Post Bop Alto Sax players

xSkarloey

I'm looking to get some CDs as a present for someone who's learning the alto sax.

I know my stuff up until the early 60s so I know what to get.

What I'd like now are pointers to post Bop and comtemporary players.

I don't want anything too heavy. The emphasis is firmly on melody, tunes and a fairly happy/ relaxed/ chilled vibe.

stickyfiddle

I want to say Springsteen's Born to Run but that's more Tenor than Alto. Still awesome though.

Megii

I've always liked Art Pepper's stuff.

Megii

Stan Getz of course. And Paul Desmond.

xSkarloey

@Megii

Art Pepper's later stuff (i.e. 70s) is very interesting. Good reminder. Thanks.

Anyone rcommend any Jan Garbarek? Where to start?

EricTheWeary

I was going to say Courtney Pine but his new album is soprano sax and I don't know what of his catalogue was on alto or tenor or soprano. He has quite a few tour dates in the next few months and is quite entertaining live, so maybe a pair of concert tickets rather than cd's.

xSkarloey

Totally lost touch with CP. Saw him a few times in the late 90s.

I think soprano might be his thing these days.

UnclePsychosis

I was going to recommend Jan Garbarek until I read the "alto" bit---he plays tenor and soprano mostly. 

One of my favourite "modern" jazz albums is Songbook by Kenny Garrett. Thankfully he is much, much better than the other Kenny G! Its very melodic, not heavy going at all. Highly recommended. This is the song that got me into that record:

UnclePsychosis

@skarloey for Garbarek I'm not an expert but I really like the stuff he did with Keith Jarrett on albums like Belonging and Personal Mountains. Its not for everyone though---very ECM---but worth checking out on youtube or spotify to see what you think. 

This is quite a cool track:

Fun one to try and work out time signatures

xSkarloey

@UnclePsychosis

Thanks very much for the Kenny Garrett tip. That is a lovely, lovely track so I'll add that to the Xmas list. 

Re. Garbarek, I just plucked that name out of thin air. I knew he played some upper register Sax or other, but it's soprano not alto as I thought. 

UnclePsychosis

No worries. I love that track a lot. Kenny Kirkland on piano absolutely kills it.

bigjon

I have a couple of David Sanborn albums from the 80s, quite enjoyed them although I have listened to them for ages! The little I've heard of Candy Dulfer, I've liked.

xSkarloey

@UnclePsychosis Well I listened to the Garrett track twice more late last night and the whole thing is great. I love the groove they keep going throughout, but that Alto solo is something else. Very 'Coltrane' in all the best ways. Thanks again! 

@bigjon Thanks for reminding me of Sanborn. He's another name I've heard of but I've heard good things about him, so I'll open up Spotify later to check him out too.  

Jalapeno

Most of the ones I'd have mentioned have been already - there's also Bill Evans (not the piano guy)

Phil_aka_Pip

Why do sax players not like playing soprano?



















There's no place to hide their drugs

UnclePsychosis

What about if they play one of these?

UnclePsychosis

@skarloey you are very welcome, I've listened to it myself several times now too. So good!! 

Phil_aka_Pip

worrabout Dick Heckstall-Smith, formerly of Colosseum? Or Mel Collins, formerly associated with Camel?

Loobs

He said post bop..

Loobs

Pure Desmond with Ed Bickert on guitar is a great LP.

Phil_aka_Pip

Loobs said:

He said post bop..

That is post bob, probably by a long way. Post means after, not necessarily immediately after.