The Best Alto Sax Jazz Solo Sheet Music
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Looking for the best alto sax jazz solo sheet music? We’ve got you covered! Check out our top picks and find the perfect piece for your next performance.
Best Alto Sax Jazz Solo Sheet Music
You can never go wrong with some good ol’ jazz solo sheet music for your alto sax. Here are some of our top picks that are sure to get your groove on.
“Take the ‘A’ Train” by Duke Ellington
This solo transcription is of one of the most popular jazz standards of all time, “Take the ‘A’ Train” by Duke Ellington. The melody is played by the alto saxophonist throughout the piece, with some solos improvised by other members of the band. This arrangement is perfect for intermediate to advanced level jazz musicians.
“Mood Indigo” by Duke Ellington
This timeless piece was composed by Duke Ellington in 1930 and has been recorded by many artists over the years, including Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and Ella Fitzgerald. “Mood Indigo” is a classic example of Ellington’s distinctive style of writing for saxophone. The solo part is relatively easy to play, making it a great choice for beginner and intermediate alto saxophonists.
“Satin Doll” by Duke Ellington
As one of the most influential figures in jazz history, Duke Ellington’s music continues to be popular among musicians and fans alike. “Satin Doll” is one of his most well-known compositions, and this solo alto saxophone arrangement by Jerry Bergonzi is a great way to get started playing this jazz standard.
Best Contemporary Alto Sax Jazz Solos
If you’re looking for some great alto sax jazz solo sheet music, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll share some of our favorite contemporary alto sax solos. We’ll also provide a brief overview of each solo so you can find the one that’s right for you.
“So What” by Miles Davis
“So What” is a jazz composition by Miles Davis first recorded on the 1959 album Kind of Blue. It is harmonically static, consisting of only two chords, D♭ and G♭ for the entire sixteen bars. The piece features modal jazz, as it uses the Dorian mode.
One of Davis’ most popular compositions, “So What” has become a jazz standard and has been performed by many artists including John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Jaco Pastorius and Wes Montgomery. The tune’s fame rests largely on its opening solo by Miles Davis, which has been described as “one of the most memorable in all of jazz.”
“All Blues” by Miles Davis
“All Blues” is a jazz composition by Miles Davis first appearing on the 1959 album Kind of Blue. It is written in the key of C minor. The changes in this twelve-bar blues are “abstract”, albeit derived from the 3rd and 7th scale degrees (G and D) of the key. The melody is mostly confined between these two notes as well. “All Blues” features a stop-time intro, in which the horns hit single chord notes on the downbeat while the rhythm section plays sustained two-note Drone bass figurations.
“Flamenco Sketches” by Miles Davis
One of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, Miles Davis recorded “Flamenco Sketches” as part of his legendary 1959 album Kind of Blue. Featuring Davis on alto saxophone with a band that included pianist Bill Evans and bassist Paul Chambers, “Flamenco Sketches” is a beautifully atmospheric piece that showcases the musician’s masterful ability to evoke a wide range of emotions.