Really nice sequence, no quarrels with any. But, to extend it, maybe Tina Brooks? That Brazil 63 clip with Ray Charles gives you Tina PLUS Fathead Newman! And then there's Bill Barron, Mobley, Barney Wilen, Tubby Hayes, Lucky Thompson...hey, where's Lucky, got to gave Lucky!
It's so sad almost no one knows who John Gilmore is, especially considering the fact that Trane took lessons from Gilmore and took a lot of inspiration from his playing. Additionally, on the topic of tenor players that Trane took inspiration from even in his later years may I mention Albert Ayler, I know there is virtually no free jazz on this channel but still, it's a travesty such a great player basically unknown.
I agree on Gilmore... I wish Ayler isn't in the list because he's considered one of the great. other guys could be, Pharoah Sanders (a close relative to Bernie Sanders I guess :)) and Gato Barbieri, too. or James Moody and Clifford Jordan...I would had avoided Harold Land, Lockjaw, Nistico (that here is the top player)... I think these men are more important than Harold Land and other guys in this list. regarding this list my top player would be Paul Gonsalves...
yes - a lot of people know Booker Ervin, too, since he played a lot with Mingus, nevertheless he can be considered "underrated" ... I've got your point close to mine regarding Ayler - but I think that the real point is that "Bernie Sanders" prefers "straight" jazz :)
Agreed, I like very few of the things on this channel, as much as people don't like me for it I'm not a fan of Chris Potter, Michael Brecker and most of the tenor players on this channel. My favourites being Coltrane, Shorter, and a whole lot of free jazz guys, like Ornette, Dolphy, Pharoah and the like.
Add- Hank Mobley JR Monterose Sonny Stitt Nathan Davis Tina Brooks Bobby Jaspar Byas and Wardell footage is excellent. Also, I hadn't heard of Sal Nistico. Fantastic. Thanks!
when i first heard charlie rouse play it was on the "monk's dream" record and i couldn't believe i didn't know the name of someone who played so wonderfully and also was completely *IN SYNC* with monk and his style, really it sounded to me as if they grew up together or something man, what a great great player. R.I.P both to charlie and monk that gave us some lighthearted and fabulous music to make us laugh on a dreary day.
Great video until #1 but worth the trip. Booker Ervin, Harold Land, and the truly undervalued Charlie Rouse did it for me. George Coleman still playing!!!!
Everybody knows Fathead Newman´s Solo on "I Got A Woman", but who knows Fathead the bebop player (also soulful flutist)? Black hard boppers of the west coast like Curtis Amy are also generally underrated. Allen Eager - at 18 - was one of the greatest players of his time.
@@JS-dt1tn Speed Warne has (for example his cuts of "Subconscious Lee". Just checked out acut from the date with Mosca at ua-cam.com/video/LnvTVbBRWrQ/v-deo.html, and I hear the same wobbly intonation, a not very interesting tenor tone either.
Coming from England, I'd have to mention Edward "Tubby" Hayes. If you can imagine a player who somehow combined Stan Getz, Johnny Griffin and John Coltrane, yet still sounded completely like himself, you're getting close. Physically, he rather resembled Sal Nistico (shown here), and had his fluency and powerful tone. Two other players based in England (but originally from the West Indies) were the tenor saxist Wilton "Bogey" Gaynair and a stupendous alto player, Joe Harriott, who, like Hayes, died far too young.
What a find. Stumbled upon this and what great archived videos. Monk is my all time favorite musician, Charlie Rouse played for him at the apex of his career. I wish the Wardell Gray clip had been longer, I have his work in my collection. Thanks for reminding me how good Don Byas was. Gave it a like. Many thanks.
Great bunch of clips of some excellent players. Yet no one mentioned Harold Vick or Jim Pepper. Talk about underrated. They are in my top 4 of ALL TIME. Seeing Harold play with George Coleman in the Shirley Scott group (with Eddie Gladden on drums) in some small Jazz joint in Jersey was one of the greatest two tenor experiences ever Love Always Hu Ra Kalam
My favorite tenor saxophonists are "the usual suspects," but among them, Lester Young and Booker Ervin (with Mingus and as a leader, co-leader, sideman) have been my "go-to" tenor saxophonists for some time. I'm glad you opened up your video with that footage of Ervin - when I saw him displayed in the "up next" videos, it caught my attention right away. Interesting to see Harold Land outside of the Brown-Roach hard bop context, and the clips you had of George Coleman and Sal Nistico were knock-outs! Thanks for uploading!
Great choices. I agree with others that Hank Mobley is also very deserving, but as you point out, there seems to be no existing video footage of him, which is tragic. Thanks for including Charlie Rouse and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - two more of my personal favorites!
Lockjaw remains my personal favorite by having the most unique sound/style of all time (other than Coltrane) but all these guys are MAGNIFICENT artists. Sal is spectacular at the end. SENSATIONAL STUFF!!!!! Inspires me to practice some more.....LOL.
