Top 5 Saxophonists from the Classic Jazz Era

The saxophone is one of the most iconic and widely played instruments used in the world of jazz. The sax has always captivated the hearts of its listeners, both as an ensemble instrument and a solo instrument. Tune into any big band music station in USA and you will find the melodic notes of a sax interweaved within a song’s main tune. In this blog, we take a look at some of the most influential saxophonists from the golden era of jazz.

Charlie Parker

Without a doubt, one of the greatest saxophonists to ever live was Charlie Parker, also known as “The Bird” by his legions of fans. He had remarkable technique and was a king of improvisation on not just the saxophone, but a lot of other musical instruments too. He is considered to be one of the most prominent figures in the development of ‘Bebop’ style of music. Parker started playing the alto sax when he was only eleven, but unfortunately fell prey to narcotics addiction at the age of 15. He died at the very young age of 34, but even six decades later, he remains one of the most important jazz saxophonists. Parker’s musical genius lied in his ability to fluently combine melodic tunes with harmonic creativity that continue to influence musicians till date. There were many who tried to imitate Charlie Parker’s style in their playing technique, but it is impossible to match the ingenuity of The Bird’s skill.

Coleman Hawkins

One of the first prominent saxophonists in jazz history, Coleman Hawkins was responsible for putting the spotlight on the tenor saxophone as a viable solo instrument. He began his career playing in Fletcher Henderson's band. In 1939, he formed a nine-piece big band and recorded the album that made him a household name, “Body And Soul”. His extended solo that fluently improvises around the song’s main melody became a game-changer for future sax musicians. In 1944, he held a recording session with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, considered by many to be the first bebop session on record. Hawkins’ warm, breathy sound was instrumental in bringing the saxophone to the forefront.

Lester Young

Trained in playing the trumpet, tenor sax, violin, and drums, Lester Young was one of the most influential sax players in jazz history. He rose to fame playing with Fletcher Henderson and Count Basie during the swing era of the 1930s. He was known for his smooth, tender style of playing the sax. His tunes had a mellow, lighter, and intimate sound than what was being played at that time of big band music. Young was a huge inspiration for many future tenor players, such as Stan Getz, Al Cohn, and Zoot Sims.

Sidney Bechet

Sidney Bechet started out in the world of jazz as a clarinetist. Playing since the age of six, he had already earned himself a reputable name by the time he was 17 in the New Orleans jazz community with his clarinet playing skills. During his early 20s, he discovered the soprano saxophone and earned worldwide acclaim playing the sax. Born in 1897, Bechet was one of the first significant saxophonists in jazz history. His recordings had a unique style thanks to his distinctive reedy soprano blowing that was emphasized by a heavy vibrato and emotional intensity.

John Coltrane

One of the most influential jazz saxophonists after Charlie Parker, John Coltrane was equally skilled in playing both the tenor sax and the soprano sax. He rose to fame playing with Miles Davis’ group, while also enjoying a successful solo career. His album “A Love Supreme” is considered to be one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. Coltrane started with bebop and hard bop musical styles, then later graduated to spiritual jazz and avant-garde jazz. He was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 2007.

Conclusion

The saxophone is creating magic for a few decades now. Just switch on any big band music station in USA and your ears will be treated to some beautiful sax melodies from the classical era of jazz.