[2] In 1973, while attending college at SUNY Buffalo, Salant joined experimental free-form rock group Charles Octet, originated by Chuck Hammer.

[5] Heavy with multi-tracked and electronically altered saxophones, Saxaphone Demonstrations [sic] has been described as being influenced by David Bowie's Low,[6] and in general being difficult to classify.

Working as an unaccompanied duet, often without amplification, the two saxophonists created tightly structured improvisational music with elements of jazz, country, doo-wop and minimalism.

[1] Salant's minimalist jazz piece for 40 saxophones was created for and had its world premiere at the New York Festival of the Arts' Fête de la Musique in 1989, in celebration of France's bicentennial.

[13] In the 1980s, Salant played on albums by Romeo Void (Benefactor) and The Residents (The Tunes of Two Cities );[7] wrote and arranged dance-pop songs with singer Lynn Mabry;[2] and acted in a Japanese television commercial for Schick.

[18] Salant has said that his main influences as a saxophonist were Pharoah Sanders ("he could play so beautifully that my heart would stop")[2] and John Coltrane (for his overall mastery).