TOP 10 TENOR SAXOPHONE Players (Classic Jazz Era)

[@bobreynolds]

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

[@bettersax]

Thanks Bob!

[@joeperry245]

Eddie lockjaw Davis. Great player.

[@vincentmilito2732]

@@bettersax CHARLIE VENTURA

[@joegaudette2494]

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

[@directcurrent5751]

Yes

[@phila2361]

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

[@jessesheehan4051]

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

[@kennyr1161]

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

[@cbkmusic85]

Insert expletive here, lol

[@jessesheehan4051]

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

[@aidandoylepolitics]

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

[@joaopedrobaganha811]

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

[@williamgregory1848]

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

[@danielditlev]

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

[@olebirgerpedersen]

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

[@danielditlev]

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

[@olebirgerpedersen]

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

[@snodog3]

Gmafb

[@SStone-dm7es]

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

[@directcurrent5751]

Said it very well

[@robwest36]

He’s talking more than listening 😢

[@kylerR-b5l]

That's a note . Thinking about crying through life is not acceptable to God . Only excellence is acceptable to God . Full effort . No matter how weak you are, only full effort allows you to survive . Pain of life lets you know you're alive . Joy of life keeps you alive . We're still here ...

[@jeffpf38]

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

[@andrewdailey9646]

FINALLY somebody recognizes stan getz, his tone is just otherworldly

[@juancpgo]

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

[@SELMER1947]

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

[@sleeplezznightz]

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

[@sebastianabele4064]

Stan Getz the goat

[@SELMER1947]

@@sebastianabele4064 Bullshit

[@sleepy-beagle]

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

[@petegalindez9961]

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

[@bettersax]

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

[@beefart100]

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

[@lexbro]

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

[@Redpackman]

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

[@thethesaxman23]

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

[@coleashley6010]

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

[@justinberkley3909]

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

[@stevel6895]

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

[@brunoturgeon7978]

Cameron Melendez Music ńh

[@caponsacchi9979]

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

[@Filipe_Alexandre_]

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

[@ralphgillies8614]

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

[@cliveastle9372]

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

[@softsoftsoft]

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

[@steveelsonnyc]

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

[@donniem.walker5158]

Nicely done Jay, I’ve enjoyed this immensely! I grew up listening to many of the Jazz musicians. I was forced to play the Trombone. My heart was in the Saxophone! Now retired, I will enjoy the Alto Saxophone! Racism will continue because of the fear of Greatness! If the Legislature isn’t changed from 300 years prior, nothing will change! Equality and Economic Equality will never to achieved!! We’re still suffering today in 2020.....sadly enough! But thank you for your understanding? So much has been stolen from our Culture and still is!

[@abaachi13]

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

[@maliqued.wilkerson8327]

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

[@francistaylor5097]

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

[@jimmyb1133]

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

[@vKarl71]

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

[@Simon.the.Likeable]

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

[@MrJColtrane68]

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

[@von.jazzaesthetic]

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

[@jakestake5914]

12:17: "Dexter played the lick!"

[@fabianvanderknaap2102]

My hero

[@EmanSax03]

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

[@thethesaxman23]

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

[@phila2361]

Wondered if anyone else noticed 😁

[@isails-ispinnakers]

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

[@wolfgangsuehrer5405]

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

[@richardcomard4223]

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

[@rodimusgamer7620]

Lucky

[@vinniebailey3797]

Oh one more thing, Gene Ammons is the most unsung of that entire group...his sound was enormous and he had so much soul! Jug is my favorite!

[@KevinKingII]

Same here! Biggest sound man.....

[@BernellJonesII]

I heard that Lou Donaldson swears that Jug was the best tenor player out there

[@KevinKingII]

@@BernellJonesII Me and lou agree! He is my personal favorite. The great thing about saxophone is there are so many killer players!

