CAL BENNETT

www.calbennett.com
www.myspace.com/calbennett

Cal Bennett was one of the first saxophonists I did a post on. Because I like him I thought I'd re-introduce him. When I first did an intro I couldn't find any videos to share but I finally found one. It's not one of my favorite tunes but will give you some idea of his funky style and sax appeal. I highly suggest checking out the link to his site or MySpace page. I currently have him featured and playing as my background music.


I don't know if many people are aware of Cal Bennett but I'm hoping they get a clue because this man definitely has that sax appeal!

DEWEY REDMAN

(05/17/1931 - 09/02/2006)

Wikipedia.com
European Jazz Network

I learned something new today in jazz. While looking for more jazz saxophonists I have not heard of before, I came across Dewey Redman. Anyone who is already a huge jazz fan is probably shaking their head at me wondering how I never heard of him before. I've got no excuse. In reading about him I discoverd he is the father or one of my favorite saxophonists Joshua Redman. He's played with Ornette Coleman for a few years and another few years with Keith Jarrett. He's also performed and recorded with Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny.

I could only find a few video clips of Dewey Redman so enough text and on to the sample of his sax appeal. You can check out more information about this tenor saxophonist at the links above.

PAUL CARR

Paul Carr - Myspace
Paul Carr Jazz.com


Image from http://www.allaboutjazz.com

Paul Carter is someone I stumbled upon over at All About Jazz. He only has two CD's out and I can't find a lot of information on him to share since in the scheme of jazz history he's relatively new. Still, I think he's well worth taking a listen to and maybe his style, being referred to as "Texas tenor", is right up your alley. Sorry that I can't find a video clip but click on his Myspace page link to hear a few samples of his sax appeal. You can also click on the CD Now links below to hear samples of his two CD's. Just click on the "Listen to Samples" link under the picture of the album cover

Musically Yours - Remembering Joe Henderson

Just Noodlin

TIM CUNNINGHAM

http://www.timcunningham.com
http://www.myspace.com/timcunninghammusic



Tim Cunningham is someone I just recently heard. I don't know how I miss so many musicians. Maybe I should put away my CD's sometimes and actually turn on the radio from time to time. Tim Cunningham has a wonderful, sultry tone that gives him the sax appeal I like. He has six CD's and I intent on checking out each and every one of them.

Tim has been performed with numerous artists including and hardly limited to Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, George Benson, Norman Brown, Earth Wind & Fire, Luther Vandross, The Yellow Jackets, Chick Corea, The Whispers, Wynton Marsalis and Will Downing.

Take in a little of Tim's sax appeal in the video below called Manchester Road.

DONN BYNUM

http://www.myspace.com/donnbynum


Don Bynum is another saxophonist I ran across on http://smoothjazzspace.ning.com. I've been listening to him for the last few minutes and I'm so mellowed out it's great! Check out his myspace link above to get a taste of the mellow sax appeal that kept me company as I wrote this.

Like Darron McKinney in the previous post, I'll be keeping an eye out on Don Bynum. He performed with and did several world tours with the Commodores and has other accomplishment to his name. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a video clip to share so make sure you visit his MySpace page to listen to take a listen for yourself.

DARRON MCKINNEY

http://www.myspace.com/darronmckinney
http://www.shieldrecords.com


Someone to look out for, Darron McKinney. I just "discovered" him (smile) on a website I recently joined, Smooth Jazz Space. If you're a jazz lover I recommend you run over and join this growing site.

Darron McKinney is a police officer for the Detroit public school District. He's worked with artists Roy Ayers, Betty "BEBOP" Carter, Joe Sample, Cuba Gooding Sr, Regina Belle, Mikki Howard and Waymen Tisdale. For more about Darron McKinney check out his bio on his website.

McKinney caught the attention of people nationwide when he gave a riveting performance of his original song, "A Call to Courage," at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial candlelight vigil on May 13, 2001, in Washington, D.C. The song was a tribute to slain police officers and their families.

Well, it caught my attention to and I think his talent worthy of giving a shout out to and passing along for anyone reading to hear. The clip below is of his original song A Call To Courage. I hear a little sax appeal, don't you?

JAARED AROSEMENA

http://members.tripod.com/~jaared/html
http://www.myspace.com/saxmanjaared


Image from http://members.tripod.com/~jaared/html

You know, it really pays to browse around the internet. You find one thing and one thing leads to another. That's how I came across Jaared Arosemena. You know I love sax so it only took a little listening to hear this man had some skills and that his smooth saxiness was right up my listening alley.

