List of jazz saxophonists

Jazz saxophonists are musicians who play various types of saxophones (tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, etc.) in jazz and its associated sub-genres. The techniques and instrumentation of this type of performance have evolved over the 20th century, influenced by both movements of musicians that became the sub-genres and by particularly influential sax players who helped reshape the music.

In the 1930s, during the swing and big band era, saxophonists like alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges (1906– 1970), who led the saxophone section in the Duke Ellington Big Band, were featured soloists in a highly structured system of playing where such solos were limited moments of musical freedom.

By the early 1940s, jazz saxophonists such as Charlie Parker lead a rebellion against the strictures of Big Band, shifting jazz from away from danceable popular music towards a more challenging "musician's music" that would come to be called bebop, with solos that included more chromaticism and dissonance.

In the 1950s, sax players like tenor saxophonist John Coltrane (1926-67) broke new ground in jazz, infusing their music with rhythm and blues styles and gospel influences as part of the hard bop sub-genre.

In the 1950s and 1960s, free jazz pioneers such as alto and and Ornette Coleman (1930- ) developed unusual new sounds and playing styles.

In the 1970s-era fusion jazz blended rock and jazz, with saxophonists like Wayne Shorter at the front of that movement.

In the 1980s, sax players such as Kenny G (Kenny Gorelick, 1956- ), (soprano, alto, tenor) and David Sanborn (1945- ), (alto, soprano) played a radio-friendly style of fusion called smooth jazz.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Joshua Redman (1969- )(alto, soprano, tenor) returned to a more traditional approach which reached back to the sax greats of the 1950s and 1960s.

Notable jazz saxophonists include:

A

• Mindi Abair (1969-), (alto)
• Greg Abate (1947-)
• George Adams (1940–1992), (tenor)
• Pepper Adams (1930–1986), (baritone)
• Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (1928–1975), (alto)
• Ahmad Alaadeen (1934-2010 ), (soprano, tenor)
• Eric Alexander (1968- ), (tenor)
• Harry Allen (1966- ), (tenor)
• Pete Allen (1954- ), (alto, soprano)
• Gene "Jug" Ammons (1925–1974), (tenor)
• Fred Anderson (1929- ), (tenor)
• Peter Apfelbaum (1960- ), (tenor & other instruments)
• Julian Arguelles (1966- ), (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone)
• Harold Ashby (1925- ), (tenor)
• Gilad Atzmon (1963- ), (alto, soprano, tenor, baritone)
• George Auld (1919–1990), (tenor)
• Albert Ayler (1936–1970), (alto, tenor, soprano)

B

• Buster Bailey (1902–1967)
• Iain Ballamy (1964- ), (tenor, alto, soprano)
• Pat La Barbera (1944- ), (tenor, soprano, alto, clarinet, flute)
• Gato Barbieri (1934- ), (tenor)
• Eddie Barefield (1909–1991)
• Gabe Baltazar (alto)
• Dale Barlow (1959- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Carolyn Breuer (1969- ), (alto, soprano)
• Alan Barnes (1959- ), (alto, baritone)
• John Barnes (1932- ), (tenor)
• Polo Barnes (1901-1981), (alto)
• Charlie Barnet (1913–1991), (tenor, alto, soprano)
• Gary Bartz (1940- ), (alto, soprano)
• Mario Bauza (1911–1993), (alto)
• Heinie Beau (1911–1987)
• Sidney Bechet (1897–1959), (soprano, tenor, bass)
• Bob Belden (1958- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Tex Beneke (1914- ), (tenor)
• Daniel Bennett (1979- ), (alto)
• Ivy Benson (1913–1993)
• Bob Berg (1951-2002), (tenor, soprano)
• Jerry Bergonzi (1947- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Tim Berne (1954- ), (alto, baritone)
• Chu Berry (1910–1941), (tenor)
• Barney Bigard (1906–1980), (tenor)
• David Binney (1961- ), (alto)
• Chris Biscoe (1947- ), (alto, soprano, tenor, baritone)
• Jane Ira Bloom (1955- ), (soprano)
• Hamiet Bluiett (1940- ), (baritone)
• Arthur Blythe (1940- ), (alto, soprano)
• Graham Bond (1937–1974), (alto)
• Earl Bostic (1913–1965), (alto)
• Charles Brackeen (1940- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Don Braden (1964- ), (tenor)
• Anthony Braxton (1944- ), (all saxophones & other instruments)
• Michael Brecker (1949-2007), (tenor, EWI)
• Willem Breuker (1944- ), (saxophones)
• Nick Brignola (1936-2002 ), (baritone, soprano, tenor, alto)
• Gordon Brisker (1937-2004), (tenor)
• Tina Brooks (1932–1974), (tenor)
• Peter Brötzmann (1941- ), (alto, tenor, bass)
• Ari Brown (1944- ), (tenor, alto, soprano)
• Boyce Brown (1910–1959), (alto)
• Pete Brown (1906–1963), (alto, tenor)
• Marion Brown (1935- ), (alto)
• Rusty Bryant (1929- ), (alto, tenor)
• Jane Bunnett (1955- ), (soprano)
• Chris Burnett (1955- ), (soprano, alto)
• John Butcher (1954- ), (tenor, soprano, baritone)
• Sam Butera (1927-2009 ), (tenor & other)
• Don Byas (1912-1972), (tenor)