[@glyphics1943]

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

[@SELMER1947]

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

[@lawrencebrazier1894]

Absolutely. M Davis said Thompson was one hellava saxophonist

[@timobesamusca9332]

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

[@DrRocketTurner]

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

[@rwclaw1]

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

[@tenorsfan7492]

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

[@alisonross5970]

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

[@andrea22213]

Impossible to include everyone, but, Lucky Thompson, Wardell Gray and how about Dick Morrissey?

[@EVOWORLD13]

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

[@SuperBandgeek1994]

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

[@wimlange8833]

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

[@artgrusensky121]

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

[@SacBillM3]

Agreed!

[@AndalusianIrish]

And his flute playing!

[@edleifer6719]

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

[@boulejazz]

Good quote, "Art cannot be studied absent the context of history." Thanks for the great videos.

[@jessstuart7495]

Joe Henderson should have made this list.

[@echoes675]

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

[@lawrencebrazier1894]

right

[@thelaxophonist1644]

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

[@edleifer6719]

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

[@jp2861]

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

[@RexPomaro]

God I love that album

[@rollandmakinano1744]

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

[@RevolutionTutors]

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

[@bettersax]

Thanks for the comment. Have more like this planned.

[@ZeeOwens]

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

[@mildhenry]

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

[@synesthesian7]

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

[@Aaron-Qman]

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

[@bettersax]

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

[@Aaron-Qman]

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

[@nicolastrujillo3403]

I am loving this serie!! ❤️👀 wonder who is going to be the soprano and baritone list 👀😂 Excellent video man!!✊🏻 Just to mention two of my favorite tenor players. 1) Pete Christlieb! His style was amazing (he retired). The work that he did on the 60’s and 70’s in the band of the Tonigth Show was incredible! Check his recordings from the album Soaring by Bob Florence (The good limited edition). 2) Ed Calle. I mentioned a latino player last video, worth to mention another! Ed Calle has been super influential in tenor player in Latin America. His sound is full and has an incredible body!! There a video here on KZbin of him playing a cadenza on the tune Europa! It is amazing!! Again great video! Thank for sharing!!!

[@model-tube3917]

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

[@beezelite]

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

[@kmvenezia4337]

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

[@pecaitogarcia2923]

Jay, I could spent years listening to your comments, so honest. Sonny Rollins is my favourite but, your choices are perfect.

[@parker550]

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

[@juancpgo]

Don Byas I think was the most underrated one.

[@SidLaw500]

Mobley is special in so many ways.

[@doddellsworth2988]

Great video, Jay. By the way, your tone on both alto and tenor is beautiful. The one guy who deserves to be on every top 10 tenor list, and is always left off, is Warne Marsh. I was happy to see that you included him in your "honorable mention" list at the end fo the video. Marsh, like Konitz, is one of the greatest pure improvisers I've ever heard, on any instrument. Most players, including giants like Trane and Bird, have licks they reuse. I don't think I've ever heard Marsh play a lick. Plus, his vocabulary, like Shorter's, was truly unique.

[@SacBillM3]

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

[@huntercross1036]

Love this video! If you're ever thinking about doing a baritone version of this video, I think there are some amazing baritone players that have often been overlooked yet contributed so much to Black America's music like how you mention in the intro for the video. Some of these contributions in the baritone world were made by Harry Carney, Cecil Payne, Leo Parker, Hamiet Bluiett, and Sahib Shibab. And of course contributions made by Gerry Mulligan, Serge Chaloff, Pepper Adams, Joe Temperly, and Ronnie Cuber helped amplify these voices. Especially amplifying Harry Carney, who is regarded as the pioneer of modern baritone playing.

[@joeblankenship377]

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

[@brianbillings6815]

Love Lockjaw Davis. Under-rated.

[@Growald]

Claire Daly for sure !

[@frankmcdonough2086]

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

[@scratchedvinyl8462]

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

[@bradyplaysbari9866]

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

[@amenentuet]

HANK MOBLEY: NO ROOM FOR SQUARES !!!

