The Aptly Named Chester Smith Saxophone Quartet
A Brief History of the Quartet and its Namesake
His rise through the ranks over the years was surprising to those who knew him, and he was eventually promoted to Sergeant, after which he retired to southern Indiana and formed "Sgt. Chester Smith's Saxophone Quartet." He brought together a group of saxophonists unique in their desire to go beyond the accepted norm of the modern quartet -- for instance, the quartet was actually composed of five saxophone players. Additionally, they used no melody, harmony, rhythm, or reeds. They instead relied on the sound of the air through the horn, the clicking of their keys, periodic vocal screams, and the banging of a large bass-drum inscribed with the quartet's name.
The quartet toured the Mid-West dance-club scene for a number of years, becoming known for their large drum, and their music's complete departure from anything the club scene knew or wanted. The tour continued rather sporadically, until one night when their instruments were destroyed by an angry mob of Bee-Bop enthusiasts. Emotionally scarred by the incident, the quartet split up and went their own ways. Chester Smith retired to Scotland where he grew haggis and devoted his life to what he called "the reintegration of the bagpipes into modern jazz." Little is known of the project except that he died only few years later in an incident not dissimilar to the one which dissolved the quartet.
Due to a clerical error, during its short existance the quartet pressed a record on the Savoy Record Co. Label. The record was originally intended to contain out-takes of Charlie Parker sessions, however there was a mix-up at the record plant, and a limited number of the records were pressed and sold with the Charlie Parker cover. All but five records were returned to Savoy as defective because they apparently contained no music. It remains unclear how the error occurred, however, those who were familiar with Sgt. Smith's antics during his time in the Army suspected that it was more than just fate.
In Ashland, Oregon during the summer of 1995, a saxophone quartet was formed, naming themselves "Sgt. Chester Smith's Saxophone Quartet" in memory of Sgt. Smith's original group. In early July, 1995 the quartet was contacted by the lawyers of Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd. Japan -- the current owner of Savoy rights. Though Nippon Columbia had no intention of re-issuing the original record, they did recommend that the Ashland quartet change their name in order to avoid the possibility of legal action. The "Aptly Named Chester Smith Saxophone Quartet" was suggested by Shawn, and approved by the quartet's lawyers as close enough to the original to piss off Nippon Columbia, but altered enough to render their lawyers powerless.
A recreation of the drum used by Sgt. Chester Smith and his Saxophone Quartet. Click on the drum for a larger picture of it, as well as recreations of the outfits worn by the quartet.
The quartet has considered continuing with Chester Smith's enthusiasm for bagpipes; however, their respect for the jazz genre has thusfar kept such experimentation to a minimal level.