- John Coltrane
John William Coltrane, nicknamed Trane, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Although recordings of his work from as early as 1946 exist, Coltrane's recording career did not begin in earnest until 1955. From 1957 onward he recorded and produced dozens of albums, many of them not released until years after his death. - Jackie McLean
John Lenwood (Jackie) McLean (May 17 1931 - March 31 2006; some sources give 1932 as his year of birth) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, composer, bandleader and educator, born in New York City. - Sonny Rollins
Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7 1930 in New York City) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Sonny Rollins has had a long, productive career in jazz, beginning his career at the age of 11 and playing with piano legend Thelonious Monk before reaching the age of 20. Rollins is still touring and recording today, having outlived several of his jazz contemporaries such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Art Blakey, all performers with whom he recorded. - Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter (born August 25 1933) is an American jazz composer and saxophonist. Commonly regarded as one of the more important American jazz sax players and composers since the 1960s, Shorter has recorded dozens of albums as a leader, and appeared on dozens more with others. Many of his compositions have become standards. - Dexter Gordon
Dexter Gordon was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, and an Academy Award-nominated actor. He is considered one of the first bebop tenor players. A famous photograph by Herman Leonard of Gordon smoking a cigarette during a set at the Royal Roost in New York City in 1948 is one of the more iconic images in the history of jazz. - Sonny Stitt
Edward "Sonny" Stitt (February 2 1924 - July 22 1982) was an American jazz saxophonist. He was a quintessential saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom and was also one of the most prolific saxophonists of his generation, recording over 100 records in his lifetime. He was nicknamed the "Lone Wolf" by jazz critic Dan Morgenstern in tribute to his relentless touring and his devotion to jazz. - Johnny Griffin
John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928) is an American bop and hard bop tenor saxophonist. Like many other successful musicians from Chicago, he studied music at DuSable High School under Walter Dyett, starting out on clarinet before moving on to oboe, alto sax and finally, shortly after joining Lionel Hampton's Orchestra, tenor sax. While still at high school, at 15 Griffin was playing alongside T-Bone Walker in a band led by Walker's brother. - Art Pepper
Arthur Edward Pepper, Jr. (September 1 1925-June 15, 1982) was an American cool jazz alto saxophonist. He began his musical career in the 1940s playing with Benny Carter and Stan Kenton. In the 1950s Pepper became one of the leading lights of West coast jazz, along with Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Shelly Manne, and others. Pepper was born in Gardena, California, but lived for many years in the hills of Echo Park, in Los Angeles. He became a heroin addict in the 1940s, … - Phil Woods
Philip Wells Woods (born November 2 1931) is an American jazz bebop alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader and composer. He also performed in other jazz mediums, such a Progressive jazz, post bop and hard bop. Woods was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and studied music with Lennie Tristano, who influenced him greatly, at the Manhattan School of Music and at The Juilliard School. - Gene Ammons
Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 - August 6, 1974) was an American jazz tenor saxophone player, and the son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons. Ammons began to gain recognition when he went on the road with trumpeter King Kolax band in 1943, at the age of 18. He became a member of the Billy Eckstine and Woody Herman bands in 1944 and 1949 respectively, and then in 1950 formed a duet with Sonny Stitt. - Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson (born November 1,1926) is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker's improvisational approach. His first recordings were with bop emissaries Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk in 1952, … - Benny Golson
Benny Golson (born January 25, 1929) is an American bebop/hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger. While in high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Golson played with several other promising young musicians, including John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and Red Rodney. After graduating from Howard University Golson joined Bull Moose Jackson's rhythm and blues band; Tadd Dameron, … - Pharoah Sanders
Pharoah Sanders (born October 13, 1940) is an American jazz saxophonist. Ornette Coleman once described him as "probably the best tenor player in the world." Sanders was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, under the name Farrell Sanders. He began his professional career playing tenor saxophone in Oakland, California. Sanders moved to New York City in 1961 after playing with rhythm and blues bands. He received his nickname "Pharoah" from Sun Ra, … - George Coleman
George Coleman (born March 8, 1935 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American hard bop saxophonist, known chiefly for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s. Coleman taught himself to play the alto saxophone in his teens, inspired (like many jazz musicians of his generation) by Charlie Parker. Among his schoolmates were Harold Mabern, Booker Little, Frank Strozier, Hank Crawford and Charles Lloyd. - Eddie Daniels
