R & B, Blues, Soul Recommended Blues Listening

Digger2054 · 2026-10-12T21:54:48+0100

My teacher has suggested trying to improvise over a blues progression.

For various reasons I've barely touched my saxes since, I'm after some listening recommendations to give me a little bit of inspiration.

So what should I be listening to?

rhysonsax · 2026-10-12T22:32:22+0100

Johnny Hodges (alto). For instance the two small group albums “Back to Back” and “Side by Side”.

Rhys

Pete Thomas · 2026-10-12T23:17:51+0100

Great R & B and Rock Sax Players Taming The Saxophone

Mini Biographies of the 50 most significant players in the history of R & B saxophone, including pictures and soundfiles.

tamingthesaxophone.com

skeller047 · 2026-10-12T23:57:59+0100

Hank Crawford, The Peeper. Hank Crawford was one of David Sanborn’s main influences, and he was band leader for Ray Charles for many years.

View: https://youtu.be/_JB6rvTIkBs

John Coltrane, Bessie’s Blues. Trane loved the blues, and was a master of the form.

View: https://youtu.be/16AqebffhWM

A more recent recording of an even older tune, Dizzy’s Blue ‘N’ Boogie, performed by Emmet Cohen, Wycliffe Gordon, Adrian Cunningham, Russell Hall and Kyle Poole. Communication off the charts….