List of Saxophonists

I've added a list of saxophonist I've done posts on for easier viewing. Though I haven't been posting I think the information already contained in this blog is timeless and can still be of interest to new and regular visitors. Jump in and enjoy some sax appeal.

Joshua Redman - Montreux Jazz Festival 1997

Just found this clip and thought you might like it as well. I really like Joshua Redman. And if you missed my previous post on him click here.

Out of Sax Players

My thanks to anyone who has been checking in for new blogs. I'm running out of sax players and have been so into my photo blog that I haven't had time to do my research to hunt down sax players I'm not familiar with.

I realize I need to add a little something different for this blog to do inbetween my sax player blogs but haven't figured out what that is yet. Sorry. :-(

ERIC DARIUS

www.ericdarius.com

Image from www.smooth-jazz.de

Because I know some readers (like me), don't always check out the older posts I'm re-introducing a few of the blogs I did on some of my favorites saxy men when I first started this blog. This time it's Eric Darius because I don't want anyone to miss him if they've never heard of him before.

Just click here to go to my first post on him. There will a little more info and another video clip.

The video below is a picture video but I'm posting it because it's one of my favorite's from his CD.

RICK PARMA

www.rickparma.com
www.myspace.com/saxmanrp

Rick Parma is someone I was just recently introduced to on MySpace. I'll mention again that one of the things I like about MySpace is the number of new artists I am introduced to via their pages as they promote themselves and their music. I don't have much information on Rick Parma other than that he is a native of Chicago and released his second CD in 2006. Make sure you check out the video below and the links above for samples of his saxy style. If you like mellow jazz I'm pretty sure you're going to be keeping your eyes on Rick Parma as I will.

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!

SONNY FORTUNE

www.sonnyfortune.com
Wikipedia.com



Sonny Fortune plays soprano, alto, tenor and barritone saxophones as well as the flute and clarinet. Before forming his own group in 1975 he performed with Miles Davis, Buddy Rich, Roy Ayers and Pharoah Sanders to name just a few.

Take a listen and make sure you check out the link to his website above for more information on this sax man.

STANLEY TURRENTINE

(April 5, 1934 – September 12, 2000)



www.allaboutjazz.com
Wikipedia.com

Tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine is another name I've heard for a long time and I can't believe I almost forgot about him. He was nicknamed Mr. T and The Sugar Man. His first album entitled "Sugar" was released in 1970. There's not a whole lot of info that I was able to find on this man with sax appeal but his music speaks volumes. Since I didn't have much background information to provide please check out the links above for a couple of short biographies and just check out the two clips below which are, to me, great examples of The Sugar Man's sax appeal.

LESTER YOUNG

(August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959)

Image from Mosaic Records

Wikipedia.com
Lester Young Bio

Lester Young was a tenor saxophonist who also played the clarinet. He had a layed back, relaxed style which was in contrast to the aggressive style of Coleman Hawkins, another prominant sax player at the same time. He played with many bands/orchestra. The most noteable probably being the Count Basie orchestra and left for a short time to replace Coleman Hawkins in the Fletcher Henderson orchestra, but because he was under pressure to sound more like Coleman Hawkins left. Eventually he returned to the Count Basie orchestra.

He played with the great Billie Holiday who gave him the nickname "The Prez".

Lester Young Buddy Rich
Uploaded by Ali_La_Pointe

MICHAEL LINGTON

http://www.michaellington.com/

There are many types of jazz and I hope I'm presenting a little bit of each style. This is for the contemporary jazz fans.

Michael Lington is someone very new to me, just heard him for the first time when adding him as a friend on my MySpace page. I took a listen and this someone I definitely thought was worth adding in my list of musicians with sax appeal. Smooth, easy and saxy.

Quoting from his biography on his website: "Michael Lington has demonstrated his contemporary saxophone chops with a steady stream of chart-toppers since his debut album in 1997. His CD, Stay with Me, yielded three Radio & Records national jazz hits with “Show Me” at # 2; “Two of a Kind” at # 2; and “Pacifica” at # 6. Stay With Me also remained on the Billboard contemporary jazz chart for a total of 24 weeks. “Twice In a Lifetime” and “Sunset” from Vivid; and “Still Thinking of You” from Lington’s Everything Must Change all went Top 5 as well. His duet with Bobby Caldwell on “Tell It Like It Is” from his self-titled debut, ascended both the jazz and adult contemporary charts."

EDDIE HARRIS

(October 20,1936 - November 5, 1996)

www.eddieharris.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Harris

Eddie Harris was best know for playing tenor sax but before playing sax he first played the vibraphone in school and due to a teacher had to play the clarinet before he was allowed to play the sax. You might want to know the man also played piano and was proficient with each instrument.

