TOP 10 ALTO SAXOPHONE Players of all Time (Classic Jazz)
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- Опубліковано 9 тра 2024
- #bettersax #saxophone #top10
Jay Metcalf reviews his list of top 10 of the greatest, most influential and must know alto sax players of all time.
Players mentioned (not in any order): Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Cannonball Adderley, Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, Jackie Mclean, Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Paul Desmond, Ornette Coleman
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In 20 years time Patrick Bartley will be on these lists.
Cannonball Adderley is my favorite. Complete command of the instrument, always expressive, always plays with a beautiful tone.
Mine too so much so that I wish he'd took longer solos than his
Brother.
Charlie Parker, hombre!
Amazing video! love how you give us insights into both the history and musical side of things. Would be awesome to see one of these videos for tenor players
These guys are all so good, so fantastic...but there is one...my god ...he plays his heart out on the alto, it's pure emotion...when he plays the blues you start crying...it's Art Pepper!
i agree with everthing you are puttin down Art Pepper is a GOAT
Art Pepper. Best of the Best. Or should I say, my favorite. No one played with more emotion. Superb.
ditto on Art Pepper "Come Rain or Shine"
Art Pepper is one sax player that I can listen to all day.
Eric Dolphy deserves a mention in there - his virtuosity, melodic and harmonic "out" development is beyond reproach. I remember buying "Out To Lunch" in High School, it giving me a massive headache and putting it away for a year, then playing it non-stop because it was just so good.
Dolphy has a god like alto tone
Agree, Dolphy deserves a spot.
The omission of Mr. Dolphy invalidates the list.
Dolphy, for me, defines bass clarinet.
DominusOminous and jazz flute. He was really the first to play the bass clarinet and flute in a hard bop setting
Sonny Stitt went on to be a great tenor player to stop people from saying he copied Charlie Parker. I loved his playing on both for sure.
Robin Habermehl, agreed! I even have a recording of Stitt on baritone!
I read somewhere that both Kenny Clarke and Miles Davis hear Stitt playing like that before they hear Parker.
Sonny Stitt definitely went out of his way to copy Charlie Parker! He sounds his best when he plays his own ideas though.
@@glennhenrich992 Could you please put this recording on UA-cam. I should really like to hear that.
@@tomscott1741 he never copied Parker. He played the same styl together with all the others.
Amazing video! Loving the brief jazz history that’s included here, very insightful
This is a wonderful piece of work Jay, so informative with so much research. Thank you!
Phil Woods said “i never got Charlies horn. I mean i got his wife, and i stole his licks But not his horn”
Phil played a Gold plated Mk6, that Marcel Mule handpicked for him at the selmer factory in Paris. Later up until his death he played a custom Yamaha.
I’m happy Phil got mentioned - he was such a collosus and a humble soul.
Good one! I don't think Bird ever had a horn - at least not one that didn't make it into the pawn shop after a gig. Red Rodney in some interview said that Bird could have played a tomato can and made it sing good. On the Massey Hall record he's playing that plastic thing and it sounds like the best Selmer ever made. And yes, Phil was an awesome player.
Phil talks about playing Bird's Super 20 on a gig when he had hocked his own horn to buy groceries. Mingus walked in, saw it, and gave Phil the side-eye. He talks about it on a JazzWax interview. Presumably after he left Chan the horn stayed with Chan.
Hearing him on Just the way you are made me seek him out, so I'm glad he crossed over. What a sound! To me, there's something oddly Freudian about him switching from a Selmer to a Yamaha horn, as that probably has some purists fuming. This, however, from someone who hasn't yet played a Selmer.
I actually got an email from him. Not sure why but that was so cool. He said thanks from something I said.
@@robkunkel8833 I was honored to repair Phil's horns several times including his clarinet. He was super kind, and always gave me a little concert. It was amazing. :-)
First time I heard Paul Desmond play on the radio hooked me to his sound and improvisation abilities. I still listen and marvel at his playing.
I saw the Dave Brubeck Quartet live at Northern Illinois University in 1965 when I graduated from high school and marveled at their cohesiveness. I ended up studying music there and it has become a great music program, especially for jazz players/singers. Paul Desmond could improvise long passages and always maintained an almost stork like stance :-)
I totally agree...Desmond was still an original and had impeccable taste. Tone master.
I’ll go with Paul Desmond. The very best.
