A couple of years ago, we posted a list of the most important tenor sax players. This time we’re going to narrow things down a bit, focusing on a top ten list of tenor sax solos that are not only historically important, but a joy to hum along with.
Obviously, you could spend an entire lifetime listening to just about everything by these artists, and this list is by no means complete. Also, you may notice that most of the solos are fairly short and concise, as I decided to leave out things like Paul Gonsalves’ marathon “Dimnuendo and Crescendo in Blue” or things by latter day John Coltrane, as no one is going to go around humming the entire “Pursuance”. Or at least not many. This is, what they say, is a lawyer buried 6 feet under ground-a good start.
Coleman Hawkins: “Body and Soul”-actually, the theme is never played, as the entire song is a solo based on the melody. Still the standard by which all others are measured.- Ben Webster: “Cottontail”-you could well argue that this song is the genesis of R&B, as Webster builds
his concise solo into a glorious climax with honking and then letting it waft away into glory. His solo career after Ellington also had him produce a sublime “Tenderly”.
- Stan Getz: “Early Autumn”& “Desafinado”-with Getz, you have his glorious mellifluous tone with
Woody Herman’s ‘Four Brothers’ sax section on the former, and his trend setting bossa nova work on the latter. - Lester Young: “Lady Be Good” and “Fine and Mellow”. Young’s first session included 4 songs that changed the course of the sound and style of the tenor with a light legato lilt, perfected on “Lady” while one of his last recordings from a TV
show is simply 8 bars of the most concise summary of the blues ever recorded. You could throw in “Lester Leaps In” as well, but we don’t want Young to dominate this list.
- John Coltrane: “Giant Steps”-this is still one of the testing grounds for aspiring
horn players, with even pianist Tommy Flanagan losing his place during ‘Trane taking bebop just about as far as it could go.
- Illinois Jacquet: “Flying Home”-The king of the Texas Tenors did a solo with Lionel Hampton
that has become an anthem for sax players. - Wardell Gray: “Twisted”-one of the first tenor players to bridge the gap between swing and bebop, with Annie Ross adding lyrics to the melody to make it a giant pop hit.
- Sonny Rollins: “Blue Seven”-so introspective and deep that even psychologists have written essays
about it, driving Rollins into solo retreat to figure out what he could possibly do next 
Dexter Gordon: “Cheese Cake”-From one of the ultimate “Hard Bop Tenor Albums” comes one of the ultimate “hard bop tenor solos”.- Oliver Nelson: “Stolen M oments”-Simple, full toned and full of passion. Easy to play the
notes, but not the feel. - BONUS- King Curtis: “Charlie Brown”-OK, so it’s not “jazz”, but Curtis started a “yackety sax” style with this and other songs with The Coasters that set the stage for subsequent guys like Dave Sanborn.