Recommended listening...

[scooch]

Hello All,

Can anyone recommend either artists or tracks? I am looking for some really mellow sax playing, stuff that uses subtone techniques I guess?

The sleezy kind of music you might have heard in a 1930's nightclub!

I don't mind other styles, just not that kind of manic improvised jazz stuff (sorry!!).

Please feel free to recommend away!!

Scooch 😛

 

[gordonc]

For tenor:
Try Stan Getz or Coleman Hawkins - I'm sure Pete has a page devoted to this somewhere on his main site

 

[suethesax]

You could try Jim Tomlinson (Stacey Kent's husband)
He is heavily influenced by Stan Getz
He has a beautiful mellow tone

 

[frank_johnson]

You want mellow: try West Coast.
Art Pepper
Lee Konitz
Warne Marsh
Zoot Sims
If you like trumpet as well;
Chet Baker
_____________
Cool skool!! 8)

 

[therudest]

what bout Ben Webster????? He's so cool)

 

[Jules]

Lester Young & for sleaze, Stanley Turrentine has his moments....

 

[Pete Thomas]

I'll second Ben Webster. Lucky Thompson (try to fins "Where Or When"). There are many but not often you get a whole album od ballads though

 

[Pete Thomas]

Also there is an example of subtone here, which is about to go up on the main site in the subtone section

 

[therudest]

Lester Young...not everything...I'd go for Albums with Billie Holliday ...that's the sound u should really like...

 

[aquatic]

i love this subtone sound.

didnt realise it had a name until i read it here. ive been playing around with it for a little while, i upgraded my mouthpiece too, which helps a great deal, or at least for me it does. i use a berg larson 95 2 sms and love it.

found it by accident, my sax teacher had one knocking around and when i felt the need to upgrade from my selmer C* she loaned me a few to try, including the berg larson. I played it for 5 mins, and loved it, havnt played anything else since.

been playing for 22 months, and spent the last 10 trying to get this sound. to me its how a sax should sound.. and yes i know,, its a personal thing and not everyone will agree.


So, now i know about subtones, and ive been to Petes page and read up on it, and ill carry on looking and listening and practicing i guess.

 

[Bobby G]

Another recommendation for Mr. Mellow, Ben Webster. A couple of albums he's on, one with Oscar Peterson, one with Gerry Mulligan are both very easy to get into.
When he's playing ballads or slower tunes, Dexter Gordon has a lovely mellow tone.

Cheers, Bob

 

[whatever]

Mr. Mellow by E. Rousseau is quite nice as well.

 

[therudest]

LOL! Ben's at the top in this topic))))

Mentioned 3 times allready))))))) >.<

 

[scooch]

Thanks everyone for you ideas, I'm off to itunes for some previews!! 😛

Scooch

 

[jersey_mike]

some of the newer stuff by David 'Fathead' Newman will fit your bill also.

 

[Throckmorten]

Pete Thomas wrote:
I'll second Ben Webster. Lucky Thompson (try to fins "Where Or When"). There are many but not often you get a whole album od ballads though

Another vote for these two. Lucky Thompson with Oscar Pettiford is a good one (originally released as Tricotism).
And Lester Young with Billy Holliday for something of that late-night-gin-at-the-speak-easy feeling.

 

[Bobby G]

Have a dig around on Youtube, a lot of clips 'donated' by Boberwig fit the bill. There's one magical clip featuring Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young (plus Gerry Mulligan on baritone). It's amazing how all three tenors sound so mellow, but all totally different.

Cheers, Bob