Best SAX Solos

[Jimbodiddley]

I'd also cast a vote for "Baker Street".

It was interesting watching these "reaction" videos that some younger YouTubers do. People who grew up listening to hip hop and contemporary pop music, I assume, exploring classic rock songs. There's one couple who make great videos, and it was interesting seeing their reactions to the sax solos in "Baker Street" and "The Logical Song" by Supertramp. They lose their minds! And it got me thinking, they probably didn't hear sax solos, or any kind of horn solos, in the music they were weaned on. When was the last Top 40 hit to feature a sax solo? Has there been one in the past 20 years?

 

[spud3]

Several already mentioned Wayne Shorter's work on "Aja" but I really love the solo on "Deacon Blues"


And I'll toss out Chris Wood's ethereal masterwork on "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys", especially that mind-blowing final note...

 

[Assen]

I'm a horn guy, been playing off and on for 50 yrs, still suck. I do, however, know what makes a good horn player. As I think about this aspect, I'm after the folks who aren't featured artists, but are part of a bigger band that wants a killer horn player. Clarence Clemmons, of course. Also, Jeff Coffin of DMB and Bela Fleck is just an amazing player. I offer up as evidence:

I'd reckon 80s soft porn soundtracks; the sax solo was kind of the norm those days. So I've been told by a friend

 

[tm1303]

Biggest Star - The Elected

 

[skypilot]

I'm a horn guy, been playing off and on for 50 yrs, still suck. I do, however, know what makes a good horn player. As I think about this aspect, I'm after the folks who aren't featured artists, but are part of a bigger band that wants a killer horn player. Clarence Clemmons, of course. Also, Jeff Coffin of DMB and Bela Fleck is just an amazing player. I offer up as evidence:

Listen to wha

 

[Kindness046]

 

[tigertail]

 

[skypilot]

I'm a horn guy, been playing off and on for 50 yrs, still suck. I do, however, know what makes a good horn player. As I think about this aspect, I'm after the folks who aren't featured artists, but are part of a bigger band that wants a killer horn player. Clarence Clemmons, of course. Also, Jeff Coffin of DMB and Bela Fleck is just an amazing player. I offer up as evidence:

Listen to what the man said song. McCartney wings/ improvised one take solo/ Tom scott

 

[G Stone496]

I'm a horn guy, been playing off and on for 50 yrs, still suck. I do, however, know what makes a good horn player. As I think about this aspect, I'm after the folks who aren't featured artists, but are part of a bigger band that wants a killer horn player. Clarence Clemmons, of course. Also, Jeff Coffin of DMB and Bela Fleck is just an amazing player. I offer up as evidence:

Bobby Keyes recorded several good solos with The Rolling Stones.

 

[tommoh]

Best Rock sax solo? The Stooges - LA Blues

Best sax solo? Pharaoh Sanders -You’ve got to have freedom (live) you could heat an average sized house with it.

 

[tommoh]

And while not quite at the level of the great Pharoah, Shabaka Hutchings is flying the flag for the next generation. Catch him live as soon as you can, he’s mind blowing.

 

[Stringbanger]

Another nod to the late Michael Brecker, who at one time was considered one of the best saxophonists on the planet!

 

[bowman]

Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see any Motown listed. I’ll throw some early Miracles into the mix:
Shop Around.

 

[jam01add]

Kirk Pengilly didn't necessarily blow the baddest solos, but his playing always adds a great vibe to the songs, IMO.

 

[chaosman12]

Good jam with sax and guitar. Candy Dulfer on sax. Not sure who the guitar player is.

 

[billy logan]

Trad jazz category:
Patrick Bartley - I cued it up to 45 seconds where the sax solo starts; concomitantly I deprived you of the piano intro and the 1st trumpet solo:

Emmit Cohen on piano is as inventive supporting the soloists as he is when soloing himself. ime


btw - the closing credits reveal the identity of the masked drummer

 

[Dukex]

The amazing Bill Hollowman (with Danny Gatton) starts at 1:55.

 

[chaosman12]

The amazing Bill Hollowman (with Danny Gatton) starts at 1:55.

Yes, killer sax solo, but Gatton is insane!

Reminded me of Roy Buchanan (who also made an epic ACL appearance).

 

[spurcell]

That’s one of those questions like “what’s the best color in the world?” The Sax, like the Violin (or the Tele) can transport ya to places that can’t be reached any other way.

Ya’ll have already mentioned several of my favorites. (Baker Street, Take Five, Waiting For A Friend, Still Crazy). I’ll toss in “Girl From Ipanema”.

For that matter, just watching Tom Waits through the smoke (back when New York clubs were still full of smoke) watching his Sax player bring down the house, then chuckling into the mic before he sings the last chorus of “Ghosts of Saturday Night “.

Man, what an Axe!

 

[bobio]

Can't believe no one has shared this EPIC Sax solo