Are sopranos often used in jazz bands?

[Saxplayer_70]

My school band does not allow soprano as the band music is not written for soprano. This gives me little opportunity to play. However there is a jazz band. Are sopranos often used in jazz bands?

[jrsopsax]

I had the same problem back in the mid 60's. I know this dates me, however, I found that I would play my tenor parts and then improvise on the soprano when I got the notion. You have to have an understanding band director who will let you experiment. Some solo's work on soprano and some work better on alto or tenor. It's all in the voicing. :D

[Morry]

Not usually, at least not in the usual 5 sax - 5 bone - 5 trumpet arrangement. There may be the odd piece of music out there for it, but it's not the norm.

[MM]

You see it as a double in big band charts, in more modern arrangements. Most commonly in the first alto part but sometimes in the first tenor part. Sometimes the part will be double scored for soprano or optional alto but not always. On some charts you play soprano the entire time, others only for part. Still, this is only once in a while. So, my advice is to work on your alto or tenor playing first.

Sometimes you'll see soprano in concert band. Percy Grainger tended to score for it and I think Holst also. For concert band, it's better to play alto (or clarinet) and plead for the odd soprano part that comes along.

[KarstenTS]

Same to me. I play the 1st Tenor in a Big Band and since I got my curvy I wanted to play it. But that depends on the songs, a soprano ist pretty high, you should never forget that... :wink:

Now I do some solos with the tiny one. It's kind of a show effect when the tenor hangs down on you and you're blowing a powerful Soprano Solo. People are always stunning...

[Grumps]

I used to solo on soprano with my high school stage band over twenty years ago. Approach your band director about it. If not overdone, it can add an interesting diversion.

[Roger Aldridge]

If you have a creative band director perhaps he or she could transpose the lead alto part for soprano on a few charts or certain passages in a chart. This shouldn't be a big deal. Or, perhaps you could learn how to transpose -- simply go down a perfect fifth from the alto part. Soprano lead in a sax section can be a GREAT SOUND!

Maria Schneider uses soprano sax quite a bit in her band. If you don't have any Maria Schneider CDs please get one. Great band! Her writing is at a very high-level. If your band director needs to be convinced about using a soprano just let him listen to one of Maria's CDs!

Some band directors are open and like to try different things with their groups. Others don't and just stick to what's written on the paper. Let's hope that you have one of the good ones! :lol:

[JS]

Maria's a great writer - check out her recordings. Also, Thad Jones wrote for soprano lead A LOT - most of his charts published by Kendor include an optional alto part if the lead alto player doesn't have a soprano - but it sounds best with the soprano lead as Tahd intended (IMHO).

[Paul Coats]

Not only did Percy Grainger write Soprano Sax parts (and Bass Sax, too!), but wrote GREAT Soprano parts. Not only did Grainger write for soprano... he was a saxophonist, too! I have seen a picture of him in a marching band with tenor sax, and another of him playing a curved Buescher soprano with a pianist.

One of the movements in Lincolnshire Posey begins with a Soprano Sax solo. I don't remember if it is the 2nd or 4th mvt. This solo is cued in the French Horn, and many people have never heard it performed as written, only the the FH on that solo.

Don't let your director fool you... EVERY Grainger piece I have seen has Soprano Sax parts!

When I was in college, I played 1st tenor in jazz band, but quite often played solos on soprano sax.

[Bill Gaulke]

Soprano sax in a jazz band???? There is nothing like a sop sax in a dixie land band,,,,I play with a dixie band here and I use my sop a lot, in fact all the time,,,Great solo instrument and great ensemble too. You can go unison with the lead trpt or play harmony, either was it sounds good. Or you can go with the clarinet partly.. So as you can see, it's a very versitile instrument in a jazz band,,,, big band??? solo only....

[Dave Dolson]

Bill Gaulke: With whom do you play? I used to live in Whitefish, MT and our MT Good Tyme Jazz Band played all the festivals in the northwest. We've worked closely with Uptown Lowdown and members of Evergreen. I count John Goodrich (UpLow) as a good friend, and Paul Woltz (alto and bass sax with UpLow), too. Great players. You are absolutely correct about sop sax in trad jazz. While I use clarinet on some specialty tunes, the sop sax does it all and always garners accolades. DAVE

[Bootman]

Grainger was also an Australian. He had several other bad and not to pleasant sides to his character too.

His Sax parts are great.

As for Sop sax, it is used in trad jazz playing a lot. It is also a great modern horn and ideal for smooth jazz too. I did an entire on Sop the other night, it worked very well indeed. :lol:

[saxamnphone]

there generally isn't much jazz band writing for soprano (at least in my benighted corner of england!). it's one of the resons why i sold my soprano, there wasn't much scope to play it and i was then 2nd alto so didn't solo... :(

[mstrick96]

I am learning the soprano sax. I am primarily a clarinet player.

I was trying to play the clarniet parts, but had a hard time playing in tune with the clarinets. I went to get a lesson from Tony Carere and he told me that I should play the trumpet parts. That is working great for me!

My point is, the part doesn't have to specifically be written for soprano to play it and to enjoy your soprano. Try tenor sax parts, clarinet parts, or trumpet parts to see what sounds good.

I am now doubling with my clarinet. I play some songs on sop and some on clarinet. Learning to switch quickly is "interesting", but that's another topic!

Mike :D

You have to have a director who is willing to work with you.