Musical Brainsstorm Help Requested: Need Examples of Saxophone (Vanity)

N/A ^ | 10/3/2010 | N/A

[Lou L]

Greetings, fellow Freepers...my 10 year-old has recently taken up a musical instrument, the saxophone. She's interested, and although there's an obviously long road ahead, I was hoping to collect some examples of the saxophone to get her some additional exposure to the sound.

Looking for musically-inclined to assist with a brain-storming list. Obviously, I'd like to hear examples of jazz or blues, but I'd like to include rock, pop, and even orchestral genres as well. What songs or artists would you suggest as a good example of saxophone play?

[IYellAtMyTV]

Richard Elliot. Does a cover of ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ that makes me wanna make babies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSp5aH6JBWM&feature=related

More representative of his later work http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGYyBrNrvyA&feature=related

[BluesDuke]

Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty is a good one. "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty is a GREAT one. One of my faves. For jazz, the first one that comes to mind is "Take Five" by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Ultra cool. For R & B, "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" by Jr. Walker & the All-Stars. Very soulful.

Speaking of Jr. Walker and the All-Stars, you left out . . . "Shake and Fingerpop" (which also has maybe the single most murderous bass riff in rock and soul . . .)
"Pucker Up Buttercup"
"Tune Up"
"Last Call"
"Sweet Soul"
"Satan's Blues"
"Way Back Home"

Other classic sax appeal:

John Coltrane (with the Miles Davis Sextet), "Bye, Bye Blackbird" (from Miles & Coltrane, 1959 Newport Jazz Festival)

Paul Gonsalves (with Duke Ellington and His Orchestra), "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" (from Ellington at Newport)

Sam (The Man) Taylor (for Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters), "Money Honey"

Jack Lancaster (with Blodwyn Pig), "It's Only Love" (from their first and best album, Ahead Rings Out)

Andy Mackay (for Mott the Hoople), "All the Way From Memphis"; (with Roxy Music), "Do the Strand"

Stan Getz, "The Girl From Ipanema" (Getz/Gilberto).

Paul Desmond (with Dave Brubeck), "Blue Rondo a la Turk"

Johnny Hodges (with Duke Ellington), "All of Me" (from The Great Paris Concert)

. . . just to name a few . . .

[BluesDuke]

This fellow is good but plays with some odd bands. Didier Malherbe

When he was a key member of experimental British space-rockers Gong, he was known variably as Bloomdido Blade de Breeze or Bloomdido Bad de Grasse. ;)

[Hoodat]

As much as I detest Bruce Springsteen's music [sic], his song Rosalita has a decent sax lead. But if you really want to learn the best, then I suggest fusion jazz such as Joe Farrell or Return to Forever.

[SirLurkedalot]

Not surprised;Gadd is one of the tightest drummers of all time, second only to Billy Cobham IMHO.

[Captain Beyond]

Have her watch “Eddie and the Cruisers”. Great Sax in all the songs in that movie. “On the Dark Side” is a great sax tune.

John Cafferfty and The Beaver Brown Band - On The Dark Side
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgloaS4NGyM

George Thorogood and the Destroyers - Bad To The Bone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7VsoxT_FUY
(some really awesome sax in this song)

Foreigner - Urgent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OFJYMo4Pr0
(Lots of nice sax in this song)

Billy Joel - Still Rock-n-Roll To Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAQa4MOGkE&ob=av2e

Supertramp - Logical Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAQa4MOGkE&ob=av2e

Lou Reed - Walk On The Wildside
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wNknGIKkoA

David Bowie - Blue Jean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC0CocHe2hE

The Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59K2kF6o9Tk

Pink Floyd - Money
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkhX5W7JoWI

(one of the all time great sax solos in this song) Some of these songs you have to wait for the sax solo but they are really good. These should be very inspirational for her. Hope she enjoys.

I ignored Bruce Springsteen because he just pisses me off politically.

[mylife]

You are correct.

[Willie Green]

ping-a-ding-ding!

[Fresh Wind]

The last thing you want her to hear is Kenny G.

[a fool in paradise]

Amazon: Blow, Blow, BlowBig Jay McNeely is still blowing a honking sax (photo circa 1952 and yes he still gets on his back and plays)

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Grady Gaines is still blowing a horn too.

He had a band called The Upsetters (not to be confused with a reggae band of the same name) in the 1950s and was later tapped to be Little Richard's band leader for his Specialty cuts in the 1950s. After Little Richard gave up rock and roll for religion, Grady went back to the Upsetters and then found a gig as Sam Cooke's band leader until Sam's death in the 1960s.