Eddie Daniels (born 19 October 1941) is a prolific American musician. Though he is most well-known as a jazz clarinet player, he has also played alto and tenor saxophones, as well as classical music on the clarinet. Daniels was born in New York City to a Jewish family. He was raised in the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. He became interested in jazz as a teenager when he was impressed by the musicians accompanying singers, such as Frank Sinatra, … - Stanley Turrentine
Stanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", (April 5, 1934 - September 12, 2000) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family: his father was a saxophonist, his mother played stride piano, and his older brother Tommy played trumpet. He began his prolific career with blues and rhythm and blues bands, and was at first greatly influenced by Illinois Jacquet. - Zoot Sims
John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 - March 23, 1985) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and soprano saxophonist. He was born in Inglewood, California. Growing up in a vaudeville family, Sims learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age. His father was a vaudeville hoofer, and Sims prided himself on remembering many of the steps his father taught him. Following in the footsteps of Lester Young, Sims developed into an innovative tenor saxophonist. - Oliver Nelson
Oliver Nelson (June 4, 1932 -- October 28, 1975) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinettist, and composer. - Cannonball Cannonball Adderley
Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley, was a jazz alto saxophonist of the small combo era of the 1950s and 1960s. Originally from Tampa, Florida, he moved to New York in the mid 1950's. The nickname "Cannonball" was a childhood nickname for the portly saxophonist, a corruption of "cannibal". An articulate speaker with an easy manner, Cannonball educated, amused, … - Bud Shank
Bud Shank (born May 27, 1926) is an American alto saxophonist. He also played flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra, The Zodiac, and in various session work. Bud Shank began with clarinet in Vandalia, Ohio, but had switched to saxophone before attending the University of North Carolina. In 1946 he worked with Charlie Barnet before moving on to Kenton and the West coast jazz scene. He also had a strong interest in what might now be termed world music. - Gilad Atzmon
Gilad Atzmon (born June 9, 1963) is a jazz musician, author and anti-Zionist activist, who was born in Israel and currently lives in London. He was born a secular Israeli Jew in Tel Aviv, and trained at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. He studied philosophy in Germany and moved to London at age 32. - Joe Farrell
Joe Farrell, real name Joseph Carl Firrantello (16 December 1937 Chicago Heights, Illinois, USA - 6 January 1986 Los Angeles, California) was a jazz saxophonist and flutist. In the 1960s Farrell played with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band. He is best known for performance with Chick Corea in Return to Forever, as well for a series of albums under his own name on the CTI label. He also recorded with Charles Mingus, Andrew Hill, Jaki Byard and Elvin Jones. - Houston Person
Houston Person (born November 10th, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. Person is also known for his distinctive sassy sound and his expressive style of playing. He received the Eubie Blake Jazz Award in 1982. Contrary to popular belief, he was never married to the late singer Etta Jones, … - Von Freeman
Earl Lavon Freeman Sr.(born October 3, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois) is a hard bop tenor saxophonist. He is also the father of Chico Freeman. He learned saxophone as a child and at DuSable High School his band director was Walter Dyett. He began his professional career at age 16 in Horace Henderson's Orchestra. He was drafted into the Navy during World War II and played for a Navy band while in the service. - Frank Foster
Frank Foster (b. 23 September 1928) is an American tenor and soprano saxophonist, arranger, and composer, who is best known for his work in different periods with the Count Basie orchestra, as well as under his own name. His playing style has been influenced by that of John Coltrane, but has remained very much his own. Foster was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and educated at Wilberforce University. In 1949 he played in Detroit with local musicians such as Wardell Gray, … - Pepper Adams
Pepper Adams (born Park Adams III on October 8, 1930 in Highland Park, Michigan - died on September 10, 1986 in Brooklyn, New York) was one of hard bop's most significant baritone saxophonists. His dark, hearty tone on the horn and driving rhythmic sense provided the antithesis to the lighter, floating (and consequently more popular) styles of Gerry Mulligan. His family moved to Rochester, New York when he was young and in that city he began his musical efforts. - Tony Coe
Anthony George Coe (born November 29, 1934 in Canterbury, England) is a jazz musician who is trained on clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor saxophone. He cites Paul Gonsalves as an influence. Coe is noted for his versatility. His early experience in jazz was with Humphrey Lyttelton's band from 1957-1962. Later, he worked in the John Dankworth orchestra and the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland big band. In the 1980s and 1990s, he began branching out beyond jazz, … - Ike Quebec
