Tallest Alto player?

I think it was Dean "Stretch" McGilhacuddy.The lanky 7 footer played lead in Buonapart Dupree's "Oklahomans" back in the dust bowl. He played an early model Evanston Ambassador with a custom hard rubber mouthpiece of his own design. He had the beek elongated to accomodate his huge mandibular over bite. Of course he used a modified bari. reed. They recorded a couple of sides for Lint records. I think the hit was "Poor ol' Mule". Check Amazon for the reissue.

I'd love to see a picture of "Stretch" I couldn't find any if on google.

Actually Dex was 6'5". Coltrane was only around 5'10" about average height for his era. Cannonball looks to me to be a little shorter than Trane in photos.

Honestly I can't think of one alto player that gets close to Dex's big frame.

What's interesting is that Americans on average are getting shorter and not taller. Average height for a man is 5'8" now and it's not due to the ethnicity of some of the commonly shorter people.

I play alto on occasion, but I'm a tenor man and I'm 6'2".

First guy I thought of was Med Flory, leader of the group "Supersax" back in the '70s. Even though he is also an actor (in the original "Nutty Professor" with Jerry Lewis, Flory was the big football-playing bully that stuffed Professor Klump onto a shelf in the classroom), there aren't and good photos on a quick Google search.

fred hemke is pretty tall, when i met him he was i think bit shorter than me, and i'm 6'8" and play alto (and tenor). i think hemke is at least 6'6".

Stretch first, after that Chris Holliday and Mike S.

Doesn't Dirk Nowitzki play alto?

Hemke's definitely a tall guy. 6'4-6. I remember having to look up to him, in more ways than one.

Lemme know where Stretch is at. He owes me money.

Certainly not Hollyday.

John Tchicai?

When I play a curvy soprano, I look like a giant playing alto.

Keep this up and we're going to get the 'naked bari guy' again.:shock:

turtle said:

Certainly not Hollyday.

John Tchicai?

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I thought he was tall.Maybe I'm thinking of someone else.

sideC said:

Lemme know where Stretch is at. He owes me money.

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We've never had a transaction, how can I owe you money?

Isn't Gary Bartz a rather tall guy. Kareem Abdul Jabbar plays sax but I think it's tenor, mostly. His autobiography was entitled "Giant Steps."

Stretch said:

We've never had a transaction, how can I owe you money?

Isn't Gary Bartz a rather tall guy. Kareem Abdul Jabbar plays sax but I think it's tenor, mostly. His autobiography was entitled "Giant Steps."

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No, not you Stretch. The other Stretch.

Naw, Bartz is a pretty compact built type guy.

I happen to know that, on good authority. The Jolly Green Giant played alto, and at 7' 8 1/2", is the tallest sax player ever. Also, it's a little known fact, that's where KennyG got his style. Kenny didn't want to lug a bari around so he switched to the petite soprano. Jolly was said to be quite the ladies man too.

Isn't Jim Horn about 7 feet tall?

It must have looked funny when he played the piccolo in "Tears of a Clown!"

Tallest soprano player must have been Maynard. See attached photo -

http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php...5&page=7&alpha=g&sortfield=artist