TOP 10 TENOR SAXOPHONE Players (Classic Jazz Era)

#saxophone #bettersax #tenorsax
Jay Metcalf compiles a list of the 10 most influential tenor saxophone players from the Classic Jazz era and discusses each.
* All revenue from the Better Sax KZread channel in the month of June 2020 will be donated to charities that support social justice in America.
Art cannot be studied absent the context of history.
Jazz music is part of the enormous cultural contribution of Black Americans and racism is a big part of that history.
Enjoy the art form, but also acknowledge the reality of racism past and present.
Correction The names of Booker Ervin and Johnny Griffin are misspelled at the end of the video, my apologies.
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Пікірлер: 1 000

  • @bobreynolds
    @bobreynolds4 жыл бұрын

    Nicely done, Jay. No doubt you just introduced a whole lot of folks to these legendary players. (And wonderful intro to the video)

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Bob!

  • @joeperry245

    @joeperry245

    3 жыл бұрын

    Eddie lockjaw Davis. Great player.

  • @vincentmilito2732

    @vincentmilito2732

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@bettersax CHARLIE VENTURA

  • @joegaudette2494

    @joegaudette2494

    Жыл бұрын

    Ditto what Bob said Jay - awesome job! I’ve been playing for many decades and 2 of the biggest highlights of my playing career we’re getting to see and talk to both Sonny Stitt and Johnny Griffin. Talk about lessons - not only in music but as you mentioned, life as well. Both were just great people in addition to being the masters they were. I loved your picks and think based on the list at the end would love to see another video. I know these videos are a lot of work - but you do them so well! : ). Thanks again -

  • @directcurrent5751

    @directcurrent5751

    4 ай бұрын

    Yes

  • @phila2361
    @phila23614 жыл бұрын

    Coltrane said he never new when to stop an ad lib to which Miles replied "just take the horn out of your mouth, man".

  • @jessesheehan4051

    @jessesheehan4051

    4 жыл бұрын

    just go to the low range of the horn tho to end a sax solo it helps

  • @kennyr1161

    @kennyr1161

    4 жыл бұрын

    Jesse Sheehan the original commenter meant like a phrase not a whole solo. Also high or low are both good just gotta know how to end it right.

  • @flatbillboy85

    @flatbillboy85

    4 жыл бұрын

    Insert expletive here, lol

  • @jessesheehan4051

    @jessesheehan4051

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@kennyr1161 a low note generally sounds more "done" but sometimes you can get a high note to work. and no he WAS talking about how to end a solo I remember the quote from his biography.

  • @aidandoylepolitics

    @aidandoylepolitics

    3 жыл бұрын

    I think he was talking about practice, and miles davis said just take the motherfucker out of your mouth

  • @joaopedrobaganha811
    @joaopedrobaganha8113 жыл бұрын

    As a brazilian tenor sax player, Stan Getz is my personal favorite, I love his bossa nova and samba covers, this is Brasil!

  • @williamgregory1848
    @williamgregory1848 Жыл бұрын

    Fun fact about Dexter Gordon: He’s also an Oscar-nominated actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1987 for his performance in the Bertrand Tavernier film ‘Round Midnight’ (the same movie that inspired me to learn the saxophone.)

  • @andrewdailey9646
    @andrewdailey96464 жыл бұрын

    FINALLY somebody recognizes stan getz, his tone is just otherworldly

  • @juancpgo

    @juancpgo

    3 жыл бұрын

    I think white jazz musicians are often underrated in jazz: Art Pepper, Tubby Hayes, Zoot Sims, Al Haig, Anita O'Day, George Shearing, are all mind blowing amazing, and took me a lot of time to properly discover them because people just don't seem to acknowledge them much. Stan Getz was a freakin genius, a god, his melodic ideas are nothing but divine and his tone the most gorgeous one.

  • @SELMER1947

    @SELMER1947

    3 жыл бұрын

    Finally somebody recognizes ALL the great tenors as well as Getz !!!!

  • @sleeplezznightz

    @sleeplezznightz

    3 жыл бұрын

    Stan Getz is hardly underrated. He's on every list of greatest sax players, tenor or not, easily.

  • @sebastianabele4064

    @sebastianabele4064

    3 жыл бұрын

    Stan Getz the goat

  • @SELMER1947

    @SELMER1947

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@sebastianabele4064 Bullshit

  • @danielditlev
    @danielditlev4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the shout out to Denmark. As a 44 year old Dane who bought his first baritone sax less than a week ago I am happy to hear that we were a home away from home for some of these artists. I hope things will turn to the better soon for everyone around the world.

  • @olebirgerpedersen

    @olebirgerpedersen

    4 жыл бұрын

    Velkommen I klubben af baritonplayers . Jeg er 81 og spillede altsax fra jeg var 17 og köbte min förste Baritonsax, da jeg som tresaarig kom til Glindeman. Jeg spiller stadig paa dem begge.

