Thread: Greatest jazz saxaphone players

I have had the good fortune to attend performances of some of the great jazz sax players. These include Paul Desmond, Cannonball Adderley, Arnette Cobb, David "Fathead" Newman, and Roland Kirk. I am curious to know if others in the forum have had similar experiences.

That's the advantage of living in the US. I saw Dizzy Gillespie when I was 9 years old in London. I don't remember much. I saw Lionel Hampton in Edinburgh on his 80th birthday tour but he was understandably mostly a tribute to the great man rather than him playing.
I'd love to have heard Stan Getz live or been at 52nd street when Bird was around but I was born two decades too late on the wrong side of the pond!
FC

I have never been fortunate enough to see any of them. It is one thing to hear them play on a cd, but seeing someone live takes you to another level.


Margaret

I also have never been fortunate enough to see any of them. It is one thing to hear them play on a cd, but seeing someone live takes you to another level.
I love Rap music so much.

Notorious

I listened to a few in my teens, especially Sidney Bechet, and quite liked Stan Getz and Paul Desmond then, but when I got into New Orleans ensemble jazz I soon found that when a saxophone replaces the clarinet in a standard front line it muddies the sound and spoils it for me.
So I have no lingering interest in sax-based jazz, and usually dislike the way it's used in my favourite jazz genre, with some mild exceptions, eg. Captain John Handy.
So why post about the wretched things? Here's why. One of my main musical interests is the hot dance music of the 1920s, and the finest of those bands to my ear was the California Ramblers, along with its spin-off groups. Their bass duties were carried out by Adrian Rollini, who mastered the bass saxophone in a matter of months and proceeded to make the band swing almost single-handedly. He would break out into excellent brief solos too, on an instrument that even Coleman Hawkins couldn't get to grips with.
Some folks make disparaging quips about various instruments; I reserve mine for the saxophone, eg. it's a kazoo with keys for people who can't sing; but I just wanted to bring up Adrian Rollini's name. Buy any of his 1920s stuff and you'll hear the only significant jazz saxophonist in my little world.

I was never able to hear any of the greats live but some that I used to listen to when ever I could and became some of my favourites were:
Stan Getz, Tenor Sax, Played with Jack Teagarden in 1943 joined the Kenton band in 1945 he then played with Dorsey, Goodman and Herman about 1947, he was one of the top players in the 50s but had a problem with drugs
Lester Young Tenor Sax + other instruments, played with Basie and had what was then known as a cool sound

Zoot Sims another Tenor man [also Soprano] who played with Kenton, Goodman, Rich and Herman to name but a few toured with Gerry Mulligan, he was one of the best swing players of the day. Happy memories

I never saw him perform (he has been dead for the best part of 40 years) but I know when I hear a recording or watch a film of John Coltrane playing the sax, that I am in the presence of a peerless instrumental genius. Particularly the records he made with Miles Davis are to me at the pinnacle of the jazz repertoire, he was extraordinary.

Last week, David "Fathead" Newman died. The great musicians are unfortunately dying off. He was one of the people who had an influence on Ray Charles.

Michael Brecker is an obvious choice - best saxophonist after Coltrane.

Heavy Metal Be-bop is such a sick album.

I like so many jazz saxophones too many to name really. Coltrane I guess stands out
for his influence I guess & many already named. I also like a lot (no order):

Johnny Hodges (played a lot w. Duke Ellington)
Ben Webster
Charlie Parker (surprised he hasn't been named)
Steve Lacy (soprano sax)
Jan Gabarek (esp. early on & his work w. Keith Jarrett)
John Surman (baritone sax)
Jane Ira Bloom (soprano sax)
Wayne Shorter (as much for his composing acumen)
Oliver Lake (fine 'avant' alto player)
Art Pepper
Tony Malady (recent player)
Stan Sulzman
Rich Perry
Lee Konitz

& many others !!

Ed

Originally Posted by ecg_fa

I like so many jazz saxophones too many to name really. Coltrane I guess stands out
for his influence I guess & many already named. I also like a lot (no order):

Johnny Hodges (played a lot w. Duke Ellington)
Ben Webster
Charlie Parker (surprised he hasn't been named)
Steve Lacy (soprano sax)
Jan Gabarek (esp. early on & his work w. Keith Jarrett)
John Surman (baritone sax)
Jane Ira Bloom (soprano sax)
Wayne Shorter (as much for his composing acumen)
Oliver Lake (fine 'avant' alto player)
Art Pepper
Tony Malady (recent player)
Stan Sulzman
Rich Perry
Lee Konitz

& many others !!

Ed

Great list. I'd like to add Ornette Coleman and Cannonball Adderley.

& I'd add Zoot Sims, Barney Wilen & Sonny Criss.

I have always admired Coltrane.From 1962 on though I cannot admit to enjoying. Too quirky for me.

Jim

I had problems with getting into Coltrane. But I forced myself to listen to all Blue Train song by song. After that I became Coltrane lover. I never checked this out, but I belive he cooperated with some great album producer; all his studio albums has amazing sound.

I also love Parker. This is my very first jazz music.

Originally Posted by Aramis

I had problems with getting into Coltrane too. But I forced myself to listen to all Blue Train song by song. After that I became Coltrane lover. I never checked this out, but I belive he cooperated with some great album producer; all his studio albums has amazing sound.

I also love Parker. This is my very first jazz music.

My first album of Coltrane's was also "Blue Train", one of the most influential jazz recordings of all time. He had 3 or 4 noteworthy recordings and I love most of them.

Jim