It is not often you see Nigerian saxophonist TitoSax talk about his music career. He would rather prefer his performances and artistic discipline to engage you, and speak for him, maintaining a sustainable musical brand.
Born Gabriel Oluwatoyin Oluyemi, TitoSax has distinguished himself by treating music as both art and business, showcasing his creative prowess at any given opportunity. Passionate about his craft, committed and dedicated to the instrument, TitoSax is a step closer to expanding his global footprint as he keeps to consistency and dedication.
“What keeps me going is just consistency and dedication to the instrument,” he said, adding that “There’s a lot to do on the saxophone and I’m passionate about it. There’s something it does to the minds of people.”
According to the saxophonist, “The best time to do something was yesterday, and the next time to do it is today,” he says, adding that “a take-home for me is premium joy and excitement because I take pleasure in seeing people smile.”
Acutely aware of the weight people carry with worry and the uncertainty of daily life, TitoSax notes that music isn’t an escape but a reprieve, a reminder that joy still exists. Little wonder he has built a reputation not only as a skilled instrumentalist, but as a performer who understands how music creates memorable experiences.
His performances have featured at notable venues and events, bringing more than a decade of experience on the saxophone to bear across a wide range of settings and engagements. What sets TitoSax apart is his understanding that longevity in music requires more than talent alone.
With his work reflecting a balance of artistic discipline and entrepreneurial clarity, allowing him to build a brand that is both creatively fulfilling and commercially sustainable. Over time, this approach has helped position him as a growing name within the live performance space with a mark of originality.
Beyond live performance, TitoSax founded Surprised by Tito Sax, a creative performance business that has operated successfully for almost half a decade. His offering has become the core of the business, blending live music with thoughtful presentation to create moments that observers describe as both personal and unforgettable.
After years of ephemeral live performances, TitoSax is preparing to shift from primarily a live performer to building a stronger recorded presence, creating content that expands his reach. For him, the move is strategic. And already in the works is a praise melody cover along with several saxophone covers of popular songs within the contemporary Nigerian music industry.
“While live performance will always remain central to my repertoire, recorded content will help expand my reach, create visibility for Surprise by Tito Sax, and allow people who’ve never seen me perform experience my musicianship,” he enthused.
TitoSax operates across multiple sonic dimensions: Jazz, Afro-Jazz, contemporary Gospel, and ensemble performances. He references American legends Charlie Parker and Gerald Albright to Nigerian maestros, Mike Aremu and Jerry Omole as his musical influences. He’s careful to distinguish between learning and imitation while owning his sound.
Like most individuals encounter in their career paths diverse ways; some knowing what they wanted to do with their lives right from childhood. For TitoSax, playing football was it. He loved the game and had nursed dreams of going professional, and perhaps one day represent Nigeria. But all that changed one fateful day sometime in September 2014.
“I was watching a Church programme on TV. On stage, before the General Overseer appeared, one of the church ministers lifted a saxophone and began to minister. The urge for football died,” he recounts, adding that “I don’t know what happened, but when I saw that saxophone, it felt like a treasure. From that moment, I told myself that I was going to get a saxophone.”
According to TitoSax, it took 13 months of determination and training before he could get his first saxophone in October 2015. Bought by his mother, this marked the beginning of what has now been over a decade-long commitment and dedication to the craft that has taken him from across the continent to British stages; from worship halls to corporate boardrooms and social events.
“My early years as a saxophonist were not marked by overnight success or even viral moments,” he once explained in an interview, adding that “it was developed from a genuine hunger for mastery.”
Instinctively understanding that true excellence requires mentorship, practice, and openness to learning from anyone and everyone, TitoSax soon found his first tutor; a road safety officer who moonlighted as a saxophone teacher.
To further hone his skill, he also signed up for workshops with Jerry Omole, a renowned Nigerian saxophonist whose name appears on both his list of influences and his early educators. In the course of his career trajectory, the internet proved to be a source of knowledge, as he consciously scoured digital pages for tutorials, performances, and techniques proof that expertise exists in unexpected places.
TitoSax sought out anyone who could teach him something new, regardless of their age or status. “Even though the person is younger than me, there’s always something to learn”, he recalled. “And a lot of people that we started with playing the saxophone, I can tell you for free that everybody has diverted. But this is something I derive passion in.”
With time the saxophone became his primary source of income. He would take up teaching positions at British schools in Nigeria, where he’d visit once weekly to work with students. Performance gigs that started small and slowly grew larger with each booking. And with time, he eventually set up his business, Surprise by TitoSax, built around personalised serenades, with an understanding that music doesn’t just entertain but creates memories.
Since relocating to the United Kingdom, TitoSax has been writing a new chapter with his saxophone. He performs regularly at 553, a Jazz lounge in London. He’s also played across British cities, such as Luton, Manchester, Leeds, and Middlesbrough. This transition has not been about abandoning his Nigerian identity, but expanding his reach.
Asked about how his sound has been perceived in the UK, the saxophonist says that the difference in reception has been striking. “Really, I would prefer the performance here to Nigeria, far better. One thing is that, in this country (UK), they appreciate music a lot; they appreciate these instruments, the saxophone, a lot. Anytime they hear the saxophone, it’s time for them to dance. It’s time for them to whip out their phones and record.”
Recalling an incident that captures the cultural difference perfectly, TitoSax said, “After an event, I booked an Uber home, and the driver was playing Afrobeats music; we got talking, and I told him I was a saxophonist. He literally parked beside the highway, and I brought my sax out. He said, ‘Bro, play this song’. It was a Burna Boy song. I played it and played a Davido song for about 10 minutes as we were heading home. I’ve never seen that joy”.
According to him, the reception has energised his work in the UK. He’s found audiences hungry for exactly what he offers: skillful, emotionally resonant saxophone performance across genres.
The business model of Surprise by TitoSax translates well. The ministry opportunities remain abundant. And the cultural appreciation for his instrument creates possibilities that might be harder to access back home.
Commenting on the most challenging aspect of being a professional saxophonist; the sax artiste said he doesn’t talk about technical difficulties or competitive markets. Instead, he identifies something more fundamental: the temptation to skip the process of development in pursuit of quick success.
“A lot of saxophonists jump the process. Everybody is out there; we are all after the bag. But before you get the bag, you need to do some cooking and some building up. It has happened to me at some point, whereby I was just setting my ears on that money that I was going to get, without cooking myself.
“By cooking oneself, I mean adding value through dedicated practice. There’s a clear difference between someone who has rehearsed for a performance and someone who hasn’t. It’s very, very clear.”
This philosophy extends to his preparation for every performance. Beyond prayer, TitoSax maintains an uncompromising rehearsal routine. “I see my rehearsal as the stage. Anything I cannot do in my rehearsal does not go to the stage.
“I do my best to rehearse well because it’s a language I’m going to communicate and anything that needs to be done needs to be done with excellence. So, after handing it over to God, I do my due diligence to rehearse whatever it is and to make sure that I bring out my best because it’s better I don’t do something than to do it and the best is not in it.”
Ferdinand Ekechukwu
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