Who is/was the greatest sax player of all time???

[KBallenger53]

Hi guys, it's KBall comin' at cha' with another mind teaser. Who do you guys think is/was the greatest Saxophone player of time? There were many who have passed our way, and many still around!!! I'll give my opinion later!!!'NUFF SAID

[DISCODISK]

NOBODY can beat this guy
Over 50 non-Motown records featuring Mike Terry’s baritone saxophone that must be heard before expiration – and there are plenty more. In no particular order.

‘Set my heart at ease’ – Mikki Farrow
‘Sweet sherry’/’Hole in the wall’ – J.J. Barnes
‘I must love you’ – Melvin Davis
‘Girls are out to get you’ – The Fascinations
‘Our love (is in the pocket)’ – Darrel Banks/J.J. Barnes
‘What can I do’ – Lorraine Chandler
‘The horse’ – Cliff Nobles and Company
‘SOS (Stop her on sight)’ – Edwin Starr
‘Cool jerk’ – The Capitols
‘Girl across the street’ - Moses Smith
‘Dearly beloved’/’Baby baby take a chance on me’ – Jack Montgomery
‘Peace loving man’/’Don’t lead me on baby’ – Emanuel Laskey
‘Can’t stop looking for my baby’ – Fantastic Four
‘Ain’t nothing but a house party’ – Showstoppers
‘Exus trek’/’If it’s all the same to you babe’ – Luther Ingram
‘Open the door to your heart’ – Darrel Banks
‘Loving you takes all of my time’ – Debonaires
‘Looking for a woman’ – Brooks Brothers
‘I have faith in you’ – Edwin Starr/Doni Burdick
‘Bari track’/’I miss by baby’/’Hit and run’/’Holding hands’ – Rose Battiste
‘Mr. Big Shot’/’I can take care of myself’ – Gene Chandler
‘Sweeter than the day before’ – Valentinos
‘Head and shoulders’ – Patti Young/ ‘Merry go round’ – Tommy Frontera
‘Say it isn’t so’ – Betty Boo
‘Heart trouble’ – Parliaments
‘Frantic escape’ – Innocent Bystanders
‘Headline news’/’Backstreet’/’Agent double O soul’/’You’re my mellow’ – Edwin Starr
‘Put a dime on D9’ – Rotations/ ‘Bobby is my baby’ – Barbara Mason
‘Carlena’ – Just Brothers
‘Honey boy’ – Nella Dodds
‘Goin’ to a happening’ – Tommy Neal/ ‘Spaceland’ – Tony Hestor
‘Not a chance in a million’ – Jock Mitchell
‘Hit and run’ – Rose Battiste
‘I can’t hide it’ – Appreciations
‘She’s wanted (in three States)’ – Larry Clinton
‘Savin’ my love for you’ – Peoples Choice
‘ Love look in her eyes’ – Falcons
‘If you ever walk out of my life’ – Dena Barnes
Quick change artist’ – Soul Twins
‘Watch yourself’/‘Just can’t leave you’ – Tony Hestor
‘Love finds a way’ – Margaret Little
‘(This is a) groovy generation’/’Sweet things’ – Billy Kennedy
‘To win your heart’/’Festival time’ – Laura Lee
‘Nothin’ no sweeter than love’ - Carl Carlton
‘Make a change’ – Johnny Rogers
‘Baby boy’ Ja Neen Henry
‘Can’t you see (you’re losing me)’ – Mary Wells
‘I’ll never forget you’ – O’Jays
‘Oooh boy’ – Adorables
‘That’s what you do to me’ – Deon Jackson

[Disco Funk]

I'm not a huge follower of the brass or woodwind lead players. There are the more popular ones of the soul funk genre like Junior Walker, Maceo Parker, and Stanley Turrentine (he was jazz, but did great cross over material in the mid to late 70s). Lou Donaldson's another, as is Monk Higgins, and so on and so forth.

A couple of lesser known, but very noticeable players are the guys who played the lead sax on the philly tracks (am I predictable or what in my picks :). Zach Zachary was the first top sax player, who put a nice jazz swing to the dance grooves coming out of Sigma Sound. Now I could be wrong but I think there was a second guy in the late 70s, if it wasn't Zach Zachary. I'm having trouble finding the lead sax credits for those PIR recordings for that later phase.

Disco Funk

[Mr.Ree]

I don't "follow" horn players careers much but Jr. Walker has always been my favorite, he played with a sense of grit and soul that I don't hear in the "quiet storm" type players. His blowing on Foreigner's "Urgent" and his own Motown recordings is a perfect example of his great style.

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Certainly not as far back in time, but still...
Two sax players, whose talents I've always appreciated are Ray Swinfield (for Costandinos)
and Dino Solera (for the Munich Machine).

[boogyjuice]

NOBODY can beat this guy
Over 50 non-Motown records featuring Mike Terry’s baritone saxophone that must be heard before expiration – and there are plenty more. In no particular order.

