[THenshaw]

I am looking for some really sad saxophone songs. I play tenor so some songs for tenor would be best but I'll try anything. Also, I don't care if they are solos from popular songs or semi-classical or classical.
That brings up some other questions:

What makes a song sound sad? It is it just the scale? How much do other aspects of the playing count for example bending notes, sound effects, etc.

I am not planning on playing these out. Just looking for some things to play at home.

Thanks!

 

[Isle of Jazz]

"I Remember Clifford"

 

[milandro]

everything happens to me

 

[siebener]

Theme for Ernie

 

[LateNiteSax]

It don't get much darker than this.

 

[B Flat]

"Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry" Dexter Gordon.

 

[JL]

"St. James Infirmary"

 

[tinpalaceroach]

Wayne Shorter has a song called Forlorn that he wrote and played with Weather Report, pretty sad.

 

[sonnymobleytrane]

It don't get much darker than this.

I love Sam Butera!

 

[LateNiteSax]

Sam is one my real heroes. His greatness is so undeniable. I don't think anyone can beat him in the tone dept.

 

[mrpeebee]

or

and

or

Can both be played on sax too, as Arnett Cobb shows below (but less sad) :mrgreen::

or

 

[dkoehler]

Anything in D minor, the saddest of all keys. :mrgreen:

 

[maddenma]

"I Remember Clifford"

You beat me to it. Perhaps the saddest one I know of.

 

[tinpalaceroach]

I also like Billie Holiday's interpretations of Strange Fruit and Don't Explain and Billy Strayhorn composition Bloodcount as a song of impending doom.

 

[TonyM]

"St. James Infirmary"

I would agree, JL, but this Danny Barker version is more complex than simple sad, but then again, Danny Barker usually is.

 

[jaysne]

What's New

Lush Life

 

[jaysne]

You beat me to it. Perhaps the saddest one I know of.

+1

 

[belliott]

Whatever tune you choose, try for this emotion.

 

[jaysne]

belliott--you beat me to it. I was just about to post the same thing!

Old Folks is the tune.

Ben @ 4:08.

The story is that the guys had just learned that Johnny Hodges had died.

 

[Phil1]

Alabama-Coltrane.