The Devil's Horn The Story of the Saxophone, from Noisy Novelty to King of Cool

by Segell, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780374159382
• ISBN10: 0374159386
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-10-15
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Summary

"Its shape is seductive, its sound synonymous with sex, its look the very essence of hip. The saxophone is inseparable from bebop and cool, yet as Michael Segell writes in this exuberant and engrossing chronicle, its history has been anything but smooth." "Arising from Segell's own infatuation with the instrument, The Devil's Horn tells the story of the saxophone, from its invention by the eccentric, tormented Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in the 1840s to its assured place in the jazz pantheon. Segell takes us on an amazing tour of the horn, tracing its rapid conquest of the musical world - in military and marching bands, vaudeville and home music, community ensembles and rooftop dance combos, Broadway and movies - culminating in its apotheosis as the voice of jazz and the go-to instrument in rhythm and blues, Motown, soul, and early rock and roll. Using it as a prism through which to examine social change, he shows how the saxophone, reflecting the personality of its controversial inventor, became a symbol of decadence, immorality, and licentiousness: the saxophone was banned in Japan, saxophonists were exiled to Siberia by Communist officials - and a pope even indicted it. The Devil's Horn reveals the innovative acoustical science behind the instrument, its struggles in the world of "legit" music, and the mystical properties that entrance all who fall under its spell. Drawing upon interviews with the saxophone's legendary players, including Benny Carter, Illinois Jacquet, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Heath, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Joe Lovano, Branford Marsalis, David Murray, and Michael Brecker, The Devil's Horn is a colorful, informed portrait of one of the world's most popular instruments."--BOOK JACKET.

Author Biography

Michael Segell is an editor at the Daily News, an amateur percussionist and saxophone player, and a professional music lover. He lives with his wife and children in New York City and Long Eddy, New York.

Michael Segell's writing has appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, and Esquire, where he wrote the popular column "The Male Mind" for three years. He has received two National Magazine Award nominations for his work.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION	3	(193)
1. THE GHOST CHILD	11	(18)
2. ANARCHISTE DE DROITE	29	(15)
3. A PARISIAN IN AMERICA	44	(19)
4. A VIRTUOSO ON HORSEBACK	63	(14)
5. THE COLLECTORS	77	(25)
6. IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS	102	(34)
7. THAT SOUL THING	136	(24)
8. THE NAKED LADY	160	(20)
9. DIABOLIQUE	180	(16)
10. PERSONALSOUND	196	(22)
11. PROVOCATEUR	218	(18)
12. LEGIT	236	(18)
13. INSTRUMENT OF THE FUTURE	254	(14)
14. BODY AND SOUL	268	(10)
15. GABRIEL'S HORN	278	(19)
BIBLIOGRAPHY	297	(4)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	301	(2)
INDEX	303