Who's the best saxophonist you've ever heard play live?

Michael Brecker was amazing when I heard him play his jazz set with Paul Simon tour in Cape Town, 1994. But you expected him to be outstanding and it was better than I had hoped for. My biggest surprise was hearing Eric Marienthal playing Big Phat Band compositions with the Roger Fox Big Band in Auckland in September 2009. I was expecting to hear a professional, experienced saxophonist - what I heard was so much more. His playing was both articulate, passionate and almost raw with a range that I couldn't quite believe for an alto sax...and moreover what a humble, personable musician. I heard him again in LA in 2020 for the album launch of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band The Gordian Knot, and again Marienthal was a show stopper particularly on their Tower of Power tribute track. Clearly if you want to hear how a saxophonist really plays, you’ve got to hear them live.

 

I thought Chris Potter was pretty spectacular.

 

I have seen Eric play live in numerous settings: his own Quartet; with Chick Corea's Elektric Band (many times over!); and with Jeff Lorber's band. He is an amazing player. But of course, "purists" dismiss him because he is associated with the contemporary smooth jazz scene (David Sanborn, David Koz school). But a helluva saxophonist!

 

Raphael Ravenscroft

 

Whoever the sax player was on Steely Dan's Two Against Nature tour.

.. I could look it up , I suppose



Edit :

Pfft ! .. figures - they had four different ones, so I will never know for sure who did the one amazing solo that was the best sax solo I have ever heard.

It was either Ari Ambrose, Bob Sheppard,
Chris Potter, or Cornelius Bumpus.

Edit #2 :

A bit more research and it was without question the late Cornelius Bumpus, whom I didn't even know had passed away, only months after I got to see him perform. Rest In Peace to a guy who played saxophone better than I've ever heard anyone play.

 

I heard Joe Henderson play bossa nova one year at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

 

Great question... I'll have to do some research and get back to you.

 

Ian Underwood

 

In the mood to mention the greatest I’ve ever seen live as I’m in a bit of mourning in not being able to see any of them live for the foreseeable future

top 10 in the order I view them

Evan Parker
Joe Maneri
Peter Brotzmann
Mats Gustafsson
Tony Malaby
Joe McPhee
Dave Rempis
Fred Anderson
Marty Ehrlich
Paul Dunmall



Many others great players including David S Ware, Tim Berne, Chris Potter, Rob Brown, Oliver Lake, Ingrid Laubrock, John Tchicai, Paul Flaherty, Charles Gayle, Louie Belegonis, Ivo Perelman, Archie Shepp, Ellery Eskelin, Tobias Delius, Ab Baars, Edward “Kidd” Jordan and others but the above group are on the highest level and to my ears among the greatest who ever lived.

All except the great David S Ware, Fred Anderson & Joe Maneri are still with us

 

Branford Marsalis
Wayne Shorter
Michael Brecker
Pharoah Sanders
Anthony Braxton
Fredrick Hemke - classical sax player. Playing Agusta Read Thomas' "Prisms of Light"
Roscoe Mitchell and Joseph Jarman - with the Art Ensemble of Chicago
Alexander von Hagke - young, but supremely gifted player with fusion band, Panzerballett
Jan Garbarek
Ornette Coleman
Steve Coleman - without question, one of the best current players, and he can compose!
Rudresh Mahanthappa - not saying he's among the best, but he sure is good.

 

Thinking back, I guess I haven't seen a lot of them. Paul McCandless, Andy Mackay, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Mel Collins, Jorja Chalmers, Kurt McGettrick, Albert Wing, Bobby Martin, Paul Carman.

I'd probably go with McCandless. Both he and Mackay's primary instrument over the years has been the oboe.

 

Sonny Rollins at Tanglewood!

 

Marius Neset. He was spectacular.

 

Maceo Parker in 2007 with Prince was pretty damn good

I'd say Mel Collins was a close second best in both 2018 & 2019 with King Crimson

 

Pharaoh Sanders in The Tripod, Dublin in 2008.

I came in slightly late and he was playing 'My Favourite Things' as I made my way to our table. Magical is an understatement

 

Steve Coleman at a tiny bar on Broadway in Sacramento, CA. Some time in the 90's. I remember at one point Jimmy Smith walked in and played a tune on the piano and then left. That was pretty cool!

 

Sonny Rollins
Joe Lovano
Michael Brecker
Bill Evans
Nappy Brock w/ Ed Palermo Big Band plays Zappa
John Gilmore w/ Sun Ra
Lou Donaldson