The (not quite) ultimate guide to R & B saxophone players, part 1

[Pete Thomas]

This is a project I've been meaning to do for ages. It's not in any way meant to be an exhaustive study, but I do intend to include as many players as possible, with soundclips. A kind of "starter pack" for anyone interested in the genre.

The first dozen or so are up there now:

http://tamingthesaxophone.com/blues-saxophone.html

Please feel free to comment, criticise, make suggestions

(Neil Sharpe take note: Lionel Torrence will be there)

[RS]

This stuff is red meat for me. Keep it going.

[TonyM]

This is terrific. Thank you very much indeed. The comments/biogs are great, just enough. But most of all the coverage is the thing and you do that well.

[daigle65]

Very cool Pete!

[Tony5175]

Great stuff Pete! Thanks for posting!

[saxetc]

Don't forget Daddy G (Gene Barge with the Church Street Five ("Quarter to Three", Gary U.S. Bonds)

[Neil Sharpe]

Great clips and links. Many thanks, especially for including the great Lionel Prevost aka Lionel Torrence
http://www.saxontheweb.net/Rock_n_Ro...lPrevost1.html

[John Laughter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxAKFlpdcfc

[jasonm71]

Great page, Pete! I love finding out about great r&b sax players, and there were a couple on there that I'm not really familiar with. Thanks, and keep it coming.

[mrpeebee]

Great initiative and project Pete .

I missed Arnett Cobb and Jimmy Forrest, but saw them in your 'coming soon' list. Maybe it's a good idea to add Joe Thomas (your uncle ?) to that list, who was a big influence for Cobb and others and did some very rough pre R&B things in the late 40's, after he left the Jimmy Lunceford bigband. See this SOTW post for some example clips of Joe Thomas ('Tearing Hair' is a screamer):

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthr...=1#post1728523

That (long) thread contains lot's of great clips of players that are already in or could be in your list.

[Pete Thomas]

Yes, it's not even half complete yet. Joe Thomas will be there.

I'm not putting them on in any particular order, currently working on Paul Williams.

[Captain Beeflat]

Well done Pete.
To many of us, that is the saxophone at it's very best....in it's true element....where only the saxophone could express the mood.

[BOPITY FUNK]

Joe Thomas became a successful mortician/funeral parlour proprietor after quitting the pro music business.

[TonyM]

Well done Pete.
To many of us, that is the saxophone at it's very best....in it's true element....where only the saxophone could express the mood.

How many times do you think the vibraphone player thought that? "A drummer couldn't that, a pianist couldn't do that, just me!"

[saxpiece]

Great stuff.

I don't think I saw Junior Walker.

[Jacques5646]

Fantastic selection. Thanks and keep honking
J

[Pete Thomas]

Great stuff.

I don't think I saw Junior Walker.

Look again, he's on the list.

I've just added a few more: Joe Thomas, Arnett Cobb and the obligatory Chuck Rio.

[Metalflake]

I sure hope Lenny Pickett's going to be on that list...

[rleitch]

Great Job Pete!

Thanks for including that Lynn Hope track...one of my favs. I know you won't forget Julian Dash, but think about adding the great blues player Maurice Reedus too. Reedus is not anywhere near as well known your other greats, but I think his long collaboration with Robert Jr Lockwood makes him an original voice in R&B/Blues tenor sax history. Not sure if he was on your list, but Grady Gaines is pretty legendary on the more pop side of R&B?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQglY...eature=related

[Pete Thomas]

I sure hope Lenny Pickett's going to be on that list...

Sooner or later. For now I'm mostly concentrating on the earlier players, i.e. from the "golden age" of instrumental R & B which I think of as the late 40s - 50s.

At some point of course there will be a debate to define R & B.