Favorite Saxophone Players

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 08:55 AM

An ugly looking and sounding instrument; except when it sounds like a clarinet, such as played by Johnny Doods on the Louis Armstrong Hot Fives recording.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: fat B****rd
Date: 26 Dec 11 - 03:37 PM

Not to forget Andy Sheppard and Courtney Pine. Having seen them both live I can safely say they are both stunning.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Stringsinger
Date: 26 Dec 11 - 01:13 PM

Jimmy Dorsey, an influence for Charlie Parker, was great.

There were others aside from Trane. Charles Lloyd. The JATP group, Phillips et. al.

a new trad guy very good on soprano is Evan Christopher.

Johnny Hodges with Ellington

Charlie Ventura was a be-bop trailblazer.

Sigurd Rascher (famous classical player) (spell?)

Hawk spanned jazz generations.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 26 Dec 11 - 06:14 AM

Mention must be made (if it hasn't been already) of Lyn Dobson whose folk credentials are such that he covered Spencer the Rover on his 1974 solo album Jam Sandwich. He also played with Soft Machine, Talisker, Third Ear Band and has a session CV as long as your arm.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 25 Dec 11 - 05:00 PM

Must lay off the Xmas drink. Bruce Turner played of course for Humphrey Lyttelton.
Good to see a mention of Jan Garbarek and Ralph Towner. At the risk of thread creep, Ralph Towner made some good music with Gary Burton on vibes -- and how many folk vibes players are there? I can only think of Dennis Homes in his Synanthesia days and Adam Bushell on marimba in Duck Soup.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 25 Dec 11 - 01:58 PM

Nothing like a spot of Jan Garbarek on Xmas night; here he is with Ralph Towner in the old Solstice quartet (1975) with Eberhard Weber & John Christensen. Pay attention to Towner's 12-string folkies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DE7ScoLmp8

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 25 Dec 11 - 01:14 PM

Let's put in a word for the Dirty Bopper, Bruce Turner, who had the distinction of playing alto for Humphrey Littleton and clarinet for Ewan MacColl. And John Surman revels in English folk song.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 24 Dec 11 - 04:07 PM

Ben Webster

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 24 Dec 11 - 02:39 PM

(Sorry, fat fingered the keys, which is another reason I can't play saxophone) Anyway, lots of good and worthy players mentioned, but haven't seen my personal favorite... Dexter Gordon.

David E.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Dec 11 - 02:24 PM

Greatest sax player of all time just has to be Johhny Hodges
Star of stars in Duke Ellington's orchestra IMHO

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 24 Dec 11 - 01:35 PM

Bird is #1. Greatest improvisational player of all time. The best Bird CDs are the kind that give alternate takes because you can hear how he constructs entirely different riffs to the same piece of music from take to take. On some sessions, Bird was so strung out that someone had to hold him up to the mic soo he wouldn't collapse and he could still play! Who else could do that? Then you have to go with Coltrane. But Lester Young is up there and Lester's inspiration who was Frankie Trumbauer. But you have to hear Frankie doing solo stuff not his Paul Whiteman stuff.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 28 Mar 09 - 05:28 AM

Big Mick - it was Raf Ravenscroft. The Bob Holness legend was started by the Radio 2 DJ Stuart Maconie and is remarkably long lived.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 28 Mar 09 - 03:58 AM

CHEERS DAVIE WEBSTER

Respect!

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Big Mick
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 09:08 AM

Hey Murray, I thought it was Raphael Ravenscroft who did the sax solo on "Baker Street". I still love that song, and put it on and feel my skin crawl when he takes off.

Too many great players to even think of trying to name the best.

Mick

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Acorn4
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 08:05 AM

I agree with the people who say it's not their favourite instrument; must be a candidate for "World's Shortest Book" - too often an excuse for musical m******ation - I like the way it's played on Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty and Until the Night by Billy Joel.

Subject: RE: Mudcat FAQ - Newcomer's Guide
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 07:14 AM

FOR SINISTER SUPPORTER   THANKS FOR THE MENTION ON FAVE SAX PLAYERS LIST. I REALLY APPRECIATED IT.
I'M STILL WAILING AND YOU CAN CHECK ME OUT ON http://www.myspace.com/bamsnblues
CHEERS DAVIE WEBSTER

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: bankley
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 04:37 PM

correction , that's Yuri Yunakov... these Irish names confuse me

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: bankley
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 04:35 PM

'Trane ,Kirk, Shorter, all the above....

folk sax ? try Yuri Yakonov, his style is Bulgarian Wedding Music... a wild man... think he lives in NYC now...

