Great Players Who sparked your love of Sax music

[BigMartin]

One day one day 🙂

It would be nice to think so 🙂

Think of it another way: why not? You're doing all the right things. There's no magic to it, just a set of skills to be learned.

 

[saxendd]

Great Topic! Who sparked your love of Sax music?

Being a contrary sort I reserve the right to include inanimate sparks of inspiration

1) The Saxophone
2) Being born with the desire aka Me
3: The Human Voice
4) Grover Washington Jnr (December 12, 1943 - December 17, 1999)
5) A whole host of other saxophonists too numerous to mention

 

[TonyMoroney]

I'd like to modify my original answer from 2009, not because I have a time machine and history has changed, but I realise that my addled brain was hiding detailed information from me.

Some time before Lee Thompson was taking One Step Beyond, and Geoff Blythe and Steve Spooner were paying tribute to Geno Washington, it occurs to me that I was regulalry immersed in my brothers' continual reiteration of John Helliwell playing on various Supertramp LPs. I think that perhaps this, combined with Spyrogyra (and his prodigious Jazz-Funk collection) paved the way to my awareness of the instrument, and made me far more receptive when the whole two-tone thing happened.

 

[Pixie]

Just re-visited the Hazel O'Conner track Will You? Goose bumps n takes me back. I don't like Kenny G much but that Pete Thomas bloke is good

 

[saxyjt]

The way it sounds tonight on the forum... Quiet !

Made me think of another influence for me to pick the sax among all instruments:

 

[gladsaxisme]

One of my biggest influences in taking up sax, "Trio" is probably still my favourite Surman album.

Each to their own I suppose.....dear me

 

[nickh]

One of my biggest influences in taking up sax, "Trio" is probably still my favourite Surman album.

Monster! New one for me that.

 

[Jules]

One of my biggest influences in taking up sax, "Trio" is probably still my favourite Surman album.

Has become a huge favourite over the last year or so... since, i seem to remember, you introduced me to it.

 

[Baby_Sneak]

Kamasi Washington. Absolutely an amazing player.

 

[MikeMorrell]

After years of playing Folk, Renaissance and Baroque music on guitar, I wanted to play with more f emotion and with less constraints: the Baker Street feeling! I loved the Chris White solos on Dire Straits tracks like Romeo and Juliet (solo at 6.15). So he influenced my choice for the sax. I soon found out that it takes as much - if not more - control to play the sax well as guitar🙁

 

[ProfJames]

Sunday - Radio 2 - 3.00pm - Andy Mackay....................Andy Mackay, Johnnie Walker's Sounds of the 70s - BBC Radio 2

 

[Lady Biggles]

At the risk of being really uncool in every way, it was seeing the band of the Royal Irish Regiment in concert that made me want to learn the sax - I wanted to play 'Lord of the Dance' with a concert band. I have done that, and next month I am actually going to play in the RIR band at a major concert!! Dream come true so far.

 

[saxendd]

Not at all uncool; your success is an inspiration to us all.

 

[Lady Biggles]

And today is the first anniversary of taking delivery of my first sax! I think I'll have some cake to celebrate!

 

[kevgermany]

And today is the first anniversary of taking delivery of my first sax! I think I'll have some cake to celebrate!

Remember to chase it down with a little whiskey. A bottle should be enough.

 

[Sherrington]

An odd jobbing musician playing the hotels in the Dominican Republic. His rendition of "This Masquerade" by George Benson was mind blowing for me and made me decide to take it up after playing acoustic fingerstyle guitar for a number of years.
Doesn't always have to be the sax greats that whets your appetite

 

[ChillyMike]

I had no real influence - I was serving in the Royal Marines when I went out and got a tad tiddly on the old beer, woke up the next morning with a major hangover and had a saxophone at the bottom of my bed and a visa bil for 700 odd quid! I got meself a tune a day book and the rest as they say is history.

One of the best and funniest stories I have read on here so far 😀

 

[Jeanette]

One of the best and funniest stories I have read on here so far 😀

I've never seen that one, thanks. Look where he is now too, well done @griff136 funny how life can turn out 🙂

Jx

 

[griff136]

And for an update I am just finishing an Higher National Diploma HND in jazz performance and have just passed an audition and been offered a place starting on the second yr of the BA(Hons) jazz course at Middlesex Uni.

 

[Jeanette]

And for an update I am just finishing an Higher National Diploma HND in jazz performance and have just passed an audition and been offered a place starting on the second yr of the BA(Hons) jazz course at Middlesex Uni.

All after one tiddly night out ... 🙂

Jx