Today is National Saxophone Day, a time meant to celebrate the birthday of Antoine-Joseph “Adolphe” Sax, the inventor of the saxophone.

Created in the 1840s, the saxophone originally was an instrument to be played in marching bands and classical music. The instrument became more popular in the early 20th century when musicians took a liking to its wide dynamic range, versatility, and growling expressiveness. This momentum eventually led to the saxophone’s prominence in jazz music.

Over time, the woodwind instrument —that’s right, a woodwind, despite its brassy appearance — branched out across genres, became quite well-received in popular music. This morning, think about your favorite sax lines and solos to showcase this special instrument.

For today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, which songs featuring the saxophone do you want to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs Played
M83 - Midnight City
John Coltrane - Giant Steps
Beck - The New Pollution
Boots Randolph - Yakety Sax
Sade - Smooth Operator
Morphine - Honey White
The Comet Is Coming - Summon the Fire