Quantity wise or quality wise ?
For example : percussionist Paulinho Da Costa is a studiomusician with an endless list of guestwork. Does that make him the best percussionist of all time ? ... who will tell ? ... i know i can't.
Sorry to be naggy about this , but define "greatest". I mean, there are so many different saxophonists with their own unique sound and style. A few of the many jazz-cats like Cannonball Adderly,
John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Charlie "Bird" Parker, Sonny Rollins and so many others were breathing music day and night.

What i've learned from a fellow-saxophonist is that he showed how crystal clear John Coltrane played every single note,
especially during complex solos, when it can happen that a soloist incidently skips a few notes because of the speed that those note-riffs are played.
Also players of later generations, such as Branford Marsalis, Greg Osby, Kenny Garrett, Ornette Coleman, Steve Coleman, are worth to mention.
With the exception of Ornette, i've seen all those later-generation players, and on each and every live-occasion they blew the audience up with deep and impressive solos.
Saw Maceo perform a few times too, and to me he is James Brown's voice translated to a saxophone-sound,
because a musician once explained in a tv-show that Maceo does also this subtle "uh!" with his voice between solo-notes.
There are still so many cats, that i personally can't capture "greatest" in one person. Too many flavors, but i admire a lot John Coltrane's ability to blow his notes so pure.

[KBallenger53]

Hey, you Cats mentioned some good players. I'm still surprised that no one has mentioned my man: Grover Washington Jr. His performances at the Newport Jazz Festivals are legendary. I liked him better when he was playing Alto & Tenor sax as opposed to his Soprano stuff, which was still cool.

Kenny G to me is the Master of the Soprano sax. Other Cats like Najee & George Howard are cool too, but they tend to sound too much like each other, and become very basic. Kenny G is not afraid to step outside of the box!

Coltrane is cool too, as long as he wasn't high. That's when he was playing stuff that didn't make sense, such as: A Love Supreme, & Interstellar Space. Sounds too much like a bad acid trip to me!!!:icon_eek: Can you imagine Coltane & Hendrix doing a number together!?! It would be an instant overdose!!! But very interesting....hmmm.

Don Myrick from Earth, Wind & Fire was a Killer too. His solo on the live version of Reasons, is soul stirring. Lots of people may not know this but, Ronnie Laws played with Earth, Wind, & Fire for a short while during their early days. If you get the chance, check out his Every Generation album or CD.

I was a big fan of David Sanborn in the early 80's, did anybody know that he was a member of the JB's in the late 70's?:icon_cool:

But the Greatest to me would have to go to Maceo Parker. First of all, he was flawless!!! I never heard him mess up! All of his solos are legendary, and to me, he was the anchor of the James Brown sound. He was hired and fired from The James Brown Revue more than any other band member, because he wouldn't take James's crap with his so-called dictatorship!!!

You know, I remember back in the late 60's & early 70's when one of the neighborhood arguements would be: Who Was Better? Such as: Who was better, Eddie Kendricks or Smokey Robinson? Or: Who was better, Joe Louis or Cassius Clay? Or: Who was better, Jr. Walker or Maceo?

Now that was a BIG RIFF in my neighborhood when I lived in Flushing, NY. Especially at the barbershops. Ever heard Jr. Walker's Hip City? It's got James Brown all over it!!! I give Jr. his props, but Maceo would still beat him.

'NUFF SAID

[Mr.Ree]

this is actually a pretty interesting topic, because I can't help noticing that many (and I do mean MANY) older albums that listed the rhythm players and vocalists by name OFTEN had nothing more than "strings and horns arranged by...." and the name of the arranger. I HAVE seen the string and horn players being listed by their names more often the past few years. I guess some one complained. Sometimes the names of the string and horn players number in the dozens and dozens (which probably explains why they were omitted before).

[Larsdorders]

Wow, new guy on the block here, but a great question indeed. The problem is though, surely there can not be one "saxman for all seasons", you have without a doubt MACEO for the funk, but what about Wilton Felder, Bennie Maupin, Sadao Watanabe, and on a jazz note howzabout Michael Brecker, Ernie Watts, Sanborn, Wayne Shorter.....jeez this is a never ending list of killer players.
Jr. and Grover were my first faves, but Maceo and Wayne Shorter are probably my all time faves.

[KBallenger53]

Wow, new guy on the block here, but a great question indeed. The problem is though, surely there can not be one "saxman for all seasons", you have without a doubt MACEO for the funk, but what about Wilton Felder, Bennie Maupin, Sadao Watanabe, and on a jazz note howzabout Michael Brecker, Ernie Watts, Sanborn, Wayne Shorter.....jeez this is a never ending list of killer players.
Jr. and Grover were my first faves, but Maceo and Wayne Shorter are probably my all time faves.

Welcome to The Family, Larsdorders!!!:icon_smile: Just jump right on in here anytime! You've mentioned some Cool Cats too!!! Ever heard of Gato Barbieri? Now that's one Latino Cat that can make a woman STRIP whenever he plays!!!

'NUFF SAID

[Larsdorders]

How right you are, I must admit that a little bit of the the 'ol late night Gato has helped me out in my moment of need !!
I know it's Off-topic, but surely Marvins "I want You" album has to be the biggest "deal closer" album of all time !!
Cheers !

