Great Players Who sparked your love of Sax music

[Joe from New Orleans]

For me it was Ornette Coleman and Lee Allen

As a New Orleanian (sic), Lee is royalty+

 

[Pete Thomas]

As a New Orleanian (sic), Lee is royalty+

Probably one of the most underrated, unsung saxophone heroes of all time. I've had saxophone lessons from the best, but standing next to Lee on the stage and in recording studios was the ultimate in learning saxophone and performing on saxophone.

 

[SageSmith]

The obvious ones for me - Art Pepper, Cannonball, Coltrane. But the one who really stands out, for my tastes at least, is Dexter Gordon. Funnily enough I got into jazz because of trumpet players initially - loved the sound of Lee Morgan and Donald Byrd in particular - but always fancied playing the sax so picked up a cheap second hand alto before 'upgrading' to a Yamaha YAS-280, which is now my main piece. Having said that, I do feel the need to pick up my Selmer Bundy 1 alto on occasion (mainly because it's challenging to play...and I hate losing).

 

[Joe from New Orleans]

Loved Art Pepper. Only saw him once, in New Orleans in 1977 at Tipatinia's. As I remember, he had just gotten of jail ( not one of his San Quenton stretches) and some NOLA jazz illumenaries led by pianist Frank Pazullo threw together an impromptu gig for him. They passed the hat- it was rather sad. He was a really rough looking mofo but he played beautifully.

 

[NeilJenn]

For me, one of the first sax solos I remember is the alto/tenor trade on In The Mood. I started playing in school and then was lucky enough to play with the Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra for several years. As a 14/15 year old, some of the older guys sounded amazing and I wanted to play just like them. I'm still trying 25 years later!

 

[Grafsax]

Coming with a schoolfriend in their livingroom on a saterday-afternoon, I was 10 at the time, his father was playing Blue rondo a la Turk and I was shocked that this fantastic music existed, it made me happy in a new way. Church music was almost the only music I knew then.
Benny Wallace who's play I really loved, delivered the same happy making shock, that sound!
But the one that really 'sparked' me was Wayne Shorter on soprano.

 

[kamak]

My dad played alto in high school, and that always intrigued me. It was an aspect of him I never knew much about and he never played during my lifetime, before he passed.

I'd always wanted to play a musical instrument, but was too lazy and focused on other things. Finally, I started, and I've been loving learning music and learning to play the sax.

I more recently found out my dad's dad also played sax, alto and soprano. Maybe that's why I gravitate towards alto; is it in my DNA? Haha

 

[Targa]

My dad played alto in high school, and that always intrigued me. It was an aspect of him I never knew much about and he never played during my lifetime, before he passed.

I'd always wanted to play a musical instrument, but was too lazy and focused on other things. Finally, I started, and I've been loving learning music and learning to play the sax.

I more recently found out my dad's dad also played sax, alto and soprano. Maybe that's why I gravitate towards alto; is it in my DNA? Haha

Better if their instruments were in the attic.

 

[kamak]

Better if their instruments were in the attic.

Yeah that would have been great! Here in FL though, not sure I'd want a sax that'd been in the attic for decades.

I'm pretty sure my aunt had them years ago and sold them.

 

[AlonW]

I think for me it was hearing John Coltrane recordings, especially the Atlantic collection.

 

[bobstad]

I was at the week long jazz workshop the summer of 1969 at the University of Washington; where Jamey Abersold had distributed his list of essential jazz recordings. I found Wayne Shorter's Speak No Evil, and The Genius of Charlie Volume 3 at Tower Records, nearby.

 

[Greg Strange]

Loved Art Pepper. Only saw him once, in New Orleans in 1977 at Tipatinia's. As I remember, he had just gotten of jail ( not one of his San Quenton stretches) and some NOLA jazz illumenaries led by pianist Frank Pazullo threw together an impromptu gig for him. They passed the hat- it was rather sad. He was a really rough looking mofo but he played beautifully.

Interesting doco - also his book "Straight Life" is worth a read...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vtw3FTo6bc


Greg S.

 

[MikeMorrell]

I've posted these links long ago, but IMHO, they're worth repeating. Aged 13-15, I was a 'symphonic rock' enthusiast. And especially for bands that featured a keyboard player. Like the Nice. Another favorite I latched on to was Colosseum's Valentine Suite in which I suddenly discovered that sax players (Dick Hecksal-Smith) could play in rock bands!

Fast forward to when I (as a Joni Mitchel fan) first heard the jazzy 'Paprika Plains' with Wayne Shorter on sax.

Dire Straights, too was a favorite band in my early twenties. And I loved hearing Chris White's contributions.

So no one player inspired my 'love of sax'. Until my forties, I'd always been a guitarist. But maybe, over the years, Í'd always considered sax as an 'attractive' instrument to learn to play. When I saw a '3 month sax rental' offer n my local paper, I just went for it.

 

[Out in the sticks]

As an aside to Bobby's "first album' thread... I am curious to know which golden moment made you think "Now there's an instrument I fancy having a go at"

For me it was Tex Beneke. My parents used to play a lot of Glenn Miller when I was growing up. It was the only music I knew as a kid: big band stuff. Then I became a teenager and discovered Dick Parry's voice on Dark Side of the Moon, and thought "ok, this might be fun" After Dick it was Didier Malherbe from Gong and then my mate played me Charlie Parker and I was fully hooked!

For me Clarence Clemons with the e street band

 

[Out in the sticks]

I can’t say exactly who but Clarence Clemons
Stan Getz, Bowie, baker st , loads and loads of great modern and classic jazz.

 

[Grafsax]

and..., for me all the 'anonymous' players I heard randomly anywhere anytime but gave me always the feeling Yes! That's my instrument🙂

 

[AlonW]

Joe Henderson, Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly

 

[Grumps]

I see this topic on the new threads thing quite often and each time I realize I didn't even know what a saxophone was when I chose it as a school band instrument. My father, a pianist, recommended it. So I looked it up in a dictionary and there was a small sketch of one and I said that'll do. But seeing this topic again, in its regard to loving saxophone music, I have to admit I don't particularly love saxophone music. Sure, there are players like Dexter that I can listen to nonstop, but I like all music. It doesn't have to have a saxophone and most that I actually listen to doesn't. Sacrilege, I know.

 

[silver-sax]

Movie "Some Like It Hot"

 

[mizmar]

Movie "Some Like It Hot"

I'd forgotten about the saxophone in that...
... Strawberry blonds, however!