Fuck Kenny G. I said it. Someone had to. The guy set saxophones back 30 years. Before Kenny G relegated them to the elevator, it was the instrument of Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. John COLTRANE for christ sakes. It doesn't get a lot cooler than that. But then he with the luscious curls sold 75 million records and saxophones received the kiss of death called "easy listening". Well have no fear brassophiles, because Colin Stetson is bringing sexy back.
You might be thinking, is that a huge instrument or is Colin Stetson quite diminutive? To answer your question, I have no idea. But I do know that he plays a bass saxophone (the 2nd largest member of the saxophone family, thanks Wiki!) and that the sounds he squeezes from it are otherworldly. Take Judges for instance, lead "single" off his new album, New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges. That burbling Daft Punk synth you hear? That's the sax. The smothered goose squawking that comes after? Why that's simply Colin vocalizing THROUGH the saxophone. That low-flying plane passing overhead? Colin. That teeth-rattling Inception-style BWAHHHHH? Colin. That faint, gorgeous falsetto? That's him too. All these remarkable sounds from a single man with a single instrument. And it's not a simple novelty act. The dance between the beautiful and the terrifying, the thunderous and the delicate sounds effortless, but one look at his face tells you otherwise. And if you are intimidated by these sounds, know that he is equally capable of the utterly gorgeous. Just listen to All the Days I've Missed You and wish it went on another 10 minutes. I suppose "On Repeat" isn't exactly true. "In Awe" is more like it.
Colin Stetson | Awake on Foreign Shores & Judges | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
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