[@renaissanceman165]

Great job, Jay! Excellent presentation! , Kudos, Sir! I commend you on your sensitivity and understanding of the historic disease of racism. Your list of Top 10 Tenor Sax Players is spot on. Ironically, after seeing your list of Top 10 Alto Sax Players, I immediately started searching for your top tenor players list, not realizing that you hadn't posted it yet, but neither had anyone else on KZbin. Congratulations on being the first to compile this list. There are some honorable mentions, or perhaps you'll comprise a list from other music genres. There are numerous smooth jazz players, like Grover Washington Junior, or rock's Clarence Clemmons, but I'm speaking more specifically of the technical, stylistic of Motown's Junior Walker. While recognized mainly for R&B/Soul recordings, I sometimes wonder if his influence, versatility, and contribution to the saxophone was underappreciated in light of his many jazz tenor sax forefathers,, and contemporaries. Junior Walker also inspired a generation of young, future, saxophone players. Check it Out! Ciao!!!

[@willtisdale9899]

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

[@willtisdale9899]

Also, Sonny Rollins is my fave ;)

[@bettersax]

Thanks, glad to hear that.

[@grantkoeller8911]

Great list Jay!!!! so many it's impossible to just have 10...Budd Johnson, Flip Phillips, Al Cohn, Jimmy Guifree, and Eddie Lock Jaw Davis

[@bensherman1628]

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

[@wimlange8833]

Yes, bari players next, please ☺

[@andrew4282]

Why not soprano... Kenny G😍😍😍😍

[@kiptronix]

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

[@tonyalcock2187]

Wow Jay, Perchance, I agree(d) with every nuance of your introduction to this post. As an ageing white European who fell in love jazz music sixty years ago, and one who has read many books on the subject, I’d not really made the emotional connection between the lives of these artists and the power and beauty of their music, until now! Your 21.5 minutes of education and examples has left me speechless; I only hope these few words make sense.

[@bettersax]

Thank you Tony, much appreciated.

[@DHall-kr4vl]

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

[@michaelshaw8426]

Thank you Jay. Apart from your great video on Tenor players...your comments on racism and the contribution of black American culture to music I (we) love is so very correct. At the age of 67, I play, I listen, I never comment, this time it’s wrong to stay silent! I watch lots of your videos, and find them inspiring and informative. Thanks.

[@bettersax]

Thanks Michael

[@Thegdeaniii]

Pharoah Sanders, Charles Lloyd

[@saxesq]

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

[@bettersax]

thanks Jeff

[@martinkimber1203]

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

[@ericgrum]

I'm with you re Scott Hamilton

[@ericgrum]

...More contemporary era, though

[@jerih.1976]

Hello Jay I literally just discovered your channel. With that being said... As a blk woman & a lover & appreciator of the jazz genre (I also play the clarinet & keyboard) I commend your commentary at the beginning of your 📹. Like you said, if he wasn't for these amazing gifted & talented blk American jazz musicians... The genre will not be where it is today. I've study a lot of this cats over the last 30 yrs working on perfecting my craft as a musician & it's nice to know a person like yourself can understand the sacrifices & tormented those who came before me had to deal with in order to bring their 🎶 to the masses.

[@kpoudavoff]

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

[@bettersax]

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

[@Simon.the.Likeable]

*Booker Ervin

[@HowardJacksongroover]

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

[@HowardJacksongroover]

Long Tall Dexter!

[@directcurrent5751]

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

[@jp2861]

Oh, for Top 10 Vol. 2 David “Fathead” Newman. Another Texan.

[@johnmarshall2048]

I must say I have enjoyed the alto and tenor vids you have posted. When I first started playing tenor I listened to a lot of Ace Cannon, Stan Getz, and Sil Austin. You included Getz, and I think Austin and Houston Person would have rounded out your ending list nicely. Thanks for another great video.

[@rkomada88]

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

[@flaminghakama]

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

[@fullriptide]

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

[@KrisVComm]

Top Ten Tenors 03:30 Coleman Hawkins 06:01 Lester Young 07:39 Ben Webster 09:08 Illinois Jacquet 10:50 Dexter Gordon 13:18 Gene Ammons 14:45 Sonny Rollins 16:15 Hank Mobley 17:10 Stan Getz 18:30 John Coltrane

[@ThapeloMachaka256]

i scrolled a whole just looking for this... you, my good sir, are.a.gem!!!

