10 Greatest Jazz Saxophonists of All Time

[@ChadLefkowitzBrown]

Book Now for Early Registration Discounts to the Virtual Sax Workshop! Use coupon code “CLB75” for an additional $75 off at: jazzlessonvideos.com/virtualsaxworkshop

[@San4OZE1993]

Nice list. I want to add Joe Henderson and Sonny Stitt

[@thadiusventricle6752]

But who would you take off!

[@dontgetsentalink]

@@thadiusventricle6752 dexter and stan

[@km6206]

@@dontgetsentalink I couldn't take Dexter off. But, definitely Stan gets the boot (although he's very nice & melodic).

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Hey Chad, love this type of video and killer list! For me a bit much tenor centered but I get why 😁. Imho these lists are always heavily dependent on the type of yardsticks used like: dexterity, popularity, compexity of language, was it a pioneer (someone doing something remarkably different, although also that might be up for debate of course), lyriscism ... and more + the wight ascribed to those used. But the one making the video is absolutely entitled to use his own yardstick, as you clearly stated at the start of the video. Anyways, thanks for the video, enjoyed it. And oh yeah, Desmond

[@Anonymous-u8r8j]

*1. Charlie Parker* *2. John Coltrane* *3. Cannonball Adderly* *4. Michael Brecker* *5. Sonny Stitt* *6. Joe Henderson* *7. Stan Getz* *8. Dexter Gordon* *9. Coleman Hawkins* *10. Lester Young* In Order (ish)

[@Marcus-jb1cp]

#11 Stanley Turrentine, if you're going to put Brecker at #4....:)

[@SaxLex1]

The most underrated is Chad LB

[@markwhite672]

Coltrane and Michael Brecker were always my biggest inspirations. Bob Berg is an all-time favorite of mine. Charlie Parker almost made me give up playing the sax because I started out on alto and when I listened to Charlie Parker, I thought I could never do that kind of playing. What I didn't know at the time, was how Charlie Parker practiced between 10 to 12 hours a day to get that good. Nowadays, I am amazed by Joshua Redman, Chris Potter, and Chad LB. Here are some more of my favorite saxophonists I love listening to: Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Phil Woods, Cannonball, Stan Getz (so melody oriented). I remember transcribing Coltrane, Michael Brecker (I was able to use some of his easier licks), Dexter, Cannonball, Phil Woods, and Stan Getz.

[@seandennis3148]

In an interview between Paul Desmond interviewing Charlie Parker, Bird said it was 11.5 to 15 hours a day for 3 to 5 years. I did the maths. It means he did around 13,000 hours of practice.

[@markwhite672]

@@seandennis3148 Wow! The longest I ever practice is two hours. It's sad, so many of our jazz heroes died so young. It would have been great to hear what they would do in later years.

[@joelhessel8896]

Chad your a great player who left out a man who deserves to be on that list ! Sonny Stitt !

[@greyhorse1211]

Joel Frahm is fantastic. Also check out Baptiste Herbin, he’s awesome. Also (late) Brit legends Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott and Peter King. Also love Brandon Marsalis and Seamus Blake. And Max Ionata.

[@chuckc7375]

Bird, cannonball, Jackie McClean , Sonny Rollins, Coltrane, Charlie Mariano , Lee konitz , Lou Donaldson, Wayne shorter, pepper Adams . These are my favorites.

[@bryan2ghyss]

Sonny Stitt and Ben Webster are underrated….. they are great saxophonists as well they supposed to be on that list

[@marcviola1865]

Jimmy Forrest was a great sax player. Check out an album he did with Oliver Nelson and King Curtis.

[@Evazan-uw2vn]

R.I.P. Benny Golson, was one of my favorites.

[@86larsonrd]

Coleman Hawkins. None of this would be here if not for Bean.

[@brucescott4261]

@86larsonrd ...Correct!!!

[@pitbrett8562]

Lester Young was a way better Melody-Maker with less odd vibrato. C. Hawkins- great, but i prefer L. Young.

[@zonker33]

All of my favorite Saxophone players are covered in the video & listeners comments. Other heavy hitters worthy of mentioning are Art Pepper, Vincent Herring, Sal Nistico, Johnny Griffin, George Coleman, Eric Alexander, Dave Liebman, Yusef Lateef, Don Menza, Joe Farrell, Pat LaBarbera... the list goes on & on.