Back in one of my first few posts I mentionted that I was introduced to jazz thanks to my father and my brother who is still a fan. To be honest, I didn't know the name Eddie Harris when I heard it but I sure as heck knew this one in the video clip below! This is the jazz I grew up on.



And then having heard that one I had to post this which is another I'm very familiar with. Eddie Harris and Les McCann - Compared to What. I did a post on Les McCann on my other blog.

STEVE COLEMAN

www.m-base.com
www.allaboutjazz.com

I really don't know much about Steve Coleman. He's someone I just found out about and will definitely be looking into a little more. He is a saxophonist and composer and has been an huge influence on contemporary jazz. He began the group Steve Coleman and The Five Elements in 1981.

If you've been to this blog before, you know I'm not one for giving a long bio on my sax players. I just give you the links and let you read what I would just repeat. I just like introducing you to them, giving you a little taste and letting you decided for yourself if this is your kind of sax appeal. I will tell you that the link to allaboutjazz.com has the best read-up on Steve Coleman and m-base.com is their official website.

It took me just a little while to find a video that got right to the point of showing Steve Coleman playing the sax but this is a good one. Sorry if I offend anyone but I really don't get the chick on stage "dancing". Bounce the babe and just do the jazz. :-D

BUDDY TATE

(02/22/1913 - 02/10/2001)

Wikipedia.com
Jazzhouse.com

George Holmes "Buddy" Tate was considered to be one of the greatest jazz saxophonisst of his time. He also played the clarinet. He played with Count Basie's band and a few others after that before becoming famous in his own right. for approximately nine years and was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1988.

Jumpin' at the Woodside - Buddy Tate
Uploaded by boberwig

JOHN HALEY "ZOOT" SIMS

(10/29/1925 - 03/23/1985)

Wikipedia.com


I've heard the name "Zoot" Sims for a long time though he wasn't someone I was particularly knowledgeable of, if I heard the name, I knew it was jazz. Zoot Sims played tenor and soprano sax. He played with famous bands and musicians such as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich. Unfortunately I didn't find much information on Zoot Sims which is rather sad but I found plenty of video clips so this will be a two video post. What I lack in information I will make up for in a little smooth and sultry, old classic and sexy sax appeal.



This is romantic music. I can easily close my eyes and imagine it's just after a quite dinner by candelight, we're sharing a bottole of wine when he pulls me up into his arms, I rest my head on his chest and we slowly move to the music as we get lost in this mellow, jazzy melody...

Sweet lorraine Zoot Sims Red Mitchell 19
Uploaded by boberwig

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.

DAVID SANCHEZ

www.davidsanchezmusic.com
Wikipedia.com


Image from www.jazzconclave.com

Doing my usual I won't say a lot about David Sanchez but will let you listen for yourself. I'll mention the usual like he plays tenor sax. He played with Dizzie Gillespie for a few years until Dizzie died. He signed on with Columbia records where he released 7 CD's and won a Grammy in 2005. You can check out the links above his picture and there is also an excellent post over at The Latin Jazz Corner which is a post that reminded me I'd left David Sanchez out of those who have definite sax appeal.

THE SAX PACK

www.thesaxpack.com


Image from www.sandersonmusic.com


The Sax Pack consists of famous saxophonists Jeff Kashiwa, Kim Waters and Steve Cole, the only one I haven't done a post on yet. Jeff Kashiwa approached Kim Waters and Steve Cole with the idea of touring as The Sax Pack in 2003 and they've been touring together ever since. Red tape from the recording companies kept a CD from coming out but this one was finally released in March 2008. It took long enough!

BRANFORD MARSALIS

Wikipedia.org
www.branfordmarsalis.com


Image from www.schindelbeck.org

Branford Marsalis in a big name in jazz known for playing tenor and soprano sax, and is the founder of the Branford Marsalis quartet. He comes from a family of well know jazz musicians - his father Ellis (pianist) and he is the oldest of his famous brothers Wynton (trumpet), Delfeayo (trombonist) and Jason (drummer).

Quoting from Wikipedia: "After Hurricane Katrina, Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis came up with a plant to help restore New Orleans's musical heritage. Habitat for Humanity and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, working with Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis announced December 6, 2005, plans for a Musicians' Village in New Orleans. The Musicians' Village will include Habitat-constructed homes, with a Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, as the area's centerpiece. The Habitat-built homes will provide musicians of modest means the opportunity to buy decent, affordable housing."

Check out my other block for a post on his brother, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.

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

JAZZ CRUISE 2008

I thought I posted my photos and short videos that I took on the jazz cruise I went on at the beginning of this year. I can't believe I didn't do that here so I'm going to rectify that now but I'll just post the sax players or this post will be too long. If you've never been on a jazz cruise GO! I had such a great time I still smile whenever I think about it. I thought it was a little expensive for a cruise but the music was so worth it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Boney James





Marion Meadows




Paul Taylor




Michael Paulo