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: irishenglish
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 04:37 PM

Ooohh-forgot two more, whom I don't think have been mentioned:

Manu Dibango
Martin Brinsford

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: pdq
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 11:57 AM

Random responses...

van lingle...you were the first to mention Wayne Shorter and I missed it. What I said was an attempt to stretch the statement out, not just state names...somtimes just making a list seems a little cold.

As to the "real Kenny G", he is Kenneth Gorelick from Seattle, Washington, I believe. His adherence to the melody makes him a poor Jazz performer, but not necessarily a poor musician. I like Acker Bilk in small doses, another "reed man" who sticks too close to just playing the melody.

As to Bela Fleck's group, Howard Levy can play sax. He can play almost anything from keyboards to harmonica. Idon't think he is recorded playing stringed instruments.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: van lingle
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 07:49 AM

PDQ, I agree Mr. Shorter's been good for a very long time and I wasn't devaluing his stuff outside of the periods mentioned, just noting some my favorites.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 06:28 AM

Wayne Shorter did some amazing stuff with traditional folk tunes. Also checkout John Coltranes "greensleeves"

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: JP2
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 06:07 AM

If we're talking about "Folk" Sax don't forget Mandy Sharpe who plays both for Steamchicken and Chinewrde Morris and Liz jenkinson who plays C Melody and C Soprano for Earlsdon Morris Men and Chinewrde Morris.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,shepherdlass sans cookie
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 05:57 AM

What about the REAL Kenny G - Kenny Garrett? There are times he plays that I can't distinguish the instrument from a really wonderful, keening gospel voice.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: bubblyrat
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 05:49 AM

Thanks, Baldy !! ----I'll remember Jeff Coffin in future.Hard to forget,once you know it,really.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: irishenglish
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 09:37 PM

Shoot-I forgot another good one. My dad's old buddy, the E-man, Jimmy Castor! Hey Leroy, Its Just Begun, thats some funk-ay playing. Also kudos to whoever mentioned Lee Allen!

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: bald headed step child
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 03:12 PM

By the way, I don't think that really qualifies Jeff Coffin as a folk sax player, but he does play in a band with a banjo.

BHSC

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: bald headed step child
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 03:07 PM

Bela Flecks sax player is Jeff Coffin, who plays all the different saxes, clarinet, flute, ocarina, tinwhistles........

He does solo recordings also.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 03:01 PM

Among unknown great saxophonists was one by the name of Sigurd Rascher, who in the '50s published a full set of the "secret" fingerings for extending the 2-1/2 octave range used by most players to the full 4 octaves that the instrument could use fairly easily.

A range of about 3 octaves, or a little more, was known from the beginnings of the instrument, but composers who wrote early music for it mostly used only the "obvious" first 2 or 2-1/2 octaves due to the difficulty of finding players who knew about the rest of the notes then known. Rascher apparently discovered (or you might say invented) about the last half octave through his own research, and they were a bit of a complex feat for some of the fingerings but produced crystal clear tones (if one can say that about a saxophone) for the full range.

Most of the best players, at least those recent enough that I've heard much of their playing, have been able to use the "top tones" with varying fluency, and they can be heard in many performances; but they're only occasionally used by most for long runs or licks. Knowing how to use them doesn't mean you have to use them if they don't fit into the music.

The saxophone is one of only a couple of instruments that wasn't "evolved" from earlier instruments. It was deliberately invented for a specific kind of music - the "marching band." Since the dominant instruments in bands of that kind were trumpet and clarinet, both in Bb (and Eb for alto and bass clarinets), the sax was commonly made in those keys. Bass, Tenor, and Soprano saxes in Bb, and Alto and Baritone instruments in Eb were (and are) commonly used.

The other commonly cited "invented" instrument is the Sousaphone, but the "invention" aspect is a little less defensible there since it's really another existing instrument "unwrapped and wound up differently" to make it easier to carry while marching.

The "C" saxophones were built to "popularize" the instrument - i.e. were mostly a sales trick for people who couldn't quite get the key changes, but were fairly popular in the "jazz age" and a little later.

In the US, at least in my time, C-Melody usually meant a soprano; but the tenor range may have been the more common one elsewhere. C-saxes are still available (or available again) but aren't particularly popular so far as I know.