[@martinabrnobic7715]

The video editor needs a raise for this one 🔥🔥, watched till the end

[@hansdegraaf995]

Paul Gonsalves is a very underrated tenorplayer.

[@Nestor_Fernandez]

Hi Chad! Great video! Nice to see you back from the summer break.

[@gib321]

Zoot Sims, Ben Webster, Ike Quebec Paul Desmond

[@loutwo5099]

Aye.....someone is speaking my language! 🎷

[@JoshuaTanzer]

Ike Quebec! People ought to seek him out if they aren’t already familiar with him.

[@ryan-shore]

Great list and video Chad!

[@ALopez-es7hs]

You’re a legend already! 🎷🔥

[@TM-xp7hd]

Sonny Stitt deserves an honorable mention.

[@marktyler3381]

That was great, thanks Chad

[@explosivegaming5221]

1. Wayne shorter 2. John Coltrane 3. Sonny Stitt 4. Michael brecker 5 Stan Getz 6. Cannonball 7. Dexter Gordon 8. Charlie Parker 9. James Carter 10. Coleman Hawkins Active favourites Baptiste Herbin Patrick Bartley Joshua Redman Joel Frahm Chris Potter Chad LB Kenny Garett

[@adomaskuzinas2137]

Who is Joshua Redmond?

[@explosivegaming5221]

@@adomaskuzinas2137 wym

[@jefrodad]

Wayne on top. That’s bold. I would agree he could be higher than 5 but probably not #1

[@explosivegaming5221]

@@jefrodad Personal preference

[@axeman2638]

Johnny Griffin, Stanley Turrentine, Roland Kirk, Pharoah Sanders.

[@adambrenner2328]

Don Byas, Lester Young, Lucky Thompson, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Lou Donaldson, Charlie Parker, Steve Grossman, George Coleman. Those are my top ten, at the moment

[@JoshuaTanzer]

Yes to Bird and Coltrane. My next 2 might be unexpected: 3. JOHNNY HODGES (Duke Ellington orchestra. Intense, not speedy. Look for "Passion Flower" among others. It's amazing.) 4-4a. IVO PAPASOV on clarinet + YURI YUNAKOV on saxophone (Bulgarian wedding music - insane - must hear - will murder your ears.)

[@michaelcorenzwit8118]

In no particular order, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Charles Lloyd, Cannonball Adderly, Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan, Paul Desmond, Grover Washington, Wayne Shorter and Kenny Garrett are my favorites.

[@GrouseMan14]

HES BACK

[@jongoforth1405]

Good selection, CLB. Interesting to me is that the cuts you chose show melodic integrity and rhythmic acuity as opposed to blistering chops. Well done! Thanks. I gotta say, Bird woulda been number one for me-that said, they're all equal. Art is beyond judgement, imho. Totally subjective.

[@alvinpatterson5435]

Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Cannonball A, Richard Elliot, Charley Parker, Lester Young, Boney James, Stanley Turrentine, Sonny Stitt, and Houston Person

[@NadavHbr]

A great list - only slightly different than the one I would make. But I would separate lists for Tenor and Alto - so people like Hodges, Henderson, Stitt, Dolphy, Webster could have their names mentioned

[@paulgibby6932]

The workshop sounds incredible! Have a blast. I like your list, and as you said, of course you left out people. I would add Johnny Griffin, who just tore it up with Wes Montgomery e.g. "Blue and Boogie" album Full House. And I also love Sonny Stitt's sound and tenor battles of him and Gene Ammons. More power to you. Thanks for being a humble guy.

[@Mortezakoroghli]

Charlie parker,Michael Brecker , Coltrane, Chad Lb,bob berg ,Connonball

[@babyfaced1403]

1. Cannonball 2. Dexter These two had the best sound. Breaker was awesome but was a Bob Berg/Coltrane clone. Add Roland Kirk to the list.