  • @danielditlev

    @danielditlev

    4 жыл бұрын

    Ole Birger Pedersen Tusind tak for velkomsten! Min bari skulle eftersigende have tilhørt Bent "Stork" Nielsen som jeg ved spillede med Glindemann på et tidspunkt. Jeg er meget beæret. Jeg har uploadet en video på min KZread over hvordan det lød efter 5 dage. Feedback er meget velkommen hvis du har mod på at give det.

  • @olebirgerpedersen

    @olebirgerpedersen

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@danielditlev Storken, ja hab var en skön original. Jeg spillede tilfäldigt billard med en ung mand paa et värtshus paa Frederiksberg og märkeligt nok kendte han mit navn, saa jeg spurgte ham, hvor han kendte det fra. Jeg er Storkens sön , svarede han. Det blev en morsom aften. Jeg traf ofte Storken I baglokalet hos en instrumentmager, hvor vi som oftest fik en öl eller flere.

  • @snodog3

    @snodog3

    2 ай бұрын

    Gmafb

  • @lexbro
    @lexbro3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for your deeply moving comments on the people who have suffered so much pain, grief, and ill treatment with such great dignity....as musicians and as people we all owe more to them than words will ever express

  • @jeffpf38
    @jeffpf384 жыл бұрын

    Jay, thank you so much for making this video. With what is going on in the world, it means a lot that you would take the time to not only address the issue, but also to acknowledge how jazz fits into what is going on. It is such a great reminder of what we have been given by African-American culture, as well as the fact that we cannot take for granted the struggle that they still have to deal with on a daily basis in the year 2020. Your words were very eloquent and really hit the point. I am very proud to watch and subscribe to your channel bro!

  • @cliveastle9372
    @cliveastle93722 жыл бұрын

    THIS video is required listening over and over and over for all Tenor players! Just now I watched it again and learnt so much more that I didn't hear earlier. Thanks Jay for all that you do.

  • @sleepy-beagle
    @sleepy-beagle4 жыл бұрын

    Great tribute to the tenor saxophone players that played and lived through difficult times. I salute you.

  • @thethesaxman23
    @thethesaxman234 жыл бұрын

    I was so thrilled to see that Hank Mobley made the list! He is my personal favorite and I think Soul Station is probably my favorite jazz album! The tracks swing so hard and his solos are so lyrical that they are practically their own melodies. He may not have been in the stratosphere like Coltrane or Sonny Rollins, but he was an absolute master at making music for the listener rather than for himself!

  • @coleashley6010

    @coleashley6010

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hank Mobley has got to be one of the most underrated, yet amazing musician

  • @justinberkley3909

    @justinberkley3909

    4 жыл бұрын

    My friend Brett Kirby introduced me to Soul Station and described him as such: “he’s so in...always in...he’s laying it all out there and all of it...everything is right”

  • @stevel6895

    @stevel6895

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hank Mobley, the middle weight champion of the tenor sax, AKA Hankenstein ...

  • @brunoturgeon7978

    @brunoturgeon7978

    3 жыл бұрын

    Cameron Melendez Music ńh

  • @caponsacchi9979

    @caponsacchi9979

    2 жыл бұрын

    I'd add to his Blue Note repertory his work as a sideman (e.g. his beautifully understated solo on Lee Morgan's "Ceora"). But also his work on Columbia (Sony) with Miles on "Live at the Blackhawk," Friday and Sat. nights. His solo on Friday night's "Bye Bye Blackbird" not only surpasses Miles' solo but is one of the most soulful, heart-rending statements ever played on a Selmer Mark VI.

  • @ralphgillies8614
    @ralphgillies86142 жыл бұрын

    Time spent in Copenhague, París, Vietnam in 58, & 59 listening to these masters is why I play jazz on different saxes. I am 82 and still working to play better.

  • @petegalindez9961
    @petegalindez99614 жыл бұрын

    Jay...WOW! I made your intro required viewing for the whole family (my wife and two teenage sons). For me, this was an epiphany...I've played music most of my life (age 51 now) and love Jazz (more smooth Jazz, fusion jazz on trumpet, and jazz rock - David Sanborn, Dave Koz, Michael Lington, Maynard Ferguson, Chuck Mangione, you get the picture). I've tried to get into the more traditional jazz but could never understand the long solos that seemingly went on forever, and often didn't seem like they followed the melody of the original piece...your intro put that into perspective. I could be completely wrong, but to me, given the times as you stated, music (Jazz in this case) was a portal for these awesome human beings and musicians, to escape into their own worlds where they truly were free...You've given me new ears Jay...can't wait to start cranking some good old time jazz tomorrow and see what I hear...Thank you and be well.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks. Going back and listening to the lineage of all this music helps us enjoy the more contemporary stuff even more. Puts everything in better perspective. Also, it's normal to not always have a full appreciation for the bebop era music at first.