The saxophone, with the "classical" mouthpiece, allows (requires) you to change the pitch of the free part of the reed, using lip pressure, to match the note you intend to play, and for good tone it's also necessary to match the "head volume" in the mouth and throat to get a similar match. This allows a player to "bend" almost any note over about a semitone in either direction quite easily (but also allows a less gifted player to play everything a little out of tune).

Since the "back volume" (air volume inside the player) can be used to help both pitch and tone, and must be used properly in order to get a good performance, Mulligan played mostly baritone because he had a "big head" and large lung volume, while Desmond was "built for alto." Almost nobody has enough "body space" to play a bass or contrabass saxophone "properly" so mostly they sound like series of controlled farts when anyone tries. That may explain why neither was ever very commonly used.

John

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: pdq
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 10:57 AM

Some standout sax players in the last 30 years include Michael Brecker, Martin Fierro and Jim Rothermel.

Wayne Shorter did fine work with Weather Report, but has been a top contributor from the end of the Korean War to the present.

Folk sax? Listen to Steve Goodman's "Big Rock Candy Mountain". That's Jim Rothermel playing.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 10:46 AM

Well, if Raf Ravenscroft had gone under a pseudonym, it might have been Bob Holness...

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 10:39 AM

I hope you're not being serious, Murray?

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 10:19 AM

mustn't forget Bob Holness, genial game show host ("can I have a "P" please, Bob") who laid down that scintillating sax solo on Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" ...

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Ernest
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 10:13 AM

I have to second bubbyrats mentioning of the Flecktone`s sax-player (whose name escapes me too) an would also add Bill Evans, who does similar stuff - look out for his album "Soulgrass"!

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Jack Campin
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 08:23 AM

The usual C melody (like mine) is one tone higher than a B flat tenor, but there are also C melody sopranos, one step higher than the B flat soprano. There are also F saxes, a tone higher than an E flat alto, but they're a lot rarer.

The sax was originally developed to play the classical repertoire, but the early makers couldn't make their minds up whether it was a kind of oboe/bassoon/flute (hence in C or F) or a kind of brass instrument (hence flat keys). The C melody plays oboe or flute music as written.

There's a ton of classical saxophone music dating back to soon after the sax was invented. Most of the early stuff isn't very good.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: bubblyrat
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 05:17 AM

I really like the interplay between the (alto ?) -sax player and the bassist in Bela Fleck and the Flecktones --who he ??

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 05:15 AM

I must point out that was a cross post, Will. I suppose in folk parlance it's the difference between a C and Bb whistle.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 04:37 AM

Kenny G a shocking omission, shirley ...

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 04:11 AM

Thanks IB - couldn't quite remember whether the C melody was in the alto or tenor range!

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 04:10 AM

A C melody sax is a tenor in C, rather than the usual Bb. In Johnny Roadhouses the other week I was shown a vintage C soprano.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_melody_saxophone

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 04:08 AM

Forgot to say - the reason for the transposition is to save the composer and player from constantly writing and reading sharps and flats on the staff. A melody written in Eb for the alto sax is much easier to write and read as a composition in C on the staff - but will play in Eb. :-)

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 04:06 AM

Players of different instruments often have their particular charts written in such a way that the basic key of their instrument is written in one key but actually plays in a different key. So a piece for the alto sax, for example, might be written on the staff as C, but actually plays in Eb. The guitar itself uses transposition, with there being an octave difference between what's written on the treble clef and what actually sounds (an octave lower). So, when arranging a piece for a mixed band, the arranger has the choice of writing all the arrangements in concert pitch, or writing them in the transposed equivalent for each particular instrument - a tone difference for a Bb tenor sax, 3 semitone difference for an Eb alto sax, etc. Sounds complicated, but the individual musicians would have learned to read music in its transposed form.

The C Melody sax, I believe, was in the alto sax range but pitched in C, rather than the more usual Eb.

I'm sure other 'Catters can probably explain this better than me!

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: PoppaGator
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 03:42 AM

Can anyone explain:

1) Just exactly what is/was a "C Melody" sax, and why is it called that?

2) What's the deal with horns being tuned a half-step off what for other instruments is "concert pitch"? I had the opportunity to sing with an band featuring a horn section several years ago, and the leader who wrote the charts had an ongoing dialogue with the horn players about this discrepancy, while the horn players would occasionally make comments about how much easier things were for the less-musically-literate string players. Why would an "A" not be an "A" for every instrument?

