Who should I listen to....

[twoscoops]

Good Morning

I am new to playing the saxophone, so i wanted to have a listen to some famous sax players. I'm not sure of the style of music i like. I know i like fast paced and good to dance to music, so maybe a salsa player might be good for me. But i also like modern pop/indie music i.e Zutons - Abi Harding is fab. I want to find some pieces fo music i can get my teeth into. Its ok playing christmas carols but i would fancy something to work on.

Who would you recommend I have a listen to?

SJ x

 

[Smiffy]

Now that is a can of worms, I'm out of here the stampede will be messy 😱

 

[twoscoops]

Oh, was it a silly question? I just don't know where to start????? I am looking on you tube for famous sax players etc and there seems to be alot out there - maybe thats why its a can of worms. Im interested in everyones point of view and will research the suggestions. Im only 26, so i quite like modern music, but i also like 80s. I want to learn a few madness tunes for my other half.

I will wait and see what the others have to say.

Do you have a favorite player Smiffy?

SJ x

 

[delboy1961]

I cannot read music and speed and rythm are a struggle so I like to find free music to learn on the web and then I find a video on Utube and follow it as best as possible.This also shows me how good pro players really are.I am learning one step beyond at the moment and it is really tricky in terms of breathing etc.

PS agree on the Zutons

 

[phil_edwards]

A good start is the list that Simon from Jazzwise put on his blog at http://tinyurl.com/4sl5yu

Ten Tenor and Ten Alto players, some good ones to start from. See what you like and search a bit deeper into each one.

Who do I like? Art Pepper, Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Lester Young, Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, plus a lot of South African music nowadays - they have some great saxophone parts and I love the rythyms. Here are a couple you might enjoy (I've got loads morebut can't find them on Youtube...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hiQ0uyqySBg
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oh48I7YhIyY

regards, Phil

 

[pete_canter]

Well as a blatant attempt to convert you to jazz - John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Hank Mobley, Dexter Gordon would be a good start... Pete

 

[Smiffy]

Do you have a favorite player Smiffy

Yes ME! as all the rest make me sick with their fancy this is easy playing

Baskets the lot of um 😡

 

[Pjonah]

The Zutons, sounds like a great place to start, listen to Abi play and try if you dare to copy, its good ear training. But don't forget to get some good sound basics sorted out with a teacher if necessary.

The trouble with the top league jazzers are the chord patterns and melodies can be very tricky for a novice. From what I've heard from the Zutons you should be able to get the basic sounds and patterns surprisingly quickly. The last thing you want to do is get disheartened by trying something too difficult.

Also try Amy Winehouse/Beth Rowley/Duffy etc too, start by playing the root note of the chords which you should be able to "hear" then maybe introduce a few arpeggios you'll notice the Bari sax will be playing a similar patterns.

Don't try to overcomplicate things, its not what you play its what you don't....as they say. I once played a great solo without playing a note! seriously though start with music you like and discover the others later you have an entire lifetime to learn the jazz greats and popular saxers.

Finally, blatent plug but a good book worthy of note would be the John O'Neil book/cd or see simon@jazzwise he will be able to recommend something.

That would be my advice, for what its worth.

Simon :laugh:

 

[thomsax]

If you like ROCKSAX (Blues, R&B, Rock 'n' Roll, Soul..) you can visit my site on Live 365. It's free, just log in or become a member.

http://www.live365.com/stations/rocksaxsweden

Rock On!

Thomas

 

[greg_strange]

A good starting point maybe to purchase Pete's DVD and CD and have a watch and a listen of both these discs.
Then maybe Dutch woman, Candy Dulfer and some of the smooth jazz players to check out. Work backwards to the 1980s and 1970s with the likes of David Sanborn, Tom Scott, Mike Brecker, Ernie Watts, some of the UK studio players like Raf Ravenscroft, Mel Collins, Phil Kenzie, Wes McGoogan, etc.
Happy exploring.
Regards,
Greg Strange.

 

[wavygravy]

with a name like twoscoops your already half way there....i`d be listening to yourself playing as much as possible

neil

 

[Pete Thomas]

Here are my top 3 faves:

http://www.petethomas.co.uk/saxophone-players.html

 

[TomMapfumo]

Look up Jan Garbarek, Tommy Smith and Stan Getz, and see what you think. Also the Dave Stapleton Quintet (Ben Waghorn) and Matt Wates Sextet (Matt Wates on Alto and Steve Kaldestadt on Tenor. May help clarify what sort of Sax music you like, at the very least.

Happy Hunting.
Kind regards
Tom 8)

 

[twoscoops]

Hello All, I have listened to almost all of the guys you mentioned. There not many ladies in the list, actually I have just checked and there only appears to be one! Why is that? Is the sax not very popular with the ladies? Or do you all prefer male saxophonist's? Are there any ladies on this forum? Anyway, I will soon change that : - )
These are the ones I have made a few comments on:
Phil Edwards
Simon - Jazzwise - OK I quite liked Hank Mobley ~ I Should Care, Ben Castle ~ Beautiful Tomorrow, Charlie Parker ~ Celerity and Candy Dulfer ~ Lily Was Here.
You Tube Links Very nice, I liked Dollar Brand ~ The Wedding
Pete Canter
John Coltrane - Giant Steps, mmm not sure about Jazz, I do like it but then I don't. I can appreciate the music, Im not sure if I could play jazz as the passion isn't quite there. Maybe I should go and see some live. Also there is some very fast finger work going on, not sure if I could do that!
Charlie Parker, Groovin High, Miles Davies/Hank Mobley ~ Oleo
Thomsax
The radio station is a great find, that has been added to my favourites for listening to at work.
Greg Strange
Candy Dulfer - I have actually heard of the music she plays not realising it was a lady called Candy playing the sax. Very cool - Girl Sax Power!
David Sanborn - I just watched a link that was posted the other week. He combines jazz, r&b and pop - sounded more jazz to me.
Tom Scott - love the 80's glasses! I like the tune say you love me. But in this one, he didn't appear to be playing a sax - what is he playing?
Pete Thomas
TomMapfumo
I have just listened to Matt Wates Sextet & Steve Kaldestadt & Tommy Smith & Jan Garbarek.

Thank you for all your input. I have added a few people to my favourites in you tube, so I will go back and have another listen over the week.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi Twoscoops!

If if it is women sax players you want try www.larasax.com . Lara teaches at the royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and may be of interest.

Kind regards
Tom 8)

 

[twoscoops]

Thank TomMapfumo - it was more of an observation really.

I am just having a look at the site you mentioned - thank you.

SJ x

 

[Jules]

Here's one for you- try Stanley Turrentine- if you liked Hank Mobley he's in a fairly similar vein but a bit more laid back and blues-y.

 

[spike]

Here's an old thread for saxophonic ladies, it's a couple a years old but there's a whole lot've good names and links in there -
http://www.breakfastroom.co.uk/index.cgi?fid=09&topic_id=1158316741&page=1

 

[Mikec]

Karen Sharpe is probably mentioned in that thread. She's terrific.

 

[Saxlicker]

Look for these on you tube, I think you'll enjoy.
Spyro gyra - Morning Dance,
Wilton Felder- Inherit the wind,
Junior Walker (almost anything).