Check out his links, check out his music, take a listen and see if he is someone you might be looking to add to your music collection. I'll be adding him to mine.

BONEY JAMES

http://www.boneyjames.com
http://www.myspace.com/boneyjamesmusic



Boney James is another one of my favorites. This white boy can blow! LOL! You must take a look at the video clip below if you somehow doubt me or think this man is just a little too mellow to be "jazzy". There's not a lot more I can say about Boney James. You'll just have to listen for yourself. Check out the clip, check out his websites.

This is a video clip I took at Haven Entertaiment's Smooth Jazz Cruise 2008 and the one following it is one I put together with pictures I took on the same Jazz Cruise during his performance(s).







Hitting me with his sax appeal!
Remember, show how much you appreciate the artist by buying the music!

PAUL TAYLOR

http://www.paultaylorsax.com
http://www.myspace.com/officialpaultaylorsax

Man, what can I say about Paul Taylor. I have just about every CD he has. He is so mellow, so sexy... and ain't too bad to look at either (smile). You can check out either of the links I provided above to hear a sample of his music and style. For a sample you can click on either of the links under his name above.



It's difficult to find any videos of Paul Taylor. Luckily he was one of the performers on the jazz cruise I went on last month and I have this short video clip of my own. I have another but will post it later.

MICHAEL PAULO

www.michaelpaulo.net



Michael Paulo was one of the artists that performed on the Smooth Jazz Cruise that I went on last week and wow! I couldn't wait to get home to find out a little more about him. He was so good I just knew he had to have CD's out but I had never heard of him before. So, I had to spread the word. If you haven't heard of Michael Paulo either, check him out. I have another clip I'll be adding when I get a chance to organize all of the photos and videos that I took on this cruise.

I hope you enjoy him as much as I did. I'm sure you will.

GERALD ALBRIGHT

http://www.geraldalbright.com



I've been a fan of Gerald Albright for a very long time. He's smooth and mellow and his style is just what I like - sultry, a little funky and soulful. And I'm NOT prejudiced by the fact that he was born in L.A. I've had the pleasure of seeing him a couple of times in person.

I love this video below of Gerald doing Georgia on my Mind. Check it out:



This is worth a second video, don't you think?

AHMAD ALAADEEN

http://www.myspace.com/alaadeen
http://www.alaadeen.com



I can't tell you how much of a learning experience this has been for me and how many great saxophonists I've been introduced to since starting this blog.

I just "discovered" Ahmad Alaadeen this morning and though this isn't my usual preference in style of jazz this man definitely has sax appeal. The sad thing is I could only find one video clip of him so after you view the clip please hit a couple of the links to sample his saxiness. The MySpace link will pull you in with instant music so I suggest that link first.

From a biography on AllAboutJazz.com:

Alaadeen, who is equally skilled and original on tenor and soprano saxophones, has made a major impact on the Kansas City jazz scene ever since he settled in K.C. in the early 1970s. He has the ability to caress melodies with a great deal of warmth, yet is never shy to stretch himself and take chances, pushing the music forward. He is heard at his very best on his recent 'ASR release And The Beauty Of It All.

STAN GETZ

(February 2, 1927 - June 6, 1991)

Wikipedia
http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/stangetz



Stanley "Stan" Getz is another well know saxophonist and played with some of the biggest names in jazz. I found this quote from him on Wikipedia:

I never consciously tried to conceive of what my sound should be...I never tried to imitate anybody, but when you love somebody’s music, you’re influenced...I really don’t know how I developed my sound, but it comes from a combination of my musical conception and no doubt the basic shape of the oral cavity... ”

— Stan Getz

There is a great interview of him here.

CANNONBALL ADDERLEY

(September 15, 1928 - August 8, 1975)

www.cannonball-adderley.com
Wikipedia



Born Julian Edward Adderley, the nickname Cannonball was a childhood name he received from a corruption the name "cannibal". He was a music teacher before he began his jazz career and was one of the more widely know jazz saxophonists. The biographies on either of the links above can provide you with a detailed biography of Cannonball's jazz career.

Cannonball Adderley - Work Song
Uploaded by dow30

The video below is of the Cannonball Adderley Sextet. Now this is classic old jazz!

GROVER WASHINGTON, JR.