Wow! Thanks for taking the time to compile this video and posting it. I might include Georgie Auld and Don Byas? And I will take exception to calling Eddie Lockjaw Davis and Paul Gonsalves underrated......most jazz fans/musicians regard them highly. Since I'm an old fogey, I don't know the modern ones as well, but I'm so glad that they are keeping jazz alive, and for people like yourself who put great music on you tube.
So nice to find your post here, Senator. Very interesting and I couldn't agree more with all your comments about this marvelous American art form. I'm familiar with all but one, Sal Nistico. I see he played with The Thundering Herd. I'll have to give a listen . It's great to know that you support this music among all your other worthwhile pursuits. Thanks for All you do. My whole family support your good work for our beleaguered nation. Please, keep up the good fight. Sincerely, Gene Sedita.
I used to play with the Miller Orchestra and I always liked finding new tenor sounds of underrated guys. Thank you so much for putting this list together. And your #1 is my absolute favorite!!! I heard him when I was 14 and loved him ever since.
Red Prysock, Sil Austin (Jazz), Carter Jefferson, Antoine Roney, Bill Beasley, Joe Farrell, flip Philips, Hershell Evans, Johnny Boards, Chu Berry, Frank Foster, Eric Dixon, Dick Morrissey, Andy Sheppard, Courtney Pine, Billy Pierce, Budd Johnson, Buddy Tate, Gene Ammons, David Newman.Don Freeman, David Sanchez, Javon Jackson, Victor Goines, Camille Thurman...
Bernie, this is a great post and I've been back to listen several times. It has really got me thinking of tone again and why my favourite bop tenor player is Booker Ervin. He has the most modern sound, imho, of the ten. It is like Trane's sound, only more up there. The others who are closest here are Rouse and Coleman. One of the things about Booker's playing that gets me is his use of the cry, like at 0:15 here, maybe that's a Texas tenor thing.
Thanks so much so sharing! I want to add Virginia Mayhew, Ellery Eskelin, Paul Dunmall, Glenn Spearman, Kidd Jordan and David S. Ware, Von Freeman, David Boykin, Fred Anderson, John Gilmore, and Dewey Redman.
It's a wonderful list with great players playing so well, and, it automatically leads us to imagine and create another ten, and another, etc, ad infinitum. The wonderful tenor sax, (my horn, favourite playing, listening, thinking...
Great video! Thanks for turning me on to some people. On the note of Land, I have no idea how he's so relatively underappreciated since so many players that get lots of love were big fans of Land's
Glad you had Nistico on the list. He was one I thought of right away. Saw him with Woody a couple of times in the 60's. That was one of the best bands of all time. Also- Don Menza and JR Monterose worth checking out. Ditto for Lew Tabakin.
There were many more than that ,these are the jazz greats ,not as big careers as the giants of jazz but to all us jazzers equal in value for there contribution to the jazz world and history.they lived the life but not as famous.i agree with Maestro Curtis Comments and very well put. also to me Don Byas was the grandfather of jazz and a jazz giant.so was lockjaw.Charlie Rouse with monk is jazz history right there.Tubby Hayes from UK should not be forgotten in these lists as well as many more.This is Not underrated it is just jazz history plain and simple and should be known about by any jazz player today.
Great list. Thank you Mr. Sanders. Several persons I definitely want to add to this list are John Gilmore, Bill Barron, David Newman, Junior Cook ..................and, most of all, RUDOLPH JOHNSON !!!
I've heard of all of the players except Conrad but you omitted Hank Mobley but glad you listed Harold Land, Booker Ervin, Don Byas, Charlie Rouse, Paul Gonsalves, George Coleman and Sal Nistico in the batch---all great tenor players.
I have to vote for Hank Mobley too. I would put him in the #1 position, since he created such a phenomenal body of work--only to be dismissed as the "Middleweight Champion!"
Hank Mobley EASILY the most underrated saxophonist F R E E. It's probably because he wasn't as known for his composing, which is what made many of the other tenor saxophonists more well-known. His soloing is absolutely perfect!!
Not that Hank's compositions became standards, but one look at his discography makes it clear he was a prolific composer. From what I've read, Hank was shy and not someone who gave much of a shit about being in the limelight. But man could he swing. Anyway, Hank, Joe Farrell, Jimmy Heath - the underrated list is a tragically long one.
These guys are all really incredible but I think the reason they are underrated is that a majority of them have sounds very similar to that of John Coltrane and Charlie Parker - which is an amazing thing to achieve but what this video says is that if you don't have a unique voice on the sax then you won't do as well as the greats, which is hard enough to achieve in itself.