  • @jakestake5914
    @jakestake59144 жыл бұрын

    12:17: "Dexter played the lick!"

  • @fabianvanderknaap2102

    @fabianvanderknaap2102

    4 жыл бұрын

    My hero

  • @EmanSax03

    @EmanSax03

    4 жыл бұрын

    i was about to comment this too😂 what a mad lad

  • @thethesaxman23

    @thethesaxman23

    4 жыл бұрын

    lol I didn’t even catch that the first time around

  • @phila2361

    @phila2361

    4 жыл бұрын

    Wondered if anyone else noticed 😁

  • @isails-ispinnakers

    @isails-ispinnakers

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@phila2361 17:56.. som'nnn like that....

  • @beefart100
    @beefart1004 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Jay, your acknowledgement of the black American sources and the cultural riches of this music is so apt at this time. Such an important message!

  • @Filipe_Alexandre_
    @Filipe_Alexandre_4 жыл бұрын

    I love to listen you playing, and I love the way you talk, being so sincere and sentimental. You are such a good person Jay, for real.

  • @Redpackman
    @Redpackman3 жыл бұрын

    You've got to have Zoot Sims in the A list. Glad he's in the "honorable mention," but he belongs at the top end. He made dozens of albums and the general consensus was that all of them "swung." Zoot believed that one should hear the melody and then the artist could go from there but never stray so far that you forgot what he was playing...or thought they forgot. He had the most wonderful jazz lines out there. He could play hot and fast...Check him with Gerry Mulligan's band playing "Apple Core," or in his rare performance from Yamagata, Japan (on KZread) playing "The Very Thought of You." The latter being so tender and musical it will absolutely melt you. Zoot is the top of my tenor list. You knew what he was playing and you liked it.

  • @SStone-dm7es
    @SStone-dm7es6 ай бұрын

    First time I ever heard a white jazz musician talk so honestly about the legacy, social and racism situation of/for black players back in the day. Still a bit hairy now too, sadly. Kudos to you, man. You said it very well!

  • @directcurrent5751

    @directcurrent5751

    4 ай бұрын

    Said it very well

  • @robwest36

    @robwest36

    4 ай бұрын

    He’s talking more than listening 😢

  • @jimmyb1133
    @jimmyb11334 жыл бұрын

    Zoot Sims ! I remember seeing him live in NYC in a small night club . I think the club name was, The Half Note ? Not sure ... the thing I always remember was listening to Zoot warming up off stage and it was like listening to an actual performance .. I was so amazed. It sounded like water flowing it was so fast and smooth hearing him blazing through the scales ....

  • @deneencorcoran5917
    @deneencorcoran5917 Жыл бұрын

    My dad had solo albums also. SOMETHING- CORKY CORCORAN PLAYS SOMETHING, CORKY CORCORAN TRIO, CORKY CORCORAN PLAYS EVERYWHERE done with the Canada symphony Orchestra. He has been deemed the ballad master and you forgot him. Cant believe that. 24 years and no credit from media hardly at all. But when he passed, in 1979 all three of his kids Danny Deneen, and his oldest Deborah each recieved a plaque from the govenor for his contribution to the jazz era from 1940'-through 1977. Really an honor to have recieved thatt....

  • @abaachi13
    @abaachi133 жыл бұрын

    Dexter Gordon is my favorite sax player as well. He had it all... not to mention his "swag" was just incredible. I can listen to his versions of "Body and Soul' and "Tanya" all day everyday. These guys were Gods. Excellent list, I agree with it 100%. Thank you so much for sharing it, because many new players have no clue as to who these giants were.

  • @timobesamusca9332
    @timobesamusca93324 жыл бұрын

    Dexter, Stan & Hank are my personal favourites! Thx for the video and the historical perspective you gave, love that! Also the little facts about the horns, the mpc etc they used. And the footage of Parker cracking up next to The Hawk was beautiful, first time I saw this! Thx Jay 🙏🏼

  • @wolfgangsuehrer5405
    @wolfgangsuehrer54053 жыл бұрын

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS AND VERY OPEN-HEARTED APPRECIATION OF THE BLACK MUSICIANS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LISTENING PLEASURE OF JAZZ LOVERS ALL OVER THE WORLD. How much poorer would our earthly existence be without their artistry?

  • @softsoftsoft
    @softsoftsoft4 жыл бұрын

    thank you so much for acknowledging what black culture did for jazz music without sweeping it under the rug

  • @maliqued.wilkerson8327
    @maliqued.wilkerson83274 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for taking the time to recognize the influence that African Americans have had not just on Jazz, but in American music in general. Crazy to think that there once was a time when we weren’t allowed to sit at a table in certain clubs, but we were good enough to play in them. Thank you Jay. And I’d love to see you spend some time on Joe Henderson. He’s a BEAST!!!

