51. Ben Webster
52. Eddie Harris
53. Bobby Keys
54. Richard Elliott
55. Chris Potter
56. Kirk Whalum
57. Dave Koz
58. Wilton Felder
59. Lee Konitz
60. Eric Marienthal
61. Gene Ammons
62. John Surman
63. Arnett Cobb
64. Lee Allen
65. Pete Christlieb
66. Sonny Fortune
67. Clarence Clemons
68. Plas Johnson
69. Harold Land
70. David Sanchez
71. Bud Shank
72. Big Jay McNeely
73. Lou Donaldson
74. Branford Marsalis
75. Alvin 'Red' Tyler
76. Yusef Lateef
77. Sonny Simmons
78. Nat Simpkins
79. Archie Shepp
80. Willis Jackson
81. Maxwell Davis
82. Joe Houston
83. Louis Jordan
84. John Zorn
85. Richie Cole
86. Hank Crawford

87. Billy Harper
88. Earl Bostic
89. George Coleman
90. Dave Liebman
91. Lenny Pickett
92. Lucky Thompson
93. John Gilmore
94. Red Prysock
95. "Daddy" Gene Barge
96. Zoot Sims
97. Brandon Fields
98. Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
99. Jimmy Forrest
100. Sam Rivers

The above 100 sax players are with courtesy of Digital Dream Door Site
The list was not compiled by myself, so I cannot meddle with it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR CHOICES
Here are some great Saxophone players which YOU would have liked
to have seen up on the above lists. I agree, there are far too many under-appreciated or over looked musicians & those who play in the studio shadows.

NICK BRIGNOLA

American baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola also played tenor, alto or soprano at times. He began in music by playing clarinet at age eleven, but then added alto and tenor saxophone and also learnt flute. He did not use baritone saxophone until he was twenty. The jazz magazine Down Beat praised the college band he worked in when attending Ithaca and this gained him his initial notability. He became a member of Woody Herman's orchestra for a time, worked with Thelonius Monk, and had his first album as a collaboration with Glen Moore. Nick has toured and recorded with Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Woody Herman, Doc Severinsen, Chuck Mangione, Bob James, Elvin Jones, Dave Holland, Buddy Rich, Pat Metheny, Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie among others. Although he did notable work for others he spent most of his career as a leader of his own small groups. Nick got a Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Jazz Group, "LA Bound", he won Best Jazz Instrumentalist on the BET Television Network for 1997-1998 and was the winner of the December 1997 Jazz Times Magazine Critics Poll. Nick was also voted #1 Baritone Saxophonist in both The Down Beat and Jazz Times Magazines Readers Polls for 4 years running.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
COAT COOKE

Vancouver based Coat Cooke, is one of Canada’s most lyrical and inventive saxophonists. He is the founder and leader of the renowned NOW Orchestra, which he formed in 1987. He has toured Canada, the USA and Europe performing in major festivals in Berlin, Lisbon and Chicago. As a composer, he has written for dance, film, and spoken word, and for configurations from solo piano to large ensembles. His many collaborations over the last thirty years, have included work with George Lewis, Barry Guy, Wadada Leo Smith, Roscoe Mitchell, Nancy Stark-Smith, Chris Aiken, Ray Chung, Butch Morris, and most recently with Marilyn Crispell. As well as his extremely successful and busy career with the all the above, Coat also has his own trio featuring Clyde Reed on bass and Kenton Loewen on drums. His most recent Coat Cooke Trio recording, Up Down Down Up is available on Cellar Live Records.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ODEAN POPE

American jazz tenor saxophonist, Odean Pope was raised in Philadelphia, where he learned to play sax from Ray Bryant. His early in his career, included workiing at Philadelphia’s Uptown Theatre, where he played behind a number of noted rhythm and blues artists inlcuding James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. He played briefly in the 1960s with Jimmy McGriff and Art Blakey, and late in the 1960s he began working with Max Roach, including touring Europe in 1967and 1968. He was a member of the Philadelphia group, Catalyst in the early and mid-1970s, and assembled the Saxophone Choir, which consists of nine saxophones and a rhythm section (piano, bass and drums), in 1977. He became a regular member of Roach's quartet in 1979 and has recorded extensively with him, in addition to numerous releases as a leader. Odean's latest album to date was "Locked & Loaded: Live at the Blue Note" in 2006.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
OLIVER LAKE

Alto saxophonist, Oliver Lake born Arkansas, US is also a flutist, composer and poet. He started playing and studying the alto saxophone in 1960 at the age of 16. By the mid 1960s he was working with the St. Louis Black Artists Group (BAG), a multidisciplinary arts collective that existed in St. Louis, Missouri from 1968 to 1972. In 1977 Oliver co-founded the World Saxophone Quartet, along with fellow sax players, Julius Hemphill, Hamiet Bluiett and David Murray. The quartet have toured extensively in the US , Europe, Japan, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and have released 20 albums to date, the last being, "Political Blues" 2006. In addition to performing and touring with his Steel Quartet, his Big Band, the WSQ and Trio 3, Oliver collaborates with many artists including Mary Redhouse, Anna Devere Smith, Patricia Williams, Craig Harris and various other artists in many disciplines. He is currently developing a symphonic piece that draws upon elements from his African, Native American and European heritage, and is in the midst of an extensive residency in Tucson, Arizona, and a two-month multi-arts residency in Minneapolis.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HAMIET BLUIETT

Hamiet Bluiett was born Brooklyn, Illinois and a s a child, he studied piano, trumpet, and clarinet, but was attracted most strongly to the baritone saxophone from the age of ten, influenced by Harry Carney, the baritone player in the Duke Ellington band. He began his musical career by playing the clarinet for barrelhouse dances in Brooklyn, Illinois, before joining the Navy band in 1961. After his time in the Navy, he returned to the St. Louis area in the mid-1960s. In the late 1960s Hamiet co-founded the Black Artists' Group (BAG) of St. Louis, Missouri. In late 1969 he moved to, where he joined the Charles Mingus Quintet and the Sam Rivers large ensemble. In 1976 he co-founded the World Saxophone Quartet, which soon became jazz music's most renowned saxophone quartet. He has remained a champion of the somewhat unwieldy baritone saxophone, organizing large groups of baritone saxophones. In the 1980s, he also founded The Clarinet Family, a group of eight clarinetists playing clarinets of various sizes ranging from E-flat soprano to contrabass. Since the 1990s he has led a virtuosic quartet, the Bluiett Baritone Nation, made up entirely of baritone saxophones, with drum set accompaniment. Hamiet has also worked with Sam Rivers, Babatunde Olatunji, Abdullah Ibrahim, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
KIDD JORDAN

Edward "Kidd" Jordan was born in Crowley, Louisiana and played in various bands throughout elementary school and high school, achieving mastery of the entire saxophone and clarinet families, with special emphasis on the tenor saxophone. The list of bands and artists he has performed with reads like a 40-year Grammy program of many genre, from Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder to Aretha Franklin and the Supremes, from Ed Blackwell and Ellis Marsalis, to Ornette Coleman, Cannonball Adderley and Cecil Taylor. His outstanding talent is much appreciated by his European fans and the French Ministry of Culture recognized Kidd with a knighthood ... Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1985. As well as his live performances, he has long been associated with music education at Southern University in New Orleans, his work with children, documented by 60 Minutes, and his educational programs in Sierra Leone, Senegal and Mali, he has always remained faithful to the sounds in his soul. The honesty in his playing is only matched by a tone that has rarely been heard in the history of his instrument.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
FRED ANDERSON

Fred Anderson grew up in the Southern U.S. and learned to play the saxophone in his youth, he moved to Evanston, Illinois in the 1940's. Fred was one of the founders of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and is still an important member of the musical collective. His partner for many years was the Chicago underground jazz legend, trumpeter Billy Brimfield. He has appeared on several notable avant garde albums in the '60s, notably the seminal Delmark recordings of saxophonist Joseph Jarman, 'As If It Were The Seasons' in 1968, and 'Song For' in '66, which includes the self penned composition "Little Fox Run." In 1983, Fred took over ownership of the Velvet Lounge in Chicago, which quickly became a center for the city's jazz and experimental music scenes. The club expanded and relocated in the summer of 2006. Though he remained an active performer, Fred recorded rarely for about a decade beginning in the mid-'80s. By the 1990s, however, he resumed a more active recording schedule, both as a solo artist, and in collaboration with younger performers, notably saxophonist Ken Vandermark and drummer Hamid Drake.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
BUDDY TATE