That short segment of Desmond does not really show his incredible lyrical playing at his best - in fact that whole performance (I believe from a playboy club long ago) was not the best showcase of the entire quartet - much of the songs seemed rushed and the players just don't seem that relaxed.
@@x.y.8581 I saw Paul Desmond live on their anniversary tour. He was fantastic. Just a lyrical as always and his tone was great.
Cannonball is my favorite all time. I listened to all of them, but when I heard Cannonball for the first time, I knew he was my guy. The soul he put into every single note made him so much fun to listen to. He had the technical chops to play with all the other big cats, but every tune he played was filled with emotion where the other guys sometimes felt like they were going through the motions. He was underrated for his time, but now it seems like he gets the recognition he deserves among sax players I meet.
His solo on “Green Dolphin St.” is hands down one of the craziest solos I’ve ever heard. Truly unmatched
Charlie Parker is who inspired me to start playing, I grew up in Camarillo and his song Relaxing in Camarillo has always been a fall back reminds there are people crazier than me
I almost wept when I heard Johnny Hodges. That BEND with utterly no distinct demarcation between the notes is remarkable. It reminds me of that clarinet intro in Rhapsody In Blue. Thank you SO MUCH for this video.
Johnny Hodges is such a great player and what is funny about what you said is that Johnny’s inspiration was Sidney Bechet, who was a soprano sax player but also was a clarinet player.
Johnny's sound is completely unique, absolutely love his music
Keith Dunn-Fernandez, whew! Glad to see your "almost wept" comment about Johnny Hodges. I thought the effect was just me. Thing is, after that wail(bend) he just gets better.
When Pepper and Dolphy were not mentioned, I was very disappointed, but seeing Hodges get credit takes away from that disappointment a little.
I think one of the most overlooked alto saxophone players is Gigi Gryce, would be nice to see him on your next list, the man deserves some justice
I agree with you. Gryce is one of my favourites. Great fluent altoist. Bluesy (like Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vincent) with the cool sound and thoughtful line development of Lee Konitz.
Absolutely awesome video.
Thank you very much for taking the time to put it together.
Everyone plays notes but Hodges sings, he is unmatched.
Hey Jay I just wanted to say that you are the reason I decided to play saxophone :)
🤘
Me too
He must like hearing that. I would. Go get ‘em ... and bring your horn to the Virgin Islands if you visit someday.
That is a terrible reason ... won’t play long
Same
Personally I would have Art Pepper in there. I always thought he was under appreciated. Can't argue with your top 10. Thanks, J.A.
I use to love his playing, but I hardly ever listen to him after reading just a little of his auto biography....he admitted to raping a woman when he was overseas in the UK in the military...
Yes Art are mising.
@@Xavier_the_Boxing_Nerd What does that have to do with his music?
@@Xavier_the_Boxing_Nerd I read that book many years ago. Still think the guy really sounded good.
But he was a weirdo, no doubt about it.
Sweet stuff! Outstanding! Thanks for sharing.
I love your channel ! It´s definitely the best one when it goes to saxophone tutorials! My best wishes!
This is a beautiful production. Thank you for educating us and for putting in the time to make it so enjoyable. I loved seeing you passion shine through in this.
Jay, this is fantastic, one of the best yet. I’d love you to do more of this, perhaps a series where you dwell a bit longer on each player. Absolutely loved it. Thanks.
Thanks for this list with visual examples; very inspirational. Good way of teaching. Patiently waiting to see (or find) your list of tenors.
Can't wait for the tenor sax version! Thanks. This was great.
Thank you Jay, in this great introduction to alto sax history. Very interesting and I got a lot of new knowledge from it.
Here are mine:
Cannonball Adderley
Phil Woods
Charlie Parker
Sonny Stitt
Lee Konitz
Those are the people who influenced me the most
Love the compilation. Very inspiring.
Fantastic video. Thanks so much for putting this together.
So many great players here and as always you presented it all so well. I thought you would have mentioned Art Pepper who’s tone and command was just so brilliant.
My personal favorite
Art of 'Straight Life'
@@YourTripleScorpio Yes, his later stuff was quite a bit different from what he was doing it the 1950's. I especially like stuff, I think, from his Living Legend (1975) album and later. Frank Morgan, who Pepper played with whie serving time in San Quentin prison, is another top alto guy.
Yes. Indeed!
When it comes to beautiful melodic lines, a great sound, being unique not only in bop, but in every style he plays, with a touch of humor thrown in, PHIL WOODS was second to none!