  • @steveelsonnyc
    @steveelsonnyc3 жыл бұрын

    Jay. What a lovely intro to this wonderful video! So important to discuss the reality of racism in this context. Such reverence for the music requires us to understand and fight ongoing injustices at every turn. Much work to do, sadly.

  • @vKarl71
    @vKarl712 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your excellent introduction, reminding all of us of the destructive pressures of racism on all these great artists, pressures that surely shortened their lives. This is a wonderful list of great tenor men. And fantastic players on the scrolling list at the end, one of my faves being Johnny Griffen. He didn't have quite the kind of career or (as far as I know) influence of some of the others but his playing could have an explosiveness that was just electrifying. There are a couple of recordings of him with Bud Powell that are astounding. I love these videos - Thank You!!

  • @francistaylor5097
    @francistaylor50974 жыл бұрын

    Good man, Jay. Not even watched the list yet but wanted to comment on your intro. This is why I watch your channel and have purchased a course from your store. I completely agree with everything you said at the start. Thank you for your honesty and integrity.

  • @kmvenezia4337
    @kmvenezia43374 жыл бұрын

    I never missed Dexter when he played the Vangaurd in the 80's. Nice job J, It's virtually an impossible task.

  • @alisonross5970
    @alisonross59703 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Jay! Can't wait for the second & third sets, so many wonderful players. So very heartening to hear your comments on racism, injustice and equality and how jazz is inescapably intertwined with the history of the music. Peace & Love through music xx

  • @tanozen7544
    @tanozen75444 жыл бұрын

    Both of your videos about Tenor and Alto players really are inspring! The informations that you give about the backgrounds of the musicians, their embauchers, their equipments, their most used licks are very inspirational. I hope to see more of these videos. Thank you for what you are doing, you made me practice my alto sax until I can’t anymore :) I’ll be waiting for your videos

  • @directcurrent5751
    @directcurrent57514 ай бұрын

    Jay, thank you for steppping right into the intermorphication of black American music and Jim Crow American experience.

  • @wimlange8833
    @wimlange88334 жыл бұрын

    Well spoken intro, Jay. I totally agree. 10 inspirational tenor players for sure. Illinois Jaquet, Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins synchronise most with my inner sax strings, though...☺

  • @richardcomard4223
    @richardcomard42234 жыл бұрын

    I took a class at Hunter college in the 80's and Milt Hinton taught the class. He had us over his house(the whole class) for a BBQ on Long island. He asked me to go next door and ask Jackie for some mustard. I knock on the door and Illinois Jaquet(Jackie) handed me the mustard and said to say hi to Milt. Fun stuff.

  • @rodimusgamer7620

    @rodimusgamer7620

    3 жыл бұрын

    Lucky

  • @NadavHbr
    @NadavHbr4 жыл бұрын

    Great list and great video. For me - the number one omission is Don Byas, then come Wardell Gray and Benny Golson (if we focus on pre 1960 recordings). I would replace Jug and Stan Getz, or even Mobley if indeed we concentrate on pre 1960

  • @beezelite
    @beezelite3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for your opening statement regarding the origins and the hardship that the musicians underwent just to give birth to it. These are great videos and I'm sure we all appreciate your effort to educate. I'm a bassists and grew up in a house where my mother collected all of the great tenor players, in particular. Brings back a lot of memories!

  • @Thegdeaniii
    @Thegdeaniii4 жыл бұрын

    Pharoah Sanders, Charles Lloyd

  • @Simon.the.Likeable
    @Simon.the.Likeable4 жыл бұрын

    John Gilmore - often neglected because of his long tenure in Sun Ra's bands. However, the story of Trane jumping up on stage to announce his greatness and requesting a post-gig lesson must mean something in tenor sax folklore.

  • @Zynn16
    @Zynn16 Жыл бұрын

    I found your channel about 3 weeks ago and I love it!! I've recently purchased an alto sax (P Mauriat) after taking a break for over 10 years and listening to your channel and taking you lessons, I'm happy I picked it back up!! Thanks, Jay, for the sax history lessons and your amazing classes!!!

  • @FognarFoehammer
    @FognarFoehammer4 жыл бұрын

    Jay, I loved this video as well as the one on the alto players. Your analysis was very helpful and I really learned a lot. Keep ''em coming!

  • @model-tube3917
    @model-tube39174 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the intro context setting. The points you make are at the Center of making Art. My favorite for reasons I am still trying to articulate is Lester Young. His music speaks to me.

  • @scratchedvinyl8462
    @scratchedvinyl84624 жыл бұрын

    Ike Quebec! His playing on Heavy Soul is so unbelievably expressive. Great to see Mobley make the cut. Lovely video, Jay -- with a great message.

  • @Fuasimodo
    @Fuasimodo4 жыл бұрын

    Good job Jay. Thanks for all of this you said and done!