[@stilo2703]

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

[@marklang7486]

Well said Jay. As for list, I can't take issue with it. My personal list would include Stanely Turrentine and Joe Henderson but they made their names in the 60s and 70s so I'll look forward to your follow-up list!. This list is a goldmine for new players to dig into. Yes, listen to the new guys like Potter, Redman and Reynolds but dont neglect the classics that they grew up listening too! As for Prez - I would recommend his album with the Oscar Peterson trio - killing playing!

[@msavage7779]

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

[@rudyjoe7686]

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

[@dr.a4707]

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

[@bettersax]

thanks!

[@StephenB_LE9]

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

[@wadestewart5407]

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

[@ovidiugurban9601]

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

[@Danieldiazsax]

MyRackley lol the last one 😂😂😂

[@krzysiekkondrat2513]

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

[@krzysiekkondrat2513]

@@MyRackley I didn't get it!

[@cookieman136]

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

[@richardhenderson5508]

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

[@billcomstock835]

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

[@bettersax]

Thank you! Will do!

[@sarahmicklewright]

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

[@RevolutionTutors]

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

[@mc_steezy897]

Hey Jay! Can you make a pdf or video of all the solo licks you played? Thanks 🤘🏽.

[@santih5043]

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

[@NadavHbr]

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

[@taylorchurch5580]

Booker Ervin would have made my list somewhere up there

[@tanozen7544]

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

[@dazedandconfused698]

Enjoyed your rundown of tenor players. Being a devoted Dexter Gordon fan, I would like to recommend "Dexter Calling" as a must hear album, in my opinion he had a much better band with him on that than on "Go!". One person who perhaps should have had a mention at least, is Tubby Hayes, who sadly died young of a heart condition at the height of his powers.

[@jazzyman4]

The test of time when you listen to those older recordings is an important factor Dexter certainly did as did Coltrane - Rollins and yes Tubby was up there too Impossible to pick ten or twenty or even thirty as they all gave so much artistry and enjoyment Another factor was that they were individual in their sound and techniques - after a few bars you knew who was playing Too many current players sound very similar because they come from jazz college/university whereas the last masters honed their skills on the road and realized you had to be different to succeed

[@stephenhannaway3739]

Dazed and Confused ~ Tubby Hayes was to me the Charlie Parker of Tenor Sax players, his virtuoso was absolutely superb ...

[@olebirgerpedersen]

I think you could have found a better exampel talking about Lester Young. There are so many recordings that showes his wonderful sound especially when he plays with trios. As for Dexter , I agree completely with you. Not only was Dexter Gordon one of the best and inspiring Tenorsaxophonists, he was allso a great friend of mine. We spent a lot of time together in Copenhagen and in Paris.

[@stul2224]

I was the Village Vanguard when Dexter Gordon returned to the USA - recorded live that night. I'll Never forget it.

[@richardcomard4223]

I saw him there also. Unforgettable.

[@andrewbillek9209]

I was also there on the first night - I had a red carnation in my lapel!

[@richardcomard4223]

@@andrewbillek9209 that's not very nice. Why would I make something like that up. Don't insult Mr. Metcalf with rude remarks, when people are trying to exchange ideas and experiences. Go to Twitter.

[@richardcomard4223]

@@andrewbillek9209 I looked through all the replies and you were the only scumbag. Fuck you.

[@10morrissette]

Thank you for speaking to our current struggle with racial equity in a context in which you are an expert.

[@player197SD]

Also, I would have like to see micheal brecker on that list ;)

[@weiqionghuang223]

Man this is the classic jazz list, I am sure we will see MB on the coming modern jazz list.

[@MrJazzohjazz]

Michael is in the post ‘60 list.

[@dahalofreeek]

We're pretty lucky as saxophone players to have so many awesome idols to look up to. Our instrument's existence has mostly overlapped with the recording era so you can hear almost every notable player that ever played a saxophone.