I have a pretty wide jazz collection, but my collection includes a very healthy emphasis on the saxophone.
The clip above, with Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker, gives you a sense of the musical signatures of these two greats.
The soft ballad is more Hawkins' home turf than it is Parker's, and in this clip, you can hear Hawkins' signature phrasing that sucks you in to an easy, lyrical reverie. Parker, a bit subdued in the presence of one of his musical role models, nevertheless breaks out into some of his signature flights all around the melody. Very nice.
Let me throw out some other names: Ben Webster, Sonny Stitt, Lester Young, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, John Coltrane. They're all in my collection, as well as some more recent artists, like Joe Henderson and Joshua Redman.
I recently digitized all my CD's and put everything onto one Ipod, which is nice, because now I can just set the damn thing to shuffle while I'm working, hook it up to speakers, and suddenly, the whole library I've spent years putting together is far more accessible to me than it had ever been before: more than nine thousand songs. Hell, I still have a lot of stuff to get that I once had on cassettes and LP's, though I need a bit more fundage to do it. Maybe someday.
Anyway, I love the sax. Some other Late Nite, maybe I'll focus on the trumpet/cornet or something, and then another night, piano.
Does anyone else out there like sax as much as I do?
If not, what are you into? How do you get your kicks?
Login Here
Share This
Spotlight
ZeD☼
lolo!
Hi Pach! I don’t think this is a topic for………teeheehee
Sax is always nice. Have you heard Paul Winter playing with wolves? Beautiful…
I’m a piano player, but I love saxophone. My 15 year old son is a tenor player. My favorite piano player is Thelonious Monk, and his tenor player Charlie Rouse was just absolutely perfect for Monk’s unique sound.
Agreed, lolo. Is this an appropriate topic for this blog?
well, it’s certainly been too long since I had sax.
Lolo I hate you! I clicked 5x looking for late night!
I have 2 concerts by The Who that I’m very fond of. The first is a performance they gave for “The King Biscuit Flower Hour” in 1973, and the other was Keith Moon’s last performance in Toronto.
I strap on the head phones and turn on the pattern generator in Media player and lose myself in the best Rock ever.
I’m into books. I am a total book whore. Seriously. I can be flat broke, and I’m at Borders or B&N or any of our numerous used book stores, finding books to read and buying them with my credit card. I get audiobooks of books I’ve already read, so I can enjoy books while I’m driving. They’re on my iPod. In fact, the first thing I put on my first iPod (I’m working on number 3 as we speak) was Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
Rock/blues guitar for me
sax and violins in America…
(backwards one and a half sommersault in the tuck position - small splash)
For those in the San Francisco/San Jose Bay Area, KTEH (PBS channel 54) will be showing Sierra Center Stage featuring the Brubeck Brothers with special guest star, their father Dave Brubeck, tonight at 9pm CA time.
I’ll throw some more names at you: Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Charlie Rouse, Bennie Maupin, Albert Ayler, Paul Desmond, and Roland Kirk.
That’s part of the sax list…If we’re talking Jazz. I could go for a while on that topic, if it’s appropriate to this blog.
;>)
Anybody remember Cannonball Adderly’s “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy?”
Jane Hamsher @ 6
Yep.. Just like heirloom tomatoes. ;)
Pach !!! You and Jane were mentioned quite liberally by Marcy, on C-Span BookTV, FDL Rocks!!!
WHAT!?! No Cannonball Adderly? I know it’s not the traditional sax but still. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy I think was the first song to really get me listening to anything jazz (outside of my folks big band stuff).
I’ve loaded about half my CDs onto my iBook which is 200 or so and another 200 or so to go. I duplicate maybe 75 to 100 of my albums but I have four hundred albums. I guess it will be a long time before I get the albums all digitized and loaded.
Pach, I love the sax and the piano.
Jane Hamsher @ 6
Well, it’s fine with me, Jane. We can’t be serious all the time. (Not that jazz isn’t serious.)
As for me, I worship at the church of Ray Brown.
Embedded Link
Sorry.
(MOD NOTE: link fixed)
lolo @ 1
Is that a Hat Trick for the Day???
BTW, Pach, thanks for that awesome clip. I didn’t know they had that kind of stuff on YouTube. Actually watching Bird play is breathtaking. I’m going to show it to my son.