  • @thelaxophonist1644
    @thelaxophonist16443 жыл бұрын

    I'm from Kenya. About 10 years ago, while in college, I went to the States for a semester abroad, and my jazz orchestra instructor (Jason Harms) told me to listen to Dexter Gordon's 'GO'. It completely changed my life! Dexter Gordon remains to be one of my all-time 'Heroes of the Horn'.

  • @edleifer6719

    @edleifer6719

    11 ай бұрын

    Our man in Paris isn't bad either, but Dexter Gordan had quite a few really mice recordings.

  • @jp2861
    @jp28614 жыл бұрын

    Love this list. A favorite album of mine is Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster. Thanks for all you're doing for the saxophone world

  • @MrJColtrane68
    @MrJColtrane684 жыл бұрын

    I’d put Charlie Rouse up there. He had that distinctive sound that you can pick a mile away

  • @rollandmakinano1744
    @rollandmakinano17443 жыл бұрын

    I whole heartily agree. The old school jazz players from big band to bebop and the small quartet compared to the younger jazz musicians especially abroad, there is a subtle difference, even though their technique are the same of our older jazz musicians, the old school musicians had that smooth gritty soulful sound like you said, it reflected the era of that time span. Thanks for the history lesson. Music Appreciation 101.

  • @richardhenderson5508
    @richardhenderson55083 жыл бұрын

    I'd mention Britain's finest, Tubby Hayes, who had 'everything'; a huge sound, monumental stamina, formidable imagination and an astounding technique. In days where union restrictions limited the exposure of foreign musicians to American audiences, he played at the Half Note in 1961 (while Zoot Sims played at Ronnie Scott's club in London) to an audience including Miles Davis and recorded in NYC with Roland Kirk, James Moody and Clark Terry. He deputised for Paul Gonsalves at a Duke Ellington concert in 1964 and his mid to late 60s big band and quartet albums demonstrate his expertise in composition and arranging, plus his talent on the flute and vibes. He passed away aged 38 in 1973 but his memory stays alive through the film 'A Man in a Hurry' and the books 'The Long Shadow of the Little Giant' and 'The Life Behind The Tenor'.

  • @synesthesian7
    @synesthesian74 жыл бұрын

    Jay, Great tribute to those Jazz Tenors.,Sam Rivers is one I first heard and whose sound I was eager to emulate because of the raw primal elements of expressiveness I heard on not only on Tenor but on flute and piano as well. His 1972 Album “Hues” is one of my favorites and on which he, along with trio Barry Atschul, and Cecil McBee, take us through mysterious and uncharted areas of a jazz jungle wilderness. Sam exhibits such impeccable command of harmony on Saxes and flute that absence harmonic accompaniment isn’t even missed.

  • @SuperBandgeek1994
    @SuperBandgeek19944 жыл бұрын

    we should get a soprano and baritone version of this also!

  • @1241fifeanddrum
    @1241fifeanddrum4 жыл бұрын

    Spot on Jay!!! Always a pleasure watching your videos ... Hope you are well!

  • @gradyparks5249
    @gradyparks52493 жыл бұрын

    Jay, you did an awesome job putting this list together with the video clips. Excellent choices and most importantly, your reasons why!

  • @RevolutionTutors
    @RevolutionTutors2 жыл бұрын

    I love all of your videos, but this (and the alto video of the same style) must be my favorite. What a way to get exposed to more saxophonists. I love the experience of listening alongside you so much I think it would be really cool if you made more content like this. Of just listening to a song or live performance and you pausing it every so often and explaining The Who, what and why, transposing licks etc. I would listen to hours of content like that and grow a lot as a saxophonist I imagine. I don’t know if it’s just me, but jazz seems particularly hard to get into by just listening on my own. There is so much history that a new listener lacks. Who is playing, what are they known for, what song are they playing and what is it’s significance. More of this type of content would be a huge help. Either way, you have been killing it. Good luck with that upcoming event in the UK. I’m based out of NY but was half considering jumping on a plane to come out. Keep it up legend.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the comment. Have more like this planned.

  • @bradyplaysbari9866
    @bradyplaysbari98664 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for including Hank Mobley! He's my favorite sax player and Soul Station is also my favorite album.

  • @amenentuet

    @amenentuet

    2 жыл бұрын

    HANK MOBLEY: NO ROOM FOR SQUARES !!!

  • @ignaciofeito7424
    @ignaciofeito74243 жыл бұрын

    Excellent work Jay, keep up doing what you're doing!

  • @patemblen3644
    @patemblen36444 жыл бұрын

    That''s a list loaded with some absolutely beautiful music. It was so gorgeous to listen to! Thanks so much Jay, love your taste and your decency.

  • @martinkimber1203
    @martinkimber12034 жыл бұрын

    Been listening to a lot of Scott Hamilton lately ,love his sound .