C

• Harry Carney (1910-1974), (baritone)
• Scoops Carry (1915-1970), (alto)
• Benny Carter (1907-2003), (alto)
• James Carter (1969- ), (all saxes - from soprano to bass)
• Luciano Caruso (1944- ), (soprano)
• Fabrizio Cassol (1964- ), (alto, aulochroom)
• Pete Christlieb (1945- ), (tenor)
• Jeff Clayton (1954-), (alto)
• Arnett Cobb (1918-1989), (tenor)
• Tony Coe (1934- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Jeff Coffin (1965- ), (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, & other woodwinds)
• Al Cohn (1925-1988), (tenor)
• Richie Cole (1948- ), (alto, tenor, baritone)
• George Coleman (1935- ), (tenor)
• Ornette Coleman (1930- ), (alto, tenor)
• Steve Coleman (1956- ), (alto, soprano)
• Buddy Collette (1921- ), (alto, tenor, flute, clarinet)
• John Coltrane (1926-1967), (tenor, soprano, alto)
• Ravi Coltrane (1965- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Randolph Colville (1942- )
• Junior Cook (1934-1992), (tenor)
• Bob Cooper (1925-1993), (tenor)
• Lindsay Cooper (1951- ), (soprano, alto)
• Gerard Cornielje (1962- ), (alto, tenor)
• Lol Coxhill (1932- ), (soprano)
• Hank Crawford (1934- ), (alto, baritone)
• Ray Crawford (1924- ) (tenor)
• Sonny Criss (1927-1977), (alto, soprano)
• King Curtis (1934-1971), (tenor, soprano)

D

• Eddie Daniels (1941- ), (tenor)
• John Dankworth (1927-2010), (alto)
• Joe Darensbourg (1906–1985)
• Julian Dash (1916–1974), (tenor)
• Kenny Davern (1935–2006)
• Eddie Lockjaw Davis (1921–1986), (tenor)
• Lem Davis (1914–1970), (alto)
• Nathan Davis (1937- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Elton Dean (1945- ), (alto, saxello)
• Eli Degibri (1978- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Paul Desmond (1924–1977), (alto)
• Johnny Dodds (1892–1940), (alto)
• Klaus Doldinger (1936- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Eric Dolphy (1928–1964), (alto, flute, bass clarinet)
• Arne Domnerus (1924- ), (alto)
• Sam Donahue (1918–1974), (tenor)
• Lou Donaldson (1926- ), (alto)
• Jimmy Dorsey (1904–1957), (alto)
• Bob Downes (1937- ), (alto, soprano)
• Paquito D'Rivera (1948- ), (alto)
• Gerd Dudek (1938- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Candy Dulfer (1969)- , (alto)
• Hans Dulfer (1940)- , (tenor)
• Paul Dunmall (1953- ), (tenor, soprano, baritone, saxello)

E

• Allen Eager (1927-2003), (tenor, alto)
• Bill Easley (tenor, alto)
• Teddy Edwards (1924-2003), (tenor)
• Richard Elliot (tenor)
• Booker Ervin (1930-1970), (tenor)
• Ellery Eskelin (1959- ), (tenor)
• Bill Evans (1958- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Herschel Evans (1909–1939), (tenor, alto)

