Description: "The saxophone has rooted itself in the soil of pop culture. It's the "devil's horn," the voice of jazz, a character trait of U.S. Presidents, YouTube sensations, and cartoon characters. It has both enhanced and ruined songs, it is sensuous yet abrasive, and it is the only instrument widely excluded from symphonies and orchestras, never quite being taken seriously. But this object is also symbolic of living on the margins of society; the saxophone has never been kind to its players. Delving into more than just the history of this quirky instrument, Saxophone blends memoir, research, and cultural criticism, and asks, what does it mean to love something so contradictory - even if it kills you?"--
Brief description: Ian Bogost is an author and an award-winning game designer. He is Barbara and David Thomas Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences, Director of Film & Media Studies, and Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. Bogost is also Founding Partner at Persuasive Games LLC, an independent game studio, and a Contributing Editor at The Atlantic. Bogost is author or co-author of ten books, including Alien Phenomenology (2012)and Play Anything (2016).
Review Quotes:
"With Saxophone, Mollie Hawkins gives us a thorough and compelling history of the instrument and its creator - and those jazz greats who are eternally linked: Parker, Coltrane, Getz - along with the personal story of her late father's devotion to the saxophone. Hawkins's devotion to her father and his music adds a vibrant and moving dimension to this already extraordinary history." --Jill McCorkle, author of Old Crimes and Hieroglyphics
"Hawkins magically weaves an insightful telling of the saxophone's zany origin story and its turbulent journey through modern culture and music with the warmth of her personal yet fraught connection to the instrument. The blend of perspectives is as potent and enticing as the object itself. As a saxophonist, I feel enlightened and emboldened in learning of my horn's resolute resilience in the face of repeated defeats, a steadfast strength that transcends musical genre. A must-read for anyone remotely interested in the saxophone!" --Rudresh Mahanthappa, Award-Winning Saxophonist & Director of Jazz, Princeton University, USA