Sax

/sæks/ noun

Definition

A musical instrument with a curved brass body and a reed that's played by blowing air through it to make rich, warm sounds.

Etymology

Sax is short for 'saxophone,' which was invented in 1840 by Adolphe Sax, a Belgian instrument maker. His name became attached to his invention, and the shortened version 'sax' became common in jazz.

Kelly Says

The saxophone only exists because one inventor named Adolphe Sax wanted to bridge the gap between woodwind and brass instruments—and jazz music became what it is partly because the sax wasn't invented until the 1800s.

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