Jascha Gurewich

Jascha Gurewich (July 4, 1896, Pruzhany, Russia - September 30, 1938, New York, NY ) was a saxophonist who was a member of John Philip Sousa's band, a noted solo performer, and a composer of works for saxophone. Gurewich played a significant role in the popularization of the saxophone in the early 20th-century.

Biography Gurewich served in the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, a fact mentioned frequently in coverage of his concert appearances after the war. J. Windsor, writing a review of an Aeolian Hall performance in 1925, wrote in The National Monthly Trade Journal of the Musical Merchandise Industry, "His mastery of the instrument was interrupted by the war, as he went overseas with the American forces, but he succeeded, despite the obstacles of active duty at the front, in demonstrating proficiency that won him recognition." The article continued, "Many music lovers, especially those whose aversion to the saxophone has been based on nothing but unfamiliarity with the instrument, came away with a decided change of opinion."

In 1923, Gurewich performed with noted saxophonist Kathryne Thompson in Southern California under the billing Jascha Gurewich and the Southern California Saxophone Band. Gurewich wrote a short piece, "Kathryne" in Thompson's honor which he often performed with her.

In February 1926, Gurewich performed as soloist at the Boston Saxophone Orchestra's second public performance in Boston's Symphony Hall. The ensemble, created by Boston Symphony Orchestra bassoonist and saxophonist, Abdon Laus, featured as many as 85 saxophones performing at a time, performing classical transcriptions.

Buescher Saxophone Promotional Tour In 1923, Gurewich undertook an extensive national promotional tour sponsored by the Buescher Band Instrument Company of Elkhart, Indiana and tied to Gurewich's vaudeville bookings. An article in The Music Trade Review described the promotion, "The campaign embodies a series of local tie-ups with the appearances in each city of Jascha Gurewich, the world-famous saxophonist, who is playing the Buescher saxophone on a coast-to-coast vaudeville tour ... Gurewich has appeared in as many as twenty Buescher dealers' stores since the first of January ... In the first place, Jascha Gurewich is a saxophone artist of the first rank. When he appears at a vaudeville house he never fails to give a striking demonstration of the artistic capabilities of the saxophone. This undoubtedly stimulates a lively interest in the saxophone and they are anxious to hear him again, so when the recital at the dealer's store is advertised they flock to the store."

Compositions Gurewich´s Concerto, opus 102 (performed circa 1923, published in 1925), was dedicated to Sousa; it is still available from the Rubank Company. The piece was described as the "only known saxophone concerto" in a notice prior to his 1926 Aeolian Hall recital in 1926.

Gurewich composed primarily for the alto and C-Melody saxophones.

A partial list of Gurewich composed works:

Fantasia for Saxophone and Piano (1924) Sonata for Saxophone and Piano (1928) Capriccio, Opus 120 (1928) Presto, from Suite for Alto Saxophone Emily (Valse Fantasie) Laughing Gas (Jazz Encore) Maqueda (Jazz Encore) Passing Thought Souvenir De Chamonix (A Dream of the Alps) The New Palestine: National March Ballet Fantastique Czardas Habanera Laughing Hyena Melodie d'Amour Seventeen Classic Duets Suite Orientale