Buddy Tate. was born George Holmes Tate in Sherman, Texas, he taught himself to play saxophone by listening to Louis Armstrong records. By his early teens he was playing in his family's quartet called McCloud's Night Owls. Through the late 20's and most of the 30's he played and toured with Terence "T" Holder, Andy Kirk, and Nat Towles, before joining Count Basie Orchestra in 1939 for 10 years. The 50's to 70's see's Buddy on 4 European tours in 1959, 1961, 1967, 1968 with Illinois Jacquet; he worked with, among many others, Lucky Millinder; Milt Buckner Hot Lips Page; ex-Basie singer Jimmy Rushing; led a group with Bobby Rosengarden at the Rainbow Room; co-led a band with saxophonist Paul Quinichette at New York’s West End Cafe; was house bandleader at Celebrity Club, New York City. The 80's and 90's see's him touring and appearing at all the top festivals with his own Quintet and playing regularly with Lionel Hampton. In 1992 he also took part in the documentary, Texas Tenor: The Illinois Jacquet Story. His final appearance on disc came at the invitation of the rising saxophone star James Carter, who duetted with Buddy on two tunes on his Conversin’ With The Elders CD in 1996, including ‘Blue Creek’ which featured Buddy on clarinet. Sadly he had to retire in the late 90's due to cancer, after entertaining us for over 7 decades.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PETER KING

English jazz musician Peter King was born in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, and taught himself to play the clarinet at the age of fifteen, but soon changed to alto saxophone. In 1959, at 19, he was booked by Ronnie Scott to perform at the opening of Scott's club in Gerrard Street, London. In the same year he received the Melody Maker "New Star" award. He worked with Johnny Dankworth's orchestra from 1960 to 1961, and went on to work with the big bands of the Brussels Big Band, Maynard Ferguson, Tubby Hayes, Harry South, and Stan Tracey, and the Ray Charles band on a European tour. Peter has also played in small groups with musicians such as Philly Joe Jones, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Red Rodney, Hampton Hawes, Nat Adderley, Al Haig, John Burch, Bill Watrous, and Dick Morrissey, Bill Le Sage and singers such as Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Williams, Jon Hendricks, and Anita O'Day. As well as many jazz compositions, Peter's composing includes an opera, Zyklon, in collaboration with Julian Barry. Peter still performs regularly in jazz venues around London with his quartet and is a member of Charlie Watts' Tentet.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SAM BUTERA

Born and raised in New Orleans, Sam Butera took up playing the saxophone when he was seven. By his late teens he was playing with big band drummer Ray McKinley's orchestra and was named one of America's top upcoming jazzmen by Look magazine when he was only eighteen years old. By his early twenties, he was playing in the orchestras of Joe Reichman, Tommy Dorsey, and Paul Gayten. Sam returned to New Orleans when the big band sound deminished, and played at The 500 Club, owned by Louis Prima's brother. Soon, at Louis Prima's request, Sam was up in Vagas with his band The Witnesses. Sam remained the bandleader of The Witnesses for the next twenty years. During that time, he performed with Louis Prima and/or Keely Smith on such Prima-associated classics such as "Old Black Magic," "Dig That Crazy Chick," "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody," "(Come on a) My House," and "I Want to Be Like You" from Disney's The Jungle Book. He is noted for his raucous playing style, his off-color humor, and the innuendo in his lyrics. The arrangements he made with Prima have been covered by David Lee Roth, Los Lobos, Brian Setzer, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Sam still remains a very active musician, touring the US, Europe and the UK with his band
Sam Butera & The Wildest.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PAUL DESMOND

Paul Desmond was born Paul Breitenfeld in San Francisco, California. Due to family problems he was spent his childhood between New York and San Francsico. Paul began playing violin at a young age, changing to clarinet at the age of twelve while at San Francisco Polytechnic High and switched to alto sax as a freshman at San Francisco State College it was this year too, he was drafted into the US Army and joined the Army band while stationed in San Franscisco, where he first met Dave Brubeck. Following W W II, Paul started working in Palo Alto, California at the Bandbox. He also worked with Brubeck at the Geary Cellar in San Francisco. Paul soon hired Brubeck, but replaced had him a few years before 1950 when Paul left for New York City for a short stint with Jack Fina, but returned to California after hearing Brubeck's trio on the radio. The two finally over came their differences and joined forces and formed The Dave Brubeck Quartet. Between 1951 and 1967 they released 13 albums. Among his many writings, Paul wrote the Dave Brubeck Quartet's most famous piece, "Take Five", which has become a jazz classic. In the 1970s Paul rejoined with Dave Brubeck for several reunion tours including "Two Generations of Brubeck". Accompanying them were Brubeck's sons Chris, Dan and Darius. In 1976 Paul played 25 shows in 25 nights with Brubeck, touring the U S in a couple of hired buses. Also in the 70s he played extensively with Gerry Mulligan, Jim Hall, Chet Baker and his own Paul Desmond Quartet until his untimely death in 1977, the year he was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HAROLD VICK

Born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, sax player Harold Vick started playing clarenet at the age of 13 influenced by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and others. At 16 he took up the tenor saxophone and was soon playing in R&B bands. The 50s see Harold in Washington, D.C. studying psychology at Howard University, and playing in bands at night. In 1963, after working and recording with the likes of organists Jack McDuff and Jimmy McGriff, he debuted with his own solo album "Steppin' Out!", for the Blue Note label. It featured trumpeter Blue Mitchell and guitarist Grant Green. By 1974 he had become a highly sort after side man recording with many of the greats including jazz vocalists Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Ashford & Simpson, Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, and Angela Bofill. He continued working with organists Shirley Scott and McGriff and Dizzy Gillepie's big band and with R&B acts both in the studio and on the road. His last recordings in 1987, just before his death were with singer Abbey Lincoln, 2 albums tributing Billie Holiday. In 1998 Sonny Rollins paid tribute to Harold Vick by composing and recording a tune entitled "Did You See Harold Vick?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DEAN ELTON

Over the years British sax player Dean Elton has favoured a little used member of the sax family, the saxello, an hybrid between alto and soprano, with an instantly recognizable sound. Elton graduated from trad jazz gigs in pubs to playing rhythm'n'blues with Lester Square & the GTs and subsequently with John Dummer at the Star Club in Hamburg and he then played with the Jamaican Soul Pushers. In the mid-Sixties, Dean was a member of Long John Baldry's Bluesology, which also featured Reg Dwight on piano. who took Dean's surname as his own. Between 1969 and 1972, Dean contributed to the Third, Fourth and Fifth albums, Soft Machine's most successful recordings, and toured with them extensively. Dean recorded with many artists from the extended Canterbury family, guesting on solo albums by the Soft Machine alumni Kevin Ayers, Hugh Hopper and Robert Wyatt in the Seventies as well as working with musicians drawn from the ranks of Caravan, Gong, Matching Mole, Hatfield and the North and National Health in Phil Miller's In Cahoots throughout the Eighties and Nineties. Elton has also recorded with Marsha Hunt, Julie Driscoll, Heads, Hands and Feet, Alexis Korner, Dudu Pukwana and Towering Inferno as well as touring with the American jazz performer Carla Bley and working with Keith Tippett on ambitious projects like Centipede which gathered the crème de la crème of UK jazz players - over 40 musicians and a 19-strong string section - in 1971 on the Septober Energy album. In the last decade, Elton and his French wife Marie-Noëlle commuted between London and Paris, and toured with Brotherhood of Breath tribute band the Dedication Orchestra, partnered American free-jazz trombonist Roswell Rudd and worked with various Soft Machine-related groups. He had also joined forces with the former Soft Machine members Hugh Hopper, John Marshall and John Etheridge to revive their jazz-fusion glory days and explore new horizons as SoftWorks, Soft Bounds and the Soft Machine Legacy.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LEROY "HOG" COOPER

