TOP 10 TENOR SAXOPHONE Players (Classic Jazz Era) 

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

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

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.

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.)

FINALLY somebody recognizes stan getz, his tone is just otherworldly

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

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!

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!

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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.

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

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.

12:17: "Dexter played the lick!"

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.

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 RU-vid) 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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!!!

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

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...☺

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 🙏🏼

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?

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

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! 🚀

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

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

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!

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

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 ....

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.

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

Pharoah Sanders, Charles Lloyd

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!!

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

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!!!

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.

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

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!

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".

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.

Joe Henderson should have made this list.

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

Tubby Hayes was also an excellent tenor saxophone player

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

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.

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'.

My dad had solo albums also. SOMETHING- CORKY CORCORAN PLAYS SOMETHING, CORKY CORCORAN TRIO, CORKY CORCORAN PLAYS EVERYWHERE done with the Canada symphony Orchestra. He has been deemed the ballad master and you forgot him. Cant believe that. 24 years and no credit from media hardly at all. But when he passed, in 1979 all three of his kids Danny Deneen, and his oldest Deborah each recieved a plaque from the govenor for his contribution to the jazz era from 1940'-through 1977. Really an honor to have recieved thatt....

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.

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!

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.

My hat off to you Jay for spotlighting the atmosphere of systemic racism all the great black musicians had to bear. And it still continues. It has got to stop. Let all of us be part of the solution and do all we can to make it disappear once and for all.

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.

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

Best 21 minutes I’ve spent in 2021. We are all forever in debt.

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'.

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👍🎷

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

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.

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

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!

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

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! :-)

Thanks for this great post, a most inspirational moment for me, having saxes in the cupboard for many lazy years now, must pick them up tomorrow and enjoy those attempts to create sounds again. English Bob.

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

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

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

Eddie Harris should be on the second wave tenor players podcast. People don't take him seriously because of his electric sax and riff based writing and soloing. But he could do it all. Great tone, rhythm and imagination.

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

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.

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.

No Tenor list would be complete without adding King Curtis. He was my favorite tenor blues player. He did Poor Boy Blues with Champion Jack Dupree on piano shortly before he was tragically murdered in the early 1970's. What a horn player he was.

Booker Ervin would have made my list somewhere up there

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

Trane and Pres are Gods to me. I keep ping-ponging between the two for who is my favorite. It’s their tones, their feel, their sensitivity and swing... untouchable.

Glad to see someone who actually knows what he’s talking about and can play. Congrats.

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

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

Very good reflection on the history of racial injustice and jazz.

👍👍👍👍👍I share your love of Mobley and Gordon, along with Rollins they were my introduction to solo transcription. Still my faves!

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

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

I wanted to play the sax after my father lead me to Johnny Griffin's Quartet when I was thirteen, in the suburbs of Lyon (Oullins, the town Im still living in).

Great list. Love the intro. Truth. On the subject of growling, the technique I learned was to "sing" as I blow the note (sing as in actually trying to sing as I play the note). So for me, "singing" the note, I feel it in the back of my throat about where you would when you gargle mouthwash. But hey, that's the beauty of playing an instrument - different ways to produce your unique sound.

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

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)

Two of my favorite sax musicians were Boots Randolph and Gerry Mulligan. Always enjoyed their playing.

So pleased to hear Dexter Gordon is your favourite. Mine too! :) I agree with ALL your points!

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.

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

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.

"A study of history" and a study of sociology I would add. Great video as always!