When you get 6 bars to impress the president of the USA, but it's freezing

[@SharpElevenMusic]

➡Saxophonists! 🎷If you want all the Pdf for these solos, click this link below to get access to these saxophone solo transcriptions (and many more) for free: www.sharpelevenmusic.com/transcriptions You can also support us on Patreon (exclusive Pdf's and many extra's): patreon.com/sharpeleventranscriptions

[@jbreezy101]

Could you tell me what the non solo section parts were based off of?

[@ZemanTheMighty]

You know your bandmates are legendary when you’re more nervous to preform in front of them than the actual PRESIDENT and millions of Americans. What a lineup

[@chaplainmattsanders4884]

😂😂true!

[@Bubbles-qb5hf]

Yeah, but the president and those millions of Americans dont know as much about music as your bandmates. Your bandmates will know when you mess up.

[@Breakbeat90s]

Kenny G is a sucker tho

[@ZemanTheMighty]

@@Bubbles-qb5hf Thats the point!

[@samueldaniels8415]

That's usually the case when I perform with others lol

[@n0denz]

Amazing that all these guys got together and improv'd a 90's sitcom opening theme for two minutes and forty-eight seconds straight.

[@lord_woodhaven6426]

Actually lmao

[@arcavahaethon2669]

Either that or the outro to an actually funny episode of SNL

[@bradleyjohnson6107]

Brilliant comment. I salute you!

[@dgarcia0rivera]

“It’s: The Nineties!” “Starring:” “William Jefferson Clinton” “Allen Gore” “And this week guest starring:” “The UNDERTAKER” “Saturdays at six, seven central on UPN”

[@mjay4700]

This. I didn't hear "Jazz" in most of those solos, but I did have flashbacks of 90's sitcoms which included: Becker, Will & Grace, Mad About You, Frasier, Full House, Home Improvement, etc etc..

[@curtisstigers]

I knew somebody would figure out my scam eventually! I had no business being there but they asked & how could I say no & oh my God I had the best weekend of my life hanging out with those wonderful human beings. Michael Brecker became a dear friend of mine, so did Dave Koz, particularly because Dave and I were the wide-eyed kids in that crowd. Those bus rides back-and-forth over the Potomac between rehearsals and our hotel were extraordinarily fun and funny. C or C sharp, who knows? I was terrified! I’m a singer who owns a saxophone, dammit! Thanks for giving this wonderful clip new life. I will never forget it as long as I live. By the way, Harry Bellafonte and Sidney Poitier shared our dressing room with us, so we spent the whole weekend hanging with those amazing gentlemen as well. One other note: at a certain point Gerry Mulligan hollered hey Ray, it’s Gerry Mulligan! We looked over and there was Ray Charles walking by the entrance of our dressing room and Ray turned and waved and said hey Gerry and kept on walking. There were moments like that all weekend long.

[@tylarjackson7928]

I think it's safe to say that you had the best hair there at the very least

[@handmeballs]

give yourself some credit! just to get invited to smth like this must take incomprehensible skill and dedication, i thought the solo was pretty good too! and yes, fantastic hair:)

[@curtisstigers]

@@tylarjackson7928 🤣

[@MooseEatsBear]

Following Grover Washington Jr.'s solo must have been absolutely terrifying. You did a great job!

[@rloomis3]

I knew you played sax (I was working in a record store when "I Wonder Why" came out), but had never heard you have a chance to blow like you do here. I was pleasantly surprised! (I mean that in the best way possible.) Thanks for sharing the incredible stories!

[@TheDwarfishjoe]

Now I'm no musician... but having a small mirror attached to your instrument so you can see how stank you look while performing is absolute boss

[@Basement_crusader]

Comments sections, do not and I mean *DO NOT* correct this guy

[@thelexrycamabomination4177]

This honestly made me laugh out loud, so thank you

[@danielzhang7408]

So whos gonna tell him?

[@Shiratto]

@@danielzhang7408 NOBODY! 🤫

[@CodeWithJango]

@Nick B Roger that

[@saturnine.]

Man props to Gerry Mulligan for pumping the breaks on the finger seizure train for a second. Also gotta love the sound of a good bari.

[@fortnite.burger]

Agreed

[@DrLumpyDMus]

"Finger seizure train"...Hilarious..🙂

[@englishguy9680]

Gerry Legend

[@lucase.2546]

Plus the Battle Hymn of the Republic quote… so smooth…

[@lowenderjones]

Brecker comin in like the final boss in the video game

[@alexmirante9972]

Controlling everyone’s mind since the 70s

The smile of the woman behind him is a mirror to all of us.

