Today's Tenors

[montg]

Other than Eric Alexander, I don't have anything from any of the tenor sax players who have come up in the last 10 years or so. There's a bunch of names that I've come across (a few I've also heard as sidemen):

Don Braden, Jimmy Greene, Jesse Davis, Mark Shim, J. D. Allen, J. Redman, James Carter, Javon Jackson, Chris Potter, Marcus Strickland, Tim Warfield (I'm sure I'm overlooking some)...

Where to start? Do any recordings/players stand out from the pack?

Edited February 17, 2004 by montg

[street singer]

I've got a few by David Sanchez that I enjoy... Don't listen to them very often, but when I do, I get into 'em.

[Dan Gould]

I recommend Braden's work on Criss Cross.

Chris Potter tends toward the more modern, while Jesse Davis is quite nice on his Concord CDs, but in a more retro fashion.

In the slightly older category, Ralph Moore is pretty nice, too.

[Dr. Rat]

I think Redman has been doing some great work of late. I really enjoyed Elastic and the group cd . . . name is escaping me . . . was very interesting as well, I thought.

I think of Potter as more at home on alto.

James Carter's latest has its moments. He is very, very dexterous. Occasionally I get glimmers of something bigger than sound and dexterity. Hopefully he'll get there for a more extended stay at some point.

--eric

[Jim Alfredson]

I think you're speaking of Yaya3, eric. Nice record.

Ron Blake, who appears on our CD, is a fantastic tenor man, just now starting to lead his own dates. He plays and records with Christian McBride's group but has a solo disc out now on the Mack Ave label.

I like Branford.

[Eric]

Mark Turner is very nice, not so "in your face"

Eric

[catesta]

  b3-er said:

Ron Blake, who appears on our CD, is a fantastic tenor man, just now starting to lead his own dates. He plays and records with Christian McBride's group but has a solo disc out now on the Mack Ave label.

Heard some of RB's stuff on the local station not too long ago.

Sounds real good.

[JSngry]

David Boykin is worth a listen.

[ghost of miles]

I dig the twin-tenor attack of that craaazeeee Texas group QUARTET OUT. B)

[JSngry]

Yeah, but we're OLD.

[Chuck Nessa]

From what I've heard, I will take Sangrey and Chuck Burdelik over all named so far.

[montg]

Thanks for the suggestions. lots to think about.

[connoisseur series500]

  clementine said:

In the (even) old(er), still great category: Joe Maneri, Fred Anderson, Von Freeman...

How about Charles Lloyd? He's still very much active.

[shawn·m]

I’m still deep in the grips of discovering Ellery Eskelin. It’s one of those rare fascinations that blocks everybody else out for a time. This also happened to me upon discovering (or in a couple cases, re-discovering) Mingus, Ornette and Quartet Out.

I’m told Ellery’s participating in a thread over at Jazz Corner, and I’d love to check it out, but… and you’ll love the irony… My second or third post at JC was a reply to someone who started a thread asking why AAJ was down for so long (during the Great Hack of ’03). I’m not sure if the thread even lasted 24 hours before being deleted without explanation. Haven’t been back since.

Damn!

[robviti]

of the tenor players you mentioned, i'd heartily recommend:

tim warfield - jazz is...

don braden - wish list

chris potter - movin' in, gratitude

jesse davis - high standards

jimmy green - introducing jimmy greene

and some you didn't mention:

walt weiskopf - man of many colors

craig handy - split second timing

david sanchez - travesia

ralph bowen - soul proprietor

[Jazzmoose]

  b3-er said:

Ron Blake, who appears on our CD, is a fantastic tenor man, just now starting to lead his own dates. He plays and records with Christian McBride's group but has a solo disc out now on the Mack Ave label.

He does some nice stuff on Mary Stallings Live at the Village Vanguard (Maxjazz) as well.

[JohnJ]

Being British, I would like to mention Tommy Smith. I would recommend both 'Standards' and the Ellington tribute 'Sounds of Love', very enjoyable although both are on the mellow side.