[@thisiswilliejohnson]

DAVID SANBORN is on that list for SURE

[@luisdisla818]

1)Cannonball Adderley 2)Michael Brecker 3)John Coltrane 4)Charlie Parker 5)Phil Woods 6)SonnyRollins 7)Coleman Hawkins 8)Johnny Hodges 9)Wayne Shorter 10)Joe Henderson

[@GeoCoppens]

Michael Brecker is vastly overrated! He is simply a strong INSTRUMENTALIST but not a very good improviser!!!

[@ryanhajji]

Sup dawg sick vid

[@alanblakeguitarist]

Yup I agree with you here! I was waiting for you to fuck up the list but you really didn’t even though I forgot a few of these guys you put here. Have to add Johnnie Griffin, Brecker and don’t hate me for this one… David Sanborn

[@toninhoabenattar7847]

Master teacher OLIVER NELSON, wardell gray, Joe Henderson, sonny sttit, charles loyd, George Coleman, lee konitz, don byas, Paul Gonsalves and many others

[@persistence_of_vision]

1 Trane 2 Bird 3 Brecker 4 Sonny 5 Chris Potter 6 Cannonball 7 Joe Henderson 8 Coleman Hawkins 9 Prez 10 Mobley

[@PaoloBoasso-x1v]

yes, but what about michael brecker?

[@richardwinkler7822]

Don't forget Phil Woods

[@lzeppelinrocks]

Brecker?

[@Radjammin]

also known as the Otto link all stars.

[@gritsgravy9198]

Gene Ammoms and Johnny Griffin

[@fernandocarlos7352]

Bud Powell, Monk, Barry Harris, Red Garland, Tommy F, Miles Davis, Dizzy and so on, none of these guys would’ve put anybody else over Bird. But good list !

[@thisiswilliejohnson]

HANK CRAWFORD is on that list for SURE

[@mpharpsax]

but maybe only if David Fathead Newman is also

[@song4night]

Why is Brecker not on that list?

[@alaindrillon9226]

Sonny Stitt ,Larry Mac Kenna

[@davekeen1963]

Two obvious misses Joe Henderson, Stanley Turrentine. Henderson is a fairly obvious miss. Stanley Turrentine maybe notsamuch. ST could play any bag seemingly without changing his sound or approach. He had amazing bop chops so much language, check out "Up at Minton's" was the quintessential blues and ballad player, but was equally adept in the pop, funk, smooth jazz camps. IMNSFHO he is probably one of the most underrated of all time..

[@zachariah1994]

I guessed 7 out of 10 of them, but missed Stan Getz, Hank Mobley, and Lester Young lol

[@amandarediger2178]

Joshua Redman, Warren Hill, Paul Taylor

[@phillipnarte2553]

Always left out...Gene Ammons, Lockjaw Davis, KING Curtis, Charlie Rouse, Plas Johnson, Lou Donaldson. 1. Coltrane 2. Bird 3. Prez 4. Hawkins 5. Gene Ammons 6. Dexter Gordon 7. Sonny Rollins 8. King Curtis 9. Charlie Rouse 10. Lockjaw Davis

[@jefrodad]

Too dated.

[@astorina]

Joe henderson also , in particular as composer

[@veister9126]

Brecker😢

[@mambojazz1]

None of these people would be here without Coleman Hawkins.

[@damusin7]

Brecker? Stitt?

[@davidolahmusic]

This is hard one...

[@adomaskuzinas2137]

Where Brecker?

[@flysouth1507]

Becker didn’t innovate he took from prior artist

[@adomaskuzinas2137]

@flysouth1507 you must be living in a different planet

[@qtclixcarter5887]

Where is Gary Thomas ?

[@robinreidmusic]

I only missed Phil Woods but all of these as you mentioned, are fabulous. Thanks for all you do Chad. Keep them coming/1

[@ezekbardunsihk5735]

Bill Clinton being slept on here

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

Eric Dolphy…🎶🎵🎶🎵🎷

[@PeterSchüpbach-l3b]

What about Joe Henderson?

[@epicj7443]

Jazzhamilton

[@pitbrett8562]

Dont see here: Ornette! Konitz! E. Harris! Byas! Gabarek! Myself :-)

[@pitbrett8562]

A. Shepp! P. Sanders! Liebman! Garzone! And and and

[@pitbrett8562]

Mulligan!

[@pitbrett8562]

Lacey!