Saxophonist Leroy "Hog" Cooper started his now, over 6 decade career, at an early age around the the bars and clubs of Dallas before his army call up. He was stationed in St. Louis, so was in the hub of the jazz scene and on the doorstep to all the latest jazz and blues tracks. It was here he heard and learnt more styles, this influence helped him to master his techniques. After army life, in 1954 he played on the great Lowell Fulson's "Reconsider Baby". In 1957, and back in Dallas, he got his big break, he was offered the baritone seat in the Ray Charles Orchestra. His first recording sessions with Ray were "Them That Got", "My Baby! (I Love Her, Yes I Do)" and "Who You Gonna Love?". Leroy's next 20 years were spent with Ray Charles, touring 9 months every year, recording, films, TV, festivals, guest appearnces and band leader, until in 1976, when Leroy moved to Orlando, Florida for a more settled life. He took over as sax player and band leader of the Disney World Band. But every time Ray was in the area Leroy would guest in the band of his long time friend. Leroy spent his next 20 years as leader of the Disney World Band as well as recording over 50 albums with the likes of David "Fathead" Newman, Joe Cocker, Dr. John, Wayne Newton, and many others. At the age of 79, Leroy is still amazing us, living and blowin’ the blues as a member of Jeff Willey's " The Smokin’ Torpedoes", one of Florida's top power blues bands, based in Orlando.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
BUTCH THOMAS

Butch Thomas was born in St Louis were in 1983 he got a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music at Webster University, St. Louis, MO. His phenomenal playing has been crafted during a 25yr career which has seen him working with Aretha Franklin, Thomas Dolby, Al Jarreau, James Taylor, on a 2 year tour with Sting and many more. He began his professional career on the tenor sax, in the Jaco Pastorius band between 1983 and 1987 in which he learnt many, many different skills and lessons from the great musician, in this period he recorded two albums 'Punk Jazz' & 'NYC Jam' with this now legendary bass player. In the years to follow, he played with the likes of Lester Bowie in the jazz world but mainly worked as a session player to some great artists such as guitarist Lennie Kravitz. Butch has also appeared as sideman for the likes of Senegalese Singer Youssou N'dour and Al Green. Butch left America to live in Buckinghamshire, UK. As well as his exceedingly busy session career, he also teaches at Amersham & Wycombe College, UK as Music Lecturer,
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
STEPHEN "DOC" KUPKA

Stephen Kupka a.k.a. "The Funky Doctor" is an American baritone saxophone player and composer, best known as a founding member of the band Tower of Power. In 1968 he met tenor sax player Emilio Castillo and joined his soul music cover band 'The Motowns,' based in Oakland, California. Stephen convinced Castillo to start performing original songs, and they changed the band's name to 'Tower of Power'. The band recorded their first album, East Bay Grease, in 1970. Stephen has been with Tower of Power ever since, and is also responsible for co-writing many of the band's best-known songs. Stephen has also recorded with numerous other artists, including The B-52's, Chicago, Dan Fogelberg, Heart, Elton John, Huey Lewis & the News, Little Feat, and Bonnie Raitt. In 1998, he co-founded Strokeland Records as a platform for his own songwriting. Stephen continues to perform, write and produce numerous other soul, jazz, and funk artists.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LEW TABACKIN

Lew Tabackin born in Philadelphia, studied flute and tenor saxophone in high school, and majored in flute at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, he also studied privately with composer Vincent Persichetti. After his U.S. Army service, 1962-65, he moved to New Jersey and then to New York, where he played with Tal Farlow, Don Friedman and later in the big bands led by Cab Calloway, Les and Larry Elgart, Maynard Ferguson, Joe Henderson, Chuck Israels, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Clark Terry, and Duke Pearson. He also spent some time in Europe, where he was a soloist with various orchestras, including the Danish Radio Orchestra and the Hamburg Jazz Workshop. In 1968 he met Toshiko Akiyoshi when the two played together in a quartet. They married and moved to L.A, where they formed the award-winning big band The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, and played in other west coast bands. In 1982 Lew and Ms. Akiyoshi moved to New York, which brought him back to the Manhattan jazz scene. In 1990 Lew released his first disc for Concord, Desert Lady, featuring Hank Jones, Dave Holland, and Victor Lewis, followed by the acclaimed I'll Be Seeing You with Benny Green, Peter Washington, and Lewis Nash. He has also been associated with several all-star bands, including George Wein's Newport All-Star Band, the New York Jazz Giants, and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. Lew continues to tour the world as a soloist, playing clubs and jazz festivals with his own groups and as featured soloist with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GEORGE COLEMAN

Saxophonist, George Coleman from Memphis, Tennessee is a self taught sax player inspired by Charlie Parker. After touring with blues legend B.B. King, he moved to Chicago in 1956, where he worked with Gene Ammons and Johnny Griffin and the Max Roach Quintet. In 1959 he moved to New York playing with Slide Hampton , Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, and Wild Bill Davis, before joining The Miles Davis Quintet recording several of their classics, including Someday My Prince Will Come, Seven Steps to Heaven, A Rare Home Town, Côte Blues, In Europe, My Funny Valentine, Four and More, and both live concert recordings in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York in 1964. That same year he played on Herbie Hancock's classic 'Maiden Voyage'. George has gone on to work with Lionel Hampton , Chet Baker, Kirk Lightsey, Herman Wright, Roy Brooks, Charles Mingus, Shirley Scott, Clark Terry, Horace Silver, Lee Morgan, Elvin Jones, Ahmad Jamal, Hilton Ruiz, Richie Beirach, Tete Montoliu and many, many others. As well as producing several solo albums, George has TV and movie credits, winner of numerous awards, is a recipient of a New York Jazz Award, and has a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Foundation of America. His last album as a co-leader was 2004's 'Four Generations of Miles: A Live Tribute to Miles' and more recently freelancing on Joey DeFrancesco's 'Organic Vibes' 2006 release.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GEORGE ADAMS

Saxophonist George Adams as a child played piano, by his high school days he was playing tenor in funk bands influenced by Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and the adventurous edginess of John Coltrane and Albert Ayler. In 1961, he toured with Sam Cooke, in 1963 he moved to Ohio where he played with organ groups until in 1968 when he finally moved to New York. He joined the Charles Mingus Band in 1972 recording 4 albums them before Charles' death in 1979. George also accompanied Gil Evans in his orchestra from 1974 to 1984, releasing 6 albums. At the same time he formed a quartet with pianist Don Pullen debuting in March 1975. George and Don shared a musical vision and their quartet, sometimes known as the "George Adams-Don Pullen Quartet", and sometimes as the "Don Pullen-George Adams Quartet", played genres from R&B to the avant-garde, releasing 12 albums. George recorded further albums with Dannie Richmond, McCoy Tyner, James Blood Ulmer with Phalanx, and 6 albums as leader with his own band. George played with tremendous intensity and passion, but has been sadly overlooked by some of the media After Georges death, Don Pullen, dedicated to his memory, the CD Ode To Life, recorded by his African-Brazilian Connection, and in particular the beautiful ballad "Ah George, We Hardly Knew Ya".
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DAVID MURRAY

Sax player, David Murray born in California, was initially influenced by free jazz musicians such as Archie Shepp and Albert Ayler which has set him apart from others of his generation. He studied at Ponoma College before moving to New York in 1975, where he played with Cecil Taylor and Dewey Redman. In 1976, after a European tour, David set up the first of his powerful groups, the prolific, World Saxophone Quartet, with Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill and Hamiet Bluiett, a very sort after avant-garde jazz group, implementing elements of free funk to African jazz and his use of the circular breathing technique enabled him to play astonishingly long phrases. In 1978, he set up his own quartet, then octet and finally his quintet. He has recorded or performed with musicians of all genre, such as Jerry Garcia , Max Roach, Ken Makanda McIntyre, Randy Weston, Jones Henry Threadgill, Tani Tabbal, James Blood Ulmer, Olu Dara, Butch Morris, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Ed Blackwell, Johnny Dyani, and Steve McCall, recording well over 220 albums. His own latest to date, being Sacred Ground in 2007 with his Quartet. Among his many awards David and his band earned a Grammy Award in 1989 in the Best Jazz Instrumental Group Performance category for "Blues for Coltrane: A Tribute to John Coltrane"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MAKANDA KEN McINTYRE

Multi musician, Makanda Ken McIntyre didn't pick up the saxophone till he was 19, but inspired by Charlie Parker and endless hours of practice, made it his prime instrument. He earned a bachelor's degree in music composition from the Boston Conservatory in 1958, and a master's degree in music composition from the Boston Conservatory in 1959. In 1971 he founded the first African American Music program in the country at the State University of New York College were he taught for 24 years. Makanda recorded several albums as a leader for Steeplechase Records in the 1970's and 1980's, also played/recorded with Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra in the 1990"s. Over the course of his long career, he performed and/or recorded with: Daoud A. Haroon, Nat Adderley, Walter Bishop, Jr., Joanne Brackeen, Jaki Byard, Ron Carter, Richard Davis, Eric Dolphy, Charlie Haden, Richard Harper, Craig Harris, Sam Jones, David Murray, Charlie Persip, Ben Riley, Cecil Taylor, Warren Smith, Andrei Strobert, Arthur Taylor, and Reggie Workman among countless others, and was a member of the innovative group Beaver Harris and the 360 Degree Ensemble. Makanda has recorded solo 12 albums and has over 500 compositions and arrangements to his credit. His works include compositions for woodwind quartets, chamber ensembles, jazz bands, and full orchestra, as well as hundreds of lead sheets. He composed ballads, calypsos, bebop, avant-garde and the blues reflecting different aspects of his Caribbean and African American roots.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LESTER STERLING