Ike Abrams Quebec (born August 17 1918 in Newark, New Jersey, died on January 16, 1963) was a jazz tenor saxophonist. His surname is pronounced KYOO-bek. Critic Alex Henderson writes, "Though he was never an innovator, Quebec had a big, breathy sound that was distinctive and easily recognizable, and he was quite consistent when it came to came to down-home blues, sexy ballads, and up-tempo aggression." - Teddy Edwards
Theodore Marcus "Teddy" Edwards (April 26, 1924 - April 20, 2003) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist based on the West Coast of the US. Edwards was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He learned to play at a very early age, first on alto saxophone and then clarinet. Edwards' first professional job was with The Royal Mississippians with Doc Parmley. His uncle sent for him to come to Detroit to live because he felt opportunities were better. - Tina Brooks
Harold Floyd (Tina) Brooks (June 7, 1932-August 13, 1974), was an American hard bop tenor saxophonist. He is best known for his work for Blue Note Records, for whom he recorded four sessions as leader between 1958 and 1961, and for whom he also recorded as a sideman with Kenny Burrell, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Freddie Redd, and Jimmy Smith. McLean and Redd also appeared on Brooks' albums, and McLean and Brooks' musical performances in "The Connection", … - Booker Ervin
Booker Telleferro Ervin II (1930 - 1970) was an American hard bop tenor saxophone player perhaps best known for his association with Charles Mingus, with whom he played and recorded from 1956 to 1962. During the 1960s he also led his own quartet and played with Randy Weston. His most highly regarded records are the nine he made for Prestige Records between 1963 and 1966: "Exultation", "The Freedom Book", "The Song Book", "The Blues Book", … - Lucky Thompson
Eli (Lucky) Thompson (June 16, 1924, Columbia, South Carolina - July 30, 2005, Seattle, Washington) was an African American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist. He is considered, alongside Steve Lacy, to have brought the soprano saxophone out of obsolescence, playing it in a more advanced boppish format, which inspired John Coltrane to take it up in the early 1960s. After playing with the swing orchestras of Lionel Hampton, Don Redman, Billy Eckstine, Lucky Millinder, … - Hank Crawford
Bennie Ross Crawford, Jr, aka Hank Crawford, (born December 21, 1934 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an R&B, hard bop, jazz-funk and soul-jazz alto saxophonist. From 1958 to 1963 he worked in Ray Charles's backup band. He also has done musical arrangement for Etta James, Lou Rawls, and others. Much of his career has been in R&B, … - Eddie Davis
Edward Davis (March 2, 1922-November 3, 1986), who performed and recorded as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He played with Cootie Williams, Lucky Millinder, Andy Kirk, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie, as well as leading his own bands and making many recordings as a leader. He played in the swing, bop, hard bop, Latin jazz, and soul jazz genres. Some of his recordings of the 1940s also could be classified as rhythm and blues. - Billy Mitchell
Billy Mitchell (b. Kansas City, Missouri, November 3, 1926; d. Rockville Centre, NY, April 18, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist best known for his work with Woody Herman when he replaced Gene Ammons in his band. In 1949 Mitchell recorded with the Milt Buckner band, and from 1956 to 1957 he played with Dizzy Gillespie in his big band. From 1957 until 1961 and from 1966 to 1967 Mitchell played with Count Basie, having replaced Lockjaw Davis. - Ronnie Cuber
Ronnie Cuber (born December 25, 1941 in New York City) is primarily a jazz baritone saxophonist. He also does some pop music and played flute on an album by Eddie Palmieri. Cuber is known for hard bop and some Latin jazz. He also played for musicians like Paul Simon and Eric Clapton. Furthermore, Cuber can be heard on Freeze Frame by the J. Geils Band. His first notable work was with Slide Hampton and Maynard Ferguson. Then from 1966 to 1967 Cuber worked with George Benson. - Pete Christlieb
Pete Christlieb (b. February 16, 1945) is a jazz bebop, West Coast jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist born in Los Angeles, California and son of Don Christlieb. Christleib has worked with many jazz musicians, such as Louie Bellson, Chet Baker, Woody Herman, Doc Severinsen and Bill Holman, to name only a few. - Charlie Rouse
Charlie Rouse (April 6, 1924 - November 30, 1988) was an American hard bop tenor saxophonist. He is best known for his time with Thelonious Monk's quartet, a period which lasted from 1959 to 1970. He was later a founding member of the group "Sphere", which began as a tribute to Monk. - Bill Perkins
Bill Perkins (22 July, 1924-9 August, 2003) was a cool jazz saxophonist and flautist popular on the West Coast jazz scene, known primarily as a tenor saxophonist. Born in San Francisco, California, Perkins started out performing in the big bands of Woody Herman and Jerry Wald. He also worked for the Stan Kenton orchestra, which subsequently led to his entry into the cool jazz idiom. He began performing with musicians like Art Pepper and Bud Shank, to name just a few. - Pat Labarbera
Pat (Pascel Emmanuel) LaBarbera (Born 7 April 1944) is an American-born Canadian jazz tenor, alto and soprano saxophonist, clarinetist and flautist born in Mt. Morris, New York, most notable for his work as a soloist in Buddy Rich bands from 1967-1973. He moved to Toronto, Ontario in 1974, and is a member of the faculty at Humber College. La Barbera began working with Elvin Jones in 1975, touring Europe with him in 1979.
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