(December 12, 1943 - December 17, 1999)

http://www.groverwashingtonjr.com
www.sonymusic.com



Grover Washington, Jr. is a name I've known for a long time. I knew of Grover Washington, Jr. before he became a part of one of my favorite Jazz groups Urban Knights and before he became instrumental in helping the group Pieces of A Dream become internationally known.

We lose many great artists for one reason or another. Grover Washington Jr had just finished taping four sessions for The Early Show for CBS in New York, he collapsed in the green room. He suffered a massive heart attack.

If you think you don't know who he is or have never heard him, just listen to some of his music that I'm sure you've heard and I'm sure you'll say, "Is that him!!?"

Grover will be missed.

JACKIEM JOYNER

http://www.jackiemjoyner.com
http://www.myspace.com/jackiemsoul



Jackiem Joyner is another artist I found while browsing around on MySpace. Soft, sexy and mellow - I instantly took a liking to him. I can't find a video but if you click on his MySpace link above you can get a sample of his music. His debut album is called Babysoul through Artizen Music Group.

A portion of his bio on Artizenmusic.com reads:

After several years of playing with keyboard greats Marcus Johnson and Bobby Lyle and saxophonist Jaared, co-headlining a 30 city tour in 2004 with Ronnie Laws and jazz and soul singers Angela Bofill and Jean Carne, and opening gigs for everyone from India Arie to Boney James, Spyro Gyra and George Benson, Joyner took a full year off to focus on writing and recording an album that marks his status as “a baby coming into the world, a new soul emerging into the music business.” Babysoul is more than just a title- it is a true description of his professional re-birthing.

Check him out. Hope you enjoy him as much as I do.

MARCUS MITCHELL

http://www.myspace.com/marcushmitchell


Image from: http://www.jazzreview.com

Portion of an article from http://smoothjazztherapy.typepad.com

Marcus H Mitchell is not only a rising saxophone star but is also CEO and President of 24th Music, a division of MHM Entertainment Group based in Maryland. The youngest independent executive to be on the voting committee for the Grammy Awards he is about to release his latest CD, the excellent ‘R & R – Rest & Relaxation’. It follows on from his 2005 debut ‘Jumpin’ and is a classy eleven track collection of fresh urban jazz sounds that is epitomized by the tune ‘Just Groovin’. With a title that pretty much sums up what Mitchell does throughout the album it is replete with his own brand of edgy smooth jazz and, although rest and relaxation may not entirely be what Mitchell is all about, the smoky title track, the chilled out ‘Deep Concentration’ and finally ‘Summer Breeze’ all demonstrate that he knows mellow urban jazz.

CHICKEN & GRAVY

Right about now you're looking at this thinking, why is there a picture of chicken and gravy on this jazz page? Well, right about now I'm sitting here laughing my head off. Imagine my surprise when I went to view my new blog entry and it showed up on my jazz page. :-D I moved it but thought what the heck. I'll leave it here to make you hungry and remind you how nice it is to listen to a little jazz while you're cooking; how nice it is to have a little jazz playing when your special dinner guest comes over for dinner and you want the mood just right.

If you are interested in how I made this chicken and gravy it's in my other blog CRAFTING FOOL. LOL!

Now back to the regularly scheduled jazz venture.

LAYLA ANGULO

http://www.laylaangulo.com
http://www.myspace.com/laylaangulo



I recently heard of this lady thanks to Chipboaz and his Latin Jazz blog. I think I'm going to have to take back what I was saying in a previous post when I wondered if women could play sax as well as men. Well, I still not thoroughly convinced but this is the second female sax player I've heard and posted about that have my ears WIDE open.

Wish I could find a video clip... but I can't.

ALEX HAN

http://www.alexhan.com



Oh my goodness! You've got to hear this 18 year old play! I just happened to find him while browing on Google, saw the intro of a review praising this 18 year old and clicked in. Instantly hooked! LOL!

Allaboutjazz.com writes:

Saxophonist and composer, Alex Han, is widely regarded as the “Young Jazz Lion” of his generation. With performances at well over a dozen internationally recognized Jazz venues, countless musical awards, and a refreshingly original sound, he is fast becoming one of the most influential young players to enter the scene....

By age seventeen, Han won the17th Annual Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) Competition for saxophone which is designed to provide early career recognition for outstanding young musicians in the United States. He was also selected for an alto chair on the 2005 Monterey Jazz Festival Next Generation Orchestra.

If you don't believe me or AllAboutJazz, take a listen when you play the clip below:



Now that's what I call a little sax appeal!