The saxophone story
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- Start Date: 22 Sep 2025End Date: 20 Oct 2025Mon (Daytime): 13:00 - 15:00In PersonLocation: Keeley StreetDuration: 5 sessions (over -5 weeks)Course Code: MD665ATutors: Albi GravenerFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £104.00
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What is the course about?
The story of the saxophone, its creator Adolphe Sax and the musicians who have discovered and explored the instrument’s many possible voices. It is a story which lies primarily but far from exclusively within the history of jazz and hence we will study the music of many musicians including Lester Young, Don Byas, Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane,Charlie Parker, Canonball Adderley,Joe Harriott, Stan Getz, Chris Potter, Archie Shepp and many more impossible to cover in a general history of jazz.
What will we cover?
- Adolphe Sax and the fascinating origin story of his creation.
- The evolution of the sound
- The “Family Tree” of jazz saxophonists
- Individual approaches to the music
- Technical development of the instrument
- The reasons for its dominant role in jazz and popular music from the 1930s-1980s.
- The adoption of the saxophone in Eastern European, Indian and Far eastern musical contexts.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand the lineage of jazz saxophonists from 1924 to the present day and their influences upon each other
- Explain the origin and technical development of the instrument
- Identify 5 saxophonists by their sound
- Place musicians within their historical context
- Leave the course with an extensive list of musicians and recordings to explore.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No previous knowledge of jazz is required, but students who have completed A History of Jazz in 20 Essential Cuts or one of the shorter City Lit jazz history courses will find this course a logical progression.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will learn via a combination of lecture, guided listening/watching, and discussion. Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via Google Classroom.
You will be encouraged to do extra reading and listening outside class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class, and attend live concerts and gigs.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
To find out more about music history classes Music history courses in London and online which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.
aLbi is a mostly self-taught saxophonist and composer, obsessed with jazz and its evolution since his early teens when he stumbled across his father’s precious vinyl collection of half a dozen discs. Perhaps something of the emotional nuance and intensity of John Coltrane and Stan Getz resonated with his own adolescent turmoil. aLbi was stunned to discover that Coltrane and Getz were playing the same instrument, tenor sax, so different were the “voices” they projected, and came to understand that the striving for a personal sound and expression were integral to the music. He became immersed in that world and its history. aLbi has formed bands playing original compositions, a sort of neo punk, jazz, reggae, funk, calypso with surreal and comic lyrics, often manically theatrical and at one point popular in the pubs, clubs and colleges of Kent. He has since become involved with theatre companies composing and collaborating and has written, produced and appeared in two original musicals. In 2007 one collaborative project was awarded the Samuel Becket Trust award for new and original theatre. aLbi has taught a variety of jazz history courses at City Lit since 2014.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.