The Hendrix of Saxophone?

When was the last time you experienced a musician who’d completely revolutionised their instrument?

Many of us guitarists would namecheck Hendrix, or Eddie Van Halen as the pioneer that changed the game for us.

But when did you last hear something completely new and baffling?

When Colin Stetson was preparing for his lesson at the University of Michigan, his saxophone professor Donald Sinta stormed into the room with an urgent question –

‘How are you doing that?’

Stetson mostly plays the bass saxophone, using a contact mic to sing (or scream) into the mouthpiece as he maintains the droning notes with circular breathing. He is also a master at using overtones and multiphonics. The mic also picks up sounds of the keys and pads and transform the action of playing into a accompanying percussive beat.

He is his own one-man orchestra.

Audiences at his concerts frequently express disbelief that it’s possible that one man is making this noise, that surely there must be someone offstage, or a backing track.

In an interview with Vice, another former teacher of Stetson’s remarked, ‘It's flat-out uncharted territory. Every saxophone player is floored by it. There's a thing happening here that's undeniable.’

The fact that he plays such a large, unwieldy, and little-used instrument in such a unique and difficult way requires him to maintain the fitness levels of a professional athlete, incorporating tremendous levels of breathing exercises, yoga, stretching and circuit training just to be able to perform.

His music is unlike anything else I’ve heard. He’s collaborated with Arcade Fire, Tom Waits, and Bon Iver, and is highly in-demand as a composer of film soundtracks, adding a deeply unsettling score to films like Hereditary.

Take a look at this performance of ‘The love it took to leave you’ on YouTube. (Or just search his name on YouTube if the link doesn’t work for you, as has been reported by some Microsoft Edge users.)

Headphones recommended!

Mary x

If you were forwarded this email from a friend, and would like to subscribe, please go here.

Out Now:
🎶 The Craft of Songwriting

Special Offer. Get 50% OFF Mary’s Online Courses:
🎸 Fingerstyle Guitar
📷 How I Built My YouTube Channel
🎛️ How To Produce in Ableton
🎛️ How To Perform in Ableton