“Thirty-nine saxophonists and a percussionist on the stage all at once is an awesome sight, and the sound they make is more so...clearly a band to watch and listen to.” Edinburghguide.com

The National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain presented their show, ‘Sax in the City’ at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year.  Their run of ten shows during the first week of the festival attracted increasing audience numbers, and their final show was played to a full house at the 300-capacity Reid Hall.

A surprise word-of-mouth hit, by the day of the final show it had reached number one in the new audience text vote system published daily by the Scotsman.  Comments in the audience guest book included, “the best thing I’ve seen on the Fringe”, “absolutely mind-busting” and “saxophones are why ears were invented!”  It also caught the imagination of Bullseye star Jim Bowen, who described the show as “absolutely fantastic – great sax appeal!”

Musical director and soloist Nigel Wood was in buoyant mood after the final show.  “This is our first time at the Fringe and we are amazed and delighted by the reaction of audiences.  If only we were staying another week!”

The choir draws its members from all over the UK, and meets in Birmingham to rehearse.  Its unique line-up of instruments is what gives the choir its great range and depth of sound – it includes no less than eight members of the saxophone family, from the tiny Soprillo to the giant Tubax.  The sound of the choir in full voice has been compared to an organ for its power and agility.

More details on the National Saxophone Choir can be found at www.saxchoir.com.