The Story of the Saxophone
Holiday House, 2023
illustrated by James Ransome
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
You may think that the story of the saxophone begins with Dexter Gordon or Charlie Parker, or on a street corner in New Orleans. It really began in 1840 in Belgium with a young daydreamer named Joseph-Antoine Adolphe Sax—a boy with bad luck but great ideas.
Coretta Scott King Honoree Lesa Cline-Ransome unravels the fascinating history of how Adolphe's once reviled instrument was transported across Europe and Mexico to New Orleans. Follow the saxophone's journey from Adolphe's imagination to the pawn shop window where it caught the eye of musician Sidney Bechet and became the iconic symbol of jazz music it is today.
★ “A now-essential piece of reading for music lovers. . . Ransome's detailed, relaxed line captures historical periods with precision and vibrancy, and his illustrations of the jazz musicians who made the instrument famous are especially striking. It's a biography whose warm, mellow tone matches that of the instrument itself." Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
★ "... an underdog story pulled from lesser-known music history...Cline-Ransome invites readers’ empathy through clearly established stakes as Sax triumphs over critics..." Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review
★ “An enjoyable read and a first purchase, especially for collections in need of accessible books on jazz history for younger readers.” School Library Journal, Starred Review
"Engagingly links the jazz saxophone with its European roots." Kirkus Reviews
"Ransome's illustrations shine with careful detail. . . ." The Horn Book
Black Caucus Best of Books 2023 List
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