Bip Bop Bip sounds like Little Richard twice as manic. It's actually Don Covay backed by the Upsetters. Don was opening for Little Richard and the Upsetters in those days.

The Upsetters' Upsetter has found new life being covered by Jim Jones Revue (UK) as Cement Mixer

One of the last things Boots Randolph ever recorded (literally) was this cover of I Put A Spell On You with Scotty Moore, Billy Swan, and others. I don't care for the other cuts on this album so much but this one I liked (and it's a bit more slow and emotional than the above rocking cuts of honking sax, more of which can be found here:

Subtitled - The History Of The Honkin' & Screamin' Saxophone. Not for the faint hearted, this compilation of 106 tracks bursts at the seams with the sound of 50 hard blowing saxophonists who, between 1942-1952, formed the nucleus of what became known as the Honkers & Screamers. Artists include Illinois Jacquet, Arnett Cobb, Wild Bill Moore, Paul Williams, Hal Singer, & many more. Includes 68-page illustrated booklet with biographies of the players & full discography details. Four standard jewel cases housed in a slipbox. Proper. 2003

).

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In a totally different vein, there is The Beau Hunks The Beau Hunks Saxophone Soctette (a side project for the Beau Hunks consisting of pieces adapted for 7 saxaphones)

----

And Steve MacKay is back playing free jazz saxophone over pro-punks The Stooges on their recent reunion shows

Here he can be heard on the original recording of The Stooges Fun House

---

Post-punk sax funk and scronk from James Chance can be heard here and here:

[a fool in paradise]

For 50s/60s rock and roll sax I prefer bands like The Revels and The Rumblers:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CWUY38/ref=sr_1_artist_1_rd?ie=UTF8&parent=B002FJA6DU&qid=1286216500&sr=1-1

[Hot Tabasco]

I’ve always said that if have a neighbor you really dislike, buy his kid a set of drums or a horn for Christmas.....

[a fool in paradise]

Kenny G is the Official Soundtrack of Hell.

Actually Kenny G is played on the elevator to Hell and then again in Hell's waiting room.

People BEG to be let into Hell to get away from the Kenny G muzak.

Guess what they hear when the Gates of Hell open?!!

[BluesDuke]

Guess what they hear when the Gates of Hell open?!!

Let me guess---Kenny G fronting Lawrence Welk's Champagne Music Makers with the Mitch Miller Gang on vocals?

[Slings and Arrows]

Go deep!

[dfwgator]

I Agree With Pat Metheny
Richard Thompson

I agree with Pat Metheny
Kenny’s talents are too teeny
He deserves the crap he’s going to get
‘Overdubbed himself on Louis
What a musical chop suey
Raised his head above the parapet

Now Louis Armstrong was the king
He practically invented swing
Hero of the twentieth century
‘Did duets with many a fella
“Fatha” Hines, Bing, Hoagy, Ella
Strange he never thought of Kenny G

A meeting of great minds, how nice
Like Einstein and Sporty Spice
Digitally fused in an abortion
Oh, Kenny fans will doubtless rave
While Satchmo turns inside his grave
Soprano man’s bit off more than his portion

Brainless pentatonic riffs
Display our Kenny’s arcane gifts
But we don’t care, his charms are so beguiling
He does play sharp, but let’s be fair
He has such lovely crinkly hair
We hardly notice, we’re too busy smiling

How does he hold those notes so long?
He must be a genius. Wrong!
He just has the mindlessness to do it
He makes Britney sound like scat
If this is jazz I’ll eat my hat
An idle threat, I’ll never have to chew it

So next time you’re in a rendezvous
And Kenny’s sound comes wafting through
Don’t just wince, eliminate the cause
Rip the tape right off the muzak
Pull the plug, or steal a fuse, Jack
The whole room will drown you in applause

Yes, Kenny G has gone too far
The gloves are off, it’s time to spar
Grab your hunting rifle, strap your colt on
It’s open season on our Ken
Yet I await the moment when
We lay off him and start on Michael Bolton

Oh, I agree with Pat Metheny
Kenny’s talents are too teeny

[al_c]

Hard to believe out of all these posts there has been only one mention each for Branford Marsalis and David Sanborn.

Two of the greatest.

[DollyCali]

great post! thanks!

[itsamelman]

Sorry, a little late to this party...

Mt daughter is 11 and took up sax last year. She’s now a big fan of Madness.

One Step Beyond: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAx2GHUUoSo&ob=av2n

Night Boat to Cairo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EW3hhL7FyA&feature=channel

Swan Lake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyT6UowYmXw

Cheers,

melman