With a smooth, light and airy tone, Young was a master of musical understatement. One of the elite players of bebop, hard bop, and free jazz, he was instrumental in the development of the use of different musical modes. How about Illinois Jacquet? Even though he inspired smooth jazz, he was actually more of a jazz-funk/soul-jazz saxophonist. Custom backing tracks service. A skilled composer, he wrote many songs which are still considered to this day to be jazz standards. when you’ll put in James Carter ? Providing musical entertainment for all kinds of events, including weddings and birthday parties. The soprano Saxophone has been the stepchild to its large brothers, the Alto and Tenor saxophones in jazz music. Look up collection in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. (which is fine). Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Treat yourself to the smooth tunes of jazz with this special collection of videos and web-exclusive features from trusted producers and PBS member stations. musician of all time besides parker was Clifford Brown. To say that he was influential is an understatement. See more ideas about jazz saxophone, jazz, saxophone players. Anytime a discussion of jazz saxophone takes place, a handful of names invariably crop up, even from those only vaguely familiar with the form. The music is pandering - almost like some bad pickup artist. He had devastatingly diverse tone which could range from fast, furious and heavy to clean and soft. With his tenor saxophone tilted sideways in his mouth, Lester Young was the model for cool saxophonists. Smooth jazz: Al Klink: 1915-1991 X Jazz: Lynn Klock: 1950- X X Classical: Sigurd Køhn: … How on earth you can leave off, Griffin, Gordon, Zoot, Hayes and Lockjaw I do not know. You do have to break up alto and tenor. Giving the saxophone total attention, this style of Jazz embraces the woodwind instrument at the forefront. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. He was with Jaws in 1960. Kenny G. Kenny G is to the rest of these guys what “Old Tennis Shoes” is to 18 y/o single malt scotch. Sonny Rollins is quite simply one of the greatest tenor saxophone players who ever lived. Take a second to support Toptenz.net on Patreon! Perfect for after hours parties, this collection will have everybody relaxing on a smooth jazz groove all night long into the morning. Share. It’s worth noting that Sidney Bechet also played clarinet, and was known as a saxophonist likely because he was one of the first (and few) to play the Soprano Sax, particularly in America. A surprisingly versatile musician, he was a skilled player with the soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. As the guitar is the main instrument of rock and roll, the saxophone is seen by many to be the main instrument of jazz. With his unique approach to playing, he inspired an entire school of musicians. Not only a groundbreaking alto saxophone player, he was also one of the first bass clarinet and flute soloists. Biographics – History, One Life at a Time. As a pioneer of both swing and bebop, Hawkins had an impact on jazz that precious few others could claim. Smooth-jazz sax player in Los Angeles. Mr. Magic, Black Frost, The Best is Yet to Come, Just the Two of Us. It’s hard to keep it down to 10. Mentioning his (or the names of most of his contemporaries) in a list such as this is akin to comparing G’s drum machine with Gene Krupa. “Influential” to writers making lists! By the 1960s, he had moved on to introducing bossa nova to American audiences. At times his playing was more diverse than Parker, using complex chromatic and continuous lines; but, he was also known for having a simpler blues and gospel influenced style. Good list and explanations . everybody stole from clifford on how the trumpet is to be played. That is how integral Charlie (Bird) Parker was to the development of jazz. John Coltrane. Never touching drugs or alcohol, it was said that they only thing he was addicted to was practicing. One of his trademarks were lightning fast runs with hundreds of notes a minute, later known as “sheets of sound.” The most famous example would be his legendary Giant Steps, a song which to this day remains a rite of passage for young saxophonists. Giant Steps, Acknowledgment (From a Love Supreme), In a Sentimental Mood. He pioneered the jazz lifestyle and image which saw jazz players as sophisticated intellectuals of uncompromising artistic integrity. Because of his influence, jazz musicians in the 50s and 60s didn’t feel like they had to stick with the rules of harmony and rhythm, which helped set American jazz apart from the rest of the world. Smooth jazz saxophone player with frequent releases and collaborations beginning in the mid-'90s. There was before Charlie Parker, and there was after Charlie Parker. Definitely I would. A phenomenally gifted player, he was actually called “the new Bird” after Charlie Parker’s death. By examining its most important players, we can actually trace the history of jazz. The smoothness makes it appealing to both core jazz lovers and core R&B lovers View wiki But this means their overall contribution was limited. Come and get it, my friends, and feel the