I love Jazz music - the Saxophone blows tho

[Big Bend]

I even played the Alto Sax in middle school for a couple of years..

But ya I love all kinds of Jazz music, from the classics all the way thru the modern fusion stuff. Everything from Billy Holiday, Armstrong, Duke, Bebop, Dixieland, all the great jazz guitar players, those classic Hammond B3 Organ guys, those incredible clarinet players, Miles Davis, etc etc.. I mean I really love Jazz! But as soon as those Sax guys start blowing, I gota change the station.

I know Charlie Parker and John Coltrane are geniuses, but wow is that sound just so scratchy, annoying, just can't stand it. Even the modern "smooth" sax songs are hard to listen to. I just don't know what the attraction is to the whole Jazz sound.

Anyone here like listening to the Saxophone? Why? What is it about that sound that attracts you to the music? Or do others share my sentiment that its the bane of music in all its forms?

L8r.. BB

[Blarg]

Can't think of an instrument that is all or nothing like that. I often don't like the sax in pop music because it is slipped in as an easy sort of false cool, and the riffs are often juvenile and predictable. You get a "Wow, I'm listening to a saxophone!" vibe in songs still that doesn't fly for, say, an electric guitar in rock music, except maybe heavy metal, where there is a lot of, "Wow, this is a guitar!" sound.

So I like the sax, I just don't like to be hit over the head with it or patronized by it. Unfortunately, in a lot of pop music, you can almost guarantee one or both of the latter.

[KDawg]

well, my instrument is the tenor sax, so I'm obviously biased, but to me there is nothing better then hearing sonny rollins in flight from the late 50s. There are just things that can't be done on any other instrument with the sax, lines that are just so amazing. What I love so much about the tenor sax too is that it's generally the closest an instrument can come to the male voice

I personally don't understand the disdain you have, but to each their own. I know that I couldn't listen to jazz and completely cut off listening to sax players. To me there is just so much beauty in the sound of a saxophone that it's hard for me to ever not want to listen to someone like stan getz, hank mobley, don byas, tim warfield, mark turner, and so on

[Big Bend]

[ QUOTE ]
well, my instrument is the tenor sax, so I'm obviously biased, but to me there is nothing better then hearing sonny rollins in flight from the late 50s. There are just things that can't be done on any other instrument with the sax, lines that are just so amazing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the reply. Give me a favorite Sonny Rollins song and I'll buy it from itunes, check it out, see what you're talking about.

As for the "there are things that just can't be done on any instrument but a sax", uh, like what? My contention is a guitar player can do anything a sax can, plus alot more (chords etc).

Of all the sax sounds tho, I agree that tenor is the best.

L8r.. BB

[KDawg]

there are limitations to the pick for a guitar player. With the sax, the way that one can progress chromatically over chords is very unique to the sax and sax only.

As far as rollins goes, check out anything from Saxophone Collosus. St. Thomas is probably the one to really look for with Strode Rode a close second. He also utterly kills Moritat(mack the knife) with an amazing 4 1/2 minute solo that is pure innovation.

Sonny Rollins is my main influence. I have always enjoyed Trane, but from the first time I ever heard Sonny Rollins, it just clicked with me. His tone from that period is just off the charts. He uses the Coleman Hawkins/Don Byas(he was probably more influenced by Byas who was vastly under rated) tone and all sorts of hard bop sensibilities.

I'd also recommend checking out Hank Mobley, especially how he plays on This I dig of You, No Room for Squares, and I remember you. In fact, all of Hank Mobley's stuff from Blue Note is just pure gold.

[Big Bend]

[ QUOTE ]
there are limitations to the pick for a guitar player. With the sax, the way that one can progress chromatically over chords is very unique to the sax and sax only.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, I wish I understood what you're talking about. I've played guitar for 25+ years, which also can do things no other instrument can. I'll def check out your suggestions tho thx!

L8r.. BB

[KDawg]

every instrument can do things that other's can't, that's what makes them all so great

[KilgoreTrout]

[ QUOTE ]
Give me a favorite Sonny Rollins song and I'll buy it from itunes

[/ QUOTE ]

It's mainstream, but my favorite Rollins tune is St. Thomas. Lovely melody, cool rhythm, accessible. Seen him live a few times in large and small venues. What a performer. Where he uses session musicians on tour, to see his subtle conducting, guiding these guys through the tunes, is special.

[fredericksburg]

The saxophone is probably my favourite instrument, especially the alto and tenor. Agree with other posters about Sonny Rollins. Another of my favourite saxophonists is Charlie Parker. For me there are few better sounds than a really good piece of saxophone improv, it can capture my imagination in a way that few other instruments can.

If you like fusion and more modern sounding jazz, I would recommend Courtney Pine or Soweto Kinch, a saxophonist / rapper who mixes in hip-hop and reggae influences to his music. I would suggest listening to his "Conversations with the unseen" album if you are interested.

[OrigamiSensei]

I won't say I can't stand the sax but I do find that it is often cliché and overrated in its usage. I admit to preferring a piano/bass/drum trio for more mellow moments and dixieland/big band/swing for more energetic music. I pretty much dislike most fusion as being generic and repetitive.

Having seen Kenny G in concert several times because my wife is a fan - gack! I have no doubt the guy is talented but his music makes me want to gag.