediate Alto Saxophone
What Should You Know About Sound?
High-end Yamaha saxophones influenced this design. One of the features is a warm tone, highly accurate intonation and quick response. It is durable and lightweight at the same time, has a professional-quality 62-style neck to make them sound more mature.
What Should You Know About Design?
What makes this sax jazz more classy is the hand-engraved bell. The player can choose between designed saxophones for the Custom EX and Custom Z and those with 62-style neck, thanks to redesigned octave key system. The new 62-style has also has improved tone and response.
What Should You Know About Key?
For professional adjustments, screw cap stoppers and guarded with a separate key. For a comfortable feels you can increase playability by a left-and seesaw key. One of the features is improved mechanism from low B-C# that can endure closing from the low C# and give you a clear result from notes in the low range.
Is It Affordable?
With the middle price, the cost is small for all of the features and design that come with it. It is not designed to form bottom-up, rather top-down and gives you great plausibility and sound quality.
- The hand-engraved bell
- Separate keyguards
- Enhanced 62-style neck
- Lefthand-key to increase playability
Best Student Alto Saxophone For Jazz
Jean-Paul USA AS-1400 Student Alto Saxophone
Is It User-Friendly For Beginners?
This jazz alto sax is compatible with beginner and intermediate players. The reputation has been rising over the years. The price makes it very affordable and reliable with great quality you can get. If you value money or you are still learning, AS-400 would be a great choice. Only silver one would come with increased price.
What Should You Know About Keys?
The beautifully designed horn, pearl keys, beautiful body etchings and carefully constructed neck are part of great design. Highly durable keys prove the quality and reliability that comes with a horn. The Pivot key is tapered to make playing simple and solid bell brace are another reason why is this horn great choice for beginners.
What Should You Know About Intonation?
One of the many features are very good intonation and range, are usually found in much more expensive alto saxophones. Production of subtle and warmer tones can a great use during the performance in bands. Raw, gritty alto sax sound also can be produced, usually played by a solo player.
- Key of Eb
- Comes with a carrying case
- Beautiful yellow brass body
- Accessories included
Best Tenor Jazz Tenor Saxophone
Yamaha YTS-62III Professional Tenor Saxophone
What Should You Know About Manufactures?
The 62 series was the number one choice for the band players since the late seventies. The main goal of any sax manufacture is to produce saxophone that suits player of any level. The golden lacquer Yamaha YTS-62III tenor saxophone with a silver-plated finish was the result of that goal.
How Is It Affordable?
This jazz tenor saxophone is one of the leading tenor saxophones in the world. It has improved versions, including design and playability. The price is very affordable for the tone and playability that comes with it.
What Improvements Does It Include?
This new edition, one of the most popular model have improvements that include, moisture-resistant silicon-treated leather pads, blue steel spring for improved action, a thumb player can adjust for the comfort, annealed body, and bow-special process of cooling and warming metal to produce a better quality sound, redesigned, customized key shape to provide a more natural feel white holding the instrument and performing.
What Does It Provide?
The new 62-style neck provides a faster response and greater control while playing, improves air-flow and provides a good sound to the players of any level. The new engraved bell provide elegance and beauty. Improved mechanism B-C# gives a proper seal for notes which allows clear response from low range.
- 62 series band’s favourite choice
- New engraved bell
- Improved B-C# mechanism
- Comes with a case
Best Alto E-Flat Saxophone For Jazz
Mendini By Cecilio MAS-L+92D+PB E-Flat Saxophone
What Is The Mendini Cecilio Instrument?
Mendini Cecilio Instrument, founded in 2004, is producing instrument for the players at all levels, from beginners to professionals. Every single saxophone is tested and examined before leaving the factory and upon the arrival to the distribution centre.
Handcrafted with precision and pride, they are approved by instructor bodies around the world. Believing there was a gap in the market for quality affordable saxophones, founders of Cecilio established their company.
What Is Their Target Group?
This Mendini is ideal for beginners and professional players. E flat is pitched with a high F sharp and it brags with great construction. It is shaped like ribs with tone boosters made from high-quality steel. The low B flat keys are designed to make performance easy and simple while producing quality sound.
What Accessories Come With It?
What also makes it great for beginners are accessories that come with it. Very durable hardshell case, neck strap, rod and cloth for cleaning, reeds and gloves. The bonus is a 92-D tuner and pocketbook. You will also get the warranty for one year to cover manufacturing defects.
- Eb key with high F# key
- Design and construction
- Accessories that come with it
- 1-year warranty
Best Soprano Saxophone For Jazz
Yamaha YSS-82Z Professional Soprano Saxophone
What Should You Know About Range?
Custom sax bodies are made from brass alloy for a lightweight, a great feel during a performance and tonal flexibility. Custom saxophones play in all ranges and give players a huge dynamic range for sound as much as they want.
What Should You Know About Intonation?
This instrument also has unparalleled tonal flexibility for all music styles during a performance. You do not have to sacrifice your comfort for sound. This Yamaha Custom is available in curved neck design and straight design.
What Should You Snow About Setup?
Every horn is completely set up before shipping. This setup on the horn is the most important part. Some adjustments can last 20 minutes and some for 2 hours. Sometimes people believe there are good and bad saxophones. When all saxophones are properly adjusted and regulated, they are near identical. Players hardly can choose their favourite horn. A player can never know how much time it took for saxophone adjustment. This is why setup is performed before delivering.
- Lower vent tube reduces noise
- Key post rib plate has a solid feel
- New comfortable design
- Adjusting pivot screw
- Hand engraved bell add beauty
Conclusion: Which Jazz Saxophone Is The Best For Beginners?
Jean-Paul USA AS-1400 Alto Saxophone makes playing simple and produces a wonderful sound. Mendini By Cecilio E-Flat Saxophone is made for the player at all levels, including beginners. The low B plat key makes performance easy while producing high-quality sound.
If you are interested in more models, you read the article about best saxophones on the market. You can also read the article about soprano saxophone models and more about models of giant large saxophone, or even tenor saxophone of you are interested.