  • @ericgrum

    @ericgrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    I'm with you re Scott Hamilton

  • @ericgrum

    @ericgrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    ...More contemporary era, though

  • @glyphics1943
    @glyphics19434 жыл бұрын

    Let’s have some love for Lucky Thompson, another expat who is overlooked.

  • @SELMER1947

    @SELMER1947

    3 жыл бұрын

    Oh yes and his " Just one more chance " record is one of the greatest tenor solo ever !!!

  • @AshtonDeVaughn
    @AshtonDeVaughn2 жыл бұрын

    Everything about this video was phenomenal and much appreciated! Thank you so much for being INTENTIONAL. You’ve earned a fan!

  • @wadestewart5407
    @wadestewart54074 жыл бұрын

    My favorite list to date. Insightful, respectful and fun your presentation highlights the humanity of a difficult topic and provides a new lens through which to approach the music. To think that such beauty could come forth through the heartbreak and pressure endured by the artists is astonishing. Thank you, Jay.

  • @artgrusensky121
    @artgrusensky1214 жыл бұрын

    let's get James Moody in there somewhere. His recordings never matched his live performances. What a beautiful spirit he was too.

  • @SacBillM3

    @SacBillM3

    4 жыл бұрын

    Agreed!

  • @AndalusianIrish

    @AndalusianIrish

    4 жыл бұрын

    And his flute playing!

  • @edleifer6719

    @edleifer6719

    3 жыл бұрын

    Try 4A and 4B if you like James Moody.

  • @willtisdale9899
    @willtisdale98994 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Jay. These history lessons are my favorite videos you make.

  • @willtisdale9899

    @willtisdale9899

    4 жыл бұрын

    Also, Sonny Rollins is my fave ;)

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, glad to hear that.

  • @saxesq
    @saxesq4 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely fantastic video, Jay. Thanks for all of your insight.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    4 жыл бұрын

    thanks Jeff

  • @marklevitt5507
    @marklevitt55074 жыл бұрын

    Great video Jay, thanks. I'm learning so much from your videos

  • @mildhenry
    @mildhenry2 жыл бұрын

    Nice one Jay.....rightly mentioned the political and historical background to this iconic music. Difficult choice of who to leave out of the list but I think you nailed the main 'leaders' Love your 'Better Sax' video's, keep up your great work!

  • @parker550
    @parker5504 жыл бұрын

    Hank Mobley... Glad you included him the most underrated player of that era, lyrical improviser and no chromatical blagger... Massive discography.. Bop to ballads, tone to die for... 'I should Care'.. Wow... Ike Quebec... Blue and Sentimental album proves his finesse... Good collation... But I'd never doubted it👍🎷

  • @juancpgo

    @juancpgo

    3 жыл бұрын

    Don Byas I think was the most underrated one.

  • @SidLaw500

    @SidLaw500

    3 жыл бұрын

    Mobley is special in so many ways.

  • @iframes2d
    @iframes2d6 ай бұрын

    I really enjoyed the video. Very informative and broaden my knowledge of the genres. My vinyls collection will grow for sure😊

  • @peterhorah7884
    @peterhorah78844 жыл бұрын

    Great video and list; and you give a good explanation and reason for doing it. I love your own playing to illustrate a motif or riff. I have so much to learn!

  • @rkomada88
    @rkomada884 жыл бұрын

    Harold Land needs some love. Remember Joy Spring, with Clifford Brown...............

  • @flaminghakama

    @flaminghakama

    3 жыл бұрын

    It may be blasphemous to say this, but I enjoyed Land's playing with Clifford & Max much more than their other tenor.

  • @fullriptide

    @fullriptide

    3 жыл бұрын

    Flaming Hakama lol not blasphemous, but it is definitely blasphemy to refer to sonny Rollins as “the other tenor”..

  • @ObeytheRussianBlue
    @ObeytheRussianBlue4 жыл бұрын

    Give me Ben Webster’s “more with less” ALL DAY LONG! Would rather listen to Ben Webster than all the others, although I appreciate the technical wizardry of all the other “dense” stylists! Ben’s style is the ideal to me! Thanks for the list! 🚀

  • @rwclaw1

    @rwclaw1

    3 жыл бұрын

    I second the motion! And no one owned "Stardust" like Ben. I must have listened to a dozen recordings of his playing that song, and he can break your heart just playing the melody.

  • @tenorsfan7492

    @tenorsfan7492

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@rwclaw1 That may have been true until Herschel Evans' recording was discovered about ten years ago.

  • @dr.a4707
    @dr.a47074 жыл бұрын

    Hey Jay -- Another fine job presenting important music in its context. Your words about these players reflecting their lives through their music are timely, sincere and noteworthy. The list you've put together here is thoughtful, impressive and representative of the best of the era. Aspiring players are offered a smorgasbord of some of the very finest tenor players in jazz. Well done!

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    4 жыл бұрын

    thanks!

