Favorite Saxophone Players?

[princeplanet]

I listen to sax guys more than I do guitar players, and was wondering who else does? Even if not, let's hear who your faves are, past or present.

Being into Hard Bop I listen to a lot of: Bird, Dexter, Rollins, Cannonball, McLean, Shorter, Henderson, Trane.

Others I love to listen to, but not as often might be Mobley, Donaldson, Stitt, Golson, Griffin, Turrentine and Getz.

There's also a 3rd tier I'm checking out and no doubt if you asked me in a year or so, the above lists will change.

As well as your fave players, care to mention any top albums or even "choice" cuts?

[coolvinny]

I really dig Bird, Rollins, Illinois Jacquet, Getz, Lester Young, Zoot Sims, Paul Desmond, Cannonball, Fraser MacPherson and Scott Hamilton. I'm sure there are lots of modern players I'm overlooking, but one only has so much time.

MacPherson recorded three albums with Ed Bickert and I can highly recommend those. Actually, Desmond recorded a couple with Bickert too...so those would also be a good choice if you're a jazz guitar fan.

[mr. beaumont]

A couple of names that don't get enough recognition in my book...

Booker Ervin

Johnny Griffin

Charlie Rouse



And there's a whole bunch of new guys out there...Dana Stephens, Seamus Blake, Jake Saslow, David Sanchez...so much good stuff.

[JakeAcci]

The jazz artists I listen to the most are probably, in order, Shorter, Coltrane, Henderson

[brwnhornet59]

Yeah I dig all of the old Masters...Stitt, Rollins and Shorter have been more on my plate of late...I also really dig Rouse though I only heard of him a few months ago...

In Modern Jazz I always loved Brecker, Marienthal, Colman and of course Kenny Garrett the real Kenny G of jazz...Oh yeah, lets not forget Leib...

[brad4d8]

I played sax for a lot of years, haven't in at least 30 years, but still enjoy listening. Trane, Lateef, Cannonball, Rollins, Getz, Desmond, and Lee Konitz (at least in part because I studied with him for a year or so). Lots more, too numerous to mention.
Brad

[MarkRhodes]

The opening track of one of my favorite records: Diz, Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt playing "Sunny Side of the Street."

[disco~juice]

John Coltrane
Johnny Griffin
Joe Henderson
Wayne Shorter

[docbop]

The legends Trane, Joe Henderson, Bird, Dexter.
Also Mobley, Stitt, Kenny Garrett, Bergonzi, Liebman others I'm blanking on.
Newer players Will Vinson, Chris Potter, Joe Lovano, Seamus Blake, Mark Turner.

I'm at my day gig so that's what I can think of off top of my head.

[Petimar]

Bird, Stitt, Cannonball, Dex. I'm a huge fan of Lou Donalsdon, very underrated player. The live at Birdland sets of the Jazz Messingerswith Clifford Brown and Lou Donaldson is some of the best Jazz ever.

[marcwhy]

Living cats: Chris Potter, Jerry Bergonzi, Mark Turner, Joe Lovano, Gian Tornatore, Seamus Blake, and George Garzone.

[cosmic gumbo]

Anyone that can skronk on the baritone sax, gets my vote.

[Average Joe]

Hi, first post here.

The first jazz artist I got into was Dexter Gordon. I practically lived and breathed those 60s albums for a while. Even to this day Gordon is for me the definition of what a jazz sax should sound like.

For the modern bunch there are so many good ones, but I like Chris Potter a lot. There is an assertiveness there along with the sophistication that really appeal to me. And his angularity (is that a word?) also do it for me.

In the last year I've also had positively mind blowing concert experiences seeing Joshua Redman and Joe Lovano

[randalljazz]

many of my favorites have already been mentioned...would add:

gigi gryce
pepper adams
art pepper
jim pepper (ha ha)
richie kamuca
gerry mulligan
harold land
george coleman
sadao watanabe
oliver nelson
ike quebec
johnny hodges
charlie ventura
wardell gray
gato barbieri (when i was younger)
flip phillips
frank foster
bud shank
jimmy giuffre
junior cook
...any many more...

