Ballads Alto and Tenor

[StrtdTooLate]

Please recommend some goods ballads to listen to. Some for both tenor and alto.

Probably already almost have everything available that features Johnny Hodges.

Anyone know what Sax, MPC, & Lig he used?

[gary]

IMO some great ballad players are Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Barney Kessel, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, early Nancy Wilson, Ben Webster, Phil Woods, John Coltrane, Charlie Mariano, just to get started.

[StrtdTooLate]

Thanks for the information. Any particular songs?

[BlueNote]

Dexter Gordon's rendition of "Darn That Dream" is a good one to listen to. It's off his Ballads CD.

[socrates]

Dexter Gordon's rendition of "Darn That Dream" is a good one to listen to. It's off his Ballads CD.
My sax instructor also suggested me once to start from Dexter Gordon's ballads. Not only by listening, but imitating and rephrasing as well.

[Gandalfe]

There's a great little Hal Leonard (w/CD) play along called 'The Essential Jazz Standards' book. It's got Eb, Bb, and C parts. The three ballads I really like in the book are:

o When Sunny Gets Blue
o Stella by Starlight
o Easy Living
There are seven other great standards including Lullaby of Birdland, There will never be another you, and I Remember You. I think the book lists for ~$15 but I found it at half.com for $7 plus shipping.

[StrtdTooLate]

I am probably old fasioned and living the past even for a 53 year old, as I still like Johnny Hodge's tone better than aything else I've personally heard on alto playing slow songs, but that having said, listen to David Sanborn play "You Don't Know Me" on his Love Songs album.

[jrvinson45]

Tennesseesax,
Don't feel like the Lone Ranger (or even Clayton Moore), I'm pushing 60 now and I was starting to feel like all of the best sax players were a bunch of old dead guys... The reason I'm responding is because a friend just hooked me up with some CD's by Jessie Davis and I'm blown away. I'd guess this young man is in his early 40's, but looking at his album covers he appears to favor old Kings and possibly even an old Conn Chu Berry alto on one. Anyway, this is the perfect example of a contemporary artist with a wonderful sound (probably because of the old brass), and in spite of the fact that he evokes some Charlie Parker and Sonny Stitt images, his sound is so solid and pure. I can't believe this guy got past me for the last 20 years. Check out his album "High Standards" and you'll hear an alto sound that is second to no one! Smooth Ballads coupled with some of the cleanest sounding bop - ever! Who's been keeping this secret? Enjoy!
JRV :wink:

[StrtdTooLate]

Where did you get the CD's by Jessie Davis? Looked on Amazon but not listed there.

[jrvinson45]

Oooops. :oops: Sorry for the confusion. Actually he is on Amazon.com, but I misspelled his name... He's Jesse Davis, NOT Jessie Davis. I highly recommend the CD called High Standards (photo of an Eagle in flight on cover). Also, Jesse Davis the alto sax player may be confused with Jesse "Ed" Davis... so kinda watch the listings. High Standards is by the right guy, and most of his other albums have his photo on the front with his alto... CD Universe has a CD by Jesse called "The Setup" that I don't have, but has sound bytes/clips you can hear.

Once again, sorry for the confusion.
JRV

[gary]

I am probably old fasioned and living the past even for a 53 year old, as I still like Johnny Hodge's tone better than aything else I've personally heard on alto playing slow songs,...
If that's the case, you really should give a listen to Benny Carter's CD "Legends". It's some really elegant stuff.