I will just say my top three (all in the top 6 here), definitely in this order: 1) Sonny Rollins He records and performs with his wife, Judi Silvano. John Carter? Your expertise and credibility are nil. 2) STRAIGHT LIFE-Art Pepper. One man’s Kenny G is another woman’s, John Coltrane. Unique among the best jazz saxophonists to come up in the late 40s and early 50s, Konitz was one of the few altoists who wasn’t infected by Charlie Parker’s bebop sound. Mr. Redman is the son of legendary saxophonist Dewey Redman, exposed at a … His sound is powerful yet elegant. James Carter (born January 3, 1969) is an American jazz musician. I would urge everybody to check out one who didn’t get in – the little-known Tina Brooks on Blue Note.

Nature of the beast. Though diminutive in terms of his physical stature, the Chicago-born Griffin’s prowess on the tenor saxophone earned him the nickname Little Giant. The greatest 8, were, and I should know, for look at my email which is not a joke, it is because I play like Jaws, Jaws, Ben, Griffin, Dexter, Zoot, Jacquet, Rabbit, Cannonball, Joe Lovano Check my reply to Charles about the top 8. Maybe next time expand the list to a hundred. Frank Lowe?

I just love listening to Mobley anytime–he does every kind of piece well, especially in his peak years. Peter Brötzmann? Anthony Braxton? What a complete farce. Arriving in the world as William Huddleston, Lateef pioneered the incorporation of musical elements from other cultures into his music.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Though he could swing with aplomb, Gordon’s forte was ballads, which allowed his rich, emotive tone to convey a poignant lyricism. Charlie Ventura? I’ve always loved him and listened to him a lot, though that’s partly because of Davis and Monk records he is on that have a strong share of his best work. If you are in the area, check out the BELMONT BESTIVAL every September. Its unique, velvety sound has made it the star of the show in jazz, big bands, and solo performances for ages now. Desmond is to the saxophone as what Guaraldi is to the piano, nice within a very specific context/aesthetic- once you get out of that aesthetic everything else is meh. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He’s worked with both Jack McDuff and Lonnie Smith before working with the Woody Herman orchestra for three years. Read my comment up above Bill! He was a fearless improviser with an imposing but mobile sound. For saxophonists, I don’t usually compare alto players with tenors, baritone, soprano, though I guess one can. Just to think about some of the music mentioned puts me in too good a mood to carp, and certainly makes all the effing and blinding of some of the comments irrelevant. And that’s to say the curators, at some primal level, have equally been influenced, if not a stake in that influence. Maceo Parker

A supremely versatile musician, Getz could play bop, bossa nova (which he helped to take into the US mainstream, not least on the album Getz/Gilberto) and fusion, and also guested on pop records. Originally from Ohio, Henderson first made his mark as an exponent of hard bop at Blue Note in the early 60s, and also recorded with Horace Silver (it’s Henderson’s solo you can hear on Silver’s ‘Song For My Father’). We all have our favourites, but I find it sad with the vitriolic comments. He played in many big bands (including those of Artie Shaw, Stan Kenton and Buddy Rich) and was always conducive to working on collaborative projects with other saxophonists. In terms of virtuosity? His smooth, soulful alto saxophone sound, with its wide, emotive vibrato – which Ellington once claimed “was so beautiful that it brought tears to the eyes” – was featured on a raft of the Duke’s recordings, including ‘A Prelude To A Kiss’.
Glad to see Yusef Lateef and Pharoah Sanders on here too. His fat, earthy tone and fluid, blues-infused style had a huge impact on a young John Coltrane, who cut his teeth in Bostic’s band in the early 50s. His legacy remains one of the most important among the world’s best jazz saxophonists. Charlie Parker.

Stuart Colin Matthewman also known as Cottonbelly, is a Grammy-winning songwriter,... Tim Berne (born October 16, 1954) is an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist and record label... Ravi Coltrane (born August 6, 1965) is an American jazz saxophonist. It’s news to me that the saxophone is a brass instrument. Towards the end of his life, he made records with more a straight-ahead jazz feel. I’d love to interview his family. With his breathy, intimate tone, New Jersey native Quebec is mainly remembered as a seductive ballad player whose career started in the 40s.