[Gertrude Moser]

Cannonball.

[mangotango]

I've played with saxophonists in every version of every jazz band I've been in except one (if you dicount the two duos in which I'm currently involved). So I've listened to plenty of sax persons in my time and whereas I don't claim to be any kind of an expert at all, but those who have moved me over the years include:-

Wayne Shorter
Stan Getz
Bird
Johnny Hodges
Lester Young
Art Pepper
Hank Mobley
Stanley Turrentine
Joshua Redman
Barbara Thompson
Will Vinson
Jan Garbarek
John Surman


I am very fortunate to have in our current quartet a guy who plays tenor with heart, soul and tone for days, Mark Jordan. I probably end up listening to him more than anyone since we play together a lot, and just as I like to say that my playing sits in the comfy chair between Kenny Burrell and Grant Green, his draws upon Mobley, Turrentine and Houston Person, another underrated player who deserves a listen.

And yes, we get to do the "Duke Jordan Quartet" gag all the time....

[hot ford coupe]

I really dig Bird, Rollins, Illinois Jacquet, Getz, Lester Young, Zoot Sims, Paul Desmond, Cannonball, Fraser MacPherson and Scott Hamilton. I'm sure there are lots of modern players I'm overlooking, but one only has so much time.

MacPherson recorded three albums with Ed Bickert and I can highly recommend those. Actually, Desmond recorded a couple with Bickert too...so those would also be a good choice if you're a jazz guitar fan.

That's basically my list right there but I add Cannonball Adderly. One of my favorite albums is the one Cannonball did with Nancy Wilson. Forgot the name.

[oilywrag]

Heck you guys listen to more sax players, than the average sax player does.
Anyway.

Al Cohn
Dexer Gordon( is a must listen)
Stan Getz
Scott Hamilton
Lester Young
Ben Webster

Tom...

[jazzman22]

I listen to the bird quite a bit. but who I personally think is one of the best living is James carter.man he can really tear it up on the sax.blows my mind every time.hes played with alot of gypsy jazz guys. like the rosenberg trio,dorado schmitt,Bireli lagrene and i think andreas oberg.his szax playing takes alot of influence from Django music.all of you should defanitly check him out hes awsome.also frank wollf is pretty cool along with kaori kobayashi and grace kelly

[KB_Blues]

Johnny Hodges

[Jonathan0996]

Among the contemporary generation of saxophonists, I think Chris Potter is setting the standard. I'm also listening to Eric Alexander quite a bit.

[BrianB]

I just saw Chris Potter for the first time last month playing with Metheny's Unity band. Very impressive.

[wizard3739]

I listen to almost all of the great sax players and have transcribed many of them but Paul Desmond is and always has been my favorite due to his melodic skills, less is more and other melodic concepts.

wiz

[princeplanet]

Seeing a lot of love out there for the old masters, as well as some of the new Titans.

Here's an interesting thing to consider - If you asked on a Sax forum which guitar players the sax guys like to listen to, what do you think the responses might be? I think I did ask once, maybe I'll try to find a link to the thread if anyone's interested...

[princeplanet]

I listen to almost all of the great sax players and have transcribed many of them but Paul Desmond is and always has been my favorite due to his melodic skills, less is more and other melodic concepts.

wiz

Yeah, I can see how Desmond's lines are a good source for the guitar player's bag. In a different way, I also think Stitt, Mobley and Dexter have clear, logical yet swinging lines that can teach us a lot, IMO. Then there are more idiosyncratic cats like Shorter, Henderson, Rollins, Cannonball and even Bird that are harder to play on guitar, but just a sheer thrill to listen to. Again, just my opinion, any other thoughts on this?