[@janetremsing6988]

👍🙂As it should be. 🙂😂

[@adsupermusone8875]

Wow, he stole the show!

[@xentakis]

Perfect comment 😂😂😂

[@yippeeclawyay2591]

Tom scott went from making the weirdest possible sounds on a soprano to talking about why he is standing in a park in the middle of Birmingham

[@musicAle77]

LMAOOOOO

[@blakfloyd]

He was also the band leader on Pat Sajak's (Wheel of Fortune) very short-lived late night talk show back in like 1989 or '90.

[@ankithabhayan324]

@@blakfloyd you didn't get the joke

[@m.a.6020]

@@ankithabhayan324 he did, he just added on a piece of information you numbnut

[@Zachary_Sweis]

He also somehow turned British. Really weird.

[@themodernshoe2466]

Gerry Mulligan's intro comes as a breath of fresh air after 7 times 6 bars of intense blues saxophone

[@tp63us]

Mulligan is sooo creative and musical in all his stuff that I’ve heard. Loved his break here. Ultimate confidence!

[@arribalasmanosify]

yesss

[@Cephlin]

Mulligan could have done with being where Kenny G was to give us the break we needed. RIP Chet Baker

[@BassByTheBay]

@@Cephlin Fair enough, though given the special occasion, it's understandable that nearly everyone wanted to pull out all the stops.

[@Cephlin]

@@BassByTheBay for sure there was no stopping them all doing their best not even the cold weather

[@giosilva01]

Laughed at "Smooth jazz's son", laughed harder at "Smooth jazz's perfect son in law"

[@nathanwall37]

Props to the bass player holding the line through all those solos

[@philidor9657]

Everyone here getting excited over the saxophones but that bassist is laying on the funk. His ghost notes are *chef’s kiss*

[@Goku17yen]

no one appreciates the bass 😔

[@theangriestbassplayer7492]

@@Goku17yenit's fine. We don't mind.

[@epressos]

I can confidently say it's the legendary Marcus Miller, his signature sound is soooo recognisable

[@jeremyowens3319]

@@epressos I've spent some time internet sleuthing and I could not find the break down of the backing big bad other than it was organized and led by Quincy Jones. Jones and Miller worked together multiple times so it fits there. And you're right, it absolutely sounds like Miller as well. That pristinely clean slapping is his hallmark sound.

[@TerenceHughes4501]

I was a military band trombonist. One day we were out on parade for a state visit in sub freezing temperatures and had to stand for an hour for inspection before marching off. When we eventually did, just a horrible noise came out the entire brass. The valves and slides had seized solid.

[@BassByTheBay]

Crikey! Did they loosen up before you all finished playing?

[@TerenceHughes4501]

@@BassByTheBay Oh yeah. After a few seconds of hot air being blown through they started to unfreeze but it was a terrible noise.

[@BassByTheBay]

@@TerenceHughes4501 How long did you play?

[@keathmueller7826]

Typical

[@Sunbeargirl-]

Yikes, as a fellow brass player, that sounds like a nightmare.

[@cc9999-p9w]

Let’s not forget that Clinton is an amateur jazz saxophonist. Jamey Aebersold once opened his three day seminar in London with a slide of his transcription of a blues solo in F the president had played for the cameras, with a band, which he proceeded to analyse. His verdict was: “as you can say everything is quite proper and correct. More the pity the band was playing in Bb”. It got laughter.

[@cookiedookie4207]

how does it work? i feel like soloing over F in a Bb song isnt even that bad…correct me if im wrong, but the notes in a F blues scale is quite similar to Bb major, and i thought in blues and jazz any other notes can be justified as an extension or passing note or the sorts?

