The 50 Best Jazz Saxophonists Of All Time

[nickcarraway]

I have Coleman Hawkins #1. I'd have to think about it, but Lester Young, Bird, Coltrane, Ben Webster, and Johnny Hodges. Then Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt. (Underrated)

Paul Gonsalves doesn't make the cut here, but he would for me. And maybe Archie Shepp for avante-garde.

[nickcarraway]

Here is the link I left out: The 50 Best Jazz Saxophonists Of All Time

[nickcarraway]

Is there a Jazz ping list?

[shadowlands1960]

I’d have Coltrane at #1 and I’d also have Sidney Bechet in the top ten.

[shadowlands1960]

Bechet’s version of Petite Fleur.. still one of my favorite jazz instrumentals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REYLNs0rh-g

[nickcarraway]

I was think Bechet and Benny Carter in the top ten, or pretty close. Eric Dolphy too. But it’s more like for his music overall, not just playing the saxaphone.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Perry Conticchio

Google……

[TaMoDee]

Absolutely that Johnny Hodges is near the top of the list!

[Scarlett156]

For a minute I thought you didn’t put Art Pepper on there and I was like “WHAT????!!!!” but then I saw him.

[FamiliarFace]

I have a personal fave, a very nice and talented young man, Wes Perry. I hope one day he makes it on the list.

[MCH]

Played alto sax in junior/senior high school, but otherwise not much visibility into these artists.

I did look for the only famous saxophonist that I was aware of way back then (1970s), but didn't see him.

Boots Randolph of Yakkety Sax fame. Not on the list at all.

[dfwgator]

As a big fan of Polish Jazz, Zbigniew Namysłowski is a giant.

Played on Krzysztof Komeda’s “Astigmatic” one of the greatest albums of avant garde Jazz ever made.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

I currently play sax and flute. I was wondering the same. Met him a his club some years ago in Nahsville’s Printers Alley.

[fidelis]

I thought the same thing about Stan Getz. I should’ve known he’d be in the top five.

[one guy in new jersey]

If ”Lockjaw”, then perhaps also Eddie ”Cleanhead” Vincent and David “Fathead” Newman? Love me a good nickname.

[Publius]

John Klemmer?

[Salvey]

Lennie Niehaus and Phil Woods belong somewhere on that list.

[DoodleBob]

"And maybe Archie Shepp for avante-garde."

yes, Yes, YES!

He's still alive, though in Paris but still active.

Years ago, I got to meet Juma Sultan, a jazz percussionist who played with Shepp, as well as with Sam Rivers, James "Blood" Ulmer and, perhaps most famously, Hendrix at Woodstock. He gave a lecture on the Jazz Loft movement (including Sam Rivers) and Free Jazz in NYC at a library in NC - it's worth the 90 minutes of your life.

If that's too much time, here is 13 minutes of Juma and James Carter on "out-there" saxophone with the D.D. Jackson Bluiett Tribute Band.

[old school]

You may have your favorites but there is no “The Best!” They were all blessed with enormous talent and I have enjoyed listening to all of them!

[MileHi]

ping