The "best" sax-player(s)

[tsmba]

I am very fortunate to live near the "We Always Swing Jazz Series". The upcoming season's schedule just came out and, like always, I choose two events to go to. This time I picked Mark O'Conner (who I have seen) and Branford Marsalis (who I have not seen. This got me thinking about my favorite sax players. To me, few instruments express jazz quite like the sax. Besides that, I played the sax myself.

So....if I had to pick one, it would be Johnny Hodges. Other favorites:

Lester Young
Coleman Hawkins
Ben Webster

Who are your favs?

 

[Bayamontate]

Tenor: John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson. and Tina Brooks (off the radar, but an amazing player.)

Alto: Cannonball, Eric Dolphy

 

[Noebie]

+1 for coltrane

i also have a soft spot for benny carter

 

[Tom C]

I've got a real soft spot for Phil Woods and Zoot Simms, in addition to the masters that have been previously mentioned.

And the glaring omission, Charlie Parker.

 

[ItsMikeE]

Stan Getz

 

[Mysterion]

Tenor: John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson. and Tina Brooks (off the radar, but an amazing player.)

Alto: Cannonball, Eric Dolphy

Excellent choices; Tenor Madness is a particular favorite recording.

Might I add Clifford Jordan? Gerry Mulligan?

 

[ClubmanRob]

Sam Butera.

 

[JohnnyGringo]

John Coltrane
Gerry Mulligan
Coleman Hawkins
Charlie Parker

 

[Johnny Dale]

Always enjoy Coltrane for my traditional jazz saxaphone listening. As far as more contemporary artists I like Boney James, David Sanborn, & Richard Elliot.

Has any one heard Warren Hill's cover of Hey Jude? Incredibly good. Gives you goosebumps.

SWMBO is more of a fan of Dave Koz & Candy Dulfer,

 

[Noebie]

Sam Butera.

yes - rest in peace - loved his raucous work with louis prima

 

[BrianL]

Paul Desmond.

 

[Craig the barber]

+2 for Coltrane! I love Grover Washington Jr.'s music (passed too young...)

 

[Bayamontate]

Honorable Mention: Jackie McLean, Dexter Gordon, David "Fathead" Newman and Roland Kirk.

 

[Ken]

Some good choices. Let's not forget Sidney Bechet, Ornette Coleman, and Harry Carney.

Ken

 

[Tom C]

Let's also not forget the master (IMO) of contemporary tenor, Michael Brecker.

 

[Edcculus]

The best sax player I've ever seen live is Jeff Coffin. He played a set at a small bar in Greenville, SC with Jeff Sipe. Wow, it blew my mind.

 

[tsmba]

Ike Quebec
Joshua Redmon
Ravi Coltrane
Lou Donaldson

 

[Bayamontate]

Let's also not forget the master (IMO) of contemporary tenor, Michael Brecker.

Agreed. I had the pleasure of catching a Herbie Hancock performance with Michael on tenor. He and Roy Hargrove sounded great together.

Caught the Brecker Brothers a few times as well. Michael stole the show IMO.

 

[SmoovD]

Just going to add joe Lovano is this growing list of favorite saxophone players. Anyone wish to add Albert Ayler?

 

[murchmb]

Jay Beckenstein of Spyro Gyra.