[@amitshakhar7575]

@@cookiedookie4207 Yeah technically all the notes are passable but the C instead of Db or D probably will sound weird if played too much

[@cc9999-p9w]

@@cookiedookie4207 You’re absolutely right. Both keys share most notes, and the ones that are not common, if played in the right place would not necessarily rise eye brows. The main problem you’d find is, for instance on the first ‘band’ chord, (Bb7), that if the soloist is thinking of F7 there’s a chance of him emphasising the seventh of the chord he’s thinking of (Eb in this case), while the bass is saying Bb. In other words, the melody would be shouting the perfect fourth of the band’s major chord, and that is a dissonance (a minor second above a chord tone, hairy) that can be hard to sell if you linger on it for longer than a quaver/8th note. Exactly the same problem occurs on the two other typical chords in a blues (in Bb: Eb7 & F7). I can’t remember whether Aebersold played the clip, I think he only showed us the slide of the transcription, which he played himself solo and sounded idiomatic, so I can’t tell whether Clinton got away with it or it was awful 😂

[@TorEtCetera]

@@cc9999-p9w brilliant

[@swagkillayolonoscopesgg]

Trill clinton

[@SharpElevenMusic]

In case you don't know, the reason they all put on the sunglasses is a little dig at Clinton who played "Heartbreak Hotel" on the Arsensio Hall Show with sunglasses during his election campaign. Michael Brecker has the hippest of them all, after blasting his solo through the White House lawn he quickly flips those shades. Curtis Stigers appears to have forgotten them, so a quick ninja (as somebody described it excellent in the comments here) gave it to him.

[@SplendidCoffee0]

At first, I thought he made a mistake only he could hear and was embarrassed. I now realize he was the most prepared out of all of them, lol

[@paloia904]

I think it was Kenny G who forgot them

[@marfdasko]

@@paloia904 yeah it was Kenny G on the soprano, Curtis is standing with the tenors all the way over on the left next to Gerry and Brecker

[@The8BitBigBand]

Still to this day one of my favorite videos of all time, all these sax players are just so themselves in their 4 bars of glory. A master class in various sax styles through the ages.

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Yes exactly, still can't wrap my head around the fact this happened. And personally only just wishes Eric Marienthal would have been included, but I guess this might be the exact list Bill Clinton might have listened to. By the way, love your stuff! It's incredible 🔥

[@The8BitBigBand]

Back watching this again 2 weeks later for no reason at all haha anyway glad you like our tunes!! Big fan of your channel. I still laugh when you write presidential tri-tone sub hahaha@@SharpElevenMusic

[@jbreezy101]

6 bars. Half of the standard 12-bar blues solos they play in jazz charts

[@1994savvas]

It's great that everyone of them kills it with a great solo, but none tried to show off and act as if they're better than the others. In the end, it all felt smooth and the solos had a similar vibe and great transitions.

[@cd-zw2tt]

*except kenny G

[@JensLarsen]

"Having an excellent hairdresser" 😂😂 Excellent commentary!!!! and a great idea!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Thanks Jens, felt really inspired, I'm putting the hairdresser part in my practice routine now

[@JensLarsen]

@@SharpElevenMusic I wonder what Brecker and Kenny G talked about backstage. Reeds? 😁

[@SharpElevenMusic]

@@JensLarsen maybe how to do the intonation thing?

[@bobpremecz5429]

WOWOWOWOWOWOW... somehow I missed this, but it makes total sense that all these sax greats would be at the inauguation of Bill Clinton. Gerry Mulligan's decision to include that patriotic quote shows he cares about his audience and the occasion, too. Heartbreaking... shave and a haircut, too!

[@6884]

patriotic? I wonder what John Brown would say about the XIII.....

[@BassByTheBay]

Two bits!

[@nap_time_]

his patriotism also shows that he sadly lacks braincells

[@BenDanen]

I love you can tell just how amazing this is for the president. You just know this has been his biggest dream since a kid, and having all of them there to play only for him gives him a look that is as giddy as a school boy 😂

[@someparts]

Then he passed NAFTA and sealed the fate of the entire middle class of the country.

[@Pixel3572]

@@someparts no one cares rn, dont bring politics into a fun video about music.

[@coreygarrett9545]

@Pixelator It’s a video about a politician of course it’s about politics, you walking abortion

[@sammcgrail3949]

More like don’t bring fun music into politics, especially a guy who sealed the fate of the entire middle class of this country

[@Barthaneous34]

Then he got some head in the oval office as a nice cherry on top. Evil man and woman helped ruin this country.

[@votre_nom]

you guys have NO idea how cold it was that day. it's amazing any of us were even able to get ANY notes out! thank you guys for putting this together...amazing to relive it so many years later. I am still in awe of that line up--I was just a young pup starting out, amidst a line of true sax legends...they were all so nice, especially Brecker and Grover. true gentlemen.

[@atlassolid5946]

wait, which solo were you?

[@billy4301]

Bait used to be funny

[@christopherchirino3653]

@@atlassolid5946Dave Koz

[@Matthew-zx8cs]

I love that Kenny G doesn’t have a music sheet. He really strikes me as a “fuck it we ball” kinda guy and just send sit home

[@bluwolf098]

Dave Koz doesn't have one either, it was only those two that didn't have it.

