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Gospel Instruments => Gospel Horns => Topic started by: Jbroad572 on January 07, 2006, 04:21:35 PM

Title: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: Jbroad572 on January 07, 2006, 04:21:35 PM
I have just been turned onto Courtney Fadlin (www.courtneyfadlin.com) and really dig his soprano and alto tone. If you get a chance listen to CJ's Song, that's the sound I am striving for on my alto.
Title: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: SaxophonePraise on January 09, 2006, 04:50:19 PM
ah, Donald Hayes, He is sick. His tone is awesome, and his flow is very nice.  He playes on most if not all of John P Kee's Albums, He plays nicely on John P Kee's "The Color of Music" Album.  He is on 2 songs.  Very Good, Very Good.

As far as sax. players in secular jazz, Mike Phillips is by far the best and most underrated sax. player i have ever heard.  he is incredible.  I try to model after his style.
Title: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: Jbroad572 on January 09, 2006, 07:07:19 PM
Yea, I;ve checked out Donald Hayes's Quiet Times cd. I really dig "We Shall Behold Him". Going to work on that one soon enough. I don't really dig his tone too much, kind of nasaly? honky? Can't put my finger on it, but his skill and flow is awesome.
Outside of the Christian arena, I dig all the old time cats...
Dexter Gordon (love his tone for traditional)
Gene Ammons

More Modern:
Gerald Albright - Georgia on My Mind is absolutely crazy
Chris Potter - Amazing talent
Kirk Whalum - Casino Lights 99' DVD
Joshua Redman
Some of Warren Hill

The lists could go on and on.
I've never heard Mike Philips, I will have to check him out.

What's your sax setup?
Title: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: Jbroad572 on January 10, 2006, 01:09:07 AM
Quote from: SaxophonePraise

As far as sax. players in secular jazz, Mike Phillips is by far the best and most underrated sax. player i have ever heard.  he is incredible.  I try to model after his style.

Thanks for turning me onto him. I like his tone and sound a lot. That's what I'm shooting for as well...
Title: Larry McRae-A Monster
Post by: Steelpulz on January 10, 2006, 03:00:26 AM
I play with him every sunday. Here is a link to his product.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/mitchellmcrae1
Title: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: SaxophonePraise on January 10, 2006, 11:02:15 PM
Quote from: Jbroad572

What's your sax setup?


A Black Laquer Yamaha Custom 82Z, Dukoff6 metal mouthpiece, and Vandoren ZZ's....whats yours?

haha, Told you Mike Phillips was bad...His runs are crazy, His first CD is incredible, but his new CD has him doing some crazy runs on the first couple cuts... His Flow, Syle, Tone, is what im after.  I Like his urban yet soulful lushious sound, know what i mean?

I also like Coltrane and David Sanborn. Sanborn is sick.
Title: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: SaxophonePraise on January 10, 2006, 11:03:57 PM
Quote from: SaxophonePraise
Quote from: Jbroad572

What's your sax setup?


A Black Laquer Yamaha Custom 82Z Alto, Dukoff6 metal mouthpiece, and Vandoren ZZ's....whats yours?

Also, have a Soprano with a yanigasawa metal mouthpiece and Vandoren ZZ's

haha, Told you Mike Phillips was bad...His runs are crazy, His first CD is incredible, but his new CD has him doing some crazy runs on the first couple cuts... His Flow, Syle, Tone, is what im after.  I Like his urban yet soulful lushious sound, know what i mean?

I also like Coltrane and David Sanborn. Sanborn is sick.
Title: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: SaxophonePraise on January 10, 2006, 11:08:27 PM
Ah, My bad, Disregard the top 2 posts...I wish their was a way to delete your own messages but o well....Read this one opposed to the others.



A Black Laquer Yamaha Custom 82Z Alto, Dukoff6 metal mouthpiece, and Vandoren ZZ's....whats yours?

Also, have a Soprano with a yanigasawa metal mouthpiece and Vandoren ZZ's

haha, Told you Mike Phillips was bad...His runs are crazy, His first CD is incredible, but his new CD has him doing some crazy runs on the first couple cuts... His Flow, Syle, Tone, is what im after. I Like his urban yet soulful lushious sound, know what i mean?

