I don't know if there's an instrument I really hate, but I hate hearing certain instruments brought in where I don't think they're appropriate - where they don't fit in (personal opinion, of course) with the particular music at hand, but fit in nicely elsewhere. The other annoyance is percussive instruments played badly and often. Yes, Guest Bardford, I hear you!

As Spaw mentioned, Bird on alto was something special. He made it soar. You might want to listen to him and Miles Davis together on the piece "Ko Ko." It's a masterpiece! Agreed that bad alto playing sounds..well..bad. Like a goose in heat. Parker did record once on tenor. Look for "Birth Of The BeBop: Bird On Tenor, 1943." Recorded privately during the record ban, and reissued on CD.

-chanteyranger