The Sax and Brass Book presents a fresh and exciting view of jazz and pop by blending together the stories of the music, the musicians and their musical instruments into a new and stimulating whole. Great names from the past - from Louis Armstrong to Miles Davis and Charlie Parker to John Coltrane - lead on to modern jazz as well as a look at rock, funk, ska, soul and country...in fact virtually any popular music with saxophones, trumpets or trombones. As well as this fascinating story, The Sax and Brass Book offers a unique photographic collection of fine and rare musical instruments and printed memorabilia, and a detailed directory of instrument makers. In these pages you will find new insights into music history as well as the inspiration to visit a welath of unexplored musical territories.

It took the arrival of jazz to give a mid-19th century musical invention its true voice. Adolphe Sax had first heard his saxophone played in military bands but when Charlie Parker and John Coltrane got hold of his instrumental hybrid, music took a bold turn towards new and exciting sounds. Long before the saxophone came to lead the jazz parade, cornets and trumpets were in command as Bix Beiderbecke and Louis Armstrong blew up a musical storm. Thus The Sax and Brass Book artfully tells the story of the jazz of yesterday and today...and then widens its focus to reveal the position of brass instruments in the world of pop music, from Louis Jordan and Bob Wills to James Brown and 2-Tone. Supported by a detailed guide to manufacturing history and a unique collection of full-colour photographs displaying great saxophones, cornets, trumpets and trombones as well as rare memorabilia, The Sax and Bras Book practically and entertainingly highlights the essential interplay between great musicians and great instruments.

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