I listen to country music. And I love the Dixie Chicks.
Subway Serenade @ 12
You mean, like, Charlie Parker with Strings?
darkblack- I have a signed card from Wayne Shorter… ha! Some time I will have to tell you about my Weather Report adventure….
Loo Hoo @ 15
Ya beat me to it…(see my #18)
CTuttle @ 17
Hmm. . . I’ll have to find a transcript.
Pachacutec @ 25
I got that record at a yard sale for a buck.
I’m crazy about every kind of music.
Alicia @ 29
…And it’s priceless.
;>)
Beethoven’s Ninth and the Beatles and Jeff Lang (lap steal) and Ziggy Stardust. Oh, and the soundtrack to Clockwork Orange.
darkblack @ 14
Charlie Rouse!
Palolo lolo @ 11
Me too. I love sax too.
dakine01 @ 27
Did see, dakine! Like minds…
SnarKassandra @ 24
When I was your age I detested country but I’ve come to have a fair amount in my collection. Including a couple of the Chicks discs. A lot of Willie, Asleep at the Wheel, bob Wills, EmmyLou Harris in whom I have been madly in love for thirty years and a whole bunch more. A lot of Blues and Rock and Reggae and Old Sould and Jazz and just about everything but Pop music.
SnarKassandra @ 8
Don’t hate the playa, hate the game. Actually, don’t hate, dear.
Alicia @ 29
YardBird at a yard sale.
I like the exotic music in Buddha Bar.
Just saw this new post about Steve Gilliard–he’s really taken a turn for the worse. :(
eveing gang!
Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker!
two of my jazz faves, we spent a lot of last winter digging up their tunes on the web.
i finally figgered out flatpicking so lately i’ve been playing bluegrass mandolin with my ol gibson AO.
Renee in Ohio @ 40
I saw that. As long as he is alive, he has a chance to fight the infection.
Practice safe sax.
I’m not intellectual about my music like the rest of y’all. My weird fetish is Japanese rock/pop, usually female vocalists. Weird, but true. Some of my favorites Anna Tsuchiya, Olivia Lufkin (Amerasian/sings in Japanese) and this one song by MOVE.
Of course, on the intellectual end, I’ll bravely call Yoko Kanno the world’s greatest living composer. She’s so good that John Williams (yes, the Star Wars JW) ripped her off. Flagrantly.
LS @ 42
ICU to rehab in days?
I hope he recovers, regains his strength, completes rehab…and never has to go back there again.
When it comes to sax, I’m a Coltrane kinda guy! Love the Village Vanguard!
Can’t believe noone mentioned him yet.
Valley Girl @ 26
What I find fascinating about improvised music is the opportunity for the player to create their own voice…Escaping homogeneity and pop connivance, within themselves and the tune to be played.
Alicia @ 33
Creating his own sonic sculpture within the mind of Monk. A reason to breathe.
One overlooked player is Frank Morgan.
His career was interupted by a draconian jail sentence mid-life. But now in his 70’s, he has a great live album out, ‘Raising the Standard’, recorded at the Jazz Standard in NY.
Met him in Taos, New Mexico, then saw him play in Amsterdam and Paris. His father was one of the original Ink Spots, so he hung with the Chicago crowd….was at that time considered a child prodigy and played with Parker, et al.
He is not a studio musician, so his best performances are always live. They have a hard time recording him, because he walks around when he plays, makes it hard for the microphone.
Check him out. His agent has his schedule at www.Marsjazz. com
I come here for the anti-Bushista fix. But what a GAS to see a post about jazzers. Yeah baby. Let’s hang. I am impressed with your 9000 songs. Egads. I haveabout a third of that on my hard drive and am now able to pull up some real gems with a click. Totally refreshing my jazz synapses in the process. Once I played a concert in a near empty Municipal Auditorium in KC; the echo was deadly. Then Stanley Turrentine came on with a large group of young cats, and they played longer notes and used the echo to total advantage. Brilliant. Last year we lost some greats. I especially will miss Michael Brecker and my dear friend Ed Summerlin. They are jammin in Heaven no doubt. Thanks for the post Pach.
Okay, here’s Van Morrison’s “Days Like This.”
Who is that hot sax player?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg_MW1pR86k
LS @ 39
That’s in my shuffle, too.
Shit. That Gilliard post is killing me.
