Bari - The Most Versatile Sax???

[1saxman]

Just thinking about how I started on bari almost 50 years ago, and all the different ways the bari is used. In a marching band, for instance, the bari mostly follows the 'oom-pah' Sousaphone line, and the low brass in general. In concert band, the bari will follow the low brass, but will also be more of a section player with the saxes and other woodwinds. These changes run through the pieces of music, sometimes from measure to measure. Early rock was not about the guitar - the sax, usually at least two, provided the rhythmic riffs needed to drive the beat, and the bari was right there on the bottom, with plenty of rides thrown in. As pop music progressed and 'horn bands' (groups like 'Tower Of Power' or 'Chicago' that featured vocalists but were obviously built around the 'horn section' consisting of trumpets, trombones and saxes) came into popularity, the bari frequently was used to give funky accents on the low notes ala Doc Krupka while playing with the section at other times. In big band, the bari finds it's classic role as the anchor of the five-sax section, although here, too, the bari may be working a phrase with the 'bones or rhythm section while the other saxes rest. Every generation has had it's own great bari jazz soloist, like Mulligan and Brignola. To my mind, this is where the bari finds it's true voice - a solo horn, just as any soprano, alto or tenor would be. I really look forward to gigs where I can play some bari without any other horns to support. I have one coming up where I will be playing 'Georgia' on bari, and I've never heard a bari do this song, although obviously someone must have done it, probably many. I play all the saxes, and am really a tenor man, but the bari has got to be the most versatile sax of all.

[Cutoirexe]

I hear ya; I know in my school band, the director usually has me playing other instrument parts, that people cannot play, on my Bari. Since it's so easy to transpose concert pitched parts in bass clef, Trombone, Bassoon, Tuba, and Euphon parts are nothing. Plus I can always just grab an Alto part and mess around. If I have the time to write down the notes, I'll usually grab a Bb part, say a Trumpet part, and transpose it. I'm just lucky my director likes Bari's, since it's not everyday you hear the Bari going off on melody all the time.

[michaelbaird]

I think Tenor and Bari are the most versatile. I think the higher pitched saxes are more limited. Tenor and Bari have such and incredible altissimo range!

[BariSaxy]

i completely agree. im constantly switching around from bassoon, to base claranet, tuba, and alto parts.

the thing im most disapointed with it that bari sax solo's are not that popular, compared to tenor/alto. but the few there are, could beat any tenor/alto solo.

im not big on altissimo, but ive heard that bari can get up to 5 octaves higher than above the staff F#

[Blackwolf42]

I have always thought that tenor is the most versatile. You can honk in the low register or screech around in the high register or altissimo.

[sycc]

Mulligan did "Georgia on my Mind" on his Dream a Little Dream Cd(circa 1994). It is on Telarc cd-83364. Check it out!!!!

[Pinnman]

Add the saophone quartet format to the list! Not so much a question of versatility, of course, but the bari really is am equal partner to the other three members of the ensemble.

I started on tenor, too, but now play mostly bari - four current bands out of five.

[PhatSax]

I have to agree with Blackwolf42, the tenor is pitched low enough to do some lite bari work and altissimo on tenor is only limited by the ability of the player. I started on tenor, and if I had to play only one sax, it would be tenor without a doubt.

[baritone saxophone]

There is a nice bari sax solo of yakety sax on youtube.

[blindside398]

I love wathcing that guy do that solo, it's very good.

[bluesaxgirl]

I've just started playing bari. But compared to alto, I agree too. Every band needs a bari to enhance the depth of the band. And then again, it's doesn't obtain that brassy sound, so its also perfect for woodwind sectionals too.

[AHamm]

I think the bari is the most versatile sax because it can, with out going into altissimo or anything, play at least one note in every other saxes' range, the highest F on the bari would be the lowest Bb on the soprillo, and the low A would be the middle A on the Contrabass..I think that's pretty cool