I also like Coltrane and David Sanborn. Sanborn is sick.
Title: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: Jbroad572 on January 10, 2006, 11:14:09 PM
Quote from: SaxophonePraise
Quote from: SaxophonePraise
Quote from: Jbroad572

What's your sax setup?


A Black Laquer Yamaha Custom 82Z Alto, Dukoff6 metal mouthpiece, and Vandoren ZZ's....whats yours?

Also, have a Soprano with a yanigasawa metal mouthpiece and Vandoren ZZ's

haha, Told you Mike Phillips was bad...His runs are crazy, His first CD is incredible, but his new CD has him doing some crazy runs on the first couple cuts... His Flow, Syle, Tone, is what im after.  I Like his urban yet soulful lushious sound, know what i mean?

I also like Coltrane and David Sanborn. Sanborn is sick.


Tenor: Keilwerth "Shadow" SX90R , Tenney Custome Otto Link 7*, Rico Jazz Select's

Alto: P. Mauriat (new name, but really tight...comprable to the Ref 54 and Mark VI's). Still experimenting with reeds and mouthpiece. I just ordered a Meyer 7m, but have been playing on a Runyon Quantum, which is for sale because it's too bright and too open for right now.

Soprano: Antigua 586BC, SR Technologies Pro, Java 3

Sanborn gives me a headache, lol... too bright for me, but his skills are tight.

You know listening to Mike Phillips, I can hear some Gerald Albright in him. Did you hear his solo with Jill Scott? Sickening!
The tone I fell in love with is Courtney Fadlin's from his song... CJ's Cong
You can hear a clip of it here...
http://www.courtneyfadlin.com/realmedia/cjssong.ram
I'm trying to imitate that for the nice, slow, mellow songs, but when I get funky and more upbeat... the Gerald Albright, Mike Phillips is where it's at
Title: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: Jbroad572 on January 10, 2006, 11:18:44 PM
Got to add two last favorites and I'll stop..
Phil Woods
Branford Marsalis
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: stephenivey_1 on February 22, 2006, 03:23:27 PM
Man.....I gotta tell ya.......Kirk Whalum and Boney James, and David Sanchez are probably the top on my list.
Kirk Whalum - for his incredible tone and almost GOD like patience in the pocket. His never does too much, always just enough.
Boney James -  for his STYLE!!! My God....the creativity and sheer soul that this guy puts into the music is insane! Check out anything by him, it's awesome.
David Sanchez - Runz, Runz, and more RUNZ!!! He just never stops blazin those keys......Trust me....he's probably the best Hispanic sax player out right now.

P.S. - Oh.....and ONE more....I second that pick on Gerald Albright. Not only is he one of the greatest players out, right now, But he's my frat. brother! Shout out to my ICE COLD brothers of A-PHI-A!!!
God Bless....
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: jremon on February 23, 2006, 05:59:18 PM
There are a lot of gospel players out there that I like. My favorite is Donald Hayes. Great tone and awesome technique. I do like Angela Christie. She has a great style. Watch out for Jarrett Johnson. A young artist that plays with a lot of passion. In terms of secular artists, I would mention all of the names others have mentioned, but I would add Eric Marienthal. If  you have not heard him, then you are missing a great player. I could add many more, but I will stop here.
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: sonofpaul on February 24, 2006, 04:53:58 PM
I don't play sax..(guitarist,bassist,drummer)..but I love music..I saw Donald Hayes in L.A. in Nov. of 98..awesome.also like Kenny Garrett..yes David Sanchez is a monster..but to say that he is the best hispanic sax player is like me saying Dennis Chambers is the best black drummer...Dennis is one of the best drummers in the world..I feel the same about David...God bless...
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: ES7Mike on February 24, 2006, 11:00:06 PM
I like Bradford Marsalis's stlye and musicality when he plays classical saxophone. My brother who is a sax player also has one of his cd's and from the portion that I heard he was smooth. I've only heard Mike Phillips play once but that brotha is sick. He plays a whole lot of instruments other than the sax.
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: MODERN_DRUMMER on February 25, 2006, 01:24:09 AM
Got to add two last favorites and I'll stop..
Phil Woods
Branford Marsalis

yup!
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: b3wannab on March 28, 2006, 08:30:05 AM
Hasn't anyone ever heard of Dr. Vernard Johnson? When you think of "Gospel Saxophone" he is usually the first name that comes to mind.
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: baldeagle on March 31, 2006, 02:29:16 PM
Hasn't anyone ever heard of Dr. Vernard Johnson? When you think of "Gospel Saxophone" he is usually the first name that comes to mind.

