Great Players Straight Ahead and Smooth Jazz Players?

Nick Wyver · Nov 1, 2015

Michael Brecker did a pretty wide variety of styles.

Snake Davis makes a point of being able to do different styles.

BUMNOTE · Nov 1, 2015

Grover Washington.Bumnote.

SaxDon · Nov 1, 2015

Off the top of me head:

Kenny garret on Alto, also Gerald Albright (Live at Birdland for straight ahead... kinda!), Eric Marienthal, Dan Higgins

Bob Berg on tenor, Bill Evans (very good)..... probably more that I can't thing of

Alice · Nov 1, 2015

TheOkayPlayer said:
I'm looking for some alto or tenor players that play both straight-ahead jazz but can also play smooth jazz also. By smooth jazz I mean like hip-hop, R&B, funk. That means their tone can be adjusted slightly for each style - something I want to be able to do well.

Thanks!

I have found something that I think fits into the category of hip-hop or funk but not "smooth jazz".

For "Smooth Jazz" this player perhaps

View: https://youtu.be/e5uZc5pZwOs

For Hip-Hop/funk

View: https://youtu.be/VPzIdalil1U
maybe?

I like this Beatbox sax player best.

Beatbox Sax

Oh and this guy.

James Carter - Full Concert - 08/16/96 - Newport Jazz Festival (OFFICIAL)

TheOkayPlayer · Nov 6, 2015

Thanks guys!
I listen to a lot of Kenny Garrett. I'll take a listen to the cats you guys mentioned.

Jules · Nov 6, 2015

Branford Marsalis with either Sting or Public Enemy...

Koista · Jul 14, 2016

Check out Euge Groove....awesome smooth Jazz!

Koista · Jul 14, 2016

Listen to smooth Jazz 24/7 radio station on the internet....

brianr · Jul 14, 2016

SaxDon said:
Off the top of me head:

Kenny garret on Alto, also Gerald Albright (Live at Birdland for straight ahead... kinda!), Eric Marienthal, Dan Higgins

Bob Berg on tenor, Bill Evans (very good)..... probably more that I can't thing of

Im not sure i would think of kenny garret as being anything to do with "smooth jazz". great as he is.

are you perhaps thinking of Kenny G, who is a different player all together, and is probably the first name that comes to mind in that style.

Jazzaferri · Jul 14, 2016

I second the Euge Groove recommendation.

Theblusteryday · Jul 17, 2016

+1 on Branford and Jenny Garrett!

Theblusteryday · Jul 17, 2016

Also, Bob Mintzer. Check out all his solo stuff and his funk stuff, and stuff with the Yellow Jackets

SaxDon · Aug 6, 2016

brianr said:
Im not sure i would think of kenny garret as being anything to do with "smooth jazz". great as he is.

are you perhaps thinking of Kenny G, who is a different player all together, and is probably the first name that comes to mind in that style.

Confused between Kenny Garret and Kenny G?! :rofl:

Kenny Garret has definitely done some 'smooth' type jazz beyond his 'traditional' work. Check out the album 'Happy People' and other album songs such as 'Simply Said'. In fact the Jazz Police have given him a couple of roadside cautions for these! 🙂

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQnlTyXFWS0

Jules · Aug 6, 2016

Theblusteryday said:
+1 on Branford and Jenny Garrett!

Jenny Garrett? His sister maybe! 🙂

SaxDon · Aug 6, 2016

BTW don't forget the original question asked for players who play both straight and smooth etc.. I like Euge Groove (met him once) but he certainly does not play straight ahead. He was classically trained before moving into mainstream (with the likes of Tower of Power, etc)