[@littlebumgorf]

Everyone is improvising their solo. The sheet music has the chords so they improvise a solo that goes well with the chords, and also the parts that they have to play together.

[@jas_bataille]

Hell yeah, people like to mock him but hey took the bag with his cheesy hits and can we blame him? A total jazz prodigy and he figured out how to be a maxi millionaire. Good for him, he deserves it.

[@joebigen6ma]

​@@jas_batailleIt's good he was a pop musician If he was really a jazz player, he should be broken and obscure 😂

[@genesmith4019]

@@jas_bataille Listen to Mr. G play AWB Pick up the Pieces. He's no lightweight.

[@nate_kang]

Mulligan's solo is my favorite, he made creative use of space in his solo unlike most of the other players, and his quote of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was fitting for the occasion too lol

[@jbreezy101]

Yep I agree

[@Shadowk556]

I would’ve never put two and two together without you pointing it out so thank you for enriching this experience:)

[@joshbaino3087]

I had no idea he lived into the 90s.

[@CrandMackerel]

The “warming up” photo: Brecker and Gorelick in the same tent. I’m surprised this mix of positive and negative saxophony in such close proximity didn’t annihilate the entire universe.

[@sitarnut]

Ha! Brilliant!! Quantum spinning both directions at once....

[@samiirai]

There is good reason stuff like this can only be done on very cold days

[@Squidward_Tikiland]

This has gotta be from a different part of the multiverse

[@Herbert2892]

@@sitarnut wat

[@skbj6782]

kenny g knows how to shred, he just also knows what makes millions. wonder if there's any footage of them playing a full song together or there

[@drewismynick]

I watched that live on TV. I loved it! I wouldn’t begrudge anyone pitches because it was freezing cold that day!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Exactly! And you just wonder how huge Tom Scott's balls have to be to then decide to use a sopranino 😂. Has to go down as one of the most heroic saxophone choices of all time

[@charlienyc1]

​@SharpElevenMusic Actually, if you go by mass of metal being affected by the temps, Tom Scott picked well knowing the sopranino warms up quickly. In the meantime, Mulligan wins... again! Thanks for posting this. Pretty insane playing all-around. Well, almost all 😂

[@seed2338]

that bassist absolutely jamming the hell out

[@benjamingardner3314]

So for anyone who doesn't know, there is a famous lick in hip hop first featured in "They Reminisce Over You". Tom Scott was the original saxophonist who played that lick. It was on an amazing album called Tom Scott and The California Dreamers "The Honey Suckle Breeze".

[@iaindooley9275]

Sucka ****** by tribe also samples Gerry mulligan’s version of red clay

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Did you know about this giant White House saxophone legends jam? I have to say, I knew all of them except for Curtis Stigers, which I had to Google only to find out he is a truely amazing singer! What a voice. Some little caviats... -Curtis stigers solo has a few strange notes, I know. It seems like with his octave C it is pitched quite high, actually sounding more like a C#. In the footage, due to the great camera angle, you can actually see him finger C natural, but I double checked and the pitch is really more of C#. Playing outside in Januari isn't a much fun thing to do as every saxophonist can attest to, but it semes his C natural goes a couple of times high in pitch. -Besides Curtis Stigers solo, the one by Kenny G was most difficult to get down. Also generally the audio is kinda poor, and the lines weren't very clear, as well as some pitches. That might be on my part, I'm sorry if that one isn't always nailing it. -The extra voice you hear playing through Gerald Albrights solo is Kirk Whalum coming in one round too quickly. But before you'd judge, ask yourself the question: did you ever come in to early or messed up someone else's solo yourself? Yeah I guessed, it happens to all of us at some point if you've played long enough :) -My take away is that while I do appreciate everybody in this video, the sounds I could pick out anytime blind folded are: David Sanborn, Gerald Albright and Michael Brecker (yes, and Mulligan of course, but that's no fair comparison as he's one of the few baritone saxophonist in the major scene. But that's not to say he DOESN'T sound massively unique as well!)

[@bobblues1158]

Curtis Stigers is a wonderful original cat. He is touring a lot and has a great fan base. His singing and sax playing - you know Vi Redd, Cleanhead Vinson, Valaida Snow-well she plays trumpet, but you know what I mean LOL. He is in a tradition.

