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ADOLPHE SAX
Had the trumpet not blown for him on 7th February 1894, Adolphe Sax would be celebrating his 210th birthday today.
Adolphe invented the saxophone, a wind instrument that is the heart of music across several genres, with prominence in Jazz.
Working as a music instrument maker, Adolphe, born in Belgium, was the son of Joseph Sax, a renowned maker of brass instruments, harps, and guitars. He made the saxophone invention in 1942, improving on a flute and a clarinet. He also made other inventions that didn't make much prominence. These were the saxo-tromba and the sax-horn. Without his music genius in innovation, music wouldn't be what it is today as the saxophone has continued to hold a special place in the heart of music. In Jazz, the saxophone and the trumpets are everything, others are mere spices.
In rumba, the guitars are the engine that drives the song, with the rhythm guitar creating a pattern for the melody and solo tracking the melody, as the percussions set the pace. The saxophone, just like the trumpet and the clarinet is merely spices, but a very important one. In Congolese rumba, the saxophone was introduced by Belgian player Fud Candrix at Opika studio which housed Grand Kallè's African Jazz and went on to become an important pillar of the genre.
Sax players, like Musekiwa, Verckys, Nino Malapet, Albino Kalombo, etc were some of the most sought-after musicians in the 60s. However, with the advent of Soukouss, the instrument that added emotions to songs and gave them a unique taste has since been unceremoniously and gradually kicked off.
Songs like Ndaya of Mayaula became that great because of the melodious sax in it, that which was played by former Negro Success player, Empopo Loway. Some genres like benga overlooked the sax to concentrate on guitars.
Nowadays most Congolese bands have discarded the instrument, with a few fifth-generation musicians, like Fgerre Gola, only using it occasionally. Those who have been keen on learning why some saxists use the name sax ie Sax Matalanza, Sax Akazol, Sax Lunama, may have their question partly answered now that the originator of the instrument was known as Sax. It is also an established tradition that instrument makers name their creations after established players. Adolphe Sax may be long gone, but his creation rules the world of entertainment.
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