[KBallenger53]

How right you are, I must admit that a little bit of the the 'ol late night Gato has helped me out in my moment of need !!
I know it's Off-topic, but surely Marvins "I want You" album has to be the biggest "deal closer" album of all time !!
Cheers !

I'M TOTALLY FEELIN' YOU ON THAT ONE, BIGG DOGG!!!

'NUFF SAID

[K-Bee]

I'm gonna go for Michael Brecker here. He's the only player I know of being equally capable of everything from obligatory pop interlude-like "solo" to heavy funk, fusion and challenging acoustic jazz. He chops were outta this world but his heart and soul could always be heard somewhere inside of it all.

[KBallenger53]

I'm gonna go for Michael Brecker here. He's the only player I know of being equally capable of everything from obligatory pop interlude-like "solo" to heavy funk, fusion and challenging acoustic jazz. He chops were outta this world but his heart and soul could always be heard somewhere inside of it all.

No Doubt K-Bee!!! He was off the hook when he was teamed up with his brother. What was his name? Anyway, The Brecker Brothers were some of the fore-runners to Fusion Jazz. You could even dance to some of their stuff!!!

'NUFF SAID

[Afroboy]

Seriously open ended question .....
I noticed a lot of jazz players names pop up .
My thoughts ..... seeing it is being asked in this forum .
Many many great Sax & other horn players came & went in funk bands eg , Ohio Players , Brass Construction , Cameo , Bar-Kays & all others !!
Now the situation is they never got to stretch out like Grover , Ronnie Laws , Joe Thomas , Freddie Hubbard & many other ..
( yes I mentioning none sax players )
Those dudes shone on record labels that allowed freedom of expression , CTI being amongst the biggest & most popular .
So who really is the best ?
We really will never know ,, im happy to have many .
Perhaps i will start a thread asking for candidates for most memorable sax lead or break in a straight up funk Lp .
cheers

[KBallenger53]

Seriously open ended question .....
I noticed a lot of jazz players names pop up .
My thoughts ..... seeing it is being asked in this forum .
Many many great Sax & other horn players came & went in funk bands eg , Ohio Players , Brass Construction , Cameo , Bar-Kays & all others !!
Now the situation is they never got to stretch out like Grover , Ronnie Laws , Joe Thomas , Freddie Hubbard & many other ..
( yes I mentioning none sax players )
Those dudes shone on record labels that allowed freedom of expression , CTI being amongst the biggest & most popular .
So who really is the best ?
We really will never know ,, im happy to have many .
Perhaps i will start a thread asking for candidates for most memorable sax lead or break in a straight up funk Lp .
cheers

It's not really an Open Ended Question, you're just over-thinking it!!! Just tell us who your favorite is!!!

'NUFF SAID

[motown01]

The "bird" Charlie Parker

[drh]

I'd say Grover Washington Jr. is oder sadly was the man. Elegant, emotional. Winelight is a classic.album.
Kenny G is very commercial, but what he did for the saxophone in the 80s with his own Songbird and as a guest solist featured on tracks from Dionne Warwick ("Love Power") to Smokey Robinson or Whitney Houston ("Just the lonely talking") is unique.
Don Myrick played for the best band in the world EW&F and is certainly first class too
Michael Brecker stand for jazz and is excellent.

[FranceJoliFan]

Hey, you Cats mentioned some good players. I'm still surprised that no one has mentioned my man: Grover Washington Jr. His performances at the Newport Jazz Festivals are legendary. I liked him better when he was playing Alto & Tenor sax as opposed to his Soprano stuff, which was still cool.

I agree. Winelight is one of my favorite records. It practically defines the Smooth Jazz genre.

[SandraDee]

'Mr.Nice Guy' himself, Ronnie Laws has to be my favourite.

[DJDroppedIt]

Kenny G and Don Myrick for me!

[pepper1dancer]

The first time a saxaphonist perked my ears was Benjamin Bossi from the New Wave group "Romeo Void". His playing on the Instinct album is flawless. I heard on VH1's behind the music that he no longer plays due to ear problems. He is one bad mutha.

[discoman2005]

what about junior walker..

[KBallenger53]

The first time a saxaphonist perked my ears was Benjamin Bossi from the New Wave group "Romeo Void". His playing on the Instinct album is flawless. I heard on VH1's behind the music that he no longer plays due to ear problems. He is one bad mutha.

Benjamin Bossi huh? Hmmm, I've got to check him out. I've never heard of Romeo Void, is their music close to Fusion Jazz?

'NUFF SAID

[Larsdorders]

Wow, a bit of the 'ol new wave creeping into the Disco forum eh ?

The track "A Girl In Trouble" ('84 I think) by Romeo Void has some great sax in it, but really, against the mega cast of sax luminaries that have been listed on this thread, I have trouble buying into that one.

If we are looking at other music genres, then, Val Bennett and Dean Frazer are two world class reggae sax players who would rank highly in my top 20, and what about the (English) Beat and their Birmingham UK sax player (Lionel Martin aka Saxa) whose playing on hits such as "Mirror In the Bathroom" and " Tears of a Clown" have some great sax also.

Great stuff indeed !