Hugo Lee on SoundBetter

Wild solos, subtle lines, punchy hooks - professional Sax player with years of international experience. Performed & recorded in NYC, Nashvile, LA, Chicago, Berlin, London, Edinburgh, Melbourne and Sydney - e.g. Andrew Farriss (INXS). As well as producing my own records, I love collaborating with other artists and hope to work on your project!

Trained in both Jazz (ANU/UIUC) and Classical (AMusA), my music draws from a myriad of influences and the output ranges from Funk, Blues, and Jazz through to Pop/Rock, Folk, Electronic and Hip Hop.

I have extensive recording & performing experience through a plethora of session work as well as producing 5 of my own albums.
My services can be as simple as playing over an EDM track for you to chop up as you wish, producing funky horn arrangements for an R&B tune or the classic wailing Pop/Rock Sax solo that makes you shiver inside.
I can track my parts from my studio, but face-to-face work can also be arranged.
I have journeyed through the USA, Europe and Australia, performing in clubs and doing session work with bands, songwriters, producers and DJs from all walks of musical life.
Inspired by this, I constantly explore new musical avenues to discover original sounds and styles.
My maturity as a session player means that if you know exactly what you want I can help you realize that dream, taking criticism (without egos getting in the way!) until you are satisfied. And if you don't know what you want, I am also more than happy to create the parts myself.

I also play guitar, bass and EWI.
Looking forward to hearing from you and helping you with your project.
Please get in touch!

Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.

