Traditional Blues Players

Veggie Dave · Apr 5, 2015

I've just had two weeks of thinking I'd lost any and all control I'd managed to gain in my short foray into saxophone playing while trying my hand at a little blues improvisation, only to discover the problem was in fact that I'm a tight-fisted northerner who should've change his reed weeks ago. 😉

Anyway, I've been really enjoying exploring this style, especially with a new reed, and now I want to explore what other people who can actually play it properly have done. What I'm looking for are recommendations for players/albums of traditional blues played on the sax. Horn versions of Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder and even Gary Moore.

Up to now all I can find is very jazz-heavy blues whereas what I want is proper 'I woke up this morning and my wife left me for my best friend, my dog died, I'm broke and out of corn flakes but I'm not alone as I can hear the train whistle fading away while Satan waits to claim my soul as I draw my last breath' blues. 😀

I assume people have recorded this style of trad. blues on sax at some point in the past, so can anyone point me in the right direction, please?

Nick Wyver · Apr 6, 2015

Try here.

Colin the Bear · Apr 6, 2015

I think that just about covers it.

thomsax · Apr 6, 2015

If you are looking for a more pure blues sax style try thes three Chiago guys: They have a different way to blow thier horns. And it's very far from jazz!! Some samples below.

J.T. Brown: ( John Thomas Brown, 1918-1969). You can hearr him on recordings with Elmore James but he also recorded with Fleetwood Mac in the late 60's. Did some recordings on his own as well. A singer as well. he played a Martin Comm II.

"Use That Spot":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL6zoERKbTQ
"Everyday I have The Blues" w Fleetwood Mac:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gitukFXnFgI

A.C. Reed (Aaron Corthen Reed, 1926-2004). He played with Earl Hooker, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Riatt, Son Seals, Albert Collins ...: . Recorded under his own name on the Alligator label. A Selmer man.

"She's Fine" w Bonnie Riatt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ed0jlghKRw
"Roadhouse Blues" a song by The Doors (Densome. Krieger, Manzarek, Morrison):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mulOtX3wnKc

Eddie Shaw. He was playing with Muddy Waters but later joined Howling Wolf. Still touring around with his sax and The Wolf Gang with his son Vaan on guitar as one of the members. Was on a King S20 but he is blowing horns like Bundy and Bundy II nowadays.
Operator:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCdJgzQNjAk
"Greedy Man"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_Fi2zI4oHM

Some other saxblues players:

Raymond Hill (1933-1996). Memphis saxophonist and maybe best known for his sax solo on Jackie Brenston "Rocket 88". One of the first Rock & Roll songs! Also played with Howlin Wolf and Little Junior Parker. Did some reordings on his own. A very good player that left the music business before he passed away.

"Going Down":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPqO1EonEiY
"The Snuggle":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kO1T4flIs8&list=PLW63Qxl6vL5pg11XiqpBwTFcR-RqMieqR

Noble "Thin Man" Watts (1926-2004). One of the best story tellers without saying a word! He spoke through his sax.. Conn 10M and later Conn Shooting Stars.

"Honky Tonk" a late version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9u2ackO8Xk
"Hard Times or The Slop":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQg1xGMu8hY

ProfJames · Apr 6, 2015

Thanks @thomsax

altissimo · Apr 6, 2015

you won't find an exact equivalent of Robert Johnson on the sax - saxophone blues playing has a different lineage and history to rural blues singers like Robert Johnson or Bukka White and is an essentially urban music - the heyday of blues sax was probably the 1950's rhythm and blues era which lead into rock'n'roll and 60's soul blues sax players like King Curtis and Junior Walker.
The saxophone seems to have a more supporting role in Chicago blues with sax players playing on records by Howlin' Wolf https://youtu.be/iDNK34nZWPk and Elmore James https://youtu.be/VxJSZIO29ws
Here's some links -

