Hugo Lee

Powerful Sax solos/hooks/lines

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473 Reviews (468 Verified)
Hugo Lee on SoundBetter

Impactful solos, subtle lines, punchy hooks- professional saxophone player (alto, tenor & bari) with years of recording experience. Performed & recorded internationally (NYC, Nashville, LA, Berlin, London) with a wide variety of acts- e.g. Icehouse, Andrew Farriss (INXS), Riley Pearce. Hundreds of clients, millions of streams, major labels.

My services can be as simple as playing sax over a dance track for you to chop up as you wish, producing funky horn arrangements for an R&B tune, subtle folky ambience or the classic wailing Pop/Rock Sax solo that makes you shiver inside.

“A passionate saxophonist and innovative musician”- Andrew Farriss (INXS)

“phenomenal…reminded everyone that there’s just not enough saxophone in today's Pop/Rock"- Adelaide Festival

I take utmost pride in my work and won't be satisfied until you are! I have extensive recording experience through years of session work as well as producing my own records. Trained in both Jazz (ANU/UIUC) and Classical (AMusA), my music draws from a myriad of influences: Funk, Blues, Folk and Jazz through to Pop, Rock, House, Synthwave and & Hip Hop.

I am extremely versed in the nuances of online session work and conveying creative ideas remotely:
If you know just 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're after I'm more than happy to create the parts myself.
My commitment to you: quality, trust, dedication & diligence.

I play alto/tenor/bari saxes, also guitar/bass/EWI/synth/percussion/electric cello/recorders/flutes/production/film/game score.

Please get in touch to discuss. Prices are in USD. Looking forward to working together!

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

473 Reviews - 87 Repeat Clients

Endorse Hugo Lee
  1. Review by Thierry
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    As well as being a good instrumentalist, Hugo really listens and pays attention to every detail in order to deliver quality work. Better call Hugo!!!

  2. Review by Clinton
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    Hugo dropped a smooth sax solo on my track and it has elevated it incredibly, recommend any time!

  3. Review by Clinton
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    Fast, friendly and professional - Hugo did a great job on my track!

  4. Review by Christopher R.
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    Good communicator, quick turnaround, and responsive to requests.

  5. Review by Dennis C.
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    So so talented and easy to work with, works fast and really understands whatever thought you’re trying to convey.

  6. Review by Alex C.
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    Hugo was timely, communicative, and inventive. Followed directions to a T but *also* added some fun and creative ideas. This song has really benefitted from having him work on it. Thanks Hugo!

  7. Review by Phil
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    by Phil
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    He did exactly as I described. He's a virtuoso and master of the sax. He gave me soft and silky and then SHREDDED it the way I had asked for and envisioned. His sound quality is top notch and he turned it around in a day. Recommend HIGHLY!

  8. Review by plopen
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    by plopen
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    Very good job from Hugo! He's nice and understand your needs. I would definitely recommend him.

  9. Review by David S.
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    Hugo did a great job on my song. He showed great sensitivity in crafting out multiple sax parts that really enhances the music. It sounds amazing, almost magical, what he added. He was also easy to work with and had excellent communication skills!

  10. Review by Jarrod C.
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    Enthusiastic and passionate to say the least. Hugo has so much experience and talent that he does it in his sleep. The confidence to press record and deliver the goods in a very short period of time is absolutely brilliant.

  11. Review by Mauro M.
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    Hugo responded quickly to my request and delivered a great performance. It was a pleasure to work with him. I'd definitely recommend him to anyone

  12. Review by Jakub H.
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    Hugo is an amazing player with phenomenal sax tone. Once we got on the same page Hugo delivered a stunning saxophone performance to my solo DnB project. Thank you Hugo!

  13. Review by Dennis C.
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    Hugo was awesome to work with, he was quick and attentive to whatever changes or ideas I had. Would work with him again. :)

  14. Review by Joseph G.
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    I mean what else can I say than he brings the heat.

  15. Review by Tony v.
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    Great sax player! And very responsive. I figured from listening to his samples that he would sound good on my song, and he really did!

  16. Review by Evan D.
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    Hugo is an expert at making the saxophone do whatever you need. His solos are top of the line, no kidding!

  17. Review by Brian D.
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    Amazingggg Job! Fantastic Musician, very communicative! Pleasure working together Hugo! Rock and roll

  18. Review by Joyce N.
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    What an artist!!! Its been great working with Hugo. He made the music come alive, you feel his work to the soul

    Definitely work with him again!

  19. Review by Michael Featherstone
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    First time working with Hugo ~ Super Happy ! very professional and what a great player. Spot On. Cheers

  20. Review by Evan D.
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    Just finished another song, and Hugo is very very talented. He gave me 5 or 6 sax solos to choose from. and they are all great! He also did wonderful harmonies with two saxes playing together on the bridges.
    WOW!