Desmond had the most identifiable tone and sound. In fact, only Acker Bilk and Coltrane have had an equally instantly identifiable timbre. Great educational service here! Cheers!
I don't fully agree also Ornette and at least Lee Konitz had such personal and instantly identifiable tone, but, to be honest I'd say the same at least for Bird and Hodges.
Great master class....Hope you'll do more!
So great! Great history! Great sound bite choices! I know what making videos like this entails - so well done! Keep up the great work. I will keep watching. :)
Thx for this GREAT video, Jay! This one really made my day, just to dip in for 10 minutes and listen to some great alto players. Looking forward to the tenor, bari and soprano editions 😃
All of the legends along with myself in this list are looking at this saxophone channel with confidence and pride, keep up the great videos Mr Jay
what a brilliant & beautiful video, thank you 😊
Yeh good list and i can tell you truly love the music..
Well done loved it.
Phil Woods' solo on Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" is absolutely incredible. Love it.
Its a classic forever.
Great clip with great clips. I would add of course, Mr. Art Pepper.
I just found your videos and channel today and this is already probably the sixth video I've watched so far. I played alto in high school and sold my horn a few years after graduating since a friend borrowed my alto while I was playing baritone for marching season... and he dropped it. I've been thinking about getting a new one and playing again for a while now. After seeing your videos with the Jean Paul, I think I know what I'm getting. And watching this video, listening to these legends helped rekindle my desire to play more than ever. I have a feeling I'll be watching your videos a lot more often now. Thanks for the great content. I look forward to seeing more.
Great video Jay, really beautifully presented with some insightful comments...love that Charlie Park tip with the Eb key! Those are all great players for sure...of the older players, I also enjoy listening to Lou Donaldson, Art Pepper and recently Sonny Red, who I discovered recently. Be cool to see another vid like this!
paul's solo on Black Orpheus is amazing. so many phrases and themes that are fully developed and everything works so seamlessly
love that solo. first solo I transcribed in full
Absolutely fabulous video, thank you Jay! So informative and your passion shines through. Wish I saw this video 30 years ago I may then have decided to dedicate my life to playing the saxophone professionally. Great work please keep it up.
This one and your top TENor video are so enjoyable. Thanks Jay!
Thanks a lot for this wonderful video !
Ever heard a musician whose style of play is so distinctive, so intricate, no one can clone it?
The rhythm, pulse, nuance, and emotion of Maceo Parker makes him one of the most ORIGINAL altoists of all time.
Definitely list worthy
I've always loved Charlie Parker and Paul Desmond. But my favorite is Sonny Criss. Especially on Crisscraft
Emilio Munguia also a big Sonny Criss fan here.
same!!! all his music is a lesson on articulation and expression!
I'm also a big fan of Criss...and that album you mention was my intro to him...I love it.
Fantastic player. Right up there.
Wow.. your insight.... informative and educational! Thanks for the great Music History lesson!!
Thanks ever so much for this very informative and extremely well done video. It is a joy to watch and learn from it. Thanks for decomposing what the player is doing, great way to absorb the info. I’ll keep it as one my all-times favourites! Cheers!
Each of these great musicians made a unique contribution. 2 others I would include are Oliver Nelson and Eric Dolphy ( although they played multiple instruments their alto playing was superb.)
Thank you Jay. A great, if not simple, idea to introduce a sort of 'Best of Sax players' into your series. The musicians themselves are more significant than the machines they are playing through, and of course a choice of all things is, or should be, personal. What I also appreciated was your astute observations of the players in doing what they did so naturally.
On the only occasion when I witnessed Sonny Stitt live (in the late 1970s), I was mesmerised how little his fingers seemed to move; I thought I too should places my fingers nearer the keys. Lesson learnt!
UA-cam is so full of "Top 10" lists of every kind, they get old quick, but this is the best I've ever seen: not trying to foster competition, full of real insight, really educational in the best sense, and driven by an articulate passion. Thanks, Jay.
Love the channel , good stuff thanks man!!
The Charlie Parker Eb palm key for D is everything!! Thanks Jay.
7:54 God, that bend into the high note at the start of the head gets me every time.
Rest In Peace Johnny Hodges 🙏🏾🎷
Gato barbie in the '' ndre@ the great watne shorter
Coltrane
Great presentation. Thank you!
