Sure, you’ve all heard of the big names like Charlie Parker, Ornette Coleman, Phil Woods, Jackie McLean and Lee Konitz. Maybe you try to impress people people by saying you’re “into” Eric Dolphy, or maybe you’re brand new to jazz and just want to find some artists who can play the alto sax! This is the spot for you.
I’m assuming you have material by the above-mentioned 
artists, as well as albums that include work by Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, Art Pepper, Paul Desmond, Arthur Blythe and Kenny Garrett. If you don’t, start doing some work on Google.
Here are guys you aren’t going to hear about unless you spend a lot of time doing research and trial and error. So, we’ll cut off about 10 years of scrounging to give you a Cliff Notes list of “Alto Sax Players That Need To Be Re-discovered” . I’ll include a short note about them and let you figure out which rabbit trail to take.
Al Gallodoro-Probably no one has a more purely beautiful sound on the alto than this guy. He played on a ton of studio bands and was with Paul Whiteman for awhile, but go dig for his solo albums from about 15 years ago. They are golden treasures.- Earl Bostic-one of the greatest R&B alto players of all time. He sears on “ Harlem
Nocturne.” - Louis Jordan-also an R&B-styled player, as well as singer. Sonny Rollins said that
Jordan was his musical inspiration. Need any more convincing? 
Willie Smith-he was with Harry James, Jimmie Lunceford and Duke Ellington’s orchestras. He had a unique sound, almost like his horn was laughing. A treat on every tune he worked on.
Jimmy Dorsey-lots of people denigrate him, but Charlie Parker claimed that the player of “Amapola” was his all time favorite. He’s got a gloriously swinging sound.- Frank Morgan-he was a big name for awhile in LA during the 50s before getting
incarcerated. He got out in the 80s and released a ton of gloriously bopping albums. Sweetly swinging. - James Spaulding-he’s still around, and although he hasn’t done a ton of work on his own, his Blue Note sessions with the likes of Freddie
Hubbard, Larry Young, Wayne Shorter and others. He worked at times with the WSQ as well. Bitingly sharp and exciting - Lenny Hambro-here’s an obscure session guy from the 50s who sounds like Johnny Hodges going bebop. Fresh Sound Records just put out a 2 disc set that
is worth tracking down - Woody Herman-yes, THAT Woody Herman. He’s best known for his big band and
clarinet work, but his seldom played alto is a velvety delight - Hilton Jefferson, Eddie Barefield, Russel Procope-these three gents were part of major big bands by Cab Calloway, Fletcher Henderson and/or Duke Ellington. They soloed a little, but not
much (except for Procope) and they all have rich tones. - Hank Crawford-everyone knows about his major influence, David Sanborn, but they’ve forgotten
about the guy that started the “soul jazz” movement. His CTI sessions are de riguer. - Herb Geller-Part of the West Coast sound
of the 50s. He had a creamy sound, best known for his solos with Clifford Brown on some wonderful jam sessions. He has a few recent recordings that make modern artists sound pale and weak in comparison. - Charles McPherson-Charles Mingus’ alto player for some of his most memorable
work such as Let My Children Hear Music. He’s still bopping along merrily. - Dave Harris-Willie Schwartz-Harry Klee- these guys were one some amazing sessions in the 40s and 50s. Harry was in the studios for Raymond Scott and is best known for being on
“Powerhouse” which still shakes you up after all these years. Willie Schwartz is on a gob of studio works like Frank Sinatra, and Klee as well made some nice work with Nelson Riddle.
EXTRA BONUS:
Frankie Trumbauer-OK, technically he didn’t play the alto; he was essentially the only jazz artist to 
specialize on the C-melody sax. But, he made his name on a classic solo on “Singin’ The Blues” with Bix Beiderbecke, and was the guy that most influenced Lester Young. So, there you go!
Happy Hunting!