I love the list! Thanks for creating this.... although, I am biased to George Coleman and didn’t see Hank Mobley who was in the shadow of Trane and Sonny. Paul Gonsalve’s solo at the 1955 Newport Jazz festival with the Duke and he’s from New England makes him a heavy weight. Where’s Billy Pierce? I miss Boots Randolph too
Booker Erwin, Don Byas!!, Harold Land, Larry McKenna(new to me), Wardell Gray!!, Paul Gonsalves!, Charlie Rouse, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, George Coleman,, Sal Nistico(new to me) Thanks for posting! Now I got two more to listen to.
I honestly think that Gonsalves would deserve more attention: his solo in Diminuendo and Crescendo is a masterpiece with his ability in building up a whole formal arch and his harmonic hear was at least amazing... here he made incredible things on a simple blues
Seamus Blake should definitely be on this list - Since Coltrane has been "my musical hero" since 1959, I think I know what I'm talking about - "KEEP ENJOYING THE SOUNDS OF JAZZ" (especially my favorite instrument, the tenor sax)
Paul Gonsalves, Wardell Gray and Don Byas definitely. Harold Land has a very interesting and somewhat understated approach to the hard-bop style, similar to Coltrane but not nearly as shrill--stylistically somewhere between Coltrane and Wayne Shorter.
Chris vd Riet Nathan Davis, so smooth, soulful and gentle, I always hum his compositions when I feel good (esp. those he recorded with Woody Shaw, the trumpeter). He ended up in Germany, with the Kurt Edelhagen orchestra, like Carmell Jones and Leo Wright. And was never heard of again. Thanks Bernie, in general for posting this wonderful material, and esp. for including Wardell Gray and Sal Nistico, unsung heroes indeed (as they all are, perhaps except for Paul Gonsalves, whose very last solo I watched in Rotterdam NL -- there was little to listen to anymore, he died a few hours later -- and Eddie Lockjaw. Underrated, okay.)
Great Post ! However , when I Descend to My Man cave and Fire Up My System , Hank Mobley and Booker Ervin Are My Go to Men : NO ROOM FOR SQUARES / TEX BOOK TENOR ETC .
To me they are MASTERS! I realize Bird, Coltrane, Dexter got all the accolades but to us lifelong amateur jazz musicians an jazz junkies, we recognize all of them as a handful that can create at the high level!
Glad Booker's on that list. He's in my personal Top 5 as far as tenor players go and it wasn't even his first instrument (trombone was)! No surprise to see Coleman's name on there as well. Played on many historic sessions with some of jazz's biggest names back in the day, such as Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock for example. Think the most glaring omission was Hank Mobley, though. He could swing with the best of 'em and was an important figure on Blue Note during the hard-bop era in particular. Other than that, it's all good!
I don't think this video was posted as a competition as some of the comments here seem to desire... Sure, there are probably 100 or more tenor and alto players that were extraordinary, but lived and died in obscurity, only to be known by their contemporaries. What you hear in all of these these tenor players is there unique personalities, originality, passion and swing, which is something lost on so many of the young "college-educated soloist" of today. Good technique and the mastery of cliches can get you noticed and take you so far, but in the process, the magic you hear here is dying a slow death.
Wonderful, Prez! Paul Quinnochette and Bud Johnson... Booker and Sal were swift - "Breckerish" (Michael) in quality of licks. Larry McKenna is a sweetheart - so orthodox and constant. All are great guys - some unsung; all, heroes. Wardell Gray and Dexter Gordon were friendly combatants. Had Wardell Gray survived longer... boy, oh, boy! Woe unto Dex (just kidding)
if u do an underrated trumpet top 10 Stu Williamson must be near the top.He was on 'more swingin sounds' with Shelley Manne and Charlie Mariano.Died a penniless drug addict.All jazz fans should check him out.
I guess it depends how you like and judge your sax playing. Just as you can't compare Kenny Burrell's guitar to Jimi Hendrix there are many types of style and sound. IMO one of the top 10 was Bill Barron., who most chose to ignore. Just listen to his Modern Windows (Suite), The Tenor Styling's of Bill Baron and Hot Line Albums back to back to back from the early 1960's. Bill's flaw was he did not record much. Those albums are classic if not masterpieces. Very improvisational, avant-guard and unique.
All these cats are excellent and backed up by some some great players. They can set the mood and elicit emotion. As far as who is the best, I think that would be matter of opinion and personal preference. I defer to their colleagues to make that judgement
IMO There are also other, younger underrated players as well - some of which are still alive: Gary Bartz, Bob Berg (RIP), Gary Thomas, Azar Lawrence, Sonny Fortune, Steve Grossman, David Binney, to name a handful.
I, too, was not familiar either with Larry McKenna. He has a Great sound, agility and facility. We must keep their legacy alive. They gave so much to the music that was not too friendly to them or the era or they disappeared to soon. Thanks for exposing these skillful musicians as well.
