Saxaphone vs. Trumpet...Which do you prefer?


It’s not the first time I’ve thought about it, but it came up again last night as I was listening to Quintessence volume 2, Stan Getz and Chet Baker recorded live. (an amazing disc) I have to say that for myself, I prefer the saxophone because it seems capable of infinite textures and subtle shadings as well as eye opening dynamic shifts. Of course I love the trumpet too; especially in the hands of a player like Chet Baker.


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Showing 2 responses by chazro

There's only 2 types of music; good & bad.
There's only 2 types of musicians; good & bad.

Sounds like there's a few of you that's never heard a good trumpet or flute player.  2 instruments that are truly capable of infinite sensitivity and beauty.  I would never handcuff my love of music with a blanket statement stating I hate an INSTRUMENT!  Talk about waste, you're effectively blocking out a virtual universe of music!
"Saxophones can do this, too--but due to the reed/tongue/embrochure interface (more complex physically than the mouthpiece/mouth interface of the trumpet), it's somewhat harder for saxes to exactly produce & follow very fast, repetitive rhythmic figures."

It may be harder, but this statement seems wrong.  I own so many recordings of blistering sax sections (especially within the Latin Jazz/Salsa genre, my absolute favorite!) keeping up with and augmenting the trumpet sections.  I imagine most of us do.  Perhaps I misunderstood it, because as it reads, it's practically nonsensical!