why not the obvious? steve lacy and dave liebman.

 

Haven't listened to Dave Liebman yet,
I got steve lacy's studie book 'Findings' I can listen to his music but that would only be because 'you should when you play sop.' so more as study material instead of enjoyable music. I'm not so much into the 'old guys' I keep on trying because I know there is a lot to learn from their music, but whenever I find some time to relax and put on some music I never seem to grab one of the godfathers of sax (the hardcore-ones will wonder what's wrong with me, but that's just the way it is).

But, Dolphyo, which albums of them do you consider the best? I'll give them another try.

 

Steve Lacy's album 'Sands' is AMAZING (check it out at www.tzadik.com, search Steve Lacy), it's entirely solo soprano saxophone. It would be enjoyable, methinks. I enjoy it anyway....

Chris S

 

Sidney Bechet. DAVE

 

Steve Lacy: Sands. I'll give it a try but what I've heard from it sofar it's also the kind of music I would listen to for educational purpose but not because I enjoy it so much.

Sidney Bechet is not my thing.

Anyone with a 'less obvious' suggestion, a hidden treasure, a local hero?

Thanx!
Rob

 

hidden treasures.....

...


me?

:lol:

 

I really don't know what is the type of music that you're looking for... Those that you said only for "education purpose" seems to be the great jazz players, so jazz is not an option... You said you don't like "smooth jazz", so Dave Koz, Micheal Lington, Gerald Albright, etc... are not on the list... You don't like Kenny G, so "pop" is not your choice either??? Then I can't think of any other type of music that you're looking for.

 

well, there is enough left. There were just 3 sax players mentioned and there is more than just those three in jazz-land. I mentioned some of the stuff I like in my first posted message.
I just got the cd 'Paint the world' from the chick corea electric band wich I also like (not particularly new). With eric marienthal, I don't like his own stuff but on this cd I really enjoy his playing. This wil probably be filed under jazzrock or fusion.

There is also a cd that I am still looking for and I think it was weather report with wayne shorter (does any one know?).

Maybe this helps to come up with some more suggestions.

Rob

 

mmm...expected to be overloaded with music, with all the saxplayers visiting this forum.
I think i'll just continue browsing amazon for new music.

:salute: Thanks to those who gave me their suggestions.
Rob

 

Rob: I'll give it another try . . . Bob Wilber. Yes, he is a traditionalist, who as a young man, studied with Bechet. But he has developed his own sound and is much smoother and a lot more swing-era than Bechet. His recordings with Kenny Davern (SOPRANO SUMMIT series) are terrific. DAVE

 

Rob,

I think I understand what you mean by "educational purposes". I like Steve Lacy's "Sands". "Moon" is crazier than "Sands". From what I perceive of your taste, I think you would prefer "The Beat Suite" or one of his older recordings, such as "Reflections" (there are Monk tunes) and Cecil Taylor's "In Transition", where Lacy plays too.

Another great soprano player is Branford Marsalis: he plays tenor and soprano in most of his recordings, except perhaps "Trio Jeepy" and "Contemporary Jazz". "Bloomington" and "Requiem" are two of his recordings where his soprano playing is great.

Then there's Jane Ira Bloom. Check out "The Nearness" or "Chasing Paint". I don't know enough of his more electronic stuff to give an opinion here.

I also like Jimmy Heath's sound on soprano. Just the right balance between sweetness and edge.

Good luck,

Jose Miguel

 

... such as "Reflections" (there are Monk tunes)...

Of course "there" = "these"

Then there's Jane Ira Bloom. Check out "The Nearness" or "Chasing Paint". I don't know enough of his more electronic stuff to give an opinion here.

Of course "his" = "her". I should read my posts more carefully before submitting them :roll:

Cheers,

Jose Miguel

 

Oke thanks dave and jose,
i"ll see if I can get my hands on music of these saxplayers and let you what I think of it.
Rob

 

Gerry Mulligan? John Coltrane?

 

Try Charles Lloyd's album "Canto." Also, some of Yusef Lateef's eastern-influenced recordings. Paul Horn's "Profile of a Jazz Musician." Scott Hamilton/Harry Allen - "Heavy Juice." There is no end of great music out there if you're open to it. Try listenting to anything by Sonny Criss - as a technician, he was, in my estimation, Bird's equal, but with even bettter articulation and a much more pleasing sound, although with an edge. The list goes on and on. Go buy some records and have fun!

 

rick49,

I agree with your assessment of Sonny Criss, but I don't recall any recordings of him on soprano. Would you please point one to me? I'd love to hear what his articulation sounds like on sop.

Jose Miguel

 

Rob,

Maybe you'd like "1+1", which is a soprano-piano duo by Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. I like it very much.

Good luck,

Jose Miguel

 

Here's a couple of names not mentioned yet. Jane Bunnett, who has several CDs available and almost exclusively on sop. Also Christine Jensen, who is mostly alto but can be heard on some sop.

Excellent music from both. Do a search - too many CDs to name.

Ralph

 

What about Coltrane's stuff like My Favourite Things, and later, more free-jazz works like Ascension.

 

I really enjoy Kenny Garrett on soprano.

 

Yusuf lateef does sound interesting, I have only heard some samples form amazon cause the record store didn't have anything on stock but I'll keep looking this. Kenny Garreth I got 'simply said' which sounds a bit timid compared to his other work (of which I also only heard some short samples) but enjoyable and I will try to hear some more of is other stuff.
I do like wayne shorter and am now trying get to hear some more of Speak no Evil.

Which other albums can you reccomend of wayne shorter and kenny garreth?

 

The newly issued Buddy Rich disc called "No Funny Hats" (live recording from '77) has one of the most burning soprano sax solos (Steve Marcus, I think) on the tune "Slo Funk." I'm talking about scorching, like the soprano caught fire during the solo!
Kenny Garrett has a great sound & approach on soprano, when he occasionally uses it, maybe check out the CD "Songbook."
Bill Evans sounded killer on soprano on the Miles Davis side "Man With the Horn." Easy CD to find since it's Miles...get it.
Many of the happening young tenor & alto players double nicely on soprano, such as Steve Wilson, Joshua Redman, Chris Potter (awesome ideas & flexibility), David Sanchez, etc. You might find their music more in-line with what you enjoy now, & not hear it as "educational."
Soprano really has quite a gap in its history after Bechet, since Lacy & Trane finally revived it to a great extent in the late 50s (Lacy) & early 60s.

 

I'm not so sure that 'Songbook' has soprano on it. If memory serves, it's all alto.

Chris

 

Joshua Redman, Courtney Pine, and Branford Marsalis -- outstanding soprano players, each with his own distinct voice. In The Netherlands, don't forget bold bandleader/composer/soprano saxman Willem Breuker -- like Django, a European who has expanded the language of jazz.

 

Maybe Jeff Coffin? Best known for his work with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. Modern player, but not 'smooth jazz'. He plays other voices - so his recordings are not 100% soprano - FWIW.