Paul Gonzalez got a lot of rhythm. You can hear it on this recording. This cat is swinging like Art Blakey. Tarzan doesn’t have anything on him. After leaving the War ll, he played with Count Basie in the 40’s to the 50’s and with Dizzy during this interim space. He joined Duke sometime in the 50’s. No wonder this cat blew from From Bedford Massachusetts to Harlem USA. He swung like a gymnast on the double bar. His sound, range and facility on the tenor saxophone was ingenuity. Listen to his rhythm. He is dancing upon the invisible air with the rhythmic section, especially the perfect timing of the heartbeat of the drummer and the precision of the pianist. Go, go, go Paul Gonzalez got rhythm! Like releasing a wild horse from the stable.
Eddie lockjaw Davis makes it sound so easy until you have to get up and play and run up and down the chromatic scale like you got good timing and direction and a scream like a freight train pulled into the yard.
Eddie lockjaw Davis makes it sound so easy until you have to get up and play and run up and down the chromatic scale like you got good timing and direction and a scream like a freight train pulled into the yard.
I kind of agree with the list with an exception. Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis being underrated ? By who? Definitely not the musicians. He's one of the few players that could hang with Johnny Griffin note for note.
.....joe farrell, lucky thompson, joe lovano, jimmy heath, clifford jordan, johnny griffin, sam rivers, john gilmore, archie shepp, john stubblefield, carter jefferson, pharoah sanders.... !!!!
Really nice sequence, no quarrels with any. But, to extend it, maybe Tina Brooks? That Brazil 63 clip with Ray Charles gives you Tina PLUS Fathead Newman! And then there's Bill Barron, Mobley, Barney Wilen, Tubby Hayes, Lucky Thompson...hey, where's Lucky, got to gave Lucky!
Great list! Although I agree Hank Mobley deserves a spot.
Jimmy Forrest was lead tenor in Count Basie's orchestra and wrote Night Train. Also played with Duke Ellington. Definitely underrated!
Joe Farrell and John Gilmore deserve to be on this list. Both were monsters on their horns
It's so sad almost no one knows who John Gilmore is, especially considering the fact that Trane took lessons from Gilmore and took a lot of inspiration from his playing. Additionally, on the topic of tenor players that Trane took inspiration from even in his later years may I mention Albert Ayler, I know there is virtually no free jazz on this channel but still, it's a travesty such a great player basically unknown.
I agree on Gilmore... I wish Ayler isn't in the list because he's considered one of the great. other guys could be, Pharoah Sanders (a close relative to Bernie Sanders I guess :)) and Gato Barbieri, too. or James Moody and Clifford Jordan...I would had avoided Harold Land, Lockjaw, Nistico (that here is the top player)...
I think these men are more important than Harold Land and other guys in this list.
regarding this list my top player would be Paul Gonsalves...
I was considering Pharoah as he's one of my personal favourites, but he did play with Trane so I would think that a lot of people would know him.
yes - a lot of people know Booker Ervin, too, since he played a lot with Mingus, nevertheless he can be considered "underrated" ... I've got your point close to mine regarding Ayler - but I think that the real point is that "Bernie Sanders" prefers "straight" jazz :)
Agreed, I like very few of the things on this channel, as much as people don't like me for it I'm not a fan of Chris Potter, Michael Brecker and most of the tenor players on this channel. My favourites being Coltrane, Shorter, and a whole lot of free jazz guys, like Ornette, Dolphy, Pharoah and the like.
Add-
Hank Mobley
JR Monterose
Sonny Stitt
Nathan Davis
Tina Brooks
Bobby Jaspar
Byas and Wardell footage is excellent. Also, I hadn't heard of Sal Nistico. Fantastic. Thanks!
Nistico was very fast and smooth in delivery...liked him the last man out of 10, but, just my personal opinion and preference!
when i first heard charlie rouse play it was on the "monk's dream" record and i couldn't believe i didn't know the name of someone who played so wonderfully and also was completely *IN SYNC* with monk and his style, really it sounded to me as if they grew up together or something man, what a great great player. R.I.P both to charlie and monk that gave us some lighthearted and fabulous music to make us laugh on a dreary day.
Charlie Rouse was the man it had to be challenging to play like that with Monk!!!!
Indeed, Charlie Rouse was the tenor who fit Monk's music better than any other. And I mean, better than Sonny Rollins or Johnny Griffin.
Booker Ervin! George Coleman! I may be a bit more of a modernist, but how about Clifford Jordan + Dewey Redman?
And we have Arnett Cobb, who by my estimation is pretty underrated. : )
Another great list! However I'm partial to Larry McKenna myself since I studied with for 4 years. What a teacher and gentleman!!!
Great video until #1 but worth the trip. Booker Ervin, Harold Land, and the truly undervalued Charlie Rouse did it for me. George Coleman still playing!!!!
Everybody knows Fathead Newman´s Solo on "I Got A Woman", but who knows Fathead the bebop player (also soulful flutist)? Black hard boppers of the west coast like Curtis Amy are also generally underrated. Allen Eager - at 18 - was one of the greatest players of his time.
