Jazz is something I’ve always been interested in, starting last year. I find the genre relaxing, timeless, and mysteriously appealing. In fact, I use to play the tenor saxophone but after finding the instrument far to simple, I switched to the harmonica.  Now some might consider the harmonica a children’s instrument, but I will assure them that the harmonica is much closer to caviar and fine wine than a chicken nugget happy meal.

This passion I have for playing the harmonica led me to taking the History of Jazz at CU Boulder. A class that was wonderfully entertaining for me, from learning about the early tunes of Jelly Roll Morton, to famous saxophone players like John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Lester Young. Although the harmonica did not appear much in the text book, I think its is still worth reading.

After listening to hundreds of songs by these jazz legends, I developed a taste for this style of music. This newfound pleasure would stick with me when I went to Europe late last summer. My friend Eugene and I stumbled into one of the most famous jazz clubs in paris, Le Caveau de la Huchette.

    Figure 1: In front of Le Caveau de la Huchette, taken by me, May 11, 2024, 11PM(proof that I can stay up late)

Le Caveau de la Huchette is a jazz club in the latin quaters of paris. The building dates back to the 16th Century and the jazz club was founded in 1949(and it feels that old, its awesome). The building is a sort of labyrinth with the hallways snaking its way down to the basement dance floor.

Figure 2: Entering the jazz club

Then at the jazz club the visitor is transported back into the 1940’s with themes of red and yellow, exposed brick everywhere, and hundreds of pictures of old performers playing at the Le Caveau.

Figure 3 & 4: Both taken the same night, May 11, 2024. Figure 3 shows a young trombonist who was yanked from the crowd as his tryout for the band. Figure 4 shows the trumpeter with a thick Parisian accent.

Figure 5, 6 & 7: Images taken at Le Caveau de la Huchette

I believe this jazz club is quintessential Parisian jazz. The Parisian jazz style is warm and cozy, with a romantic and intimate atmosphere. Songs typically focus more on melodic beauty and almost have a flowery feeling(ex: Petite Fleur by Sidney Bechet who played this song at Le Caveau de la Huchette). Typical colors are not normal jazz blue but more bright like a bright red or yellow.

Therefore for my project, I would like to create something that would fit nicely into a Parisian Jazz club. It must fit the aesthetic of being bright, fun, and exciting, and not something that puts someone to sleep. I want it to have a connection to jazz and be something that can stand uniquely on its own, like how Parisian jazz stands uniquely away from classic jazz.

Thats why Im going to create…

Figure 8: My inverted saxophone lamp

A saxophone lamp! I saw ideas online of saxophone lamps but they looked dull to me. They would just put a bulb and lamp shade on top of the saxophone. But I thought it would look more interesting if the saxophone was inverted and a bulb was placed in the bell of the saxophone. Furthermore, since the saxophone donated to me was completely destroyed by the kid who use to play it, there are a lot of holes where keys use to be. This would allow for light to leak outside the saxophone giving it a glowing vibe. Furthermore, I would like the saxophone to be connected to a base, allowing it to stand. I would like to hide this base by having a vinyl record cover it, with a strip of LED’s hidden below the vinyl. This would reflect off of the table giving the saxophone more ambiance. Finally, I would like the bulb and the LED strip to do multiple colors like red or yellow. Therefore, I believe that this lamp, being a unique twist on a standard saxophone, would fit the cozy, loud, bright aesthetic of a Parisian Jazz Club.

 

Citations of Sources:

“CAVEAU de LA HUCHETTE.” Caveaudelahuchette.fr, 2025, www.caveaudelahuchette.fr/. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.

Citations of Pictures:

[1] Taken by me, May 11, 2024

[2] Google photo review of Le Caveau de la Huchette taken by João Corrêa
, 2024

[3] Taken by me, May 11, 2024

[4] Taken by me, May 11, 2024

[5] Google photo review of Le Caveau de la Huchette taken by Alberto Ortiz, 2024

[6]Google photo review of Le Caveau de la Huchette taken by Le Caveau de la Huchette, 2024

[7] Google photo review of Le Caveau de la Huchette taken by MC MC, 2024

[8] Taken by me

 

4 Comments. Leave new

  • Grant Thompson
    February 5, 2025 6:42 pm

    Hey Max, I really enjoyed your story telling around this aesthetic, I could feel your passion for it. I think the old worn saxophone adds to the aesthetic, somewhat mimicking the wear seen at the Le Caveau de la Huchette. I also thought that the idea of hiding the stand with a vinyl is a great idea to tie the whole project together. Are you planning on having LEDs be the light source in the saxophone as well? I think it may be easier than having to wire and affix a regular light bulb, however I think that the regular light bulb would look better. Awesome idea, can’t wait to see what the end product looks like!

    • Max Van Cleave
      February 6, 2025 2:47 pm

      Thank you Grant for your wonderful insights! Yes, I am planning on having the LED’s and light bulb be the main source of lighting for the design.

  • Jules Fischer-White
    February 5, 2025 4:34 am

    What an awesome scene! It’s super cool to see such authentic and timeless culture is still around. I love that musicians are taken from the crowd to perform as part of their band tryout, that sounds like it would be incredibly nerve racking for the young musician but also demonstrates that the band leaders are most interested in skill and not ‘their band’ or any clickiness. Saxophones are quite beautiful in a certain way, so I think you’re lamp idea is a really awesome one, especially since you already have one that can’t be used for music! I agree that the little holes letting light through will probably look awesome! I’m a little unclear, are you planning to have light shining out of the bell like a reading lamp, or will you cover up that hole and just have the light shine out of the other small holes? Also, how are you planning on making the stand? I’m worried that trying to attach a structural stand to a metal instrument might move itself to be quite difficult unless you have welding skills. I think the vinyl idea covering the base with LED lights glowing from below is also super cool and will add to the overall aesthetic.

    • Max Van Cleave
      February 6, 2025 2:51 pm

      Thank you Jules for your comment! And yes when I saw them pull the kid up for his tryout it was an awesome environment because all of his friends started screaming! Also, yes I am planning on having light come out of the bell as well as a strip light around the base, so two light sources in total. I have built the base out of wood and put a metal rod through it and the saxophone and then i glued them together(it works okay).

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