With its sassy and seductive sound, the saxophone has been described as the sexiest instrument ever invented. Designed by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in the early 1840s, the saxophone was originally intended for both military bands and orchestras. Initially scorned by the classical music fraternity, the saxophone was eagerly picked up by musicians in the United States and subsequently adopted in dance bands, becoming one of the most important solo instruments in the development of swing and other forms of jazz, where it remains one of the signature sounds.
Sax appeal today is universal, and the instrument is used by artists in a wide variety of musical genres, anything from rock and pop to chamber and choral.
Click through the following gallery and take note of the history behind the saxophone, its coolest exponents, and the instrument’s place in popular culture.