F

• Joe Farrell (1937–1986), (tenor, soprano)
• Wally Fawkes (1924- ), (soprano)
• Wilton Felder (1940- )
• Buddy Featherstonhaugh (1909–1976), (tenor, baritone)
• Ricky Ford (1954- ), (tenor)
• Jimmy Forrest (1920–1980), (tenor)
• Sonny Fortune (1939)- , (alto, soprano)
• Al Foster (1944- ), (tenor)
• Frank Foster (1928- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Charlie Fowlkes (1916–1980), (baritone)
• Bob Franceschini (1961), (tenor)
• Bud Freeman (1906–1991), (tenor)
• Chico Freeman (1949- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Von Freeman (1922- ), (tenor)

G

• Slim Gaillard (1911–1991), (tenor & other instruments)
• Al Gallodoro (1913-2008], (alto)
• Jim Galloway (1936- )
• Jan Garbarek (1947- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Lou Gare (1939- ), (tenor)
• Joe Garland (1903–1977), (tenor, baritone, bass)
• Tim Garland (1966- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Kenny Garrett (1960- ), (alto, soprano)
• Charles Gayle (1939- ), (tenor)
• Herb Geller (1928- ), (alto, soprano)
• Stan Getz (1927–1991), (tenor)
• John Gilmore (1931-1995), (tenor)
• Jimmy Giuffre (1921-2008), (tenor, baritone, soprano)
• Victor Goines (1961- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Harry Gold (1907–2005), (bass, tenor, alto)
• Benny Golson (1929- ), (tenor)
• Paul Gonsalves (1920–1974), (tenor)
• Scheila Gonzalez (1971- ), (tenor)
• Benny Goodman (1909–1986), (alto)
• Dexter Gordon (1923–1990), (tenor)
• Kenny G (Kenny Gorelick, 1956- ), (soprano, alto, tenor)
• Bill Graham (born 1918), (alto)
• Wardell Gray (1921–1955), (tenor)
• Bunky Green (1935- ), (alto)
• Johnny Griffin (1928-2008), (tenor)
• Euge Groove (1962- )
• Steve Grossman (1951- ), (alto, soprano, tenor)
• Gigi Gryce (1927–1983), (alto)
• Peter Guidi (1949- ), (alto, soprano)
• Lars Gullin (1928–1976), (baritone)
• Tommy Gwaltney (1925- ), (alto, tenor)

H

• Scott Hamilton (1954- ), (tenor)
• John Handy, (1933- ), (alto)
• Everette Harp (1961- )
• Billy Harper (1943- ), (tenor, alto)
• Joe Harriott (1928–1973), (alto)
• Eddie Harris (1934-1996), (tenor)
• Antonio Hart (1968- ), (alto, soprano)
• Tubby Hayes (1935-1973), (tenor)
• Alfred Harth (1949- ), (tenor, soprano, alto, baritone)
• Coleman Hawkins (1901–1969), (tenor)
• Jimmy Heath (1926- ), (tenor)
• Ernie Henry (1926-1957), (alto)
• Joe Henderson (1937–2001), (tenor)
• Julius Hemphill (1938-1995), (alto, soprano, tenor)
• Woody Herman (1913-1987), (alto)
• Warren Hill (19??-), (soprano, alto)
• Nigel Hitchcock (1971- )
• Johnny Hodges (1907–1970), (alto, soprano)
• Ron Holloway (1953), (tenor)
• Charlie Holmes (1910-1985), (alto)
• Paul Horn (born 1930), (alto)
• George Howard (1956–1998), (soprano, tenor)
• Derek Humble (1932-1971), (alto)

J

• Illinois Jacquet (1922-2004 ), (tenor)
• Joseph Jarman (1937- ), (alto)
• Boney James (tenor, alto, soprano)
• Carter Jefferson (1946-1993)
• Hilton Jefferson (1903- ), (alto)
• John Jenkins (1931-1993), (alto)
• Bill Johnson (1912–1960), (alto)
• Budd Johnson (1910- ), (alto)
• Edward "Kidd" Jordan (alto, tenor, soprano, baritone)
• Louis Jordan (1908–1975), (alto)