[@kevinwhiteman1563]

Was just about to ask about the extra stuff at the beginning of Albright. I kind of like it. Accidental Dixieland.

[@PuffyOne1898]

Happens even to the best of us.

[@curtisstigers5238]

I knew somebody would figure out my scam eventually! I had no business being there but they asked & how could I say no & oh my God I had the best weekend of my life hanging out with those wonderful human beings. Michael Brecker became a dear friend of mine, so did Dave Koz, particularly because Dave and I were the wide-eyed kids in that crowd. Those bus rides back-and-forth over the Potomac between rehearsals and our hotel were extraordinarily fun and funny. C or C sharp, who knows? I was terrified! I’m a singer who owns a saxophone, dammit! Thanks for giving this wonderful clip new life. I will never forget it as long as I live. By the way, harry Bellafonte and Sidney Poitier shared our dressing room with us, so we spent the whole weekend hanging with those amazing gentlemen as well. One other note: at a certain point Gerry Mulligan hollered hey Ray, it’s Jerry Mulligan! We looked over and there was Ray Charles walking by the entrance of our dressing room and Ray turned and waved and said hey Gerry and kept on walking. There were moments like that all weekend long.

[@curtisstigers5238]

*Gerry!!!

[@PabloVestory]

Gerry's response after the... previous fast fingers display, is just what was needed at the moment, GLORIOUS!

[@morrij01]

Brecker does it every time. I still have most of the Brecker Bros and Micheal Brecker CDs. I had Two Blocks from the Edge playing on a loop for probably a month following the devastating news of his passing. He was too good for this world.

[@demesisx]

Check out my recording of him from 2001 on my channel.

[@TheRealG2024]

yeah. he was an ABSOLUTE BEAST on that album

[@kosherre6243]

Greatly grateful for the tidbits of background info on these players, enriches my appreciation for their performances.

[@JeremyMcCant]

I INSTANTLY heard Sanborn’s tone and knew it was him! Such a legend! RIP to one of the greatest saxophone players ever!

[@LettuceLover123]

Mulligan's battle hymn of the rebulic quote. *chefs kiss*

[@mrbigg151]

They didn't have to flex THIS hard! 😂 I like how each one had their flavor in the solo 🔥🎷

[@ianmoore5502]

Wow these guys are still the relevant giants in the field and I have never seen Dave koz look so 😳

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Yeah, Dave did that super healthy thing back then called "being lots younger" ;) Jokes aside, I think he always looks good nowadays as well

[@pdbass]

This is my new favorite video. Brilliant captions and incredible to hear Gerry Mulligan and Brecker napalm the entire group. YES. 😂

[@leoyu1196]

Am I the only person who only focused on how fire the bass line was? THE SLAPP WAS CRAZZZY

[@mewsick5093]

No. I isn’t. But I am the only one who did notice what you said. See?

[@claudemiropacheco]

Great job on the transcription...but the players' descriptions are just hilarious.

[@mauricioalonso2157]

I paused every solo the first time to read and had to actually listen the music the second time around

[@mrmilktrayman8002]

Whalum's "unwanted" counterpoint always makes me crack up for some reason

[@bobblues1158]

Great! Mulligan was the hippest, you dig! He quotes " The Battle Hymn of the Republic" it might have another name in church. " My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord, the truth goes marching on". LOL! I could still remember it!

[@samrs2010]

That was the most 90s thing I’ve ever heard. There was even a laugh track playing from the spirit world.

[@nicholasalvarado4695]

Seeing how happy Bill was when they broke into the song at the end was very heartwarming :)

[@jonathankraig425]

Sanborn set a precedent and came out swingin, Mr. Washington Jr was up to bat and hit a home run, Curtis smoothed it out and funked it up, idk who ripped those cheeky notes but Albright wasn’t feelin that n went ham, Whalum brought us back to sanity, then Scott went crazy, Kenny G was like “wtf Scott” then had to match him, Mulligan came in and said “lemme switch it up real quick”, Koz laid down some funky stuff, then Becker put his balls on the table and said “behold”. Love the bit where they imitate Clinton on Arsenio. It’s hard to tell who i liked the most.

[@Red_Tsar]

Apparently it was Kirk who hit the notes by accident on Albright's turn.

[@HOVREDDY]

Mulligan takes the cake on this one. Tasteful, appropriate, well done 🙌

[@EJM07]

Didn't have quite the same energy as the others though

[@lilaibairu]

@@EJM07 exactly

[@Harako15]

@@EJM07 Mulligan came in like a fine glass of wine while everyone else was taking shots

[@charlienyc1]

​@@Harako15Well stated!

