TENOR ?
I have the impression that all good jazz players go for large openings... More than 7 i mean....
Many do. Probably the big majority of good jazz tenor players.
but I dont think it is impossible to have a good sound on a so called close lay.
here are 4 guys i can think of, who are current, and all have great sounds ( imho) on close lays.
Rick Maritza : link 6,
Walt weiskopf; : Link 5*,
Benn Clatworthy : 1950s Hollywood Dukoff 5
Larry McKenna Link 6
What I like about their sounds is that they are all very centred, with a real solid “core’ to the sound. There is a weight to their sounds, with a real strong feel of projection.
I often hear folks on wide mouthpieces, and they dont have a core to their sound.
Usually non pros.
Lots of air and a spread, which can be appealing, but which I find doesnt have much core, or subsequent projection.
However, when done correctly, I do like the spread of wider mouthpieces and my current 3 favourite tenor sounds are Bob reynolds, Melissa Aldana and Max Ionata, who are all on wider than 7. They still have that centered core.
Its a funny old world, this world of sax tone.
Ps, as a keen non pro, I still wimp around on my Otto link 6, hoping to sound like anyone from my list of 4 above.