The Ten Greatest Saxophonists

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  • CGR
    Full Member
    • Aug 2016
    • 375

    The Ten Greatest Saxophonists

    I've recently discovered this YouTube character who posts very interesting long-form videos commenting on jazz & rock, but seems to annoy lots of people.


  • gurnemanz
    Full Member
    • Nov 2010
    • 7459

    #2
    Before going to sleep on Saturday night I happened to hear a R4 programme called What? Seriously?? Duels, Feuds and Stolen Solos, whose title gave little idea as to what it was about. Entertainingly done as one of a series in which comedians Dara Ó Briain and Isy Suttie find out about randomly unexpected subjects from a guest contributor (in this case, Stuart Maconie). It turned out to be about the inventor of the saxophone, Adolphe Sax. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027l0w

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    • Old Grumpy
      Full Member
      • Jan 2011
      • 3685

      #3
      Originally posted by gurnemanz View Post
      Before going to sleep on Saturday night I happened to hear a R4 programme called What? Seriously?? Duels, Feuds and Stolen Solos, whose title gave little idea as to what it was about. Entertainingly done as one of a series in which comedians Dara Ó Briain and Isy Suttie find out about randomly unexpected subjects from a guest contributor (in this case, Stuart Maconie). It turned out to be about the inventor of the saxophone, Adolphe Sax. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027l0w
      Thanks Gurne, sounds good.

      A man of many parts is Stuart Maconie. On a long road trip back from Southern England my wife and I listened to a fascinating programme by Stuart: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0...n=share-mobile

      SM also is an accomplished author with several books to his name. I currently have "The Full English" on my shelf awaiting my attention.

      Comment

      • Padraig
        Full Member
        • Feb 2013
        • 4269

        #4
        Originally posted by CGR View Post
        I've recently discovered this YouTube character who posts very interesting long-form videos commenting on jazz & rock, but seems to annoy lots of people.
        He has not annoyed me so far. I've just listened to his no.10 choice, Sonny Rollins - he already mentioned the magic words 'Coleman Hawkins' which gained him automatic attention - so I'm looking forward to hearing all 10. I'm not as prejudiced towards, and ignorant of, the saxophone as I was in my student trad days and I have found this fellow interesting, knowledgeable and modest in his approach, so far. Bring it on!

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        • BLUESNIK'S REVOX
          Full Member
          • Dec 2010
          • 4341

          #5
          When I was at school (aged c.13) l about 100 years ago we used to have a playground game about putting together the GREATEST Rock & Roll band. Elvis on vocals naturally, Duane Eddy or Scotty Moore on guitars, Fats Domino or Jerry Lee on piano, Buddy Rich on drums, can't remember the bass, and Lee Allan from Little Richard on tenor saxophone. Then someone suggested Segovia should definitely be on guitar because he was "the greatest guitarist in the world" (his older brother had told him) . Then we realised how stupid this game was.

          Was Ornette a "greater saxophonist" than Benny Carter? Booker Ervin than Hank Mobley? Ron Coltrane than John? This guy is just a grifter.

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          • Padraig
            Full Member
            • Feb 2013
            • 4269

            #6
            Originally posted by Padraig View Post

            He has not annoyed me so far. I've just listened to his no.10 choice, Sonny Rollins - he already mentioned the magic words 'Coleman Hawkins' which gained him automatic attention - so I'm looking forward to hearing all 10. Bring it on!
            And so I've heard Steve Coleman, for the first time and Michael Brecker too. Of the two I more enjoyed M.Brecker on tenor sax with his brother on trumpet, having used you tube. Now to my surprise Sidney Bechet appears. This is more my era, but one never knows. Do One?

            Comment

            • eighthobstruction
              Full Member
              • Nov 2010
              • 6478

              #7
              ....this fresh meat only placed on Utube 5 days ago....this is a guy who has plenty of time on his hands and wants to make a pot of easy cash....don't like him....rumour has it he has fallen out with other jass inflencers, or "music educators"(as he likes to sell himself), and sent to social media Coventry....if he was in MidSummer Murders he'd be sure be found in one of those ratan bubble chairs which hang from the ceiling with a flute rammed down his gullet with a tape of his own voice playing....- of course I'm completely plano about it all...I don't have a sax in the fight....

