After booming on social media with over 30+ million views for his unique approach to the "one-man-band", Derek Brown (35), also known as BEATBoX SAX, has combined his tenor saxophone soloist talent with his ability to providing rhythm with lower register notes and a technique called "slap tonguing", an articulation used only in small pockets of some of the most uncommon jazz genres.
Brown discovered how to utilize these abilities together by committing himself to playing tenor saxophone for hours each day during his six years of jazz study at Abilene Christian University. As he progressed, Brown discovered how to increase his speed, inserting notes and melodic lines that included upper registers with the help of the tenor's octave key.
Derek Brown is a true example of how to properly "reinvent the wheel" after nearly 180 years. His "beatboxing" technique, along with other quirky features he adds into his songs, have shown the world abstract music to breathe new life into common pop. Brown, of course, also applies his creativity to his own songwriting, collaborating with artists such as Jeff Coffin and Keith Harris. Both are found on his album, Fiftyfifty.