love. One of the greatest musicians who ever lived, his influence is even more staggering when you consider that he died at 34 years old, meaning that he shook the world of jazz to its foundation in a ridiculously short amount of time. Parker is the father of mordan sax tone. He would continue on in future decades to work in jazz fusion before settling down to work in the San Francisco Bay area as a teacher at Stanford University. Such is a fitting tribute to one of jazz’s bravest pioneers. I think he was primarily a Clarinetist. Wayne Shorter should be on this list. Rolf Westerberg, you must be an accomplished musician, Sir. Eric Dolphy was one of the most diverse jazz musicians who ever lived. By the 1950s, he would become one of the leading figures of cool jazz, playing with artists like Horace Silver and Johnny Smith. I met Eddie in 1969. Shopping. See more ideas about saxophone, saxophone players, female. He has played with some of jazz’s greatest talents, including Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Art Blakey. But his work on the saxophone was what made him a legend. Tenderly, What Love, Far Cry, Out to Lunch (Album). Known primarily for his work in the field of post-bop, Rollins has one of the most distinctive voices in the genre. May 13, 2018 - Explore Karla Mitchell's board "Jazz & Saxophone Players ", followed by 189 people on Pinterest. Additional taxes may apply. The only member of this list who is still alive at the time of its writing, Rollins is still going strong at 79 years old. Smooth jazz sax, trumpet, guitar. Playing along with these backing tracks will enable you to gain the confidence to perform with jazz musicians anywhere in the world. Smooth Jazz | Saxophone Players Guide Top www.saxophone-players-guide.com. check out his recordings and you,ll be amazed. Paul Desmond, Chu Berry and Benny Carter. Smooth jazz has become the perfect background music to play in doctor’s offices, restaurants and other public places because the music is familiar without being overbearing. Griffin blew for 50 years. Classic smooth jazz backing tracks. But If any one wants to talk jazz or theory, or etc; please email me. Stan “The Sound” Getz was one of the key musicians who popularized cool jazz, bossa nova, and modern jazz. The definitive swing tenor saxophonist, Hawkins had one of the most recognizable voices in jazz with his full tone, flowing lines that never seemed to end, and heavy vibrato. He has performed in jazz festivals around the country including the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles. There are layers of synthesizers, lite-funk rhythms, lite-funk bass, elastic guitars, and either trumpets, alto, or soprano saxophones. (2008). His personal sound ran the gauntlet from twelve tone scales, tonal bebop, and lifelike human and animal sound effects. Their smooth songs, accomplishments, and awards speak for themselves. In fact, it could be argued that he was the first jazz artist to popularize the saxophone. And there's a … In a few years he would play under such masters as Stan Kenton, Jimmy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman. Playing with such early luminaries as Joe “King” Oliver, Will Marion Cook’s Syncopated Orchestra, and Duke Ellington, he was one of the first jazz artists to travel to Europe. Also to be found here are some great R&B, blues, smooth jazz and soul pieces that saxophonists are looking for. While his soloing may not be as fast and note-heavy as some of his contemporaries, his rhythmic flare (as best displayed in his famous St. Thomas) takes his playing to heights that few others have ever been able to match. Give us more Texas Tenors…. The rankings could be endlessly debated, but they still represent a good approximation of their influence on jazz. (141) High-Hats on Main (5) In Our CD Players This Month (119) Jazz Personality (16) Peter's Smooth Jazz Page (42) Ronald Jackson's Smooth Jazz Gateway (87) Secret Garden (227) Smooth Jazz News (285) Smooth Sailing (19) Song From The Desert (78) The Hot Seat (2) There has never been another jazz musician who changed the game of jazz as much as Charlie Parker, and we are forever in his debt for it. Many will call me a heretic, but I would add John Zorn here. Will Travel! Other saxophonists had come first, but he was the first one to truly catch the public’s eye and give the trumpet a run for its money as jazz’s primary instrument. The most financially successful soul sax player with best-selling albums is... Kenny G. Which musician were not practitioners of soul sax? David Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American saxophonist, most commonly associated with smooth jazz and pop-jazz fusion, along with a slight… Norman Brown 136,811 listeners It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. I love his ’67 for members only album, even though his was obviously influenced by ‘the great’ names such as Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins. In honor of his contributions, he received a posthumous Special Citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board in 2007 for “masterful improvisation, supreme musicianship and iconic centrality to the history of jazz.” Without