Well, this is unbelievable. Your list and mine are almost identical with the exception of Ornette Coleman. I have always thought that branding Sonny Stitt, Phil Woods and Cannonball as the new bird did them a dis-service. I have many examples of music from all on your list and listen often. I became a fan of Phil Woods listening to his album Warm Woods years ago and met him in 1983 in Chicago. His solo on Cheek to Cheek from the album Live at the Showboat is my favorite jazz alto solo of all time. The way he introduces it with an almost classical tone ala Marcel Mule and then forms an improvised solo that never loses sight of the original melody is mesmerizing. Other players to include on a further list could include Sonny Criss and Richie Cole and I'm sure others. For the record, it appears you and I play the same horn, Yanigisawa A991? Great post.
Benny Carter's "Live at Montreux 1977" was the first jazz album I genuinely, immediately loved - despite several failed attempts to *get* jazz while I was a beginner student. His solo on "In a Mellow Tone" is less solo, and more "extemporaneous composition". The fact that, a couple choruses later, he played a beautifully developed, melodic solo on trumpet is ... an insight into how a great musical mind can flow through different instruments, without the need for technical virtuosity. (Which, no doubt, he had on sax; but that was never the main thing, with him.)
As always Jay, kudos on your very positive and conscientious work(s) of integrity, on-point thought and information. Moveover, your honesty and "make-it-plan" approach to your video teachings are to be applauded and deserves props!!! As to my two cents, if I may, I would like to add to your list the one and only Frank Morgan, my friend and mentor. Thank you! -sb
Jay. This video is priceless. WOW. What an education and inspiration for me with my Alto Sax. Such talent rises above and is forever, like great art and architecture that lives to eternity. Thanks for the ride.
I really needed this thanks a lot
Paul Desmond’s tone is a dry martini on a warm spring day, in the arms of Audrey Hepburn. I’m just in awe whenever I hear a single note from the guy.
I love this! What a picture
What a lovely image. You could be a poet. 🤗
@@charlavenant3857 I am, actually. ☺
Very enjoyable and articulate presentation. I was a jazz DJ on public radio (KLCC) for quite a few years, and appreciate anyone who communicates their love of jazz. Gary Giddins comes to mind as another jazz ambassador whose enthusiasm is infectious. Keep up the great work.
Wonderfulness and your explanation fits my man... I'm guitar myself but love this too...you filled a void for musicians...thanks
Paul Desmond was the guy who introduced me to jazz in 1959. Plain song on Jazz Impressions of the USA blew my mind and there was no turning back.
Glad you included Jackie McLean too.
Jay... No Art Pepper?? Come on man. Should be in there. Got to give the west coast some love.
This list is a joke...
@@Rickriquinho how
@gipstetz surely Paul Desmond is a great example of the West Coast movement?
Yeh, Art Peper one of my all time favorites!
@@owendallsotomayor1741 Art Pepper is the guy I thought of after watching the video
thanks for the education, good presentation
By far, the absolute BEST list of the greatest alto players; and, I loved your technical assessment and justification of each…very insightful and spot on the mark. Bravo!!!
Adderley is my number one... The solos he made in "Something else" are something else!
Absolutely! His sound was so unique and his solos were always so complex and bebop-ish while still embracing such elegant swing and juicy blues like tones. Truly one of a kind!
Great vídeo, Mr Jay 👏👏👏👏👏
First of all, thank you for putting this together, getting all the archival footage, the energy of your presentation and your courage to play some of those riffs is all amazing. Whenever a ranking is offered, it will be "a priori" controversial, or a best-list, just the nature of the beast. I would just like to second the inclusion of Art Pepper, Lou Donaldson, and Eric Dolphy that others have suggested. Pepper's career has a huge gap in it for known reasons, and his recordings in '57-60 and then again '75-82, combine for a great opus. Donaldson hit some great highs, esp. "Blues Walk," and Dolphy's impressive work was cut short by his tragic death in Germany at young age of 36. Your list is great, and feel these 3 alto's deserve to be on it. "Out to Lunch" never fails to make the Top 10 of any "Greatest Jazz Album list" - thank you again, really enjoyed your post.
An excellent education on styles and evolution of styles... OUTSTANDING!!!
Cannonball's "Work Song" (live on his "Nippon Soul" album) is a great example of musical storytelling. And it swings.
listen cannons rumplestilskin by joe zavinul
Whatever the list, I really like these UA-cams where you tell us what you're hearing or seeing - details of style, technique etc. Really useful without lining up yet another lick to be learned in "all 12 keys" which noone has the time to do!
