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