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Stringsinger
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 07:12 PM

Don't forget Lee Konitz. He worked with Lenny Tristano and was a pioneer in the "cool school" of jazz. He often played "outside" of the changes.

Stnsnger

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 07:06 PM

Alan Whetton plays beautiful soprano sax on Hilary James''Burning Sun' album.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Will Fly
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 06:38 PM

Aren't there any other folk sax players out there?

The melodeon player in our ceilidh band also plays tenor and alto saxes - makes a great addition to the sound.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 06:26 PM

Folk saxophonists?

John Rangecroft & Davie Webster - of Ken Hyder's Talisker!

Dreaming of Glenisla (1975) is one of my all time favourites, which recently saw CD re-issue in Canada:

http://www.reelrecordings.org/ken_hyder.php

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Jack Campin
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 06:03 PM

I'm horrified that nobody's yet said "ME!!!!". Aren't there any other folk sax players out there?

I know it's used by a few English morris sides.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 05:51 PM

John Coltrane and a fellow I had the good luck to meet and hear in Seattle many years ago, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley. Stan Getz and Paul Desmond are up there as well. Charlie "Bird" Parker was gone before I really got to hear him much, but leaves a powerful legacy.
I also liked Bud Shank, but I may be biased because he played with both Charlie Byrd and Laurindo Almeida.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: van lingle
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 05:37 PM

Right Will, Trumbauer's recordings with Bix Beiderbecke were something else.
Also, Wayne Shorter's playing with Miles in the early 60's and then Weather Report deserves mention.
And then there's Hank Mobley with Miles in the Mid 50's.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: PoppaGator
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 04:08 PM

Tony Dagradi of Astral Project.

I have other faves, all already mentioned.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Will Fly
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 04:00 PM

Frankie Trumbauer's playing on "Singing The Blues" is just beautiful.

And let's not forget King Curtis... and the wonderful players on Little Richard's singles...

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Stringsinger
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 03:22 PM

Charlie Parker. Bird. The most creative of them all. Coltrane, runner up.

Bechet for trad swing. Jimmy Dorsey. Trumbauer.
Lester Young. Coleman Hawkins. Johnny Hodges

Sonny Rollins

Gerry Mulligan was right up there...

I like Paul Desmond's tone.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: fat B****rd
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 03:12 PM

All of the above, just about. Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Lee Allen. There's loads I can't bring to mind just now.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 03:08 PM

Paul Desmond, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly. Also well worth a listen is Danish player Lars Moller

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 07:42 AM

There was a program on BBC TV4 recently about the history of jazz, and it included a track by Dexter Gordon playing a ballad. I thought it was just wonderful.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 07:36 AM

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

My personal favourite, but already mentioned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0JJmwq7KXQ

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: bubblyrat
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 07:20 AM

Sorry !! I forgot to mention PETE ZORN,whom I saw playing with Mr H's band not too long ago !!
Adolph Sax was probably quite good too, but before my time ,I'm afraid!!When was the instrument's first use in "classical" music ??----Ravel's "Bolero" ??? Certainly,Prokofiev liked it !!

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: irishenglish
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 07:07 AM

Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Alto Reed (Tommy Cartmell) from Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band-one hell of a player!
Pete Zorn

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Stu
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 05:30 AM

My wife.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Hamish
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 05:18 AM

Nt previously mentioned, but Michael Brecker and Tommy Smith. Charlie Parker, of course. So lyrical and infectious.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 04:45 AM

A few of my favourites that haven't been mentioned:

John Gilmore
Dudu Pukwana
Lol Coxhill
Ron Aspery
Gary Windo
Didier Malherbe
Roscoe Mitchel
Joseph Jarman
Pharoah Sanders
Evan Parker

*

Someone mentioned Marshall Allen back there; one of my happiest memories is smoking with Marshall after the Arkestra's Edinburgh Festival gig back in 1990. He was most keen that I should come and meet Sonny, but I was too in awe! Fags with the 1st lieutenant was one thing, but being summoned to the captain's table was something else altogether.

You're on the spaeship earth - destination unknown!

Felt a lot safer when Sun Ra was at the helm!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaDfeA7hYkY

They'll come back in shining ships of gold...