Interview with Hugo Lee

  1. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  2. A: To give their track the attention to detail it deserves, and provide my full commitment to deliver my best on every take! Client satisfaction is my number one priority :-)

  3. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  4. A: Over many years working as a remote session saxophonist, my clients have provided me with tracks ranging through Pop, Hip Hop, Rock, EDM, Funk, Jazz, Electronic, Lofi, Metal, Folk, Classical, Ambient, Blues and much more. I'm comfortable in all different genres and am always excited to work on new sounds!

  5. Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

  6. A: My main originals project is a duo called Daley Road - ambient/folk/electronic music which I produce and write for, as well as playing saxophone, guitar, keys and more :-)

  7. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  8. A: I have a professional-grade recording setup using ProTools/Logic and a variety of microphone combinations (Rode, AKG, Shure etc) through a Focusrite Clarett 4Pre interface into a Macbook Pro. The walls are acoustically treated, and I have tertiary qualifications in audio engineering/production, delivering crisp, clean recordings that are ready for your mix.

  9. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  10. A: Some of my favourite saxophonists include David Sanborn, Candy Dulfer, Dick Parry (Pink Floyd), Kenny Garrett, Clarence Clemons (Springsteen), Bobby Keys (The Rolling Stones), Cannonball Adderley, Maceo Parker (James Brown), Paul Desmond and John Helliwell (Supertramp).

  11. Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

  12. A: Q: What is your turnaround time? A: Usually under 24 hours, but please let me know if you have any deadline restrictions Q: Can you come up with the parts yourself or do I need to write them out? A: Written parts are fine, but I'm more than happy to create them myself too :-) Q: Do you do full horn sections? A: I can write/arrange full horn sections and record the saxes. I also play EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument) emulations of brass - however if you want live trumpets/trombones I can sort out players for you.

  13. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  14. 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 and can adapt to any musical scenario to deliver the most stylistically appropriate result.

  15. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  16. A: I've been playing the Sax since 2004. After completing the grades, I achieved an associate diploma in the Sax at age 17, and went on to study a Bachelor of Music (Contemporary/Jazz Performance) & Bachelor of Physics (Acoustics) at the Australian National University and the University of Illinois. Other instruments I perform/record on include the guitar, keys/synth, EWI (electronic wind instrument, with brass emulations), electric cello, bass, recorder, percussion, harmonica and vocals. I've played at a wide range of festivals, weddings, clubs, bars, functions and parties and really enjoy the live aspect of my career. Recording is a joy unto itself, and I take it very seriously- paying utmost attention whenever I'm booked for a studio session as to what the producer, engineer and other musicians are doing and how we all fit together. I've been recording as long as I've been performing and have released numerous albums, singles, EPs etc. Working as an online session saxophonist is an amazing way to hone my skills whilst discovering new styles and connecting with people from all over the world.

  17. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  18. A: I'm constantly working on many remote recording jobs, as well as composing/producing from my home studio for various projects and screen/videogame soundtracks. It's always a real pleasure working for all of my SoundBetter clients and helping them to realise their musical goals!

  19. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  20. A: Any specific sections to play over (min:sec) or across the whole track? Any reference tracks? These are always great, but by no means necessary

  21. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  22. A: ...that the client needs to know what they're looking for in a saxophone recording. It's fine if they do, but it's absolutely no problem at all for me to work out how the sax will best complement a track.

  23. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  24. A: Delve into the demo material, read the reviews and description and work out who would be best for your track.

  25. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  26. A: Less is more.

  27. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  28. A: In any musical scenario, I strive to bring out the best of the music by complementing 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 will improve the overall aesthetic of the track.

  29. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  30. A: Listening to what the music needs.

  31. Q: What's your typical work process?

  32. A: I'll listen carefully to the song 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 (loud vs soft, long notes vs faster passages etc). If I have specific instructions, I'll make sure that there are takes where I do exactly as asked...then I'll also delve into my own interpretations to provide an extra perspective, should it be needed. Sometimes, the client leaves me to take the reins in which case I use my many years of online recording experience to create the best and most appropriate sound for their track.

  33. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  34. A: Being able to play music all the time, meeting and working with amazing people (whether face-to-face or online) 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.

  35. Q: How would you describe your style?

  36. 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!

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Hugo Lee Sax Reel

I was the Saxophonist in this production


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    Hugo Lee Sax Reel
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    Funky Chill Sax Jam
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    Brooding Sax
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    Sax/horn section samples
Terms Of Service

I'll happily revise where needed- please send all notated parts at job start :-) Fees for change of mind eg new instrument/parts. No refunds. Please credit me! Files kept for 14 days after job finish.

GenresSounds Like
  • David Sanborn
  • Clarence Clemons
  • Bobby Keys
Gear Highlights
  • Yanagisawa Alto/Tenor/Baritone Saxophones
  • Rode/AKG/Shure mics
  • Fender Tele & Jazz Bass
  • Akai EWI5000 Electronic Wind Instrument
  • Pro Tools/Logic
  • Focusrite Clarett
  • Macbook Pro
  • Yamaha HS8 monitors
  • Sennheiser Headphones.
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More SamplesSaxophonist
SoundBetter Deal

Discounts available for multiple tracks - please get in touch to discuss!