Thanks, Great video, nice content, good editing. 👍. ❤
Thanks for sharing Jay! I've now connected the master/protégé links that have exisited among some jazz greats, wow!
Hey Jay!! Big fan of your channel!! And this is definitely my favorite video you’ve posted so far!! Would’ve loved to see your spend some time with Art Pepper and Marshall Royal. Hope to see more videos with you discussing saxophone legends.👍🏽
Agree! Was looking for Art Pepper - Blues In. My goodness that’s too good - hard to have ‘em all of course. Awesome video! Watch this with my 9 year old who just started playing. He was locked in - this has inspired him (and me too).
Love this video!! Art pepper is one player that should definitely be in this video!! 😀
I share your enthusiasm and admiration. thank you!
Wow. Just WOW!!! played in jazz band when I was younger. Just bought an antique alto and relearning it. I subscribed. Strictly from this video. You, sir, are amazing!!!
Nice going Jay. That’s a great compilation of sax masters.
For me Johnny Hodges stands out and has always been my favourite. His blue blue bends and vibrato makes his sax sound so like the human voice, I get the shivers whenever I listen to him.
I’m pretty sure he played on a tenor reed and that’s why he could bend so low
I'd like to add Bud Shank, Kim Richmond and Med Flory. I wish I could see more of that King horn Jay - it looks familiar. I once lacquered just the brass and left the silver neck without lacquer at a customer's request. Thank you for the memories. I was so fortunate to repair for some greats. The great players were the ones who were also humble. You need to be humble to learn and they never stopped learning. I miss so many of them now.
Wonderful and eye opening, not to mention mind opening. Well done!
Hey buddy you make me feel inspired to take up my sax again ... bless you sir and may you have a really good and blessed existence.
Paul Desmond. Totally original style. One of the few alto players not influenced by sound or hard bop style of Bird. Phrasing, sound, use of time signatures. And he came into his own as a player even more after his time with Brubeck. His early 60's albums with Jim Hall are required listening. Or just pour a scotch or martini and enjoy.
Really enjoyed this. I liked how you paused the recording and drew our attention to different things and compared/contrasted the different musicians. I would love more breakdowns like that. I struggle sometimes when I'm listening because I don't always know what I'm listening for.
For your part 2 please add the following sax bbn players Lou donaldson. Art pepper. Ace Cannon .I give you a big shout out cause I return to M playing Alto n your Helping me alot
Great video, loved it.
Love you entusiasm about these great altosaxplayers!
Great list! Yes, Art Pepper! Meets the Rhythm Section!
I love it, that Benny Carter is on your list!
Do you know his version of „My one and only love“?
Genius!
Michael
I was loved the video, so hard elections, I will wainting the top tenors, thanks Jay!
Really educational and upbeat!
Willie Smith was an extraordinary alto player unjust forgotten, great recordings with Jimmie Luncenford and Harry James bands and with JATP troupe
Indeed. He also joined Ellington's band for a short while. The veterans there were in shock, bacause he called rehearsals all the time.
@@ABrandsma yeah good point!!
in the 50's Willie Smith was member of Duke' band replacing Johnny Hodges for a short time.
@@gerardoortizmedrano6373 It didn't last long however there is footage. Snader telescriptions 13003 has him soloing on Sophisticated Lady. After Willie left, Hilton Jefferson took over and then Hodges returned.
@@ABrandsma wow!! I did'n know that there was a vídeo clip of Willie Smith with Duke's band !! What a good point !! Thanks for sharing !!
Started playing when i was 11, lost the drive to get better because of my director in high school, now i’m back it. You’re an amazing player, and your tone is so good. i love your channel, keep it up💛
Me too. No person drove me away, just high school, women, boats and adventure. Now, I’m back to the horn with a new passion ...well, all the passion I can muster aided by cool videos. I never had teacher that inspired me like UA-cam videos do ... especially this guy with the black hat on this video.
Beautiful video with incredible musicians... very educational !
Really enjoyed that.
Jackie McLean. The Dynasty album knocks me out every time I listen. All are so great. Amazing that so much genius is borne from so much adversity and pain.
Eric Dolphy-
Nelson Rangell
I think others not listed to consider Eric Dolphy, David Sanborn, Kenny Garrett, Art Pepper, & Maceo Parker
Definitely Eric Dolphin. Definitely
David Sanborn.... then I think Hank Crawford...
great presentation! kudos
You included all of my favs in this list!