Damn straight Sal Nistico #1
Bernie you're a smart man
I agree with Don Ross Hank Mobley should be #1.One of under rated sax player of all-time
Warne Marsh played circles around most these cats, and is even less known :0
cool vid bernie.
Played circles around them? In your dreams, man. And I've no liking for his excessively airy tone and wobbly intonation either.
@@blueyedboymrdeath man have you even dug live at the vanguard with sal mosca?
@@JS-dt1tn Speed Warne has (for example his cuts of "Subconscious Lee". Just checked out acut from the date with Mosca at ua-cam.com/video/LnvTVbBRWrQ/v-deo.html, and I hear the same wobbly intonation, a not very interesting tenor tone either.
Coming from England, I'd have to mention Edward "Tubby" Hayes. If you can imagine a player who somehow combined Stan Getz, Johnny Griffin and John Coltrane, yet still sounded completely like himself, you're getting close. Physically, he rather resembled Sal Nistico (shown here), and had his fluency and powerful tone.
Two other players based in England (but originally from the West Indies) were the tenor saxist Wilton "Bogey" Gaynair and a stupendous alto player, Joe Harriott, who, like Hayes, died far too young.
What a find. Stumbled upon this and what great archived videos. Monk is my all time favorite musician, Charlie Rouse played for him at the apex of his career. I wish the Wardell Gray clip had been longer, I have his work in my collection. Thanks for reminding me how good Don Byas was. Gave it a like. Many thanks.
Paul is the GOAT. Swinging af and super soulful
Great bunch of clips of some excellent players. Yet no one mentioned Harold Vick or Jim Pepper. Talk about underrated. They are in my top 4 of ALL TIME. Seeing Harold play with George Coleman in the Shirley Scott group (with Eddie Gladden on drums) in some small Jazz joint in Jersey was one of the greatest two tenor experiences ever Love Always Hu Ra Kalam
My favorite tenor saxophonists are "the usual suspects," but among them, Lester Young and Booker Ervin (with Mingus and as a leader, co-leader, sideman) have been my "go-to" tenor saxophonists for some time. I'm glad you opened up your video with that footage of Ervin - when I saw him displayed in the "up next" videos, it caught my attention right away. Interesting to see Harold Land outside of the Brown-Roach hard bop context, and the clips you had of George Coleman and Sal Nistico were knock-outs! Thanks for uploading!
Great choices. I agree with others that Hank Mobley is also very deserving, but as you point out, there seems to be no existing video footage of him, which is tragic.
Thanks for including Charlie Rouse and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - two more of my personal favorites!
Quinn - True about their being no known footage of Hank Mobley, these were MASTER musicians who should have been preserved on video for posterity.
Lockjaw remains my personal favorite by having the most unique sound/style of all time (other than Coltrane) but all these guys are MAGNIFICENT artists. Sal is spectacular at the end. SENSATIONAL STUFF!!!!! Inspires me to practice some more.....LOL.
Never heard of Larry McKenna, but great bit of playing. Reminds me of George Coleman when he was with Miles.
Larry McKenna Yeah! Still playing great!
England's Tubby Hayes is another to consider.
Clifford jordan is very underrated imo
Agree. A great yet underrated player for sure.
me too.
i am so suprised the tubby hayes isnt on here, a jazz giant that no one has heard of
Ervin's work with Mingus is some of his best, but this clip is really hot. What's it from? Is there more?
Wow! Thanks for taking the time to compile this video and posting it. I might include Georgie Auld and Don Byas? And I will take exception to calling Eddie Lockjaw Davis and Paul Gonsalves underrated......most jazz fans/musicians regard them highly. Since I'm an old fogey, I don't know the modern ones as well, but I'm so glad that they are keeping jazz alive, and for people like yourself who put great music on you tube.
Sorry....I guess you included Don Byas.
So nice to find your post here, Senator. Very interesting and I couldn't agree more with all your comments about this marvelous American art form. I'm familiar with all but one, Sal Nistico. I see he played with The Thundering Herd. I'll have to give a listen . It's great to know that you support this music among all your other worthwhile pursuits. Thanks for All you do. My whole family support your good work for our beleaguered nation. Please, keep up the good fight. Sincerely, Gene Sedita.
I used to play with the Miller Orchestra and I always liked finding new tenor sounds of underrated guys. Thank you so much for putting this list together. And your #1 is my absolute favorite!!! I heard him when I was 14 and loved him ever since.
You're welcome!
Red Prysock, Sil Austin (Jazz), Carter Jefferson, Antoine Roney, Bill Beasley, Joe Farrell, flip Philips, Hershell Evans, Johnny Boards, Chu Berry, Frank Foster, Eric Dixon, Dick Morrissey, Andy Sheppard, Courtney Pine, Billy Pierce, Budd Johnson, Buddy Tate, Gene Ammons, David Newman.Don Freeman,
David Sanchez, Javon Jackson, Victor Goines, Camille Thurman...