K

• Richie Kamuca (1930-1977), (tenor)
• Tom Keenlyside (all saxes, jazz flute)
• Robin Kenyatta (1942- ), (alto)
• Peter King (1940- ), (alto, soprano)
• Rosa King (and singer)
• Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1936–1977), (all saxes - including some of his own creation)
• Eric Kloss (1949- ), (alto)
• Kadota "Jaw" Kouske (tenor, soprano)
• Dave Koz (alto, soprano, tenor, baritone)
• Sigurd Køhn (1959–2004), (alto)
• Lee Konitz (1927- ), (alto, soprano)
• Fela Kuti (1939-1997),(tenor, alto)

L

• Pat LaBarbera (1944- ), (soprano, tenor)
• Steve Lacy (1934-2004 ), (soprano)
• Harold Land (1928-2001), (tenor)
• Prince Lasha(1929-2008), (alto)
• Azar Lawrence (1952 - ), (tenor, soprano)
• Amy Lee (soprano, alto)
• David Liebman (1946- ), (soprano, tenor)
• Erica Lindsay (1955- ), (soprano, tenor)
• Fred Lipsius (1945- ), (alto)
• Charles Lloyd (1938- ), (tenor, alto)
• Mornington Lockett (1961- ), (tenor)
• Joe Lovano (1952- ), (tenor, alto)
• Preston Love (1921-2004), (alto)
• Arun Luthra (soprano, tenor, alto)
• Jimmy Lyons (1934- ), (alto)

M

• Andy McGhee (1927- )
• Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre (1936- )
• Hal McKusick (1924- ), (alto, clarinet)
• Jackie McLean (1931–2006), (alto)
• Charles McPherson (1939- ), (alto)
• Joe Maini (1930-1964), (alto)
• Didier Malherbe
• Steve "The Count" Marcus (1939-2005), (tenor, soprano)
• Charlie Mariano (1923-2009), (alto)
• Lou Marini (1945- ) (soprano, alto, tenor)
• Branford Marsalis (1960- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Warne Marsh (1927-1987), (tenor)
• Marion Meadows (soprano)
• Bob Mintzer (1953- ), (tenor)
• Roscoe Mitchell (born 1940), (saxes)
• Hank Mobley (1930–1986), (tenor)
• James Moody (1925- ), (tenor, alto)
• Frank Morgan (1933-2007), (alto)
• Dick Morrissey (1940–2000), (tenor, soprano)
• Gerry Mulligan (1927–1996), (baritone)
• Mike Murley (tenor, soprano)
• David Murray (1955- ), (tenor)
• Henry 'Boots' Mussulli (1915-1967), (alto)
• Michael J. Parlett (1963- ), (tenor)

N

• Ted Nash (1960- ), (alto)
• Oliver Nelson (1932-1975), (alto, tenor)
• David "Fathead" Newman (1933-2009), (tenor)
• Lennie Niehaus (1929- ), (alto)
• Sal Nistico (1938-1991), (tenor)

O

• Mike Osborne (1941-2007), (alto)
• Greg Osby (1960- ), (alto, soprano)
• Dick Oatts (soprano, alto, tenor)

P

• Walter Parazaider (1945- ), (alto)
• Charlie Parker (1920–1955), (alto, tenor)
• Evan Parker (1944- ), (soprano, tenor, alto)
• Leo Parker (1925-1962), (baritone, alto)
• Maceo Parker (1943- ), (alto)
• Derek Pascoe (1957- ), (Tenor)
• Jerome Don Pasquall (1902-1971), (alto)
• George Paxton (1930s and 1940s bandleader), (tenor)
• Cecil Payne (1922-2007), (baritone & other instruments)
• Art Pepper (1925–1982), (alto, tenor)
• Bill Perkins (1924-2003), (tenor, baritone)
• Houston Person (1934- )
• Flip Phillips (1915–2001), (tenor)
• Courtney Pine (1964- ), (tenor, alto, soprano)
• Bobby Plater (1914- ), (alto)
• Pony Poindexter (1926-1988)
• Odeon Pope (1938- ), (tenor)
• Art Porter, Jr. (alto)
• Chris Potter (1970- ), (tenor, alto, soprano)
• Russell Procope (1908–1981), (alto)
• Dudu Pukwana (1938-1990) (alto, soprano)

Q

• Ike Quebec (1918-1963), (tenor)

