Sax30’s is a unit based in Kinshicho, consisting of a saxophone quartet of four office ladies (OLs) and one percussionist (the only male member). Our goal is to create enjoyable music together with our audience, focusing on standard jazz and jazz arrangements of popular songs that everyone has heard before.

Since we often get asked (albeit hesitantly), let us clarify in advance—the name Sax30’s originates from our first quartet performance in November 2008 at a recital for a certain music school. At the time, we only intended to perform as a one-day ensemble, so we combined "Sax" with "all members being in their 30s (at the time)" to name our unit. Who could have imagined that we would continue performing for years afterward?  Now, after seven years, some (well, almost all) of the members are no longer in their 30s, but please, let’s just quietly ignore the origin of our unit name! 

Since the music school’s recitals were held only twice a year, until around 2010, we would each take private lessons individually and only gather for quartet practice when a recital approached. However, as our repertoire grew and we became more comfortable with ensemble playing, we decided to take things a step further and try performing outside. We began playing casually at a relaxed, open-mic music bar, gradually getting used to performing in front of unfamiliar audiences.

Up until this point, our group consisted of four alto saxophones. However, after a few years of playing saxophone, it’s only natural to become curious about other types (soprano, tenor, and baritone). Additionally, we had already been playing pieces by Saxophobia, a jazz saxophone quartet, so in the fall of 2012, we transitioned to our current arrangement—one alto, two tenors, and one baritone—matching the instrumentation of Saxophobia.

In August 2013, we decided to take a shot and apply for the 4th Sumida Street Jazz Festival, but unfortunately, we weren’t selected. However, thanks to a last-minute opening, we unexpectedly secured a performance spot! This marked the start of our more serious engagement in jazz festivals and open-mic events.

To expand our musical range, in November 2014, we welcomed a percussionist to the group. Instead of drums, we chose a cajón to ensure our performances would suit acoustic venues as well. Additionally, to make our live shows more entertaining, we introduced a dedicated MC to guide the performance, interact with the audience, and establish an engaging, participatory style.

From 2015 onwards, we have actively participated in jazz and music festivals, including the Nakanobu Jazz Festival Pre-Event, Ikebukuro Jazz Festival, Sumida Street Jazz Festival, JAZZ in FUCHU, Shibuya Zunchaka!, and Tachikawa Ittai Music Festival.

And before we knew it, in November 2018, we celebrated our 10th anniversary!

We do sometimes wonder—should we still keep “30’s” in our name? But in the end, we’ve decided to just keep enjoying ourselves as we always have.

Thank you for your continued support!