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 02:51 AM

Dick Heckstall - Smith if he'd have been American he would have been mentioned by now.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 02:28 AM

Martin Winning

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: M.Ted
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 01:47 AM

Not to forget Stan Getz, Harry Carney, Roland Kirk, John Hardy, Marshall Allen, Art Pepper, Jim Pepper, and Benny Carter--just for starters.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: mrdux
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 01:23 AM

Sonny Rollins -- saw him last year and he's till quite amazing. Also Coltrane, Parker and Coleman Hawkins.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:09 PM

Mulligan and Desmond, but I'm also quite partial to Coleman Hawkins.

Jerry

And OH YEAH! STANLEY TURRENTINE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 09:49 PM

Can't do it.....favorite or greatest or whatever.....can't do it. First problem is that saxophone is a group not one instrument and some of the finest are specialists. Charlie Parker put it best when he said he "spoke" Alto. Coltrane and guys like Ben Webster spoke Tenor and Gerry Mulligan has to top any Bari list.

Then, what are they doing?   What style, etc. just like any instrument. Although there is a "Concert" style perhaps, Sax is most often an instrument of Jazz along with Rock and R&B.

Someone mentioned the great Paul Desmond. Paul once described himself as the world's slowest alto player and also another time as the world's quietest alto player. I doubt he was either but god knows that sound of his was cool as ice. Now Bird had a cutting, edgey, sound that fit well in Bop. What they DO SHARE in common along with the other greats of jazz was their ability to soar into unbelievable flights of fancy taking you farther and farther then somehow bringing you back almost seamlessly. That trait separates the greats from the near greats everytime.

These guys were musically perfect and they were truly intimate with the instrument, so completely at ease and comfortable that thoughts were translated to music with no effort. Most jazz players do this but the true greats are in a different space and breathe the rare air.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: pdq
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 09:39 PM

I believe modern sax playing started in the 1920s.

Top players from the 1920s:

Sidney Bechet ~ soprano sax
Jimmy Dorsey ~ alto sax
Frankie Trumbauer ~ C "melody" sax
Don Murray ~ baritone sax
Adrian Rollini ~ bass sax

This means Jazz, I suppose.

All these guys still sound good today.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 09:29 PM

Charlie Parker

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 09:27 PM

Sidney Bechet - Soprano Sax , Clarinet , and on at least one recording , Sarrousaphone !

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: van lingle
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 09:09 PM

Johnny Hodges who played with Ellington was one of my favorites as were/are Lester Young, Stan Getz, Coltrane, Cannonball...

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Jack Campin
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 08:35 PM

I have a C melody (Buescher from 1922). Nice for Shetland tunes. They are being made again now, by the Aquilasax firm. A lot of sound for very little respiratory effort, though the keywork feels like driving a truck.

My faves are at the cool end: John Harle, John Surman, Jan Garbarek. And at the other extreme, Anthony Braxton, though I can only handle him in small doses.

Going to hear Gilad Atzmon next week. There's a saxophonist with something important to say: www.gilad.co.uk.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: pdq
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:50 PM

By the way, Frankie Trumbauer (mentioned already) was the premier exponent of the C "melody" saxophone in Jazz. The instrument has not been made in the US since the 1929 stock market crash when it was deleted in favor of the models that sold better.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Beer
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:38 PM

Don't know much about the instrument but I sure like to hear Clarence Clemons blow it.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: pdq
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:33 PM

"the saxophone is an ill wind that nobody blows good"

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:28 PM

Gerry Mulligan and Andy Sheppard.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:20 PM

Frankie Trumbauer. Mark you, there's this bloke called Courtney Pine who's still doing a bit...
Wood's 100 tonight Bubblyrat.

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: MartinRyan
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:12 PM

"The guy in Dave Brubeck's band" was alto player Paul Desmond whose tone was just about unique. (Lee Konitz the nearest?). Brings back memories of putting up with Brubeck's rather clunky piano just to hear Desmond and Joe Morello, the drummer, IIRC.

REgards

Subject: RE: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: bubblyrat
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:08 PM

Not my favourite instrument,but I liked the guy in Dave Brubeck's band,and whoever played alto-sax on Art Garfunkel's version of "Heart in New York" !! I don't know anybody else,except Boots Randolph !

Subject: Favorite Saxophone Players
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 06:56 PM

David Sanborn Live at Montreux comes out on DVD on Feb. 17th. He's one of my favorite Sax players--he's got some serious chops. Who are some your favorite Sax players?