Alicia @ 5
I used to live around the corner from the Five Spot where Monk played in Greenwich Village and I drifted on over regularly to lap up the sounds.
Lolo@50
that might be van-the-man hisownself.
Oh, lets not forget the late art Pepper!
Loo Hoo @ 50
Leo Green.
My bad Lolo, I didn’t watch the video. one should look before one leaps!
Last night we had a harpsichord in a rather remarkable performance of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” It was a very updated performing arrangement which included an accordion, a harpsichord, an electric guitar, other concert instruments and a disk artist doing electronic manipulation of live samples. And there was a Saxophone. The sax was used in the traditional movement, but was jazzed up a bit in a way which reminded me of Coleman Hawkins’ style. Very, very cool.
Another peculiarity of the performance was a nude male dancer who set fire to his privates, twice. This feat had to be repeated due to a failure to dim the lights the first time - shows up better in the dark. Oh, and how did this tie in - he was an exhibitionist.
A rather interesting evening.
I love Moby “Play” really, really loud. I LOVE Sting, “Mercury Rising”. I love Eliza Gylkeson “Misfits” and “Babylon”. I love all Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Pachacutec @ 52
I was thinking about Steve just last night, wondering how he was doing. He just popped into my head, out of the blue.
I’ve been going through something similar with my stepfather. He was lucky. He has my mother by his side and she’s been in medicine for 40 years, plus has enough brass ovaries to stand up for him when he needs it.
Steve’s case is going to be tough folks. Real tough.
Pachacutec @ 52
Can you tell more about Steve Gilliard? Know that he is a great blogger and very ill but not much else.
oddmommy @ 60
What kind of infection does he have? What does the doctor say?
News about Steve G here.
Steely Dan ~ PEG [Instrumental]
Lou Costello @ 63
I love all Steely Dan.
Wow, hpschd, that’s one brave exhibitionist!
TeddySanFran @ 65
Brave was not the first term that came to my mind -
ouch!
Pachacutec @ 52
I emailed Jen. Wish there was something we could do to help.
Lou Costello @ 63
Paul Griffin, doin’ it without his fez on.
Rainey and Purdie, too…Mmmmm.
Jane, I believe they are still looking for guest posts.
Oh yeah. Steely Dan. Dr Woo=Phil Woods. The king of alto. A fabulous cat. Once gigged with his illegitimate offspring (I kid) Richie Cole. Sax players are little gods.
Jane Hamsher @ 67
Lacking the capability to do anything specific, I think Steve will be really pleased to hear that you’ve given watertiger her regular anti-Rudy platform here at FDL. Absent Steve’s voice, WT’s eloquence and constant reminders about Giuliani’s unfitness for office are crucial.
70 some comments and no one has mentioned Big Dog plays sax?
Leo Green. Thanks darkblack.
TeddySanFran @ 71
Unfitness for humanity might not be such a stretch for Rudy, either.
…
Sax solo ratings for pop songs.
If you like Sax, well, this site is for you:
http://bandit.pc.cs.cmu.edu/sax/
,,,
Pachacutec @ 52
You and me both. Steve’s the guy who steered me to Salon ten years ago.
Coltrane, a Love Supreme; followed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - the supreme love herself singing.
Suzanne @ 72
You’re right Ma’am, I thought his signature Brass was a coronet or the horn???
Route 66.
Voinovich pushing Colin Powell to run for President. Predictably, Voinovich teared up talking about it to the press.
I’m so boring about Jazz that the only jazz I have on my iPod is Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue and Dave Brubeck’s Take Five. Well, there’s Yoko Kanno’s Cowboy BeBop soundtrack, too. And this one is kinda jazzy sounding (also written by Yoko Kanno).
Patrick 4/4 @ 79
That’s where I get my Kicks!!!
I’ve never met Steve in person but we’ve spoken on the phone and a lot via email. We’re the same age, and bot New Yorkers. From different paths in life, we have a lot in common. I feel something of that Internet affinity, kinship with him. I consider him a friend. I’m continually rooting for him.
Chick Corea, Deodato, Airto, Flora Purim.
Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Eagles, and assorted others.
I’m sorry - Route 66.
I hope Steve can beat this. It’s frustrating to not be able to do something to help. Besides positive thoughts and prayers that is. That we can all do.