Bernie, this is a great post and I've been back to listen several times. It has really got me thinking of tone again and why my favourite bop tenor player is Booker Ervin. He has the most modern sound, imho, of the ten. It is like Trane's sound, only more up there. The others who are closest here are Rouse and Coleman. One of the things about Booker's playing that gets me is his use of the cry, like at 0:15 here, maybe that's a Texas tenor thing.
Thanks so much so sharing! I want to add Virginia Mayhew, Ellery Eskelin, Paul Dunmall, Glenn Spearman, Kidd Jordan and David S. Ware, Von Freeman, David Boykin, Fred Anderson, John Gilmore, and Dewey Redman.
It's a wonderful list with great players playing so well, and, it automatically leads us to imagine and create another ten, and another, etc, ad infinitum. The wonderful tenor sax, (my horn, favourite playing, listening, thinking...
Great video! Thanks for turning me on to some people. On the note of Land, I have no idea how he's so relatively underappreciated since so many players that get lots of love were big fans of Land's
Any more, BIG Band is hardly heard of... sad rendition of now verses then. These guys were the Topps of their eras. What enjoyable music!
Charlie Rouse and Thelonious Sphere Monk are top from this selection. But in the 1st place should be Joe Farrell! Thank You!
Mmmm Paul Gonslaves
Amazing sound. I love his playing and phrasing
RED PRYSOCK, SIL AUSTIN, BUD JOHNSON, HERMAN RILEY, SAM "THE MAN" TAYLOR, IKE QUEBEC...
Glad you had Nistico on the list. He was one I thought of right away. Saw him with Woody a couple of times in the 60's. That was one of the best bands of all time.
Also- Don Menza and JR Monterose worth checking out. Ditto for Lew Tabakin.
Curtis Amy,Bootsie Barnes,Willie Akins,Bill Perkins,Earl Grubbs & SO many more!!!
There were many more than that ,these are the jazz greats ,not as big careers as the giants of jazz but to all us jazzers equal in value for there contribution to the jazz world and history.they lived the life but not as famous.i agree with Maestro Curtis Comments and very well put. also to me Don Byas was the grandfather of jazz and a jazz giant.so was lockjaw.Charlie Rouse with monk is jazz history right there.Tubby Hayes from UK should not be forgotten in these lists as well as many more.This is Not underrated it is just jazz history plain and simple and should be known about by any jazz player today.
Charlie Rouse! underrated big time.
Plas Johnson - still swinging at 91 yrs old.
Great list. Thank you Mr. Sanders. Several persons I definitely want to add to this list are John Gilmore, Bill Barron, David Newman, Junior Cook ..................and, most of all, RUDOLPH JOHNSON !!!
Good concept, now you’ve started something. Nice footage, great musicians ! More please !
I've heard of all of the players except Conrad but you omitted Hank Mobley but glad you listed Harold Land, Booker Ervin, Don Byas, Charlie Rouse, Paul Gonsalves, George Coleman and Sal Nistico in the batch---all great tenor players.
Don Byas gig video with Duke is pure gold. :D
My own nomination for underrated tenor player in America - the great Ron Dewar.
*Booker Ervin* - 0:00 - "Milestones" - K. Drew, p; J. Woode, b; E. Bateman, dr *65*, Belgium
*Don Byas* - 0:58 - "Perdido" - Sammy Price, p; Arvell Shaw, b; J.C. Heard, dr *58* France
*Harold Land* - 2:40 - "Herzog" - B. Hutcherson, vib; S. Cowell, p; R. Johnson, b; J. Chambers, dr *69* France
*Larry McKenna* - 7:10 - "The Lady Is a Tramp" - Pete Jackson, p; Carmen Gaspero, g; Benny Nelson, b; Chick Sperell, dr *??* Chicago?
*Wardell Gray* - 9:36 - "One O'Clock Jump" - Count Basie, p; Jimmy Lewis, b; Freddie Green, g; Gus Johnson, dr; + Clark Terry, tp; Buddy de Franco, cl; *1950* CA
*Paul Gonsalves* - 10:11 - "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" - Duke Ellington *63* London
*Charlie Rouse* - 13:50 - "Evidence" - Monk; Butch Warren, b; Frankie Dunlop, dr; *63* Japan
*Eddie Lockjaw Davis* - 16:45 - "Cherokee" - Count Basie Orchestra - *1968*, Sweden
*George Coleman* - 19:20 - "Amsterdam After Dark" - Hilton Ruiz, p; Herbie Lewis, b; Billy Higgins, dr; - *1980* - London
*Sal Nistico* - 20:26 - "Sister Sadie" - Woody Herman Herd - *1964*, UK
I have to vote for Hank Mobley too. I would put him in the #1 position, since he created such a phenomenal body of work--only to be dismissed as the "Middleweight Champion!"
Totally agree!
the title of middleweight champ was not a demeaning name! it was a testament to his ability to play both sweet and heavy!