A pioneer, yes. But a bit antiquated. He just didn't evolve musically with the times.
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: Jbroad572 on March 31, 2006, 02:31:33 PM
I've heard a few clips of Dr. Johnson, and can't really get into his tone.
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: ifiwereu on June 23, 2006, 11:51:38 PM
JBroad572, I feel you. Sounds like you're into the sax deeply...we need to talk...I've learned "We shall behold him" and it is well received at my church.

How come nobody has listed Richard Elliot. What a tone!! From what I understand, Richard Elliot did not attend Berklee or any of the great schools. He played in a high school band then it was on to Motown. He went overseas and playing alongside people like Natalie Cole when he was only 17. Richard can play one note and it's full pretty tone. A good cut to learn Richard's tone is "Some where over the rainbow" I've transcribed a few of Richard's tunes. I know this is a gospel forum but we can take a lot from these guys and apply it to our praise for God providing we do it intelligently.

Others I listen to include:
Boney James
Everette Harp (listen to his cut with Yolanda Adams called "Holy")
Gerald Albright
Kirk Whalum

and yes I do listen to Michael Brecker
Branford Marsalis
Coleman Hawkins
Ben Webster
Euge Groove (Euge has a tone similar to Richard Elliot)...they came from the same band.
Steve Cole
Dave Koz
David Sanborn
Most of these guys I've seen perform live.

Haven't heard John P Kee's sax player but I'll get to it.

Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: Jbroad572 on June 24, 2006, 01:32:25 AM
JBroad572, I feel you. Sounds like you're into the sax deeply...we need to talk...I've learned "We shall behold him" and it is well received at my church.

How come nobody has listed Richard Elliot. What a tone!! From what I understand, Richard Elliot did not attend Berklee or any of the great schools. He played in a high school band then it was on to Motown. He went overseas and playing alongside people like Natalie Cole when he was only 17. Richard can play one note and it's full pretty tone. A good cut to learn Richard's tone is "Some where over the rainbow" I've transcribed a few of Richard's tunes. I know this is a gospel forum but we can take a lot from these guys and apply it to our praise for God providing we do it intelligently.

Others I listen to include:
Boney James
Everette Harp (listen to his cut with Yolanda Adams called "Holy")
Gerald Albright
Kirk Whalum

and yes I do listen to Michael Brecker
Branford Marsalis
Coleman Hawkins
Ben Webster
Euge Groove (Euge has a tone similar to Richard Elliot)...they came from the same band.
Steve Cole
Dave Koz
David Sanborn
Most of these guys I've seen perform live.

Haven't heard John P Kee's sax player but I'll get to it.


Hey, I'm always up to talking sax... so feel free to hit me up.
I have to admit I can get tired of smooth jazz quickly, but Richard Elliot I really enjoy. I have not heard his "Somewhere over the Rainbow", yet anyways ;).
Right now, I've really been listening to a lot of Joshua Redman... I really love what he does and how he changes things up. You care for him at all?
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: ifiwereu on June 24, 2006, 08:02:19 AM
I saw Joshua Redman live in concert very recently. He remains true to his jazz tradition. Earlier on this week I heard somebody play a cut from him called "How come you don't call me any more". It's actually a song from back in the day penned by Prince, sung by Natalie Cole and Alicia Keys. It totally blew my mind especially at end some phrases that make u wonder. Redman's tone doesn't have much edge to it but he can blow. Most cats who are really good on the sax started out when they were very young.

But stilll the king of tenor sax today is Michael Brecker who spits out remants of John Coltrane. Brecker is trying to recover from a rare disease so his playing is recuperating.