Lester Stirling raised in the Kingston Jamaica started out on trumpet. In 1945, while at the world renowned Alpha Boys School in Kingston, he was a member of the Alpha Band. He next played in Stanley Hedlam’s band, then Val Bennett’s band in 1956. Lester changed to saxophone inspired by his brother's playing and Charlie Parker. In 1959, he entered the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour and won all the competitions up to the Grand Final at the Majestic Theatre. After playing in Jamaica Military Band and his discharge, Lester did a brief stint with Kes Chin and the Souvenirs before he helped form The first Skatalites in May 1964, while also freelancing with the likes of Clement Dodd, Duke Reid, Leslie Kong, Bunny Lee and for Byron Lee's Dragonaires, before going solo. He had his first No.1 hit in Jamaica with "Pupa Lick" in 1967, and cut his signiture tune "Bangarang." in 1968, another No.1. He emigrated to New York, Americain 1972, his first gig was with Junior Soul and the Debonairs, and he has sessioned with many since. In 1978 Lester reformed The Skatalites, he still plays with them today, he is one of the three original members along with Doreen Shaffer and Lloyd Knibb who are still a part of the band. In 1998, the Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Howard Cooke, awarded Lester the Order of Distinction, the 2nd highest honor awarded to citizens of Jamaica. In 2002 Lester released the CD "Stirling Silver" the first comprehensive collection of his music, Lester’s solo works from 1961 to 1979 a spotlight on the man they call "Ska" Sterling.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CEDRIC BROOKS

Cedric Brooks a graduate of the world renowned Alpha Boys School in Kingston, Jamaica and their band and like Lester Stirling he is another innovative saxophone player in the history of Jamaica's music and he frequently shares the stage with Lester as a member of The Skatalites. Cedric spent much of his earlier time in as Director of Coxson's legendary Jamaican Studio One house band, where he recorded with many great artists and distinguished himself on a number of classic Jamaican recordings, including Count Ossie's So Long Rastafari Calling, Java, Satta Massa Gana and Skylarking. On a visit to America he was inspired by the music and vibes of Sun Ra and Sonny Rollins. He was on the point of joining Sun Ra but had to return to Jamaica. Despite reggae being in full swing on the island, Cedric took up Sun Ra's challenge by moving beyond reggae's rocksteady beat by experimenting with free jazz, forming his group The Light of Saba, taking leads from Hugh Masekela and Fela Kuti creating a multi-cultural 'world music' way ahead of its time. He is also the co-founder of the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, a brass-and drums ensemble that specialized in the Island of Jamaica's enlightened folk music and culture.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
RAVI COLTRANE

Tenor ND Soprano sax player Ravi Coltrane born in L.A. to the legendary tenor saxophonist John Coltrane and jazz pianist Alice Coltrane, brother of Robbie Coltrane, and was named after the sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar. He studied music, focusing on the saxophone at the California Institute of the Arts. Ravi worked extensively with M-Base guru Steve Coleman, which has influenced Ravi's own musical conception. Coltrane has played with Geri Allen, Carlos Santana, Kenny Barron, Gerry Gibbs, Steve Coleman, McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, Branford Marsalis and others. In 1997, after performing on over thirty recordings as a sideman, Ravi recorded his first album as a "Moving Pictures", released in 1998. His follow-up "From the Round Box" in 2000 he was accompanied by Geri Allen, Ralph Alessi, James Genus, and Eric Harland. These were followed by 2 more albums to date "Mad 6 in 2002 and "In Flux" in 2005 with bassist Drew Gress, pianist Luis Perdomo, and drummer E.J. Strickland. The Coltrane Quartet has played at the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival 2001, Montreux Jazz Festival 2004, Newport Jazz Festival 2004, and Vienne Jazz Festival 2005, to name a few. In January 2005, Ravi toured in India as part of a delegation of US jazz musicians on a State Department tour to promote HIV/AIDS awareness.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
STEVE COLEMAN

Steve Coleman studied saxophone as a teenager in Chicago, his influences have been Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Von Freeman and Bunky Green. He played his hometown gathering skill before hitch-hiking to New York in 1978, where for a while he was a street musician. Steve was a founder of M-base, "macro-basic array of structured extemporization". M-Base is built on the innovations of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, along with many other spontaneous composers. It is also influenced by the rhythmic innovations of many of the groups led by singer James Brown, as well as having direct roots in West African Music and West African cultural and philosophical ideas. Steve's present style is an extension of these ideas. He later traveled to Ghana to study their music. He has performed and recorded with Thad Jones, Sam Rivers, Doug Hammond, Cecil Taylor, Mike Brecker, Abbey Lincoln, David Murray, Dave Holland and many others. Besides his extensive work producing, recording, playing with other bands, his composing, his work with M-base and leading several groups over the years, his main band 'Steve Coleman and Five Elements' formed out of street musicians in 1981 is still active today recording around 25 albums to date the latest being "Weaving Symbolics" in 2006.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
P. J. PERRY GULOIEN

Jazz saxophonist P.J. (Paul John) Perry Guloien has performed across the world and played with many of the greats. He started out in his father's dance band at the age of 14 years old playing in the clubs around Vancouver, before moving to Toronto in 1959 where he played with the likes of Ron Collier and Sonny Greenwich. 1962 sees him in Montreal with Maury Kaye; 1963 sees him playing in Europe for 3 years. On his return to Canada he had gone on to appear and record with the Boss Brass, Dizzy Gillespie, Ellis Marsalis, Slide Hampton, Woody Shaw, Herb Spanier, Ron Johnston, Jerry Fuller, Torben Oxbol, Pepper Adams, Kenny Wheeler, Tom Harrell, Tommy Banks and many others. In 1993 P.J and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra won the Juno Award for Best Jazz Recording for his album "My Ideal", and he has received Jazz Report magazine's Critic's Choice Award for Best Alto Sax for, a record, of seven years running from 1993 to 1999. P.J has become recognized by as being one of North America's premier saxophonists.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CAMPBELL RYGA

Canadian saxophonist, Campbell Ryga is a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Hugh Fraser Quintet formed in 1981. As well as touring Canada 24 times to date, Campbell has toured internationally on 19 occasions, mainly in Western Europe and Latin America and he has has performed week long engagements at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, London on four separate occasions. Most of this touring has been with the Hugh Fraser Quintet. Cambell has received 3 Juno Awards, with two additional nominations, a Grammy nomination and has twice received the Western Canadian Music Award in the Jazz category. He has contributed to 57 Jazz Recordings inclusive of his two current releases as a leader, 'Coastal Connection' and 'Spectacular'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MIKE MURLEY

Saxophonist Mike Murley has been an important force in Canadian jazz since the early '80s, with a sound of his own. Among others he has recorded as a sideman with Time Warp, the Shuffle Demons, Brian Dickinson, Barry Elmes, Nojo, John Stech and Kevin Dean and led dates of his own for Unity and Counterpoint. Mike has played and recorded with such name musicians as Kenny Wheeler, Randy Brecker, and John Abercrombie. In 1988 , while in New York for a year Mike played with Jack McDuff, but throughout his career, most of his work has taken place in Canada, where he has become an increasingly influential figure. Currently Mike is active as a leader in various formations from duo to septet, and also maintains a busy schedule as a sideman with the David Braid Sextet, the Rob McConnell Tentet , the David Occhipinti Quartet, and is a member of the band Metalwood.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DEL PUSCHERT

