E♭ B♭ Business

Celebrating Saxophone Day

The Infinity of Lists is a curated collection of curious lists.

In honour of National Saxophone Day, today’s list is a playlist of songs featuring the undisputed champion of the woodwind section (yeah, I said it). As a lapsed dormant player of the instrument myself, I couldn’t resist.

Each track is paired with an additional accompaniment, as chosen by me, to bring out the full enjoyment of each saxophonous¹ moment.

We twist and turn through alt rock, new wave, pop, folk, jazz, hip-hop, ambient electronic and etcetera and etcetera.

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14. Exploding

The Cure - Exploding Boy

This full-throated blast of instrumental texture is best paired with popping a couple of Mentos into a Diet Coke².

13. Trouble

Romeo Void - A Girl In Trouble (Is A Temporary Thing)

This persistent and fateful groove is best paired with a double espresso and TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS.

12. Run

Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me

This distorted saxophone monster is best paired with a long session messing around with a random meme generator.

11. Crowned

Deerhunter - Coronado

This squealing freakout is best paired with brief sit down next to a small parrot.

10. Saturday

Ty Segall - Saturday Pt. 2

This rattling number is best paired with the thrilling anticipation/ominous foreboding³ of a countdown timer.

9. Chime

Nick Drake - At The Chime Of A City Clock

(Note: Saxophone joins the party at 01:32)

This haunting melody is best paired with a slow walk around the block in a knitted pair of gloves⁴.

8. Lament

Moondog - Bird’s Lament

This stately procession⁵ is best paired with an outside table and a generous portion of borscht.

7. Mood

Duke Ellington and John Coltrane - In A Sentimental Mood

This elegant partnership is best paired with soft streetlight and a tear-stained copy of L’Éducation Sentimentale.

6. Is

Yusuf Lateef - Like It Is

(Note: Saxophone joins the party at 01:49)

This slow buildup of blues is best paired with hand over heart and bulletproof confidence.

5. Gentleman

Fela Kuti - Gentleman

This infectious rhythm is best paired with getting a sweat on and then taking a long, hard look at yourself.

4. Grunt

The J.B.’s - The Grunt Pt. 1 & 2

This screeching groove is best paired with cooking a particularly insistent stir fry.

3. Reminisce

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)

This Golden Age classic is best paired with drifting clouds in a darkening sky.

2. Nothing

Loyle Carner - Ain’t Nothing Changed

This solemn plea is best paired with setting a bunch of money on fire.

1. C

Anenon - Two For C

This swirling slice of atmosphere is best paired with a tall glass of water and Paul Gauguin’s Vision After The Sermon.

(There are many, many more examples of course. Let me know which wails of woodwind tickle your fancy!).

1. Not a word but should be a word.

2. Other brands are of course available.

3. Delete as appropriate.

4. And your other clothes. Not just a pair of gloves. That would be… cold.

5. In honour of Charlie Parker, and famously sampled by Mr Scruff.