Credits

44 Reviews - 7 Repeat Clients

Endorse Hugo Lee

by Tony H.
Verified
good job.
Always believe in my old partner.
by Chris L.
Verified
Hugo was amazing to work with! Coms were great from the start, and really friendly/enthusiastic. Sax playing was superb, and Hugo supplied multiple takes to choose from. Everything was perfectly recorded and delivered, with super-fast turnaround. 100% recommended!
by George K.
Verified
Awesome results and really fast.
by Tony H.
Verified
My partner has always been so good.
Look forward to the next cooperation!
by J M.
Verified
He is my first Sax player who plays on my track.
Did really great job, much more than I expected!
So sure I'm gonna get in touch with him again whenever I need Sax tracks on my song!
by Brandon-Richard A.
Verified
Hugo did such a good job on the first track I hired him for that I immediately booked him to do another gig not even one week later. His communication is super high quality and he goes the extra mile to make sure you're happy with the final product.
by Brandon-Richard A.
Verified
Hugo is the ultimate professional. His communication was spot on and he delivered the work in a timely fashion. Most importantly, the sax parts he recorded for me were great quality, both in terms of the recordings themselves and the musicality. Thanks Hugo!
by Tony H.
Verified
Hugo is an old friend of mine. We have been very happy in our cooperation. He is very responsible. We have been working together for a long time. Look forward to our next cooperation.
by Tony H.
Verified
Hugo is an old friend of mine. We have been very happy in our cooperation. He is very responsible. We have been working together for a long time. Look forward to our next cooperation.
by tyler e.
Verified
hugo went above and beyond what I had in mind, a true master at his craft, I will be back for more!
by Stuart
Verified
I must say I'm very pleased with the quality of work Hugo did with my track. His skills with the saxophone added a great vibe to my tropical house track. Also, Hugo is extremely punctual, and ofc a professional.
by Tony H.
Verified
My old partner.
As always, it's excellent.
Hugo's work is always responsible.
Look forward to the next cooperation.
by Luna S.
Verified
Hugo is awesome
Quick replay,high quality works, good taste in music,unique ideas.
His sax solo definitely make the song cooler
I can't wait to do more collaboration with hugo in the future！
by Tony H.
Verified
Second cooperation, it's perfect!
I can always find inspiration.
Hugo works very seriously.
by Drew Gannon
Verified
I highly recommend Hugo! He is super talented and very professional. He completed the project really quick and gave me a lot options to choose from. Looking forward to working with him in the future!
by Tony H.
Verified
Cool !!! Cool !!!
I'm so satisfied !
Thank you for being so serious !
I will give you a super praise !
You're awesome.
Next time I will continue to work with you!
Hugo is a very skilled artist.
The quality was very high. It was passed at a time.
The next time I need to record a musical instrument, I will work with you again!
by Simon A.
Verified
Hugo did a great job! Gave me multiple takes so we had plenty of options to get the perfect sax part! The recording quality was top notch! Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to add saxophone to their song.
by Joshua S.
Verified
Excellent communication, fast delivery, and great quality!
by Al Knight
Verified
Fantastic, brilliant thank you
by Nahk | Atik
Verified
Hugo is a mastermind on the sax. Very talented musician. Definitely brought the song to life! Would definitely work with him again in the future.
by Zaccaria M.
Verified
Working with Hugo was a fantastic experience! He created just what I wanted, and provided me with several beautiful Sax tracks. He delivered exactly what he promised, and on time. It was a pleasure working with you, thank you Hugo, looking forward to working with you again in the future!
by Dat T.
Verified
Hugo is great. His sax really lights up my song and people just 'wow' when the sax comes in.
Great musician
by Craig H.
Verified
Hugo was a pleasure to work with. He supplied the parts I needed and also gave me plenty of options to choose from with regard to solos. I appreciate his fast turnaround time and correspondence. I highly recommend him!
by Energy Music Studio -Uri Illuz
Verified
Hugo is an amazing musician, great guy and was efficient and professional. He delivered pro quality Sax stems, different variety of options, and even did a couple of extra takes when I asked for more options. He has sick groove and musicality. Will definitely work again with him and I highly recommend him for your projects!
by Ludvig I.
Verified
Awesome sax magic, solid communication and ear. Great sound quality and easy to work with. I needed a player that could translate my feelings into a beautiful, dynamic performance and I got much more than that. Thanks lifting my tracks, Hugo.
by Aron M.
Verified
Fast and great work! Helped the song a lot.
by Cam D.
Verified
Hugo laid some amazing sax on my track! Highly recommended!
by Mark S.
Verified
Great working with Hugo, he's super professional, super fast and super friendly to boot! With awesome communication throughout, he worked and delivered perfectly on my project. Fully recommended, thank you!
by Michael D.
Verified
Another 2 songs very well done and more than I expected.
by Michael D.
Verified
I'll keep this short. WoW, quick turn around, did exactly what I asked and just flat out nailed it.
by Stephen s.
Verified
Great quality efficient work!
by Daniel D.
Verified
He is Great !!!
by Ben A.
Verified
Great job! Hugo did exactly what I asked him to. Highly recommend.
by Karen Warren
Verified
I HIGHLY recommend Hugo, he is so talented and easy to work with. He provided excellent sax tracks for my song, each with a different sound, feel and vibe to choose from. I couldn't be happier with his performances. Excellent !!!!
by Richard S.
Verified
Awesome turn around on this job couldn't be happier with the end result and the communication through the whole process was perfect will def be using Hugo again if needed! Appreciate it :)
by Stan Rose
Verified
Always great to work with Hugo--he's very thorough and puts a lot of effort into his performance!
by Stan Rose
Verified
It was great working with Hugo, he is very professional and gave me lots of options to work with. Hope to work again with him.
by Matt Nae
Verified
Great Artist with many ideas and creativity. Definitely recommend.
by Eric Montgomery
Verified
Always easy to work with. Great sax player, highly recommend!
by Juan V.
Verified
High quality sax sound and impressive playing! Very recommended!
by Lele F
Verified
Hugo's playing PURRS. Plus great quality! A total treat to work with.
by Eric Montgomery
Verified
Hugo is a great sax player. He's got awesome feel and can come up with really cool riffs! He gave me more options than I asked for and delivered on time. Definitely will use him again!
by Dimkay
Verified
Working with Hugo Lee was very helpful. He is professional and delivered exactly what I asked for. I will definitely use him again.
by Spyros B.
Verified
Simply amazing!!! Excellent technique and feeling. Immediate adjustment to the needs of the track!!! Will come back for sure!!! +++AAAAAAAAAA

