Solo Saxophone Tunes

[Late]

I wanted to put a CDR together for the car of only solo saxophone pieces, and thought I'd ask here for recommendations. Soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, etc. — doesn't matter. I got the idea while listening to unaccompanied Lucky Thompson tracks in the car just the other day.

While I have Braxton's For Alto, and Evan Parker's Monoceros, I'm thinking along more traditional lines — anywhere from Coleman Hawkins' "Picasso" to solo tracks by Lee Konitz. So (though I do love outside tracks), for this CDR nothing too "out."

I'd like to hear your recommendations, of if you've compiled a similar CD. I know I'll put some Warne on the disc, some Rollins (probably "Manhattan") ... but what else?

Thanks!

[PHILLYQ]

On the Weather Report disc '8:30' Wayne Shorter does 'Thanks for the Memories' on solo tenor.

[king ubu]

You do know about Steve Lacy, don't you?

Some of his solo Monk would certainly fit your bill!

Also maybe Gianni Gebbia, from his "Arcana Major"?

[jeffcrom]

You do know about Steve Lacy, don't you?

Some of his solo Monk would certainly fit your bill!

Exactly what I was going to suggest. Maybe Only Monk or More Monk.

[jazztrain]

Eric Dolphy. Tenderly (on Far Cry).

I think he also has a solo bass clarinet version of "God Bless The Child."

You do know about Steve Lacy, don't you?

Some of his solo Monk would certainly fit your bill!

Exactly what I was going to suggest. Maybe Only Monk or More Monk.

[Rooster_Ties]

Steve Coleman has a solo album (I think it'd just come out when I heard Steve a few years ago in KC).

Invisible Paths: First Scattering (2007, Tzadik)

And speaking of M-BASE musicians, I really WISH Gary Thomas had a solo album, with contributions on both tenor and flute - I'm sure it'd float my boat.

Edited February 22, 2012 by Rooster_Ties

[Larry Kart]

Coleman Hawkins' "Picasso":

[Free For All]

This one is pretty cool, he plays solo in a cathedral with a major echo effect.

[Late]

Thanks for the recommendations so far! Keep 'em coming!

I didn't know that Steve Coleman had a solo disc. I'll probably purchase a track or two from Amazon (listening to the samples right now). Thanks for the heads-up.

Lacy — oh yeah. Somewhere around 50 CDs/Lps, I think. Strangely enough, his solo Monk work has attracted me the least. (Curses!) I love his own compositions so much more, though I understand they've been informed, if only obliquely at times, by Monk's aesthetic. Remains is an intense disc on hat; maybe my favorite solo Lacy disc. (There are so many!) I still haven't heard Ballets, and would like to.

Not familiar with Tommy Smith. Thanks for the heads-up there too.

I haven't played Arcana Major in a couple of years. Thanks for the reminder!

"Tenderly" is an excellent call. That'll go on the comp. This is exactly why I started the thread. Thanks guys. When I finally put it together, I'll post a tracklist. Ideally it'd have some kind of "narrative," but it doesn't have to.

[Late]

An aside — I once put "Picasso" on repeat to be able to sing along with/memorize it. That was a weird and somewhat hypnotic experience. I lost count around 23/24 repeats, and the song started to sound like one massive, never-ending soliloquy. The solo tracks that Hawkins laid down for the Selmer company are also great. (I'm going crazy waiting for the Hawkins Mosaic!)

[Joe]

"In Tribute to Harry Carney" from Hamiet Bluiett's BIRTHRIGHT =

[bichos]

going back to the beginnings:

gene sedric: "saxophone doodle" (may 1937) (the first solo saxophone ever?)

charlie parker: "honeysuckle rose into body and soul" (ca. may/nov. 1940) another first, bird´s first record!

coleman hawkins: "the man i love" (nov. 1955 - live!) (the third solo by hawk!)

keep boppin´

marcel

[.:.impossible]

Please tell me more about these Lucky Thompson solo recordings!!!

[Adam]

Sidney Bechet, "Blue Horizon"

[Late]

Please tell me more about these Lucky Thompson solo recordings!!!

