baritone saxophone
A large, deep-toned member of the saxophone family, pitched in E-flat.
In Depth
The baritone saxophone (often called bari sax) is the lowest saxophone commonly used in jazz and concert settings. Its rich, powerful tone anchors the saxophone section in big bands and provides a deep, resonant voice in smaller ensembles. The instrument is large enough that it requires a floor peg or harness for support.
Gerry Mulligan revolutionised the baritone saxophone in jazz, proving it could be a nimble, melodic lead instrument rather than just a bass voice. Pepper Adams brought a harder, more aggressive approach. In rock and pop, the bari sax provides the honking, gritty riffs heard in countless recordings from the 1950s onward.
Gerry Mulligan's pianoless quartet with Chet Baker in the 1950s proved that a baritone saxophone could carry a melody as lyrically as any trumpet — nobody had thought to try it before.