R

• Rama IX of Thailand (1927- ), (alto)
• Boyd Raeburn (1913-1966), (bass)
• Boots Randolph (1927- ), (tenor)
• Nelson Rangell (1960- ), all saxes
• Sonny Red (1932-1981), (alto)
• Dewey Redman (1931-2006), (tenor, alto)
• Don Redman (1900-1964), (alto)
• Joshua Redman (1969- ) (alto, soprano, tenor)
• Fritz Renold (1960- ), (alto)
• Jerome Richardson (1920-2000), (alto)
• Scott Robinson (1959- ), (all saxes)
• Spike Robinson (1930-2001), (tenor)
• Bob Rockwell (1945- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Adrian Rollini (1904-1956), (bass, baritone)
• Sonny Rollins (1930- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Bernt Rosengren (1937- ), (tenor, alto)
• Ronnie Ross (1933-1991), (baritone)
• Marshall Royal (1912-1995), (alto)

S

• Edgar Sampson (1907- ), (alto)
• David Sanborn (1945- ), (alto, soprano)
• David Sanchez (born 1969), (tenor, soprano)
• Pharoah Sanders (1940- ), (tenor)
• Mario Schiano (1933-2008), (soprano, alto)
• Anton Schwartz (1967- ), (tenor)
• Ronnie Scott (1927-1997), (tenor)
• Bud Shank (1926-2009), (alto, baritone, tenor, flute)
• Paul Shapiro (tenor, alto)
• Archie Shepp (1937- ), (tenor, soprano, alto)
• Andy Sheppard (1957- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Wayne Shorter (1933- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Sonny Simmons (1933- ), (alto)
• Zoot Sims (1925–1985), (tenor, soprano, alto, baritone)
• Alan Skidmore (1942- ), (tenor)
• Steve Slagle (alto, soprano)
• Ben Smith (1905- ), (alto, tenor)
• Bill Smith (1938- ), (soprano, clarinet)
• Buster Smith (1904-1991), (alto)
• Mike Smith (1957- ), (alto, soprano, flutes, clarinet)
• Tab Smith (1909-1971), (alto)
• Tommy Smith (1967- ), (tenor)
• Gary Smulyan (1956- ), (baritone)
• James Spaulding (1937- ), (alto)
• Hal Stein (1928-2008), (alto)
• Sonny Stitt (1924-1982), (alto, tenor, baritone)
• Vernon Story (1922-2007), (tenor)
• Frank Strozier (1937- ), (alto)
• John Surman (1944- ), (baritone, soprano)

T

• Buddy Tate (1913-2001), (tenor)
• John Tchicai (1936- ), (alto)
• Joe Temperley (1929- ), (baritone)
• Art Themen (1939- ), (tenor, soprano)
• Gary Thomas (1961- ), (tenor, flute)
• Lucky Thompson (1924-2005), (tenor, soprano)
• Cliff Townshend (1917–1986)
• Mark Turner (tenor)
• Stanley Turrentine (1934–2000), (tenor)

V

• Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson (1917-1988), (alto)

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• Tony Waka (1962- }, (tenor,soprano)
• David S. Ware (1949- ), (tenor, saxello, stritch)
• Earle Warren (1914-1995), (alto)
• Grover Washington, Jr. (1943–1999), (tenor)
• Sadao Watanabe (1933- ), (alto, soprano)
• Don Weller (1941-), (tenor)
• Ernie Watts (1945- ), (alto, tenor)
• Trevor Watts (1939- ), (alto, soprano)
• Ben Webster (1909-73), (tenor)
• Don Weller (1941-), (tenor)
• Bobby Wellins (1936- ), (tenor)
• Frank Wess (1922- ), (tenor)
• Barney Wilen (1937–1996), (soprano, alto, tenor)
• Mars Williams (1955- ), (sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor)
• Steve Williamson (1964- ), (tenor, alto, soprano)
• Steve Wilson (1961- ), (alto, soprano)
• Juli Wood (tenor)
• Phil Woods (1931- ), (alto, soprano)
• Leo Wright (1933-1991), (alto)

Y

• Pete Yellin (1941- ), (alto)
• Lester Young (1909-1959), (tenor)

Z

• Miguel Zenón (alto)
• John Zorn (1953- ), (alto)
• Daniel Zamir (1981- ), (alto)

See also

• List of saxophonists

References

• Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian: The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. London. Penguin. (Various Editions).
• Miedema, Harry: Jazz Styles & Analysis: Alto Sax. Chicago, Maher. 1975.