PAT POSEY’S TUBAX

Pat Posey is a specialist on the Eb Contrabass Tubax, a contrabass saxophone/contrabass clarinet hybrid instrument invented by Benedikt Eppelsheim in the 1990s.

In 2023 Pat released they/beast, the first streamable solo album made on a tubax. Works of JS Bach and Philip Glass showcase the instrument’s traditional sounds, and Shelley Washington’s Mo’ingus and Pat’s own composition Hymn showcase a variety of extended techniques which Pat developed in their first year of playing the instrument.

Pat has performed on tubax extensively int he music of Julius Eastman, and is included in Wild Up’s GRAMMY-nominated collection of his music. They have also recorded for iconic franchises including Transformers and League of Legends, as well as in scores by Chanda Dancy, Katy Jarzebowski, and Anthony Parnther.

In live performance settings Pat has played the tubax in classical recitals, joined the Violent Femmes for a west coast tour, and played original music in a Morhpine-inspired trio with Michael Valerio and Greg Sadler.

Pat’s second solo album will be released by ESP Institute in summer 2026, featuring tubax as well as soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. The demo track, AMOK featuring tubax and alto saxophone, was released by that label on its 15-year anniversary compilation in 2025.