It's just one track from his Candid session (Lord, Lord, Am I Ever Gonna Know?), but the whole date is exceptional, and if you're into Lucky, it's a must-have. The track, which splices a solo tenor improvisation between two solo soprano sections, is both easy to follow and worthy of repeated listenings. In fact, the first nine notes I've played over and over: a brief, almost unnoticeable "accident" is turned into a beautiful phrase. (It's not really an accident, per se, but Thompson's line trips a little, and then he makes good use of it.)

Re. the Bluiett — another disc in my collection that I haven't reached for in some time. (Right next to another India Navigation session, Arthur Blythe's Metamorphosis.) Thanks for the reminder.

Now I need to hear that Gene Sedric record! Where can I find it???

Edited February 23, 2012 by Late

[jeffcrom]

Sidney Bechet, "Blue Horizon"

That's a great recording - maybe my single favorite Bechet record, but it's not really what Late is looking for. There's no saxophone on it (Bechet plays clarinet on it) and it's a full band performance, not a solo.

Great record, though.

[Late]

On the topic, I thought this might be of some interest:

Solo Saxophone Flights by Bill Shoemaker.

===

(Note: In the first post, I said solo Lucky Thompson tracks. I should have used the singular: track.)

[Mark Stryker]

Sonny Rollins' first recorded a cappella performance is "It Could Happen to You" from "The Sound of Sonny" (Riverside, 1957)

Really exquisite playing, especially the introduction and second half of the first full chorus, although the whole thing is a remarkably sustained performance. Also, Dave Liebman has made at least two solo records -- "The Loneliness of a Long Distance Runner"(he overdubbs too) and "Distance Runner" (live concert)

Edited February 23, 2012 by Mark Stryker

[colinmce]

"In Tribute to Harry Carney" from Hamiet Bluiett's BIRTHRIGHT =

:tup

Something from Joe McPhee's As Serious As Your Life?

[.:.impossible]

WellI thought of McPhee's many solo recordings, but they are more out than I think Late is looking for.

I distinctly remember listening to that Lucky Thompson album with Shawn, Joe, and Jim in Dallas years ago. I believe there is a long monologue from Lucky on being a musician and the industry. Same record?

[MartyJazz]

Rollins did an unaccompanied version of "Body and Soul" back around '58:

Obviously, it excludes the "Big Brass" as well as rhythm section of the album title.

Edited February 23, 2012 by MartyJazz

[Late]

Well, I thought of McPhee's many solo recordings, but they are more out than I think Late is looking for.

I distinctly remember listening to that Lucky Thompson album with Shawn, Joe, and Jim in Dallas years ago. I believe there is a long monologue from Lucky on being a musician and the industry. Same record?

Yes, that's the record. I haven't listened to that monologue track in some time though (I burned a copy sans that track).

I do love McPhee, but for this particular project (you're right) I'm looking for shorter, more "inside" tracks. But maybe I better make an "out" compilation too! Of course, then I'd probably only get four or five tracks on the whole CDR.

I read somewhere a long time ago (Downbeat? Late 80's, early 90's?) about Branford Marsalis's affection for Rollins' first a capella track (which I also love). Branford thought it was very cool that Rollins would start recording from some distance away, and then walk up to the mike. I think Mr. Marsalis has even copied this practice in a track or two of his own.

[Pete C]

My absolute favorite solo Lacy (and my favorite solo sax album) is Clinkers, on Hat.

How about Trane's solo coda on on of the live recordings of I Want to Talk About You--just edit out all that stuff up front with that damn rhythm section.

[A Lark Ascending]

...or Sonny Rollins coda to 'To a Wild Rose' on 'The Cutting Edge'.

Edited February 23, 2012 by A Lark Ascending

[bichos]

and here you can see coleman hawkins solo: the first four minutes are alone! it´s called "dali" or "blowing for sax". it´s from 1962, so this is hawkins´ fourth sax-solo (to my knowledge):

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1c3z_coleman-hawkins_music

keep boppin´

marcel