Del Puschert has played the saxophone since he was 3, and played in local Texan bands from an early age. He met Elvis Presley in 1954 in his then home town of Texarcana, where Elvis frequented the club where Del played his saxophone. In 1956 Elvis asked him to join his band. They played together till Elvis left for Hollywood to begin filming the movie, "Love Me Tender." After this Del played the saxophone in a local band called the Van Dykes. They shared the stage with greats like The Coasters, Otis Redding and Ike & Tina Turner. Del has played sax throughout his live, and more recently he has toured extensively in places such as Branson, Miss., Texarcana, Texas, Palm Springs, Calif., Austin and Las Vegas. At the age of 74, this talented musician still tours and plays with several bands on the Austin, Texas music scene including Cornell Hurd Band and The Van Dykes. You may also catch a glimpse of Del at his amazing Annapolis barbershop, Del's Styling Ranch on Defence Highway.
Tenor sax player Del Puschert on YouTube
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
JOE ROMANO

Sax player Joe Romano from Rochester, NY, was influenced by Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Chu Barry, Ben Webster and Paul Gonsalves has spent much of his musical career freelancing. In his teens he sat in with Nat King Cole and Coleman Hawkins at the Band Box and Johnny Griffin, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Sonny Stitt, and other legends at the Ridgecrest, the Pythodd, and other clubs. In the 50's he worked and recorded with Gus Mancuso, the 60's he played with Chuck Mangione's Jazz Brothers and Sam Noto and he 70's find Joe with Les Brown, Bellson, Chuck Israels' National Jazz Ensemble, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra and Louie Bellson while living in Los Angeles. Joe also worked on and off with Woody Herman from the mid 50's for nearly 20 years and from the late 60's he has played and recorded intermittently with Buddy Rich and many others. Mangione and drummer Steve Gadd credit Joe for their inspiration and guidance early on in their careers. Joe is still a much in demand session player and with his own Quintet he has recorded a number of albums including 'And Finally Romano', 'One Romantic Night' and 'This Is The Moment'.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
JIM BRENAN

Canadian Sax player, Jim Brenan studied at Rutgers University under the skilled guidance of Ralph Bowen. After establishing himself on the Canadian jazz scene, took the position of Coordinator of Jazz Studies at The School of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Auckland, New Zealand for 2 years, after which he retuned to Canada as coordinator of credit music at Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta. Jim has an active performing and recording career, to date he played across Canada with P.J. Perry, Randy Brecker, Tommy Banks, The Brenan Brothers, and Latin sensation Bomba, recipient of Galaxie rising Star Award and toured US and Europe as the lead tenor saxophone with The Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau Band. As a member of this band Jim also performed with Diane Schuur and recorded for the Concord record label as a featured soloist on the "Big City Rhythms" big band album. Jim has also recorded two CD's under his own name the most recent titled "the Spectre".
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
JEFF KASHIWA

Seatle saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa starting out on the clarinet at age ten, changing to sax at 12. He attended Berklee College, influenced by the such as Chuck Mangione and Spyro Gyra. He found work in Disney's All American College Band, after which he toured with the ska/reggae group the 'Untouchables' performing on MTV's first Spring Break. In 1989 he joined The Rippingtons, at the same time he recorded 2 solo albums and in 1999, Jeff left the Rippingtons to concentrate on his own band, Coastal Access, touring US and Britain taking in over 100 dates annually. His Native Language debut album 'Another Door Opens' and follow-up 'Simple Truth' established him as one of smooth jazz's most dominant saxophonists. In 2006, he reunited with the Rippingtons for the group's 20th Anniversary Tour and he guested on their following album. He continues guesting with the Rippingtons, but mainly concerntrates on his composing and work with his own band.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
JAY BECKENSTEIN

Jay Beckenstein took up the saxophone up at the age of 7, his clarenetist father taught him to play the blues and boogie woogie. Inspired by his father, Charlie Parker and Lester Young Jay played in various school bands in both America and Germany. While in Germany he also played R&B with his father & friends in US Army and German Clubs. Back in America he studied classical, avant garde music and saxophone at Buffalo University. It was while playing the many venues in and around the Buffulo area in the early 70's that Jay and his friends formed the band Spyro Gyra. The band have produced, to date, 28 albums, been nonimated 8 times for Grammy Awards between 1980 and 2007. and were awarded the George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards this year, 2007. As well as his busy band commitments of around a 100 venues a year and composing new tracks, Jay played the saxophone solo on Dream Theater's "Another Day", from the album Images and Words, and "Through her Eyes", from the album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. He also played a solo part in "Take Away My Pain" on the live album Once in a Livetime as well as "Another Day" during the performance of Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New York.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
RALPH BOWEN

Saxophonist Ralph Bowen majored in Classical Performance at Rutgers-the State University of New Jersey, before recording 4 records with Bluenote, after which he spent 3 years recording and touring with Horace Silver & 16 years with Michel Camilo. Ralph to date, has performed/ recorded /world toured with over 80 big name artists, such as Bob Hurst, Art Blakey Big Band, Lenny White, Jon Faddis, Benny Carter, James Spaulding, Al Gray, Lewis Nash, Rene Rosnes, Andy Bey, Lou Rawls, Kenny Drew Jr. and the list goes on, as well as releasing 4 solo albums of his own. Some of his influences include Earl Bostic, King Curtis, Sonny Stitt, Bird, Cannonball Adderly, Trane, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, and Pat LaBarbera his teacher of 8 years. He has been awarded the Inaugural "Brick," Philadelphia Clef Club for the Performing Arts; The Juno Award-Canada, for Best Mainstream Album: Free Trade - Free Trade; Outstanding Service to Jazz Education, National Association of Jazz Educators; and the Silver Disk Award, Japan, for Best Jazz Album: OTB - Out of the Blue. Ralph continues to record, tour and play the world's top jazz festivals.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
IKE QUEBEC

Sax-man, Ike Quebec (pronounced Kyoo-bek) born in Newark, New Jersey, was an accomplished dancer and pianist, he switched to tenor sax as his primary instrument in his early 20s. His recording career started in 1940, with the Barons of Rhythm. Later, he recorded or performed with Frankie Newton, Hot Lips Page, Roy Eldridge, Trummy Young, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter and Coleman Hawkins. Between 1944 and 1951, he worked intermittently with Cab Calloway. He recorded for Blue Note records in this era, and also served as a talent scout for the label (helping pianists Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell come to wider attention) and, due to his exceptional sight reading skills, was an uncredited impromptu arranger for many Blue Note sessions.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TIM PRICE

Sax player Tim Price lives in Reading, Pennsylvania, he studied at Berklee College of Music under Charlie Mariano, Andy McGhee, Joe Viola, and Nick Ciazza. After Berklee he studied saxophone and improvisation with Sal Nistico, Fred Lipsius, Jimmy Lyons, Ray Pizzi, Sonny Stitt, and Ronnie Cuber Through his long career he has played-recorded with 100's of great artist including Bennie Green, Hans Dulfer, Lew Tabackin, Ray Drummond, Jon Mayer, Greg Bandy, James Gadson, Don Patterson, Billy James, Doc Severinson, Major Holly, Alan Dawson, Bill Doggett, Jack Mc Duff, Cecil Payne, Richie Cole, Ernie Watts, Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones, Gary Burton, Dr. John, Phil Woods, Charlie Mariano, Shirly Scott, Trudy Pitts, Sonny Stitt and Ernie Krivda, Rachel Z, Sue Terry, and John LaPorta. Tim has also written over 40 sets of liner notes for historic jazz records like "Front End" by Jerry Bergonzi, plus CD liner notes for folks like David S. Ware, Ray Pizzi, Tab Smith, Michael Marcus, Bert Wilson and dozens of other great saxophone players and written three books on sax playing. As well as all the above, Tim has his own band playing jazz festivals and venues worldwide and performs clinics throughout the world, plus he teaches in New York City and from his home studio in Reading, Pennsylvania.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ANDY MACKAY

Sax player Andy Mackay, born in Cornwall, England, also plays keyboards and oboe. While attending Reading University, of which Brian Eno was a fellow student and friend, Andy joined a group The Nova Express Band. He was a full-time music teacher at Holland Park School when he joined Roxy Music in 1972, this is when became known for his "duckwalk" during saxophone solos. He also released two solo albums in the 1970s, and composed the music for the album Rock Follies. After Roxy Music split in 1983, Andy went onto to form The Explorers recording one album, changing names to Manzanera and Mackay in 1988 making 2 albums and in 1989 he played with The Players, a group of English folk musicians who recorded one album. Andy has also worked with Mott The Hoople, John Cale, Pavlov's Dog, Duran Duran, Godley & Creme, Eddie And The Hot Rods and 801.He took part in the Roxy Music reunion concerts of 2001 and 2003, and has written music for UK television. He is currently working on a new Roxy Music album as well as his own solo project.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
JAN GARBAREK

