The Jazz Tenors October 26, 2005
Saxophone Adolf Sax ( ) –Perfects bass-clarinet design –~1850 invents saxophone –Uses saxophones to replace oboes, bassoons and French horns in military band –Classical composers start incorporating sax –Comes into its own in jazz swing era
Alto vs. Tenor Alto –Higher register –Lighter sound usually –Often a more direct tone and style Just Friends Charlie Parker
Alto vs. Tenor Tenor –Lower register –Bigger, huskier sound –Bluesy –More often uses “foo-foo” phrasing (subtone) –High notes sound more strained Just Friends Coleman Hawkins
Alto vs. Tenor Can you guess which is which and who is who? Flamenco Sketches (Miles Davis) John Coltrane Cannonball Adderly
Swing Era – 1930s Lester Young ( ) Lester Leaps In Polka Dots and Moonbeams
Swing Era – 1930s Coleman Hawkins ( ) Body and Soul
Swing/Bop Transition – 1940s Don Byas ( ) How High the Moon
BeBop and Hard Bop – s Dexter Gordon ( ) Cheese Cake (1962)
BeBop and Hard Bop – s Sonny Rollins (1929-) St. Thomas Far Out East
Hard Bop and Modal – s John Coltrane ( ) Equinox Impressions
Hard Bop and Modal – 1960s Wayne Shorter (1923-) Yes or No (1964)
Straight Ahead (all of the above) Chris Potter (1971-) The Source (for John Coltrane) Shiva
Straight Ahead (all of the above) Joe Lovano (1952-) Body and Soul