Lynn Hope - The Scrunch https://youtu.be/KrKS1p3DO6w
Earl Bostic - Night Train https://youtu.be/gnVTSc5s3RI
Bill Doggett - Honky Tonk https://youtu.be/XWPvT1uouhA
Big Jay McNeelly and Detroit Gary Giddins https://youtu.be/tmiZEZJoxGQ
Red Prysock - Purple Wail https://youtu.be/CwtiDaeHl2M
The Viscounts - Harlem Nocturne https://youtu.be/qfWbRWTfKF
King Curtis & The Kingpins - https://youtu.be/6KIluJ5vBNk
Junior Walker - Shoot your Shot - https://youtu.be/CV27DtGUhnc

Veggie Dave · Apr 6, 2015

This place is better than Google, although with less porn. 😉

There's so much new music to listen to - it's almost a full-time job! 😀

altissimo · Apr 6, 2015

Veggie Dave said:
This place is better than Google, although with less porn. 😉

there are some blues songs on Youtube I wouldn't be allowed to post on here 😱

Targa · Apr 6, 2015

altissimo said:
there are some blues songs on Youtube I wouldn't be allowed to post on here 😱

A few times I've been playing a new blues tune and reading the lyrics as I went and had to stop playing as I cracked up.
As you say can't mention them, the mods seem to be 'censoring' references now that they didn't a couple of years ago.

Veggie Dave · Apr 7, 2015

I'm obviously listening to the Mary Whitehouse approved selection...

Colin the Bear · Apr 7, 2015

Who was that female singer who sang "If I can't sell it I'm gonna sit on it"?

altissimo · Apr 7, 2015

Colin the Bear said:
Who was that female singer who sang "If I can't sell it I'm gonna sit on it"?

Ruth Brown

Jules · Apr 7, 2015

Does Stanley Turrentine count as a blues sax player?

altissimo · Apr 7, 2015

some more vintage honkin' -
Plas Johnson - https://youtu.be/7Io-0TDKep0
Cozy Eggleston - https://youtu.be/ZQNCx_Raqp8
Freddie Mitchell - https://youtu.be/jOWcW8So1fk
Buddy Lucas and the Gone All Stars - https://youtu.be/EE9Zh8m_5-Y
Jesse Powell - https://youtu.be/vwgggsnCWbw
Wild Bill Moore - https://youtu.be/vnRMrlkL0Fk
Warren Lucky - https://youtu.be/tRB-1DF1Uc0
Joe Houston - https://youtu.be/ND_MXJZoL28

ProfJames · Apr 7, 2015

Do you know what horns they played?

thomsax · Apr 7, 2015

Veggie Dave said:
what I want is proper 'I woke up this morning and my wife left me for my best friend, my dog died, I'm broke and out of corn flakes but I'm not alone as I can hear the train whistle fading away while Satan waits to claim my soul as I draw my last breath' blues. 😀

I assume people have recorded this style of trad. blues on sax at some point in the past, so can anyone point me in the right direction, please?

You can hear the sax in "jazz-,rock-, funky-, soul-blues" but to hear saxblues like the traditional blues I think J.T Brown, A.C. Reed ,Eddy Shaw are good samples. They sang/sing about everyday things. A.C. Reed: "Junk Food", "Last Time Around", "Give It Up (Smoking)" ... . J.T. Brown (I don't if Brown wrote the lyrics he sang?): "Lonely (As A Man Can Be)", "It's A Shame To Tell The People", "You Stayed Away Too Long" ... . Eddie Shaw: "Home Alone", "Dunkin' Donut Woman", "Blues Dues" ..... . Often the only hornplayer in the band.

I love the R&B honkers from the 50's, King Curtis and Jr Walker ... .

thomsax · Sep 6, 2015

Alice said:
@thomsax is Eddie Shaw the sax player on Howlin' Wolf's track "Back door Wolf"? at 20.34 on this album. If so, I love his style! I'm a big fan of HW.

View: https://youtu.be/Ezd-wpeA7CQ

Yes, it sounds like Eddie Shaw. Great player and still touring around in USA. He is doing a lot for todays bluesmusic. I like the album "Black Magic". Eddie Shaw is often " slightly before the beat". Not always the laid- back styles that rules!