Norwegian tenor / soprano saxophonist Jan Garbarek is active in the jazz, classical, and world music genres, his saxophone has become one of the hallmarks of the ECM record label. He began his recording career in the late 1960s, notably featuring on recordings by the American jazz composer George Russell. Jan rose to international prominence in the mid-1970s playing post-bop jazz, both as a member of and a leader of Keith Jarrett's "European Quartet". As a composer, Jan tends to draw from Scandinavian folk melodies. He is also a pioneer of ambient jazz composition, heard on his 1976 album Dis. He has composed music for several films, including "Teen Witch" , French and Norwegian films, and the film The Insider. Jan has recorded with 100's of artists including Anouar Brahem, Jon Christensen, Bill Connors, Palle Danielsson, Charlie Haden, Deeyah, Ustad Shaukat Hussain Khan, Ustad Bade Fateh Ali Khan, Zakir Hussain, Keith Jarrett, Egberto Gismonti, Ustad Nazim Ali Khan, Manu Katché, Gary Peacock, George Russell, Terje Rypdal, Oystein Sevag, David Torn, Ralph Towner, Nana Vasconcelos, Miroslav Vitouš, Eberhard Weber.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
RED HOLLOWAY

Tenor & alto sax player James "Red" Holloway was born in Helena, Arkansas, into a musical family. As a child he played banjo and harmonica before taking up the sax at the age of 12. At 16 he turned professional playing with Gene Wright's Big Band for 3 yrs, before joining the army and the army band, after which he played with Roosevelt Sykes & Nat Towles, before leading his own quartet. In his very long career, Red has performed with too many famous musicians to mention, including Billie Holiday, Muddy Waters, Jack McDuff, Dexter Gordon, Lionel Hampton, Chuck Berry, John Mayall, Ben Webster, Jimmy Rushing, Arthur Prysock, Dakota Station, Lester Young, Ernestine Anderson, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Wardell Gray, Sonny Rollins, Red Rodney, Sonny Rollins, Joe Williams, Redd Foxx, Aretha Franklin, Clark Terry, Joe Dukes, Juggernaut Nat "Lotsa Poppa" Towles, Willie Dixon, B.B. King, Junior Parker, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Lloyd Price, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Rushing, Arthur Prysock, Dakota Station, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Wardell Gray, and many more. Red is at home and happy playing jazz, bebop, blues, R&B, a true virtuoso, who is still touring regularly.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
JAMES "JIMMY" DORSEY

Jimmy Dorsey, first son of a music teacher from Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, played trumpet as a young child, appearing on stage in Vaudeville acts from the age of 9 in 1913. He switched to alto saxophone when he was only 11 years old, and then learned to double on clarinet too. He formed Dorsey's Novelty Six with his younger brother, trombonist Tommy Dorsey. In the 1920's and early 30's, Jimmy joined the Californian Ramblers, as well as doing masses of freelance recording & radio work and many jazz recording sessions. He toured internationally with the Ted Lewis Band, did a short stint with Rudy Vallee and played in a few others bands before forming the legendary Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra in 1935. In 1953 he joined his brother Tommy's band, renamed The Fabulous Dorseys. In his long career Jimmy played with almost every top jazz artist, appeared on 100's of recordings and is considered one of the most prominent alto saxophone players of the pre-bebop era. He passed away in 1957, just 6 months after his younger brother.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
BRIAN "BREEZE" CAYOLLE

World touring saxophonist Brian "Breeze" Cayolle, is native to the musical city of New Orleans. He studied music at the University of New Orleans, playing soprano, alto, tenor, baritone sax and clarinets. As well as performing with many of New Orleans finest artists and with his own group, the French Quarter All-Stars, Brian has also worked, toured or recorded with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Roy Buchanan, Leon Russell, Clarence Gatemouth Brown and the Blues Queen of New Orleans, Marva Wright, Zydeco king C.J. Chenier, Tina Turner, Dino Kruse Band,Cornell Dupree, Chuck Rainey, Conan O'Brien, Allen Toussaint, Willy Deville, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Ruth Brown, Sam Moore, Billy Joel and Fats Domino. He plays his powerful music at jazz festival around the world with standing ovations from the Montreux Jazz Festival to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Brian "Breeze" Cayolle, now endorsed by E.M. Winston saxophones has recorded three solo albums, the latest being "State Of My Heart".
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ROSARIO GIULIANI

Born in Terracina, Italy, Rosario Giuliani began studying the alto saxophone as a child and studied at L. Refice Conservatory of Music in Frosinone . By 1991 he was working with the television and radio orchestras of Italy's major networks, and recorded numerous soundtracks for top Italian film composers, including Ennio Morricone, Gianni Ferrio, Luis Bacalov, Armando Trovalioli, Manuel De Sica and many others. He has performed with top names like Phil Woods, Kenny Wheeler, Randy Brecker, Cedar Walton to mention a few, as well as many of Italy's finest jazz artists. Rosario achieved a first place at Brussels' Europe Jazz Contest and was also voted the best new talent in the 2000 critics poll Top Jazz conducted by a top-rated music magazine. These led him to a record deal with the Parisian label Dreyfus Jazz and international tours which see Rosario Giuliani taking many countries by storm. His debut album was the highly acclaimed 'Luggage' in 2001, his powerful quartet returned with 'Mr. Dodo' followed by 'More Than Ever', 'Anything Else', 'Duets for Trane' and 'Live From Virginia Ranch'.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
BOB MINTZER

Sax player Bob Mintzer is a member of the jazz rock band the Yellowjackets, but among jazz fans maybe better known for his inspiring big band work since the early 1980s in the 'Word of Mouth Big Band' and then as the leader of the Grammy Award winning 'Bob Mintzer Big Band'. Before starting his own big band, Mintzer was a featured soloist and arranger with the big band of Buddy Rich. He has been nominated for thirteen Grammy Awards both for his solo work and big band recordings Art of the Big Band, Departure, Homage To Count Basie, One Music, and Only In New York and for his work with the Yellowjackets: Blue Hats, Club Nocturne, Dreamland, Greenhouse, Like a River, Live Wires, Mint Jam, Runferyerlife, Time Squared. Homage to Count Basie won the Grammy in the best large ensemble category for the 44th Annual Grammy Awards, 2001.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
JERRY BERGONZI

Boston sax player Jerry Bergonzi is a master of chord changes with a strong musical imagination. He started playing sax at 12 years old; his early influences were Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley & Coltrane, and did his musical apprentice ground work in New York. Here he became a member of Two Generations of Brubeck and of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, gaining international recognition. He went on to work with the likes of Dave Santoro, Adam Nussbaum, Peter Kontrimas, Bruce Gertz, Chris Brubeck, Daniel Humair, George Gruntz, Joey Calderazzo. He has led several groups including Con Brio, Gonz, played as a member in many other bands like The Daniel Bennett Group, KGB Trio and he has recorded for the Plug, Not Fat, Red, and Blue Note labels. Jerry finds time in his busy schedule to teach at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and he has published seven volumes on improvisation for Advance Music.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GENE CANNON

Gene Cannon began playing the saxophone at the age of nine. Influenced greatly by "Blue Lou" Marini, Jr., he went on to study music at the University of South Florida in Tampa where he joined his first band, a local band, Solution. Gene then started work in various studios and has played on many commercial projects including Sweet Bay, Hops Restaurant Chain, Tony Little Workout Videos, The Melting Pot, Time Warner Road Runner, Varilux Comforting Sounds CD , ESPN and the Home Shopping Network. Gene has sessioned and recorded with many great artists and bands among them are George Benson, The Average White Band, Brian Culbertson, Richard Elliot, Steve Cole, Paul Taylor, Greg Karukas, Patti Austin, Regina Bell, Special EFX, Rick Braun, Peter White, Paul Brown, Euge Groove, The Rippingtons, Allon Sams, Les Sabler and Paul Brown and Ken Navarro. His latest solo album "Soul Dances" is full of smooth jazz, funky music, tasty melodies, mellow playing and clever arrangements. At present Gene is a featured musician with Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Devil Rays and of international fame the "Off the Cuff" Band.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
EARL BOSTIC