[@Wunktheskunk]

A fun concert bookended by 2 originals from the Brecker Bros Band. Someone put some thought into the order of the soloists! Kudos on the great post!!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Great you point that out! Oh yes indeed, I think the order is done very well as well. Only thing that stays strange to me is the switch from Kenny G to Gerry Mulligan. But it's also never two alto's or tenors after each other. Great producer, I wonder if somebody knows who arranged it. Perhaps Tom Scott, he has the most arranging experience as far as I know

[@Wunktheskunk]

@@SharpElevenMusic I bet Gerry Mulligan loved it! I imagine him playing some beautiful, fast bebop lines in rehearsal knowing he was going to follow Kenny G who was destined to fit in as many notes as he could. Mulligan followed that with a tasty half-time swing! I bet Brecker was cracking up. Fun to speculate. For all we know, Bill Clinton could have picked the order!

[@curtisstigers5238]

Tom Scott definitely arranged it

[@charlesswanson8664]

I couldn’t say for sure of course, but I’m guessing Brecker’s position in the solo order was decided by the other saxophonists.

[@FermisAxiom]

Kenny’s metallic pitch is always so distinct

[@asarob]

As much as people dog on him, he is a world class player.

[@franckdebank]

Amongst dogs maybe

[@EXPOSING_UNREALITY]

he really stood out in that performance

[@Chrisdvc26]

His first few notes were my favorite of the whole performance

[@goofsaddggkle7351]

Barely knowing ant of these amazing musicians, the descriptions in the video were really humorous, and you could tell came from a place of respect for the artists and their legacies.

[@mariannevangemert1845]

Couldn't agree more! ❤️

[@unexpectedTrajectory]

2:26 I not the jazz snob I once was, but I had no idea Michael Brecker had ever stood so close to Kenny G!!!

[@jackcrawford304]

I didn’t not expect mulligan, Kenny g, or Grover Washington. Pretty cool

[@ihavegcc472]

And brecker!

[@AndrewJanusson]

No one expects Kenny G

[@rodrigoodonsalcedocisneros9266]

@@AndrewJanusson nor the Spanish Inquisition!

[@adsupermusone8875]

Kenny G played well, unexpectedly but pulled it off even so

[@raginbakin1430]

Brecker’s solo was by far the most harmonically interesting out of all of them

[@TheRealG2024]

100%

[@fotismonocheir1446]

Well yeah...its fucking Michael Brecker

[@Njderig]

Brecker is a wild man. His solos are crazy yet technically amazing.

[@PuffyOne1898]

RIP David Sanborn. Absolute legend

[@jedienclave]

They knew no one would be able to follow Michael so they put him last lmao also Gerry's Battle Hymn quote is just great

[@sheriff2539]

Right you are!

[@bjdooi]

that was amazing- its so nuts too how easily identifiable each saxophonist is. The first guy's sound made me think of Lethal weapon and then a second later the text popped up to confirm it 😂

[@Aaron-Qman]

The first guy actually played sax in the lethal weapon soundtracks!😂 David Sanborn! 🎷

[@PBTophie]

I love Kirk Whalum's most, maybe. I loved how Gerry Mulligan said "Screw the tempo" and gave us six bars of slow smooth soul. Can never go wrong with Kenny G. David Sanborn sounded like how I expect a saxophone to sound. Everyone was obviously good enough for the President, but those were my favorites from their six-bar samples. I could probably watch these guys jam all night, and I'm by no means a jazz guy. This was really spectacular.

[@sorenfuhrer401]

This is probably one of the coolest things I ever saw. I had no idea this video existed. Bill Clinton...the jazziest white president they had so far ;)

[@nhattuyenvodieu3103]

So it begs the question, is clinton jazzier than obama? xD

[@lukasalihein]

@@nhattuyenvodieu3103 Tough to say, Obama had Esperanza Spalding at the white house, and he hoops, which everyone knows is the sports equivalent of jazz :)

[@Hotarg]

1:22 I wasn't even looking at the screen and I still immediately knew who it was. He's THAT iconic.

[@XanDubs]

I’m sorry but Kirk’s counterpoint is my favorite part of this entire video- which is insane because I love all the solos so much

[@TolgaBedirVideos]

Tom Scott at 1:18. He is also the musician who plays the saxophone solo in Blade Runner and Taxi Driver films.

