Sax Appeal

This episode of 99% Invisible explores the history of the saxophone, from its invention by Adolphe Sax in 19th-century Belgium to its rise in popularity in American jazz music. The episode details Sax's early life, his work improving musical instruments, and his ambition to win a French military contract. It recounts the story of a "battle of the bands" that helped secure the saxophone's place in military bands, and how the instrument later gained traction in the United States, becoming a key part of jazz music and American culture. The episode also touches on the saxophone's controversial association with jazz, its suppression by authoritarian regimes, and its eventual mainstream acceptance. The episode concludes with a tour of novelty saxophones.