Well I did. Then I happened to come across this video on YouTube that satisfied my curiosity. I must admit, it was not at all what I had imagined it would sound like.
According to Saxpics.com, the slide saxophone here appears to be a Swanee Model A. It is similar to the one that was for sale on eBay in October 2009.
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
The peculiar slide saxophone was one of saxophonic curiosities that was a product of the early 20th century. Like so many of these quirky horns, the slide sax never caught on, and is now a rarity in vintage saxophone world.
The musician who is synonymous with the slide sax is Snub Mosley. Mosley was originally a slide trombone player, who also played the slide saxophone for decades.
There is only 1 known recording of Snub Mosley playing the slide sax. The song, “The Funny Little Horn”, appeared on the album, The Man With the Funny Little Horn. On that recording, Mosley plays the slide sax with a trombone mouthpiece, although in photos he poses with a saxophone mouthpiece on his horn.
There were only a few manufacturers of slide saxophones. Swanee and Reiffel & Husted are the 2 makes we see most commonly.
I am writing a section on the slide sax for the main portion of my website. I have some great photos of a Reiffel & Husted slide sax that I helped find a new home for. There are some last pieces of research I need to complete before that section of my site is finished. Unfortunately, like so many things that I started in the fall, this project got back-burned due to circumstances beyond of my control.
If you have any photos or any information that you’d like to contribute towards my section on the slide saxophone, drop me an email. I’d love to hear from you. Thanks!
There is a slide saxophone on display at the Music Museum located on the campus of the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota.
Hi Gene. Welcome to my site.
Thanks for that info. I’m not surprised that the Music Museum has one. I have never been to the museum, but that is one place I’d really like to go one day soon.