[@LillyDelValley]

We need more highlights on those descriptions -hilarious & great work. Something to wrote home about

[@ashitakazphiroute2868]

2:15 a ninja come up on the right.

[@SharpElevenMusic]

hahaha 😂 it seems like they agreed on putting on the sunglasses for the "Heartbreak Hotel", which was a little dig at Bill Clinton who did exactly that in his election campain. And I think it was Curtis Stigers who forgot one, so the ninja brough one super quickly. Great job though

[@davidtauler2705]

I saw this live in DC back in January of 1993. I was a 15-year old saxophone student at the time and when I heard who was coming, I took the metro into DC and braved the cold. There were around 500,000 people in attendance to celebrate Bill Clinton’s inauguration later that week. The show was a who’s who of celebrities including Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, and Will Smith who introduced this piece by telling the president elect that it’s okay if he plays the saxophone just as long as he doesn’t quit his day job. When I saw all my heroes finally take the stage I cheered as loud as I could only to find myself to be the only one cheering. (I think that was my first realization that most people do not listen to jazz.) The crowd did not seem to know who these legends were except for Kenny G. When Kenny G’s solo started, the crowd cheered so loudly that I couldn’t hear his playing. Still, what I could hear blew my mind. I remember thinking to myself, “These musicians only have one shot to get this right and they are knocking it out the park. Amazing!” I knew this rare collaboration of saxophone titans was a historic moment.

[@felipe.p.esquivel1905]

I love how Jerry Mulligan managed to fit in a motif to "battle hymn of the republic" in the beginning! Loved all of their performances!

[@TubsNSkins]

1:02 "New! Providing unwanted counterpoint." 😂😂😂

[@supadopemex9245]

My man Gerry best solo of the bunch IMO. You can probably tell what Sax is my favorite.

[@thebreathalyzer]

Gerry is the man.

[@turtlespiritflutes7570]

Great short samples of modern jazz saxophone on a funky blues. Most choose to run 16th note blues scale runs with syncopated rhythms thrown in. Brecker went into his off planet abilities that were unique to him. Did Gerry Mulligan quote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" at a Presidential Inauguration before he went into his bag of tricks? Hat's off to Mulligan. A bluesy melodic overture, a nod to the ceremony and America, and 3 bars of bebop.

[@As_Phil]

"Curtis Stigers - Known for: Being an incredible singer" The amount of SHADE on that!

[@skipads5141]

1:19 Tom Scott! Is there nowhere that man hasn't traveled for a video?

[@drach420]

"Providing Unwanted Counterpoint" had me giggling.

[@jazzmaned]

Why have I never seen this? Holy Cow! All of these guys killed it. I'd like to hear the whole thing. Someone please point me to where I can see this.

[@SharpElevenMusic]

The original link was put in the description, but here it is again kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXivk4mfftdqhM0

[@jacobmitchell7851]

The arrangement is interesting. Always going between 1 4 and 5 like a classic blues but going back and forth between Cmaj and Fmaj as the keys. Was pleasantly surprised to see Grover Washington here as well :)

[@gOaTsCrEw]

It's not modulating to different keys: what you are seeing is the notation written in the key of the instrument that is currently playing. When it's an Eb instrument the key shows as C and for Bb instruments the notated key is F, but in either case the song is in concert-Eb for everyone. It's also a compressed blues, so 6 bars instead of 12 for the whole form and everything happens 'twice' as quickly.

[@MikesOrganicVideos]

It’s been so many years since I first saw this when it was happening. I had forgotten. This was truly great. Thanks for posting. Loved how they ended with heartbreak Hotel, which is what President Clinton, as the candidate played on Arsenio Hall. Of course I was watching that live. Somewhere in storage I have a pin back button with him playing the saxophone that says “blow, Bill blow”, Which I wore to the polls when I voted for him back in 1992.

[@dpend]

I saw David Sanborn live in New Orleans at Jazz Fest in the early 2010s and it was one of the most mind-blowing performances I’ve ever seen

[@Harako15]

01:09 Kirks vibrato on that altissimo C was insane

[@projectifier]

@0:22 Grover Washington Jr has a clever Monk quote from Straight No Chaser! Love it

[@projectifier]

Im not alone ❤

[@danieltorres5238]

Dave Koz has the best dance moves of the bunch. Check them out during Kenny G's solo lol

[@92GreyBlue]

2:03 The officers in the background just loving it.. They were also OOZING style lol that drip is unmatched.