Tulsan saxophonist Earl Bostic started performing with Fate Marable on New Orleans riverboats, turning professional at 18 when he joined Terrence Holder's band. His first recording was with Lionel Hampton in 1942. He formed his own band in 1945, and turned to R&B in the late 1940s. As a musician and band leader he was a perfectionist. Earl's biggest hits were "Temptation," "Sleep," "You Go to My Head" "Where or When" "Cherokee." and his signiture tune "Flamingo". He was influenced by the great Sidney Bechet and in turn John Coltrane was influenced by Earl Bostic. Earl was an unmatchable jammer, saxist Sweet Papa Lou Donaldson recalled seeing Charlie Parker get burned by Earl during one such jam session. He was able to control the horn from low B flat up into the altissimo range years before other saxophonists dared to try. He was able to play melodies in the altissimo range with perfect execution. He could play wonderfully in any key at any tempo over any changes. Art Blakey remarked that "Nobody knew more about the saxophone than Bostic, and that includes Bird. Working with Bostic was like attending a university of the saxophone." Earls's recording career was varied, it includes jump blues, big band jazz, early rock and roll, commercial sides, and soul/jazz organ quintets. He died on stage while playing with his band.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PAQUITO D'RIVERA

Cuban saxophonist, eight time grammy award winner, Paquito D'Rivera, was taught sax & clarenet by his father Tito Rivera from the age of 5. At the age of seven he became the youngest artist ever to endorse a musical instrument, when the legendary company Selmer signed him up. In his early teens he was a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna, at the same time he played both the clarinet and saxophone with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. Paquito is director of the Festival International de Jazz en el Tambo in Uruguay, an Artist in Residence at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and member of the Alon Yavnai-Paquito D'Rivera Duet and the Jazz Chamber Trio, he plays with Irakere, Ying Quartet, Turtle Island String Quartet, cellist Mark Summer, pianist Alon Yavnai, and Yo-Yo Ma. In the classical genre, he has played with the Costa Rican Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, Bronx Arts Ensemble, London Royal Symphony, Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, American Youth Philharmonic and Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. Paquito has won dozens of awards, including 8 grammys for jazz, classical and latin music, all three of his main genre, and nominated many times. He has played on 100's of albums, played with dozens of top artists, and toured global many times. This once child prodigy is really a true virtuoso on sax and clarenet, read more about this amazing musician and man in his memoirs entitled 'My Sax Life'.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PEPPER ADAMS

Pepper Adams born Park Adams III, in Highland Park, Michigan. Influences include Fats Waller, Jimmy Lunceford, Lucky Millinder, Cab Calloway. He became 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 styles of Gerry Mulligan. He worked with Barry Harris, Billy Mitchell, Kenny Burrell, Tommy Flanagan, Paul Chambers, Don Byrd, Doug Watkins, Curtis Fuller, the Jones Brothers, Yusef Lateef. Sonny Stitt, Milt Jackson, Wardell Gray, Stan Kenton, Dave Pell, Shorty Rogers, Benny Goodman, Charles Mingus, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band, Gene Ammmons, Lee Morgan and so many more. Pepper has influenced many notable jazz baritone sax players, including Scott Robinson and Vanguard Jazz Orchestra bari chair holder Gary Smulyan. He sadly died in 1986 of lung cancer.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GEORGE YOUNG

George Opaleski aka “George Young”, professional reed player since the early 60's, is one of the most recorded studio musicians and finest technicians in fusion, jazz, swing, fusion, bebop, rock, studio and concerts, and although he is one of the most heard, he is one of the most unknown. A virtuoso in most of the reeds, he specializes in the tenor and alto sax when in recording sessions with such artists and musicians as George Benson, Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Martin Mann, David Sanchez, Earl Klugh, G.E. Smith & The Saturday Night Live Band, Jay Hoggard, Dean Friedman, Dave Holland and Toots Thielemans and so many others. George has also recorded solo; recorded in the combos of the great Steve Gadd, Jay Leonhart and John Tropea; in the big bands of Louis Bellson and Benny Goodman, and as a leader for both the Chiaroscuro and Paddle Wheel Studios, working with the dozens of artists that went through their doors. George is very respected throughout the world's music industry and by all the heavy saxophone & reed players.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HOUSTON PERSON

Houston Person, jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz with his distinctive sassy sound and his expressive style of playing. Early in his career while in the U.S. Air Force, he played with Don Ellis, Eddie Harris, Cedar Walton, and Leo Wright. He spend many years as Etta Jones' musical partner, record producer, they performed, recorded and toured together for more than 30 years, receiving equal billing. Housten has more than 75 albums under his own name on Prestige, Westbound, Mercury, Savoy, Muse, and is currently with High Note Records. He has also recorded with Charles Brown, Charles Earland, Lena Horne, Lou Rawls, Horace Silver, Dakota Staton, Billy Butler amoung others and in 1982 he received the Eubie Blake Jazz Award. And a little inside information he likes his Harvey's Bristol Cream!!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
RAPHAEL RAVENSCROFT

Raphael Ravenscroft, session saxophonist on Maxine Nightingale 1976's "Right Back Where We Started From" got his big break when asked to do an instrumental solo on Gerry Rafferty's 1978 "Baker Street," on which he played what was to become probably the most well-known saxophone part in an entire era popular music. In 1979, he signed with Portrait Records to record a solo album, "Her Father Didn't Like Me Anyway", and he went on to play with Chris Rea, Ian Gomm, Alvin Lee, Pink Floyd, Robert Plant, Marvin Gaye, ABBA, Kim Carnes, Red Rider, Mike Oldfield, Roger Waters, America, Wire Daisies, Willie & The Poor Boys, London Symphony Orchestra, Phil Collins' Brand X, and two more LPs by Rafferty. In 1990, Raphael published a successful instruction book, The Complete Saxophone Player. Until 2004 he was also a tutor of Music at York College (York, UK)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
.ED CALLE

Ed Calle, born in Caracas of Spanish parents, has been heard on thousands of recordings both as a sideman and a soloist, and his resume includes tour dates with some of the biggest names in the business. Although his passion is jazz, after hearing a Michael Brecker recording back in his teenage years, he is extremely versatile whether it be rock, jazz or pop, his fiery tenor can be heard with Gloria Estefan's Miami Sound Machine to Grammy-award-winning recordings by Arturo Sandoval, Vicky Carr and pop singer Jon Secada. He has also played and recorded with Julio Iglesias, Vanessa Williams, Bob James, Frank Sinatra and many others, as well as on television and in motion picture soundtracks. A recommended album "Plays Santana".
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GERALD ALBRIGHT

Gerald Albright who has sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone, began piano lessons at the age of eight, not liking it much his teacher gave him a saxophone, which he carried on playing at Locke High School. After which he attended the University of Redlands where he received a B.S. degree in business management, minoring in music. After college, he worked in the studio with such artists as Anita Baker, Ray Parker Jr, The Temptations, and Olivia Newton-John. Gerald also joined with Patrice Rushen, who was in the process of forming her own band. Gerald has also toured or worked with Jeff Lorber, Teena Marie, Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, Will Downing, Jonathan Butler, Hugh Masekela, Chaka Khan, Rachelle Ferrell and many others. Gerald has also made several television appearances as well as piloting a show in Las Vegas with Designing Women star Meshach Taylor and was one of the ten featured saxophonists who performed at Bill Clinton’s inauguration. He was also featured at the Presidential Summit, as well as several private functions for the President.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PAUL GONSALVES

Paul Gonsalves, known for his affinity for ballads and his fast, driving solos, started his professional career playing tenor saxophone with the Sabby Lewis band, in which he played before and after his military service during World War II. In 1947, after a little spell with Tommy Dorsey, he played with the big bands of Count Basie until 1949, then a year with Dizzy Gillespie. 1950 saw Paul with the great Duke Ellington, who he stayed with for the next 24 years, until his death. His name went down in musical history when he caused a near riot at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, with a stunningly outstanding, mammoth 27 or 28 chorus solo, in the middle of Duke Ellington's performance when combining "Diminuendo" and "Crescendo in Blue". Paul Gonsalves was The Dukes major attraction for the remainder of both their lives, Paul was a featured soloist in numerous Ellingtonian settings, with many extended tenor saxophone solos. It was a sad, dark day in music when these two great musicians and friends died within a few days of each other in May of 1974.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TEDDY EDWARDS

