The Best Jazz Saxophone Musicians on YouTube
There’s no shortage of great jazz saxophone musicians on YouTube. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best, including Kenny G, David Sanborn, and John Coltrane.
Kenny G
One of the most popular and successful jazz saxophonists of all time, Kenny G has enjoyed a successful career that has spanned over three decades. With a smooth, mellow sound, Kenny G is a master of the saxophone, and his recordings have topped the charts around the world. A versatile musician, Kenny G has also dabbled in pop, R&B, and even Latin music, proving that he is a true musical talent. On YouTube, you can find a number of great performances by Kenny G, as well as some behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
Dave Koz
Dave Koz is an American smooth jazz saxophonist. He has released numerous albums and won nine Grammy Awards. Koz was born in Encino, California, to Jewish parents, and attended William Howard Taft High School. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in mass communications in 1986.
Koz began his career in the 1980s as a member of Bobby Caldwell’s band. He also toured with Barry Manilow in 1988 and 1989. In 1990, Koz formed the Dave Koz Band and released his self-titled debut album, which charted on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and included the hit single “You Make Me Smile.”
Koz has released twenty albums, including nine solo albums and eleven collaborative albums. His ninth solo album, “The Game of Life,” was released on September 25, 2018. Koz has also collaborated with such artists as Herb Alpert, Johnny Mathis, Brian McKnight, Kenny Loggins, Natalie Cole, Jeffrey Osborne, Deborah Cox, Steve Tyrell, Michael McDonald, Carly Simon, David Benoit, Ringo Starr and many others.
Gerald Albright
Gerald Albright is an American jazz saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Albright’s saxophone style is rooted in the R&B genre, but he has also incorporated funk, smooth jazz, pop, and rock elements into his music. He has released more than 20 studio albums and has been nominated for five Grammy Awards. Gerald Albright is one of the most popular and respected jazz saxophonists of our time. His online presence is strong, with over 35 thousand subscribers to his YouTube channel where he frequently posts videos of live performances, original compositions, and educational videos.
Boney James
Boney James is an American saxophonist, songwriter, and producer. He has charted eight times on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. His album Sweet Thing was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2009.
Born James Oppenheim in Lowell, Massachusetts, United States, his mother nicknamed him “Boney” because he was a skinny baby. His main musical influence while growing up was his father’s record collection which included music by Benny Goodman, Stan Getz and Cannonball Adderley. By his teenage years he had begun to develop an interest in rock music, particularly after seeing The Police perform live.
Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum is a familiar name to fans of smooth jazz and contemporary gospel music. He has released 13 solo albums, earning himself a Grammy Award along the way. His latest album, Human Nature, was released in 2008.
Whalum is originally from Memphis, Tennessee. He began playing the saxophone when he was just 8 years old. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Arkansas on a music scholarship. From there, he went on to tour with Whitney Houston and Barbara Streisand.
In the early 1990s, Whalum broke into the contemporary jazz scene with his albums The Gospel According to Jazz and The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter II. Since then, he has continued to produce music that combines his love of jazz and gospel. He has also been featured on numerous albums by other artists, including Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross and George Benson.
If you’re looking for some smooth jazz saxophone tunes, Kirk Whalum is a great place to start. You can find a few of his performances on YouTube:
-Kirk Whalum – The Wave (Live)
-Kirk Whalum – Oh Holy Night (Live)
-Kirk Whalum & Bob James – God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You (Live)