Here’s some Ornette Coleman.
TeddySanFran @ 80
I’m guessing this might have something to do with all of the comments on the Daily Show and the Colbert Report about the “diversity” of the Republican party, representing all the colors from eggshell to ivory.
The Doors ~ Touch Me
And for those of you more melodically inclined, Ben Webster.
TexBetsy @ 85
I was just gonna say .. you can’t talk about the sax … without mentioning the Big Man .. Clarence Clemons .. he might not be the greatest sax player ever .. but to see him in concert with Bruce is something else
I worship at the church of John Lee Hooker, Leadbelly and many others.
Boom Boom Boom….
I love anything by Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Patrick 4/4 @ 86
Right on Pat, I was tapping my toes so much, my cat had to bail!!! Isn’t a cat’s life horrendous???
Curtis Ousley (February 7, 1934 – August 14, 1971), who performed under the name King Curtis, was an American tenor, alto, and soprano saxophonist who played rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and soul jazz.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Curtis
I just commented last night that I saw him at the Filmore West. Awesome! ; )
Margot @ 93
I have a three disk Leadbelly collection in my library.
‘My mission was to do what I was gonna do‘ - Wayne Shorter, on his solo in Steely Dan’s Aja.
My mom is a Boots Randolph fan.
NYT’s Editorial:
LINK
Bush don’t care about anything but his own butt. Hunger is a problem and malnourishment is a bigger problem.
LJ/Aquaria @ 81
Nothing to apologize for! All fine choices.
Stan Getz,Gato Barbieri,Jan Garbarek,& paul(sp)Danielson.
Singers.
Really good, gut-busting soul singers.
But you guys probably already know that about me.
LJ/Aquaria,
Yoko Kanno is great! I am so lucky to have sons who turned me onto her music via Cowboy Bebop.
But Jane would be happy with what is now randomly playing on my system: Allman Brothers’ Whipping Post.
AZ Matt @ 99
There is a lot of poverty in this country. Add to this report the lack of real supermarkets and fresh produce in poor neighborhoods.
Clarence Clemons - Paradise by the “C”
The Band at Woodstock ~ The Weight
…all this reminds me because have been thinking for days about getting the old Archie Shepp/Coltrane…
And here is Pharaoh:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=B2Z-shQai_0
One for Alicia: Monk - Ruby My Dear, with Charlie Rouse, 1969
down on the farm mom & dad had us listening to Leadbelly, Bunk Johnson, jug bands, etc while i was growing up.
Then i went to college and discovered jazz…John coltrane, wow. Paul Horn at the Taj Mahal, dbl wow. My enhanced state at the time had nothing to do with it. Honest.
One of my top ten concerts-Dave Brubeck with Paul Desmond on sax.
omg fox late night (broadcast) just had a skit on -cgi- with the heads of Hannity and Combs superimposed on booby girl bodies in bikinis shaking their boobybooty
hilarious
darkblack @ 109
Oh my god. One of my all-time faves. darkblack, you are da man.
“Memphis Soul Stew” King Curtis & The Kingpins (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WHcWu-1iUg
TRex @ 102
Love Amy Winehouse but also lisening to Leela James and Joss Stone
Pachacutec @ 104
Pach, Bill Grahm pulled them off YouTube live at the Fillmore…so how about this for a change: Frank Zappa ~ Whippin’ Post *wink
Pach, nothing wrong with your list except the absence of Walter Dyett alumni:
Gene Ammons
Von Freeman
Johnny Griffin
Eddie Harris
Clifford Jordan
Of that group I might say, if forced, that Freeman and Griffin are the most illuminating. Both are still active and are anything but trapped in nostalgia.
No sax, no jazz. No doubt.
Oh, and I’m liking more and more what I hear from Branford Marsalis, starting along about Eternal.
Hey Joe Klein’s Conscience, I’m the cat you stole your name from (which I used once at Swampland). Either that or something moderately unlikely has happened. Oh nevermind.
name-flamewar upcoming?
No, I’d say it’s pretty much public domain.
King Curtis - A whiter shade of pale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFLGafsrUQk
darkblack @ 98
THX for this…and to everyone else here tonight, some really great links. ~ THANKS!
From when giants walked the world: John Coltrane & Stan Getz, playing Coleman Hawkins’ Rifftide.