Teddy Edwards became a professional musician at the age of 12, & closely associated with L.A.'s Central Avenue jazz scene in the 1940s and '50s. In the 60's he was involved with Gene Norman's popular Just Jazz concerts. Teddy recorded frequently between 1959 and 1967 on many sessions. Though the following two decades found him contributing to the scores of such films as 'One From the Heart' (1982) instead of cutting records. From the early '90s on, Teddy averaged an album every other year until 1993's Smooth Sailing and continued to tour despite being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1995. A documentary entitled The Legend of Teddy Edwards was released in 2001. Over his long career he worked with the likes of Max Roach, Clifford Brown, Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, Howard McGhee, Roy Milton, Ernie Fields, Milt Jackson, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Witherspoon, Leroy Vinnegar, Joe Maini, Freddie Hill, Ray Brown, Al Porcino, Gerald Wilson, Mel Tormé, Mel Lewis, Harold Land, Billy Higgins and Victor Feldman.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CHARLES OWENS

Charles Owens is a master woodwind musician who maintains professional proficiency on tenor, alto, soprano and baritone saxophones, clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon and English horn. After his discharge from the military, he attended the Berklee College of Music. He toured with the Buddy Rich Orchestra from 1967-68 and was with Mongo Santarmaria for the following two years. In the early 70's, settling in LA, Charles became a busy studio musician, playing virtually all the reed instruments. Among his more significant associations have been Lorenz Alexander, Bobby Bryant, Terry Callier, Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, Dave Grusin, Eddie Harris, Gladys Knight, James Newton, Barbra Streisand, Henry Franklin, Patrice Rushen, the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, John Carter, Horace Tapscott, the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and his own groups. He has played on numerous hit records including the Grammy Award winning Ellington album, Hot and Bothered, featuring his baritone solo on "Sophisticated Lady." Charles also tours the United States and Europe with his own group, which has produced two albums on Discovery Records.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MICHAEL SESSIONS

For the last 14 years, multi sax player Michael Sessions has successfully played, toured, recorded and entertained us as a member of The Michael Session Sextet. He is a popular freelance and guest saxophone player and has recorded several albums with Horace Tapscott, Sara Messenger & others
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LOUIS VAN TAYLOR

Louis Von Taylor played woodwinds though school and college. He attended CSLA for his bachelor degree in music and private study through the Berklee School of Music Correspondence course while a member of the Ray Charles orchestra. Since adding all the saxophones and woodwinds to his arsenal, Louis has been much sought after professional with the likes of the Temptations featuring Dennis Edwards and Otis Williams, a twenty year association and employment with Ray Charles, the Gap Band, Kool and the Gang, Gerald Wilson, Jimmie and Jeannie, The Four Tops, Laverne Baker Cheatham, Maxine Weldon, Charles Wright, Mariah Carey, Eric Benet, Carl Thomas, The O'Jays Little Anthony & The Imperials, Carl Thomas, Big Joe Turner, Bobby Womack and a host of others.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ACE CANNON

Nashville's top session man Ace Cannon came from a musical family, started playing saxophone when he was 10, played in the high school band and began his long musical career in the 50's signing with Sun Records, performing with Billy Lee Riley and Brad Suggs until 1959 when he joined the Bill Black’s Combo, appearing on TV shows including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Merv Griffin Show, Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and The Buddy Dean Show. Ace also had a solo career debuting with the hit "Tuff" in 1962 followed 52 albums and 37 singles. He frequently toured with such legends of early rock & roll as Carl Perkins. In the 70's Ace became the subject of the 1974 documentary film, Ace's High, then in '75 his hit version of "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" was nominated for the Best Country Instrumental Performance Grammy. In 1997, Scotty Moore and D. J. Fontana, recorded an album entitled All The Kings Men, which consisted of 11 songs by various artists, such as Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Steve Earl, Ronnie McDowell, Jeff Beck and The Bill Black Combo. Of the 11 songs on the record, Ace Cannon with The Bill Black Combo selection was nominated for a Grammy Award. He has spent over 60 years touring and recording with many of the greats, playing genres from pop to country to bebop to jazz to rockabilly, a true virtuoso. He has been inducted into the Rock and Soul Hall of Fame, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, is presently nominated for induction into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame and in May of 2007, his hometown honored this music legend by hosting its first annual Ace Cannon Festival., all this is why they call him The Godfather of Sax.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
BOOTS RANDOLPH

Boots Randolph was the first ever sax player to record with Elvis, and the only one to ever play solo with him, and he also recorded on the soundtracks for 8 of his movies. Boots is also the saxophone player responsible for penning and playing the 1961 multi-million seller of "Yakety Sax" which was the closing theme to the Benny Hill TV Specials. Boots can be heard on Roy Orbison's 1964 hit, "Oh, Pretty Woman". "Little Queenie" by REO Speedwagon, "Java" by Al Hirt, "Turn On Your Lovelight" by Jerry Lee Lewis, and "Rockin' 'Round The Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee, others out of dozens include Chet Atkins, Buddy Holly, Floyd Cramer, Alabama, Johnny Cash, Richie Cole, Pete Fountain, Tommy Newsom and Doc Severinsen. For over 40 years Boots Randolph has toured Europe, spent 15 years touring with The Master's Festival of Music, played for eight years on the Hee Haw Show, guested on numerous TV shows, and headlined almost every fair, jazz festival and convention in US.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GENE DINWIDDIE

Gene Dinwiddie, born in Louisville, later nicknamed "Brother" played with various bands and jammed with the likes of Roscoe Mitchell and Amina Claudine Myers, for over a decade and a half before he got a big break in 1967. This happened when Paul Butterfield inspired by his mentor Junior Parker, formed a "big band". Soon after he asked Gene, by then a highly respected blues and jazz man, to arranged the brass section to join the band. This included Brother Gene himself, Trevor Lawrence, David Sanborn, Steve Madeo, they made a huge impact on the band, and brought them media attention. Gene appeared at both legendary festivals, the '67 Monterey Pop Festival, and at Woodstock in 1969, where his outstanding performance in "Love March" helped make it an instant hit, and also made it the band's anthem. He toured and recorded with the band for over 3 years. A must of Gene from this era, is the Butterfield Blues Band's supurb "Live" album, from the opening notes to the last, Gene's input and influence is felt throughout the album. He also played and recorded with the James Cotton Blues Band in it's early days, his experience helped them on their way to become the band they are known today. Throughout the 70's, 80's & 90's Gene freelanced, arranging brass sections or playing solo with many artists including Greg Allman, Cher, B.B. King, Melissa Manchester, Jackie Lomax, Keith Johnson, Phillip Wilson, Bugsy Maugh, Steve Madaio, Trevor Lawrence, Venetta Fields, Clydie King, David Sanborn, Geoff & Maria Muldaur, Lightnin' Rod, the band Crackin' and Etta James. He was also a major member of the group Full Moon during this time too. Gene played all the saxophones, the flute, the mandolin, but is most famed for his tenor playing. He also composed, "Cafe Black Rose" on the Lightinin’ Rod "Hustler’s Convention" album, later covered by Beck. He was a musician who put so much hard work and so much of himself into many projects, but, sadly Gene Dinwiddie passed away just a few years ago, and like too many great musicians .. virtually unnoticed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TEX BENEKE

Born Gordon Lee Beneke, in Texas, started his professional career with bandleader Ben Young in 1935, but he is probably remembered with Glenn Miller Band, thier best-selling hit records, and the Glen Miller sound. Tex became a signature soloist in the band and appeared with the Miller Band in the early '40's films "Sun Valley Serenade" and "Orchestra Wives" . After beng asked by Glen's wife Helen, Tex lead the Miller Band for time after the war, until it ran in to dispute differculties, after which he formed his own very successful band, appearing periodically at Disneyland, special Glenn Miller reunions, many TV appearances on The Tonight Show including those hosted by Merv Griffin and Johnny Carson. His band toured extensively. He suffered a stroke in the mid-1990s and was forced to give up the saxophone but continued to conduct, sing and tour. Tex was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1996, and in 1998, at the age of 84, two years before his death he launched yet another Miller big band style tour paying tribute to the Army Air Force Band. Throughout his life Tex stayed true to the authentic Miller sound. The Tex Beneke Orchestra plays on, under the leadership of Jim Snodgrass.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SIL AUSTIN

The great showman Sylvester Austin, had a big, ripe, blues-inflected tenor sound which was ideally adapted to hard-driving rhythm and blues, but he was also highly sensitive on his haunting ballads. He was self taught until 1945, when he won the Ted Mack Amateur Hour in St. Petersburg, Florida, playing "Danny Boy". His performance brought him a contract with Mercury Records, and he moved to New York, where he studied for a while at the Juilliard School of Music. He played with both Roy Eldridge and Tiny Bradshaw, before setting up his own successful touring group. He recorded over a massive 30 albums for Mercury, and had a number of Top 40 hits, including 'Danny Boy'