Which voice and which sax? I might go along with windblown instruments being somewhat more intimate than a stringed instrument, but that's pretty thin and would get a lot of argument. However.........

Like the human voice, saxes DO come in different ranges but the tonal quality is very different between a Tenor Sax and a Bari Sax.....or an Alto and a Soprano. It isn't just the range, it is the sound of the instrument itself. The great Charlie Parker was asked why he didn't play Tenor instead of Alto. He said that he couldn't play Tenor because he "didn't speak like that." What he meant was he heard and thought and knew the Alto so intimately that playing Tenor would be like trying to translate his thoughts into a foreign language. Note that the great ones are known for only one ax.

I never approached that level of performance but I can relate to The Bird's feelings. I was always a comfortable and relaxed Tenor player but my Alto work was only satisfactory at best. I never really understood an Alto as I did a Tenor. As a Tenor soloist I knew exactly where and how I could push the instrument and allow it to translate my idea to notes. Although I had the same technical skill on Alto, my solos sounded to me as if I were forcing something that wasn't there. Hence, I played Alto only as needed and played Tenor far, far more.

Look, I dunno' if a Sax is any closer to the human voice than a Fluegelhorn or a bull roarer but I think both of you are full of shit, but for different reasons!(;<))

Spaw