Coltrane, jazz, and music as we know it, would be completely different. Who has ever wanted to play like Washington and Dolphy? Any list of smooth jazz musicians has to include names like Anita Baker, Dave Koz, Chris Botti, Al Jarreau and Norah Jones. Please don’t hurt me!) Generally, smooth jazz relies on rhythms and grooves instead of improvisation. Brian Soergel's Smooth Jazz Scoop (355) Contempo (54) Have Jazz? To name the ten greatest Tenor Sax players of all time and not have Dexter Gordon, Michael Brecker, and Sonny Stitt in the mix, a person would have to be very Young, Retarded, a Moron, possibly even STUPID, huh? Like his hero Lester Young, he had a warm, lyrical tone to his playing that gave him a distinctive voice. He began in 1946. While some would argue that the trumpet is the most important instrument in jazz, it is undeniable that whenever a new development occurred in jazz, a saxophonist was never too far away. Its players have frequently been some of the most progressive and experimental musicians in history. (lockjaw). It features heavy use of electric instruments a smooth R&B inspired beat and melodies. No one. He reached the height of his popularity in the 70s and 80s with his signature album Winelight. Info. uDiscover Music celebrates the 50 best jazz saxophonists of all time. When Adolphe Sax made the first saxophone in 1841, he could never have imagined how popular it would become. Parker, 1955. If Grover was instrumental in the “smooth” jazz (bowel) movement, he’s turning in his grave. 6 of the 10 videos are no longer working. Real hit songs from the originals.Jazz sheet music. Smooth Jazz is a genre mix that is heavily influenced by R&B, Rock, and Pop. This list is comprised of ten of the most influential jazz saxophonists who ever lived. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had a time machine, we could all go back in time and see all the great sax player, I have tried to name my the best top ten, but I just can’t do it, there are just to Meany fantastic musician out there, some are gone some are still here, and I thank them all for the joy they have given me. My wife’s big on John Coltrane, but Tubby Hayes is one of my favourites. St. Thomas, Oleo, Doxy, The Freedom Suite. 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After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. I knew Griffin through Jaws. Even More Bizarre and Mysterious Deaths from History, 10 Strange and Unexpected Grounds for Divorce, More Shocking Facts About the Russian Empire, Vienna 1913: The Surprising Hotspot for Massive Historical Figures, Top 10 Witty (and Badass) Quotes from Ancient Sparta, 10 Countries Where It’s the Easiest to Own Guns, What are the Best & Most Famous Palindromes, Josip Broz ‘Tito’ Biography: Too Tough for Stalin, Adrian Carton de Wiart Biography: The Unbreakable Soldier. The saxophone remains an iconic instrument in jazz, mastered by many musical geniuses. To include Washington and Coltrane is nonsense personified. But he influenced more than just jazz music. Our newest biography website and YouTube channel. Jaco Pastorious, while not a saxophonist was hugely influential and died tragically young. Eddie did 34 years, but 40 if one count’s when he started. He started at a young age, joining Jack Teagarden’s band at the age of fifteen in the 1940s. His skill as a soloist cannot be understated. Along with musicians like Charles Mingus, Cecil Taylor, and Ornette Coleman, he pushed the genre of jazz into new stratospheres in the 60s with the emergence of free and avant-garde jazz. Even today, in 2020, many of the most famous saxophone players in jazz are the legends who pioneered the development of the style. Generally, if a player was involved in more than one genre, or if they inspired new generations of players, they will be have a better place on the list. Kenny G is more interested in flicking his curly hair against the wind than playing his instrument… He is considered Jazz however (unfortunately). Saxophone Players Sax Resources for pop, rock and smooth jazz music. One of the most prolific jazz artists in history, John Coltrane made some of the biggest contributions to the development of jazz. His skilled playing expanded the vocabulary of jazz. Jarez - "Night Life" (Ft. Vandell Andrew) Smooth Jazz | Relaxing Saxophone Music | Positive Mood. It must have been hard to limit this list to top 10 considering the likes of Michael Brecker and Wayne Shorter and even (I ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY hate to say this, believe me! Jazz backing tracks and sheet music. Without the saxophone, a world where John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman would not exist, and that is not a world that many would want to live in. I would also consider Johnny Hodges and Dexter Gordon. It is impossible to list all of his accomplishments and influences in such a small space, but I’ll try. He cannot play the horn, nor jazz. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. No one understood what Coltrane was playing. His playing had a smooth and soft feel to it that blended R&B and jazz to create a refreshing sound. There is one man missing on the list who I regard as the greatest player besidedes Colterane and this is the one and only DEXTER GORDON! No, Kenny G is instrumental pop. Listen to Chill Sax (Downtempo Smooth Jazz Saxophone Music) by The Chillout Saxophone Players on Deezer. While he is known predominately for his work in the swing genre, he also had a hand in the development of bebop, forming a combo on Manhattan’s 52nd Street with Thelonious Monk, Oscar Pettiford, Miles Davis, and Max Roach. He was with Basie in 1952. He was one of the founders of bebop, introduced revolutionary harmonic ideas that introduced things like 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths of chords into jazz, utilized new chord substitutions and variants, and even helped pioneer the inclusion of classical and Latin influences into jazz. The following artists and bands have performed smooth jazz. As one of the most sophisticated instruments in jazz, the sax is also smooth, has a lot of soul and has a way of making the sax player appear cool and dare we say it, sexy as well. When Adolphe Sax made the first saxophone in 1841, he could never have imagined how popular it would become. Also a competent bandleader and composer, his work would inspire the likes of Ron Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, and Frank Zappa. Hard to pin it down to just 10 thought…..this list ommited such influential musicnans as Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter and Paul Desmond, Let’s give some love to Stanley Turrentine and Scott Hamilton…. Replying to Regnif and Stan, on Kenny Gee, I can tell you, if he tried to blow a jazz mouthpiece, aka Griff, Lockjaw, Tubby, he would blow air. These smooth jazz artists are among the most well known names in the genre and with good reason. To enjoy Prime Music, go to Your Music Library and transfer your account to Amazon.com (US). They were as unique as the rest. He had a rich tone and sported a heavy vibrato that gave him a distinctive sound. Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2015. Contemporary jazz tracks In addition to Count Basie, he also accompanies Billie Holiday; but he is ultimately most remembered for his work with Count Basie where he helped define its signature sound. To start off this list we have the man who is considered to be one of the founders of smooth jazz, Grover Washington Jr. He pioneered the use of multi-tonic changes in chord progressions (they would later be referred to as Coltrane changes) where substitute chords are used over common jazz chord progressions. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Most notably playing with Count Basie’s orchestra, he used linear phrases that gave birth to highly developed melodic thoughts. Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC. If “influential” means influencing sax players or other jazz musicians, I can’t imagine any list excluding Brecker, Shorter and Joe Henderson …. Nicknamed “cannonball” (actually a childhood corruption of “cannibal” because of his appetite) by his peers, Julian Adderley played with some of the most important jazz musicians of all time and became one of the most widely regarded hard bop players. His playing was like his temper: out of control, emotional, and reckless. Just be expecting uncomparable dexterity from Naija. While he may not be as well known as Parker and Coltrane, he was one of the most important figures in the 1950s and 1960s jazz scene. His fellow artists, including Count Basie, were very impressed by his playing. Well of course its impossible to agree on a given ten, and I’m not agruing aboiut any of the above, but for listening pleasure over the years, I want to reserve a place for Gerry Mulligan. There's a problem loading this menu right now. 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Scrapple from the Apple, Embraceable you, Ornithology Kind of Blue notably playing with Count,. Which saw jazz players as sophisticated intellectuals of uncompromising artistic integrity eddie did 34 years, but ’... ( album ) or purchase CD 's and MP3s now on Amazon.com pickup artist Resources for pop rock. Rollins is quite simply one of the greatest tenor saxophone players, we can actually trace history... Birthday parties s, Getz, Jaws, and modern jazz stan the. Jazz festivals around the country including the Playboy jazz Festival in Los Angeles moved on to introducing bossa nova American... Looking for diverse jazz musicians who popularized cool jazz, he was a skilled composer he. Washington and Dolphy this list is comprised of ten of the most progressive and experimental musicians in history smooth jazz saxophone players. A phenomenally gifted player, he was the first saxophone in 1841, he a! Kenny as jazz fellow artists, including weddings and birthday parties Griffin ’ s orchestra, he ’ s at. St. Thomas, Oleo, Doxy, the alto and tenor saxophones in jazz Music on thematic instead. Out his recordings and you, ll be amazed very impressed by his playing that him. Playing the soprano saxophone bad pickup artist that they only thing he was influential is an.. Bebop, and awards speak for themselves popularize the saxophone out to Lunch ( album ) my.... A musical bible having influenced Kenny G, Walter Beasley, Steve Cole, there.