  • @angus7278
    @angus72782 жыл бұрын

    So pleased to hear Dexter Gordon is your favourite. Mine too! :) I agree with ALL your points!

  • @jessstuart7495
    @jessstuart74954 жыл бұрын

    Joe Henderson should have made this list.

  • @echoes675

    @echoes675

    3 жыл бұрын

    @Marco Huevo Would Wayne Shorter would fall into this group of tenor player too do you think?

  • @StephenB_LE9
    @StephenB_LE94 жыл бұрын

    Jay - a really sensitive intro and close out. Thank you.

  • @florinneculai2552
    @florinneculai25524 жыл бұрын

    Finally, we see another good stuff, thanks Jay, all the best!

  • @steveriley-snelling1929
    @steveriley-snelling19294 жыл бұрын

    A brilliant list. Thanks for the compilation and the education.

  • @DHall-kr4vl
    @DHall-kr4vl3 жыл бұрын

    Splendid presentation. That list was short of some great names but that is a good problem. Thanks for your scholarship. David Hall

  • @msavage7779
    @msavage77793 жыл бұрын

    Great list, and greater message for truth and understanding! I vote for you next list to include Eddie Harris.

  • @rudyjoe7686

    @rudyjoe7686

    Жыл бұрын

    "Listen Here" kicked off jazz for me. I was just a teenage kid but that set me on my way into jazz til this day at 67.

  • @andyisacsson7503
    @andyisacsson7503 Жыл бұрын

    I’m watching a lot of the vids on this channel and each one is great , this is a particular gem…with a message that’s needs to be said.

  • @johnvallis7223
    @johnvallis72234 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, Jay! Great stuff, as usual.

  • @bensherman1628
    @bensherman16284 жыл бұрын

    this list is awesome next do bari players PLEASE (and include lars gullin)

  • @wimlange8833

    @wimlange8833

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yes, bari players next, please ☺

  • @andrew4282

    @andrew4282

    4 жыл бұрын

    Why not soprano... Kenny G😍😍😍😍

  • @kiptronix

    @kiptronix

    3 жыл бұрын

    yes bari please...include joe temperly fot us brits.

  • @billcomstock835
    @billcomstock8354 жыл бұрын

    This is wonderful! I love everything about this. Please, do all the saxes, especially soprano. 😁

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Will do!

  • @sarahmicklewright

    @sarahmicklewright

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yes, seconded, awesome series, especially looking forward to a soprano one!

  • @RevolutionTutors

    @RevolutionTutors

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@bettersax looking for the soprano version!!! Badly need it

  • @philiphowardmiller1637
    @philiphowardmiller16373 жыл бұрын

    Thank you again Jay, another wonderful, informative video - loved the way you shared your knowledge regarding the tenor and mouthpiece each artist was playing. Lot of research but for the viewer so rich in content. Wonderful!

  • @SModex777
    @SModex7773 жыл бұрын

    The intro to this video was just Awesome Jay. I love it.

  • @ovidiugurban9601
    @ovidiugurban96014 жыл бұрын

    Amazing!!! Make part 2 and 3 ! Make this about Soprano and Bari

  • @Danieldiazsax

    @Danieldiazsax

    4 жыл бұрын

    MyRackley lol the last one 😂😂😂

  • @krzysiekkondrat2513

    @krzysiekkondrat2513

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@MyRackley Kenny G is a piece of sh**, he plays boring pentatonic licks - listen Pat Metheny talking about him. And you forgot about Wayne Shorter, and Dave Liebman, he is great contemporary jazz saxophonist.

  • @krzysiekkondrat2513

    @krzysiekkondrat2513

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@MyRackley I didn't get it!

  • @cookieman136

    @cookieman136

    4 жыл бұрын

    MyRackley Leo P (Pelligrino) - Is that who you’re thinking of in the subway? Talk about innovative style - he belongs on the list.

  • @SacBillM3
    @SacBillM34 жыл бұрын

    Jay - A wonderful lesson, both musically and -- more importantly -- historically. I really appreciate YOUR obvious appreciation of these great African American musicians to our musical and national history. And the music they created, as you intimated, is GREAT! Thanks for the information and edification. Peace - Bill Madison

  • @pamelatrent9674
    @pamelatrent96743 жыл бұрын

    Very good list and thanks for sharing the history, and definitely thank you for caring!

  • @FarrinD12
    @FarrinD124 жыл бұрын

    Amazing video Jay!! Thanks for taking the time to share some history and the importance of #bam!

  • @joeblankenship377
    @joeblankenship3774 жыл бұрын

    Johnny Griffin, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, and Charlie Rouse would've made my tenor list. And now I'm really interested to see the bari sax list from the pre-1960 era. Lemme see, there's Gerry Mulligan, Cecil Payne, Serge Chaloff, Leo Parker, Pepper Adams, Sahib Shihab, Harry Carney.... so that's 7. Hopefully I learn a new one. I'd never heard Leo Parker til a year or two ago. I'm guessing there's gotta be some more bari players flying under the radar.