Play for Jesus!
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: visionmike on July 12, 2006, 10:55:58 PM
I'm a gospel saxophonist. There are many sounds I like to incorporate in my playing, these saxophonist have inspired me the most from the beginning to now: Dr. V. Johnson,Grover Washington, Najee, Kirk Whalum, Candi Dulfer(sometimes I like to get Maceo-style funky with it)-this girl is sick, she has done some things with Prince. The biggest influence however is the Holy Spirit!  God1st4Life
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: keynote on July 24, 2006, 01:25:48 AM
Gospel saxophonists... hmmm...

I went to see Dr. Vernard Johnson live like 10 years ago (I was goin' to the 5th grade)... it was that concert that made me decide to play sax "so I could be just like Vernard Johson".... since then I hadn't really heard much of his stuff until my mom went to the C.O.G.I.C natonal convention in Memphis a couple years ago and got his two albums... I popped them in, and I must say... I could hardly stand to listen through the entire album!! I said to myself.... "What was I thinking ?!?!?!... You mean, THAT inspired me to play sax?!?!?!..." Now... don't get me wrong, Dr. Johnson is an awesome man of God with a great ministry and an amazing annointing, and I totally respect that. However, as far as playing goes, I find his tone thin and annoying, and his musicality lacking.

For me, I can listen to Donald Hayes all day!! I love the smoothness of his tone and style of playing - he stays in the  pocket... Great is Thy Faithfulness on the Quiet Times CD... simply amazing.

I also like Kirk Whalum and Mike Phillips... all of those cats are great. You can't leave out Charlie Parker and Cannonball Adderly for technicality and Paul Desmond for just sheer beautiful tone either.
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: Jbroad572 on July 24, 2006, 01:29:18 AM
I popped them in, and I must say... I could hardly stand to listen through the entire album!! I said to myself.... "What was I thinking ?!?!?!... You mean, THAT inspired me to play sax?!?!?!..." Now... don't get me wrong, Dr. Johnson is an awesome man of God with a great ministry and an amazing annointing, and I totally respect that. However, as far as playing goes, I find his tone thin and annoying, and his musicality lacking.



Brotha,
I thought I was the only one...  I have heard about him and listened to a few clips and he didn't do anything for me at all.

Does Donald Hayed have anything else besides the "Quiet Times". I've heard him on "We Fall Down", but thats about it.
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: ifiwereu on July 24, 2006, 04:10:28 PM
Has anyone heard Gerald Albright's version of "We fall down"?...oh so sweet.
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: jremon on July 24, 2006, 06:32:48 PM
Check out Donald Hayes' Reflections CD. It is GREAT!!!!!!
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: redtenorsax on August 10, 2006, 06:00:30 PM
Well He's not necissarily gospel, but he's one of the most poignant players around.  His name is Lenny Pickett.  He played tenor for the TV show Saturday Night Live.  This kat performed with all the top Rythm &Blues bands, and has composed some interesting classically inspired suites and ettudes just for sax chiors (with some wierd outlandish saxophones..outside of ur soprano to bari range).  He's performed w/ Tower of Power and Ray Charles.  But that Saturday Night Live closing song... the" Waltz in A minor":  Is a killer he hits every change, and then goes super altississississimo! on you.  Its serious.  His tone is phat too.
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: Jbroad572 on August 10, 2006, 06:05:41 PM
Well He's not necissarily gospel, but he's one of the most poignant players around.  His name is Lenny Pickett.  He played tenor for the TV show Saturday Night Live.  This kat performed with all the top Rythm &Blues bands, and has composed some interesting classically inspired suites and ettudes just for sax chiors (with some wierd outlandish saxophones..outside of ur soprano to bari range).  He's performed w/ Tower of Power and Ray Charles.  But that Saturday Night Live closing song... the" Waltz in A minor":  Is a killer he hits every change, and then goes super altississississimo! on you.  Its serious.  His tone is phat too.
Just downloaded the theme, I've heard it before but forgot how it went, but always remembered there was a bad sax player. He definitely knows how to wail!!!
Love it.
Title: Re: Any favorite gospel sax players?
Post by: Jbroad572 on August 10, 2006, 06:06:08 PM
And how he gets so high....  :o