[@pitbrett8562]

Dolphy!

[@andresvaldivia1319]

Y muchos más.... incluido tú

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

Bob Reynolds Jay Metcalf

[@RotemCinamon]

Watching this video to see if it’s Parker 1st and Coltrane 2nd or Coltrane 1st and Parker 2nd.

[@flysouth1507]

He lived to 34

[@debushowreel]

Charlie Parker is the only one at the top ever.... Coltrane 😂

[@jefrodad]

Great list. But I’m moving Wayne Shorter up to number 3 because he was more of an innovator than Sonny or Dexter. They were great players for sure but not as innovative since Wayne really helped define the bridge to jazz fusion along with guys like Freddy Hubbard Chic Corea and Herbie Hancock.

[@Marcus-jb1cp]

.........Grover Washington, Jr, ...........

[@Marcus-jb1cp]

Top 10 doesn't cover it. Hard to ignore Bud Powell, Coleman Hawkins, and Sonny Stitt.

[@Bryantittle5342]

Wikipedia ah list

[@Marcus-jb1cp]

If anyine wants to get a #11 - 20 going, I throw in guys like Michael Brecker, Stanley Turrentune, Sadao Watanabe, Frank Foster, Ernie Krivda (The Iron Lung of Cleveland).................

[@joaocarvalhofontenele2922]

Scott Hamilton is missing 😁

[@AbiSax]

I will always debate that Bird is way better than Coltrane.

[@santsermusic]

John Zorn

[@michaelgriffin6442]

Bird gets the number #1 spot, None of those guys would exist without him except Lester. And live Bird recordings really show how amazing he was, The Charlie Parker Omnibook is available in all keys including Bass Clef because everyone wants to play his stuff. Nobody else has that. I love Coltrane too of course, very much and he took things further, But Bird is the King

[@TheBushr400]

Too many greats for a top 10 list. Sonny Stitt should be on it. Chads list only included old school. Phil Woods was the greatest modern day alto player I ever heard. Some top later day players: Brecker (RIP) Potter Woods (RIP) Redman Berg (RIP) Marienthal Mintzer Players like Sanborn (RIP) and Grover Washington Jr. (RIP) were great, but were more funk jazz , RandB and pop orientated rather than straight ahead jazz players. Marc Russo and Lenny Pickett are other notable ones.

[@chriswright2553]

Well put. Very aligned with my own thinking

[@ISuperTed]

Come on, where’s Kenny G? 😂

[@worldwindmusic]

Great list, but skewed. I’ll just say Marcel Mule.

[@josephgutkowski2059]

Only john Coltrane is ahead of Joe Henderson, he's an absolute giant. Technically brilliant, also a great composer. This guy doesn't know a dam thing about jazz saxophone! Yes Stanley turrentine, frank foster, Booker ervin, johnny Griffin, carter Jefferson, bill barron, Clifford Jordan, Harold land, sonny criss, Oliver nelson, and the only saxophonist on the same level as the great Coltrane, Eric dolphy.

[@ffdrk90]

1. KENNY G 2. KENNY G 3. KENNY G 4. KENNY G 5. KENNY G 6. KENNY G 7. KENNY G 8. KENNY G 9. KENNY G 10. KENNY G THAT'S THE CORRECT LIST!

[@joaocarvalhofontenele2922]

🤣🤣😂

[@DrWil13]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@harrypalmer3481]

Brilliant!😄

[@johncm8752]

Too many greats not on your list. Step aside and ask Sonny Rollins while he’s still on earth!

[@hayfordfrempong6369]

Chad I’m a huge fan of Sonny Rollins would you be my teacher

[@badlourising]

This is all old school styles, relying on old school ideas based on ones own opinion. There is no best, no best top 10- it all depends which song, sound etc one likes. For instance the sound of Gato Barbieri beats all the multinoters , too many notes, repetition copycats leading to sounding the same .

[@sethwexler6910]

No such thing, and even if you wanted to make a dumb list like this you cant narrow it down to 10. Impossible1

[@sethwexler6910]

People who do this type of thing are self centered attention getters.

[@xaviercoll]

Stan Getz is number 1 … not 10 !

[@davehay8583]

Brecker?