              .....as you can see on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCenwPc46As&t=40s people just love the guy and his ¬^("¬¬^^ lists....
              Last edited by eighthobstruction; 03-02-25, 18:51.
              bong ching

              Comment

              • Serial_Apologist
                Full Member
                • Dec 2010
                • 38052

                #8
                Originally posted by eighthobstruction View Post
                ....this fresh meat only placed on Utube 5 days ago....this is a guy who has plenty of time on his hands and wants to make a pot of easy cash....don't like him....rumour has it he has fallen out with other jass inflencers, or "music educators"(as he likes to sell himself), and sent to social media Coventry....if he was in MidSummer Murders he'd be sure be found in one of those ratan bubble chairs which hang from the ceiling with a flute rammed down his gullet with a tape of his own voice playing....- of course I'm completely plano about it all...I don't have a sax in the fight....

                .....as you can see on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCenwPc46As&t=40s people just love the guy and his ¬^("¬¬^^ lists....
                He certainly left a bad taste in my mouth.

                Comment

                • anorak
                  Full Member
                  • Apr 2024
                  • 42

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post

                  He certainly left a bad taste in my mouth.
                  Pretty soon he'll be doing The Ten Greatest Lists....

                  Comment

                  • Padraig
                    Full Member
                    • Feb 2013
                    • 4269

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Padraig View Post

                    Now to my surprise Sidney Bechet appears.
                    Yes it was a surprise, wasn't it? But there was the qualification that he well represented an earlier stage of Jazz, which of course pleased me, for one. Wayne Shorter is familiar to me by reputation; but, unlike the style and execution of Sidney Bechet which is instantly recognisable to me, what Wayne Shorter was doing did not so readily appeal to me.I would need a lot more time, time which I have failed so far to devote to Jazz which gets further and further away from my original expectations.

                    Comment

                    • Ian Thumwood
                      Full Member
                      • Dec 2010
                      • 4317

                      #11
                      I think there is a strong argument to present Bechet as the first great jazz soloist ahead of Armstrong. The speed at which the saxophones were taken up always staggers me. They were like electric guitars for the first quarter of the 20 the century. Bechet taught Johnny Hodges.

                      I have seen this bloke on YouTube before bur these lists are a bit stupid even if quite fun to list our your own Top Ten. I agree about the inclusion of Coleman Hawkins who was my route into appreciating more advanced styles of jazz. I have not watched rhe video but the post did make me wonder about the influence of post Ornette saxophonists. Mike Brecker is someome I would include from 1980s onwards if for nothing more than raising the technical level of the instrument. Few musicians have been as influential from 1980s onwards. I would add Steve Coleman to a list but I think he does not get as much attention these days as he should.

                      Comment

                      • HighlandDougie
                        Full Member
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 3141

                        #12
                        Originally posted by eighthobstruction View Post
                        ....this fresh meat only placed on Utube 5 days ago....this is a guy who has plenty of time on his hands and wants to make a pot of easy cash....don't like him....rumour has it he has fallen out with other jass inflencers, or "music educators"(as he likes to sell himself), and sent to social media Coventry....if he was in MidSummer Murders he'd be sure be found in one of those ratan bubble chairs which hang from the ceiling with a flute rammed down his gullet with a tape of his own voice playing....- of course I'm completely plano about it all...I don't have a sax in the fight....

                        .....as you can see on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCenwPc46As&t=40s people just love the guy and his ¬^("¬¬^^ lists....
                        I almost totalled my MacBook through snorting Kir all over the keyboard as a result of laughing at Eighth's post. Clearly someone who is a Dave Hurwitz clone.

                        Comment

                        • Ian Thumwood
                          Full Member
                          • Dec 2010
                          • 4317

                          #13
                          It would be more interesting to list the 10 most important saxophonists since 1980.

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