  • @brianbillings6815

    @brianbillings6815

    4 жыл бұрын

    Love Lockjaw Davis. Under-rated.

  • @Growald

    @Growald

    4 жыл бұрын

    Claire Daly for sure !

  • @frankmcdonough2086

    @frankmcdonough2086

    3 жыл бұрын

    Saw Lockjaw with the Basie band in Liverpool in the 50's. WHat a player. What emotion!

  • @kpoudavoff
    @kpoudavoff4 жыл бұрын

    Dex lives. Btw it’s Johnny Griffin (it was Griffen in the end captions). Nice video Jay!

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, I guess you didn't notice my other mistakes then...

  • @Simon.the.Likeable

    @Simon.the.Likeable

    4 жыл бұрын

    *Booker Ervin

  • @HowardJacksongroover

    @HowardJacksongroover

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yeah man the Griffin and Stanley Turrentine. Hank Mobley was underated, but Ltd was and is my favourite. Great list very hard, thanks Jay x

  • @HowardJacksongroover

    @HowardJacksongroover

    4 жыл бұрын

    Long Tall Dexter!

  • @frankgreco4292
    @frankgreco42924 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic video Jay! Thanks!

  • @von.jazzaesthetic
    @von.jazzaesthetic Жыл бұрын

    The words in your introduction put me in a state of perpetual frozen animation. I literally couldn't move. Your forthright honesty and truthfulness hit me straight to the core of my soul. I just couldn't believe what I hearing. I am so overwhelmed and overjoyed by your words of acknowledgement and historical accuracy of the time periods of this, America's Original Artform was created and who were the innovators and spiritually gifted geniuses that developed this sound. And the term you called it "Black American Music" still has me buzzin! Your honesty and empathy rang truthfully from your heart, and I am so very grateful that I found your YT channel to experience it. My name is Von Coulter and I am a Program Director/Music Director for a start up internet radio station that is connected with a group in Oklahoma City, OK. To develop a State Of The Art World Class Museum dedicated to the preservation of America's Original Artform, what we know as Black American Classical Music. "From The Belly Of The Slaveship's".

  • @stilo2703
    @stilo27034 жыл бұрын

    Good list. I made my own list before watching: Trane, rollins, dex, mobley, lester, joehen, wayne shorter, hawk, getz, stitt (I know some of these guys were a bit after 1960 but Jay didn't have all of his list before 1960 so whatever)

  • @Aaron-Qman
    @Aaron-Qman4 жыл бұрын

    Well said! Great list as well🎶 But let's also not forget that most of all genres we listen to in America came from blacks. Everyone has to acknowledge and realize that Rock and Roll, Country & Blues were created by African Americans. The creation of jazz is just one of many accolades.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    4 жыл бұрын

    All popular music from the 20th century onward is a direct descendant of black culture and influence.

  • @Aaron-Qman

    @Aaron-Qman

    4 жыл бұрын

    Better Sax Exactly my point! Thank you for making great content as always and keeping it real.

  • @EVOWORLD13
    @EVOWORLD133 жыл бұрын

    Hi Jay! Thanks for another great video! You included almost all of my favorite tenor men! I saw Stan Getz live, and I had a chance to talk to him. He was onstage smoking a cigarette, and when it was time for him to play, he stuck it on his sax! My favorite Tenor Sax is a Martin, Naked Lady, with an Otto Link mouthpiece! One of my favorite tenor men is Grover Washington JR. I saw him live and he put on a great show! I know he is not known as a straight ahead Jazz player, but he is definitely worth checking out! Please keep up the good work! :-)

  • @nhr27
    @nhr274 жыл бұрын

    What a great history lesson. Thank you for this Jay!

  • @taylorchurch5580
    @taylorchurch55804 жыл бұрын

    Booker Ervin would have made my list somewhere up there

  • @santih5043
    @santih50434 жыл бұрын

    Again, this series is terrific. I'm a visual artist and professor but I also play jazz drums. I appreciate the connections that you make between music, art, and history. These musicians have been just as influential to my work as a painter as the work of visual artists. This list was perfect, but I'd also like to mention one of my favorite ballad interpreters-- Ike Quebec.

  • @CharEst13
    @CharEst134 жыл бұрын

    I just bought your Mastery Bundle, excited to learn from you Jay! I've been watching your videos for the past 6 months and finally took the plunge and bought everything I need to get started.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    4 жыл бұрын

    Awesome! Thank you!

  • @eddiebowers3437
    @eddiebowers34373 жыл бұрын

    Just listened to about an hour of BetterSax. What a great series of clips helping to build understanding and appreciation. Also intelligent comments on the impact of racism on musical culture. Thanks so much!