The tubax, developed by German instrument maker Benedikt Eppelsheim in the late 1990s, is a modern solution to this unwieldiness which adds a fourth bend, similar to the layout of a contrabass sarrusophone.

[1] Due to its large body and wide bore, the sound of the contrabass saxophone has great acoustical presence and a very rich tone.

Spanish composer Luis De Pablo wrote Une Couleur in 1988 for a single performer playing six saxophones, including contrabass and sopranino.

[6] The Scottish composer Alistair Hinton has included parts for soprano, alto, baritone and contrabass saxophones in his Concerto for 22 Instruments, completed in 2005.

Since 2004, the rock group Violent Femmes have incorporated the contrabass saxophone into the band's live performances as well as their newest albums.

Blaise Garza's contrabass saxophone often plays in unison with the bass guitar, and is featured heavily on their ninth studio album, We Can Do Anything.

The contrabass saxophone has most frequently been used as a solo instrument by woodwind players in the genres of jazz and improvised music who are searching for an extreme or otherworldly tone.

An increasing number of performers and recording artists are making use of the instrument, including Anthony Braxton, Paul Cohen, David Brutti, Jay C. Easton, Randy Emerick, Blaise Garza, Marcel W. Helland, Robert J. Verdi, Joseph Donald Baker, Thomas K. J. Mejer, Douglas Pipher, Scott Robinson, Klaas Hekman, Daniel Gordon, Daniel Kientzy, and Todd A.