[@nathangrim4420]

Breaker started playing and I was like I know exactly who that is. One of the most distinctive sounds around.

[@damvid21]

Gerald Albright: This is a unique moment for me and I can't wait for the whole world to see me shine!

[@gabe5120]

Those sopranos mimic trumpet tone so well it's insane

[@charlienyc1]

One was a sopranino sax in Eb, an octave about the alto.

[@jbreezy101]

@@charlienyc1that was Scott Playing the Sopranino which I loved seeing in action outside of Bolero.

[@jbreezy101]

If you were to play the middle c on The Bb trumpet, Bb clarinet and the Bb soprano sax… it would be close in pitch to each other.

[@gabe5120]

@@jbreezy101 yeah they're all in Bb, I was just taking about their tone

[@charlienyc1]

@@jbreezy101 Despite the presence of saxophones in the score, I've had about enough of Bolero. So, it's good to see. Now, unfortunately, we can say RIP to David Sanborn.

[@PuffyOne1898]

THAT SOPRANINO SOLO THO OMG!!

[@blemisheddiscgaming6464]

Usually, I expect the algorithm to recommend me random stuff... but this is on a whole new level.

[@stevenk4401]

I didn’t even have to look man. As soon as Michael brecker started playing I knew it was him. Incredible

[@abcdeisthekey]

I love the fact that he looked over the moon with their performance

[@DanRelayer_Ukraine]

Mulligan and Brecker on one stage - WOW

[@Billywagner22]

Michael Freaking Brecker!

[@Haha-q1u1b]

Right from the first note you allways know it’s him damn

[@yvesfrancoisritmo]

That was so hip and nice to hear some of the saxes who usually play smooth jazz blow hot! I kinda knew they all would sound great here! Of course Mulligan was stellar in his baritone sax solo - playing cool yet hot. Great one I never heard before

[@DrewSullivan87]

This is one of the most stacked lineups I’ve ever seen

[@bruhbruhin_a_sling7775]

0:47 I still don’t get if he just started early or this was intentional cause it sounds bloody good

[@q12aw50]

It was a mistake

[@allenhurt02]

The heart break hotel at the end had me dying🤣

[@sambrien1020]

Kenny G, known for: having an excellent hairdresser. Whoever wrote these captions had a great time.

[@ArtistFormallyKnownasMC]

This is incredible. I didn’t know it happened. And Mr. Pres was so delighted. Thanks for sharing!

[@germanboy3161]

Great job from the sax's, but God damn. Who the hell is slapping that bass?!?! Dude killed it

[@gelosaurus]

My favorite presidential debate EVER. 😂

[@jblen]

Dave Koz won in my book. The perfect balance of high squeals and melodic runs plus it was all played super clean. Michael Brecker was also insane for all the same reasons. They really saved the best til last, though unintentionally by the roster of names earlier on.

[@hyronharrison8127]

Yeah Koz had it the cleanest

[@johnfu2428]

Agreed agreed

[@clarinetssaxesandflutesohmy]

Pure, unfettered joy and fun. I hear (and can see) what everyone is playing, but it's a further reminder of just how far I have to go. Knowing what I have to do to get there, and how much time I realistically may have left to do it, it might be time to let it go, and be content to enjoy and celebrate the work of the masters. I mean masters past, present, and future, without my aspiring to be among them.

[@johnbowman3630]

Lol, that fully diminished C#7 b13 hits HARD at the end They went ALL OUT jazz on that one

[@JoshuaKerr-jt1jn]

Can we get some appreciation for the bassist. Bro carried the groove

[@q12aw50]

No

[@Skilital]

Yes

[@crosh3301]

0:46 Did Kirk Whalum come in early there?

[@alishatbones]

Yes 😅

[@Chibabaichi]

But still sounded good😅

[@hopeclayburnsax9369]

Never knew this existed! Brecker was the President of that line!

[@chaplainmattsanders4884]

Great stuff. Thnx so much for posting. The on-screen commentary is hilarious. Delighted to say I’ve seen three of these brilliant dudes perform-Sanborn, Tom Scott & Kenny G. My dream-team of horn players would also include: Phil Woods (RIP), Jay Beckenstein, Wilton Felder (RIP), Marc Russo, Sadao Watanabe, Chris Vadala, John Helliwell, Cornelius Bumpus (RIP). Oh, and I must conclude with Mister Adolphe Sax himself!!!

[@jackiechan8840]

The text giving extra info about musicians is great.