The Joy of Sax

[James]

Since the sax has been an integral part of jazz, let's devote a thread to it and it's finest players, recordings etc. Brief list ..

• Johnny Hodges
• Charlie Parker
• Lester Young
• Coleman Hawkins
• John Coltrane
• Sonny Rollins
• Ornette Coleman
• Stan Getz
• Wayne Shorter
• Kenny G
• Michael Brecker
• Branford Marsalis
• Joshua Redman
• Chris Potter

https://www.youtube.com/v/TT7p2He9I-w

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Dexter Gordon

Kenny G

Albert Ayler

Pharoah Sanders

Anthony Braxton

Cannonball Adderley

Ernie Watts

[San Antone]

Most of the names on James' list are among the greatest, although why Kenny G is included is a mystery.  One names that is not there is Ben Webster.   He plays something like Johnny Hodges, but on tenor, in the school of Lester Young but with more grit.

[NorthNYMark]

Great lists. I would also add Eric Dolphy, Sam Rivers, and Joe Henderson.

It's interesting that the instrument is rarely used in classical (for which it was invented, I assume), but ubiquitous in jazz, almost to the point of becoming synonymous with the latter.

[San Antone]

Great lists. I would also add Eric Dolphy, Sam Rivers, and Joe Henderson.

It's interesting that the instrument is rarely used in classical (for which it was invented, I assume), but ubiquitous in jazz, almost to the point of becoming synonymous with the latter.

Big +1 for Joe Henderson.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I'm a fan of the "tangy" sax sound from oldies like Jackie McLean and Sonny Stitt and more recently Matt Criscuolo.




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[NorthNYMark]

I'm a fan of the "tangy" sax sound from oldies like Jackie McLean and Sonny Stitt and more recently Matt Criscuolo.




[asin]B00GXGWGHA[/asin]

To paraphrase Sanantonio, big +1 on Jackie McLean!  I'll have to check out Mr. Criscuolo.

[North Star]

Some others that deserve a mention:

Benny Golson
Hank Mobley
Tina Brooks
Stanley Turrentine

[Brian]

To paraphrase Sanantonio, big +1 on Jackie McLean!  I'll have to check out Mr. Criscuolo.

I will too, because I love the two other names in that post.

[The new erato]

No Garbarek?

[escher]

it would be interesting to post also some of their best tracks.

For instance, Art Pepper in Lost life (one of my favorite pieces ever) and his late version of Everything happens to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH-6Yc2sCro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E57SMan1-uA

[Sergeant Rock]

Paul Desmond hasn't been mentioned. Here, playing for Hef and a bevy of Playmates:

https://www.youtube.com/v/j9GgmGLPbWU


Sarge

[San Antone]

Johnny Hodges and Ben Webster from 1960-1961.

https://www.youtube.com/v/7Sun-9kmJds

[North Star]

Hank Mobley: Remeber (Irving Berlin)
https://www.youtube.com/v/wylto0E63Q8

2:25 From Lee Morgan to Benny Golson's solo:
https://www.youtube.com/v/CTzRHq_cH5E

Joe Henderson's solo in Idle Moments (the eponymous Duke Pearson composition on the Grant Green album) at 7:40
https://www.youtube.com/v/gwaFDFP7m_E

Brooks:
https://www.youtube.com/v/iR8DN19ORuI   https://www.youtube.com/v/VB_IK7zzEEM


Joe Henderson

https://www.youtube.com/v/b7_jnfDo42k

[North Star]

https://www.youtube.com/v/VBxAC4ywaJ4   https://www.youtube.com/v/OZFwhhctv7E

[San Antone]

Someone mentioned Jan Garbarek?  A good player but whose style can sink to bathos at times.  However, he has made some very good recordings, or been a part of some great recordings, like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/v/LHq2b93gjK4

Some of his best stuff was done with the Keith Jarrett European Quartet, but the above trio with Charlie Haden and Egberto Gismonti is one that I think is brilliant.

[jochanaan]

Sidney Bechet was one of the great early saxophone players, specializing in soprano.  His style may not be to everyone's taste, though; he uses a very wide vibrato.

[San Antone]

Sidney Bechet was one of the great early saxophone players, specializing in soprano.  His style may not be to everyone's taste, though; he uses a very wide vibrato.

Yep - great. 

[James]

https://www.youtube.com/v/dFIBoT9GP8c

[escher]

Sidney Bechet was one of the great early saxophone players, specializing in soprano.  His style may not be to everyone's taste, though; he uses a very wide vibrato.

I think that he was a great influence on Albert Ayler for that aspect.