| As a saxophonist and recording artist, I often hear | | | | such reaction? Why is it such an attractive, compelling, |
| from people who share with me their stories about | | | | magnetic, and powerful instrument? |
| how the sound of the saxophone effects them in their | | | | My answer? Because the saxophone loves you. |
| hearts, their souls, and their lives. There is something | | | | Think about it. The saxophone has a warm, sensual, |
| about the sound of the saxophone that has a clear | | | | romantic, embracing sound, the very sound of love. It |
| and profound effect on many, many people. | | | | relaxes the mind and uplifts the heart. It inspires |
| Here are a few typical comments I hear on a very | | | | thoughts and feelings of love and romance. In some |
| regular basis: | | | | very real way, our psycho-chemical reaction to the |
| "It puts me in the mood, and helps me to remember | | | | sound of the saxophone is the same psycho-chemical |
| how lucky I am to have someone to love." | | | | reaction that takes place when we are actually |
| "...it is soothing and healing to my heart and soul." | | | | experiencing love. |
| "The sounds just captivate and take the mind to a | | | | Admittedly, the conclusions I am drawing here are not |
| beautiful day." | | | | scientific. I am not aware of any studies that have |
| "The music actually helps me to purge the day's | | | | been done regarding the physics of the sound of the |
| stresses and cleanse the thoughts that I don't want to | | | | saxophone and how it effects human body chemistry. |
| carry over into the next day." | | | | Nevertheless, it seems obvious from the extraordinary |
| "...it put me into a trance. In my mind I was transported | | | | popularity of the instrument and how passionately |
| to a Paris street side café looking into the eyes of | | | | people react to it that the saxophone has a powerful |
| my wife; it was a magical daydream - the air was filled | | | | and profound effect on the human nervous system. |
| with love." | | | | It is said that the saxophone sounds more like the |
| Before I go any further, I should point out that I've been | | | | human voice than any other instrument. Perhaps this is |
| playing the saxophone for 43 years and I do have | | | | part of the mystique and power of the instrument. |
| some modest talent on the instrument. I do know how | | | | But one thing is clear: certain tones made by the |
| to play the saxophone in just the right way so people | | | | instrument resonate in a very specific way with the |
| react as in the examples above. | | | | vibration of the human beingness. If played just right, |
| However, the point I'm making in this article has nothing | | | | the sound of the saxophone causes a powerful |
| to do with me specifically. It has to do with the | | | | sympathetic vibration with the human nervous system. |
| saxophone itself, and how the very sound of the | | | | So next time you hear a saxophone played just the |
| saxophone effects the human nervous system. | | | | way you like it, and you start thinking to yourself, "Ooh, |
| The point is that people love the saxophone! | | | | yeah, that sounds nice!" remember this: the saxophone |
| Why? What it is about the instrument that inspires | | | | doesn't just sound good. The saxophone loves you. |