Interview with Hugo Lee

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I've worked on a huge range of genres from Funk, World and Jazz through to Blues, Rock, Pop, RnB, Hip Hop, House...the list goes on. I'm always ready to try out different styles!
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I'll often be given 8-16 bars to have a solo over a pre-existing track, with instructions to "fill out" some of the other sections with licks, noodling etc. Some clients request a wailing solo at a climatic point of their song, others are looking for punchy horn stabs, some are looking for smoother, subtler phrases to complement a vocal melody. Whatever the task, I put my heart and soul into the job.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Listening to what the music needs.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a professional-grade recording setup using ProTools and a variety of microphone combinations.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I recently released a new album, CONFLUENCE. It consisted of 12 original tracks, all of which I wrote, arranged, produced, performed on and had an active role in the mixing and mastering processes. For this project, I was very privileged to be mentored by INXS songwriter and Keys/Guitar player Andrew Farriss, whose insightful wisdom greatly inspired my work. Confluence was inspired by the beauty of both the natural and urban worlds, as well as by the amazing group of musicians present on the 45-minute record. Writing took place throughout Australia and across the world, from Scottish lochs to Vanuatu volcanoes, and each track fits into the greater narrative with its own unique story. The theme of “Confluence” balances the exploration of Art and the comfort of Pop, and finding nourishment where these two rivers meet: ideas are drawn from across the board, blending a myriad of influences, with catchy melodies, experimental forays and all knitted together with a strong sense of groove. Some of the tracks feature vocals, and others are instrumentals, but the Sax is prevalent throughout. The writing and recording processes were often fused, allowing composition and production to flourish in exciting new ways. Recording was undertaken at the ANU School of Music and various home and portable recording studios, with all natural sound effects recorded on location. After over a year of fun and hard work the finished product is finally complete for your enjoyment, and I couldn’t be prouder to share it with you. Close your eyes, open your ears and drift away… www.soundcloud.com/hugoleemusic/sets/confluence
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Being able to play music all the time, meeting and working with amazing people and being part of the creative process. The feeling of having a finished product that was once just a few notes drifting around your head late at night is a hard one to beat.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been playing the Sax for 12 years, with the EWI being a more recent edition. After completing all the grades, I achieved an associate diploma in the Sax at age 17, and I've also studied it at a tertiary level. Other instruments I have learnt to play include the guitar, keys, cello, bass guitar, double bass, ukulele, recorder and harmonica. I've always done lots of singing and auxiliary percussion too. I started making my own records at age 13 and have since released numerous albums, singles, EPs and demos. I've played at numerous festivals, weddings, clubs, bars, functions and parties and really enjoy the live aspect of my career. Recording is a joy unto itself, and I feel it's important to take it very seriously. I pay a lot of attention whenever I'm booked for a studio session to what the producer, engineer and other musicians are doing.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I strive to be as versatile as possible, for the benefit of both myself and others. I'm originally classically trained and I've studied jazz at university too. But throughout my whole life, I've also loved the pop/rock idiom and all of its offshoots. These influences are all present in my playing. You'll have to get in touch to find out more!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: The age-old "less is more". Really, really pay attention to that one.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: In any musical scenario, I strive to bring out the best of the music by coloring the artist's ideas. Sometimes it's just a soft, sustained note. Sometimes it's a crazy wailing solo. I use my ears to determine what the music needs.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I'll listen to the song through several times to get an idea of where it goes and how I could contribute to it. I make sure that I'm not just playing for the sake of playing! Then I'll do a variety of different takes, so the client has different ideas to work with. If they've given me specific instructions, I'll make sure that there are takes where I do exactly as they ask...then I'll also delve into my own interpretations of their ideas so that they have a second perspective, should they need it!