Hank Mobley EASILY the most underrated saxophonist F R E E. It's probably because he wasn't as known for his composing, which is what made many of the other tenor saxophonists more well-known. His soloing is absolutely perfect!!
Not that Hank's compositions became standards, but one look at his discography makes it clear he was a prolific composer. From what I've read, Hank was shy and not someone who gave much of a shit about being in the limelight. But man could he swing. Anyway, Hank, Joe Farrell, Jimmy Heath - the underrated list is a tragically long one.
Indeed. Anyone with an ear and soul knows just how great Hank was.
These guys are all really incredible but I think the reason they are underrated is that a majority of them have sounds very similar to that of John Coltrane and Charlie Parker - which is an amazing thing to achieve but what this video says is that if you don't have a unique voice on the sax then you won't do as well as the greats, which is hard enough to achieve in itself.
I love the list! Thanks for creating this.... although, I am biased to George Coleman and didn’t see Hank Mobley who was in the shadow of Trane and Sonny. Paul Gonsalve’s solo at the 1955 Newport Jazz festival with the Duke and he’s from New England makes him a heavy weight. Where’s Billy Pierce? I miss Boots Randolph too
Yes, only Boots would have made this list complete!!
Henri de Lagardère and Paul Desmond?
Larry McKenna was completely unknown to me. The rest of the bunch I'm pretty familiar with.
Booker Erwin, Don Byas!!, Harold Land, Larry McKenna(new to me), Wardell Gray!!, Paul Gonsalves!, Charlie Rouse, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, George Coleman,, Sal Nistico(new to me) Thanks for posting! Now I got two more to listen to.
Aware of all of these musicians. Jazz fan since the age of 10
Fantastic. I'd include Clifford Jordan, Gene Ammons, Lucky Thompson and Eddie Harris
Jesus Christ Paul Gonsalves ffs. : )
And for very recent players (last 30 years) we have John Butcher. : )
I honestly think that Gonsalves would deserve more attention: his solo in Diminuendo and Crescendo is a masterpiece with his ability in building up a whole formal arch and his harmonic hear was at least amazing... here he made incredible things on a simple blues
Seamus Blake should definitely be on this list - Since Coltrane has been "my musical hero" since 1959, I think I know what I'm talking about - "KEEP ENJOYING THE SOUNDS OF JAZZ" (especially my favorite instrument, the tenor sax)
Thanks so much for taking the time compile and edit this clip. Fascinating.
I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT I FORGOT TO DO MY LISTENING ASSIGNMENT AND THIS VIDEO SAVED MY LIFE! SO THANKS, ALSO LOVE ALL THESE PEOPLE
there were so many great players back then man how do you choose. Paul Gonzales and Eddie Lockjaw Davis were my fav's
Paul Gonsalves, Wardell Gray and Don Byas definitely. Harold Land has a very interesting and somewhat understated approach to the hard-bop style, similar to Coltrane but not nearly as shrill--stylistically somewhere between Coltrane and Wayne Shorter.
Harold land!
Chris vd Riet
Nathan Davis, so smooth, soulful and gentle, I always hum his compositions when I feel good (esp. those he recorded with Woody Shaw, the trumpeter). He ended up in Germany, with the Kurt Edelhagen orchestra, like Carmell Jones and Leo Wright. And was never heard of again. Thanks Bernie, in general for posting this wonderful material, and esp. for including Wardell Gray and Sal Nistico, unsung heroes indeed (as they all are, perhaps except for Paul Gonsalves, whose very last solo I watched in Rotterdam NL -- there was little to listen to anymore, he died a few hours later -- and Eddie Lockjaw. Underrated, okay.)
Great Post ! However , when I Descend to My Man cave and Fire Up My System , Hank Mobley and Booker Ervin Are My Go to Men : NO ROOM FOR SQUARES / TEX BOOK TENOR ETC .
To me they are MASTERS! I realize Bird, Coltrane, Dexter got all the accolades but to us lifelong amateur jazz musicians an jazz junkies, we recognize all of them as a handful that can create at the high level!
George Adams. I love his quartet with Don Pullen and NEVER felt they got the accolades they deserve.
The clip of Paul Gonsalves has so many similarities to a recording of Ready Go, a lot of the same phrases and licks. A beast
Glad Booker's on that list. He's in my personal Top 5 as far as tenor players go and it wasn't even his first instrument (trombone was)! No surprise to see Coleman's name on there as well. Played on many historic sessions with some of jazz's biggest names back in the day, such as Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock for example. Think the most glaring omission was Hank Mobley, though. He could swing with the best of 'em and was an important figure on Blue Note during the hard-bop era in particular. Other than that, it's all good!
Johnny Griffin's pretty underrated player
I don't think this video was posted as a competition as some of the comments here seem to desire... Sure, there are probably 100 or more tenor and alto players that were extraordinary, but lived and died in obscurity, only to be known by their contemporaries. What you hear in all of these these tenor players is there unique personalities, originality, passion and swing, which is something lost on so many of the young "college-educated soloist" of today. Good technique and the mastery of cliches can get you noticed and take you so far, but in the process, the magic you hear here is dying a slow death.
A nice way to start a Friday eve.
OMG! It's Harold Land!!! 👌
Wonderful, Prez!
Paul Quinnochette and Bud Johnson...
Booker and Sal were swift - "Breckerish" (Michael) in quality of licks.
Larry McKenna is a sweetheart - so orthodox and constant.
All are great guys - some unsung; all, heroes.
Wardell Gray and Dexter Gordon were friendly combatants.
Had Wardell Gray survived longer... boy, oh, boy! Woe unto Dex (just kidding)
Wow I listen to all of these guys on a regular basis!
if u do an underrated trumpet top 10 Stu Williamson must be near the top.He was on 'more swingin sounds' with Shelley Manne and Charlie Mariano.Died a penniless drug addict.All jazz fans should check him out.
I would add one and only Joe Harriott in this list, however, it is a decent list. Thanks for sharing!
Not sure if they are underrated.. but good pick! Could suggest to add: Ike quebeck, Teddy edwards
YEah harold land... He doe stompin at the savoy with Clifford Brown... amazing
I guess it depends how you like and judge your sax playing. Just as you can't compare Kenny Burrell's guitar to Jimi Hendrix there are many types of style and sound. IMO one of the top 10 was Bill Barron., who most chose to ignore. Just listen to his Modern Windows (Suite), The Tenor Styling's of Bill Baron and Hot Line Albums back to back to back from the early 1960's. Bill's flaw was he did not record much. Those albums are classic if not masterpieces. Very improvisational, avant-guard and unique.
All these cats are excellent and backed up by some some great players. They can set the mood and elicit emotion. As far as who is the best, I think that would be matter of opinion and personal preference. I defer to their colleagues to make that judgement
Rouse was such a great player. Could not agree more with his selection. Not his fault he played in the shadow of Monk...
IMO There are also other, younger underrated players as well - some of which are still alive: Gary Bartz, Bob Berg (RIP), Gary Thomas, Azar Lawrence, Sonny Fortune, Steve Grossman, David Binney, to name a handful.
Thanks for sharing! Greetings from Argentina
Great and useful list - but Lucky Thompson must be added to these!
Harold Land for sure
Great vid! Subbed to you.
I've known Larry McKenna all of my adult life and have done many gigs with him over the years. Great to see him listed here. A true unknown giant.
btw......Larry resides in Philadelphia.
I, too, was not familiar either with Larry McKenna. He has a
Great sound, agility and facility.
We must keep their legacy alive. They gave so much to the music that was not too friendly to them or the era or they disappeared to soon. Thanks for exposing these skillful musicians as well.
Paul Gonzalez got a lot of rhythm. You can hear it on this recording. This cat is swinging like Art Blakey. Tarzan doesn’t have anything on him.
After leaving the War ll, he played with Count Basie in the 40’s to the 50’s and with Dizzy during this interim space. He joined Duke sometime in the 50’s. No wonder this cat blew from From Bedford Massachusetts to Harlem USA. He swung like a gymnast on the double bar. His sound, range and facility on the tenor saxophone was ingenuity.
Listen to his rhythm. He is dancing upon the invisible air with the rhythmic section, especially the perfect timing of the heartbeat of the drummer and the precision of the pianist.
Go, go, go Paul Gonzalez got rhythm!
Like releasing a wild horse from the stable.
Eddie lockjaw Davis makes it sound so easy until you have to get up and play and run up and down the chromatic scale like you got good timing and direction and a scream like a freight train pulled into the yard.
Eddie lockjaw Davis makes it sound so easy until you have to get up and play and run up and down the chromatic scale like you got good timing and direction and a scream like a freight train pulled into the yard.
That sal was a beast, love his style.
From UK Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott and Dick Morrissey..
After all, Paul Gonsalves was the man who made the lady dance at Newport and reinvigorated Duke Ellington...
Thanks for posting. Love Don Byas!! But where is Johnny Griffin??? Much more exciting than Charlie Rouse....
I kind of agree with the list with an exception. Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis being underrated ? By who? Definitely not the musicians. He's one of the few players that could hang with Johnny Griffin note for note.
NO HE IS UNDERRATED YOU TAKE THAT BACK. : )
what about tina brooks?
oh yeah Wardell in that clip (Buddy DeFranco also has a great solo in that same tune)
Bernie -great Channel! What song is that in the first clip with Booker Ervin. Can I get that recording somewhere? thanks. Leo Dube
.....joe farrell, lucky thompson, joe lovano, jimmy heath, clifford jordan, johnny griffin, sam rivers, john gilmore, archie shepp, john stubblefield, carter jefferson, pharoah sanders.... !!!!
Tubby Hayes.