The Best Tenor Saxophone Jazz Music

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Looking for the best tenor saxophone jazz music? Look no further than this blog post, where we’ve compiled a list of ten essential tracks. From classics by John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins to more modern fare from Joshua Redman and Chris Potter, there’s something for everyone here. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the best tenor saxophone jazz music out there.

The Best Tenor Saxophone Jazz Music of All Time

While there are many great tenor saxophone players in the history of jazz, there are a few who stand out as the best of the best. Here is a list of the best tenor saxophone jazz musicians of all time.

1. Coleman Hawkins
2. Lester Young
3. Ben Webster
4. Stan Getz
5. Sonny Rollins
6. John Coltrane
7. Dexter Gordon
8. Joe Henderson
9. Willie Nelson
10. Ornette Coleman

The Best Tenor Saxophone Jazz Music of the 20th Century

The saxophone is a much-beloved instrument in the jazz world, and the tenor sax is especially revered. These are the best tenor saxophone players of the 20th century, as voted on by experts and fans alike.

1. Coleman Hawkins
2. Lester Young
3. Ben Webster
4. Sonny Rollins
5. Dexter Gordon
6. Stan Getz
7. Joe Henderson
8. John Coltrane
9. Wayne Shorter
10. Ornette Coleman

The Best Tenor Saxophone Jazz Music of the 21st Century

The 21st century has been a great time for music, and the tenor saxophone jazz music scene is no exception. From established greats like Sonny Rollins to newer talents like Kamasi Washington, there has never been a better time to be a fan of the genre.

In no particular order, here are ten of the best albums of tenor saxophone jazz music from the 21st century.

1. Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins Plus 4 (1956)
2. Miles Davis – Kind of Blue (1959)
3. John Coltrane – Blue Train (1957)
4. Dexter Gordon – Our Man in Paris (1963)
5. Coleman Hawkins – The Hawk Flies High (1957)
6. Ben Webster – Soulville (1957)
7. Stan Getz – Focus (1961)
8. Joe Henderson – Page One (1963)
9. Paul Desmond – Take Ten (1963)
10. Kamasi Washington – The Epic (2015)

The Best Tenor Saxophone Jazz Music of the 1950s

Tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims was one of the guiding lights of cool jazz in the 1950s. Born in Pennsylvania in 1925, Sims moved to Harlem at the age of 17 to play in the legendary jazz clubs on 52nd Street. He quickly developed a style that was distinctly his own, characterized by a deep, warm sound and impeccable phrasing. His playing was influential in shaping the sound of cool jazz, and he went on to record some of the genre’s most iconic albums.

Sims’ most famous recordings are probably his three albums for Prestige Records, which were all recorded in 1956. The first, “Zoot Sims and 4 Brothers,” features Sims playing with fellow tenor saxophonists Al Cohn, Stan Getz, and Serge Chaloff. It’s a classic album of 1950s cool jazz, featuring some of the era’s finest musicians at the top of their game.

The second Prestige album, “Zoot Sims Quintet,” features Sims leading a small group through a set of standards and bebop tunes. The playing is relaxed and swinging, and Sims’ solos are filled with beautiful melodies. This is one of my personal favorite albums by any artist from any era.

The third and final album from this productive period is “Zoot Sims Plays Gerry Mulligan Arrangements.” Gerry Mulligan was one of the leading figures in cool jazz, and his arrangements for this album are beautiful and inventive. The interplay between Sims and Mulligan is exciting to hear, and the overall tone of the album is just lovely. If you’re looking for a great introduction to Zoot Sims’ music, this is an excellent place to start.

The Best Tenor Saxophone Jazz Music of the 1960s

Tenor saxophonist John Coltrane was one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 1960s. His work with Miles Davis on the album Kind of Blue helped to shape the course of jazz music and he also released a number of highly acclaimed solo albums. Other notable tenor saxophonists from the 1960s include Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, and Joe Henderson.

The Best Tenor Saxophone Jazz Music of the 1970s

During the 1970s, the saxophone became an increasingly popular instrument in jazz music. This was due in part to the rise of jazz fusion, which saw the saxophone used in a variety of different styles. But it was also due to the increasing popularity of the tenor saxophone in particular.

The tenor saxophone is a larger and more powerful version of the standard saxophone, and it quickly became the instrument of choice for many jazz musicians. Its popularity was further boosted by the fact that it could be played with a wide range of different techniques, from smooth and mellow tones to more aggressive and “bluesy” sounds.

There are countless great tenor saxophone players from the 1970s, but here are ten of the best:

1. Wayne Shorter
2. David Sanborn
3. Coleman Hawkins
4. Dexter Gordon
5. Joe Henderson
6. Stan Getz
7. John Coltrane
8. Charlie Parker
9. Lester Young
10. Sonny Rollins

The Best Tenor Saxophone Jazz Music of the 1980s

If you are a fan of the tenor saxophone, then you will love the selections on this list. The 1980s was a great decade for the jazz genre, and many talented musicians released amazing albums. These are the best tenor saxophone jazz albums of the 1980s.

1. Kenny Garrett – Black Hope (Muse, 1980)
2. David S. Ware – Corridors & Parallels (Enja, 1981)
3. Arthur Blythe – Illusions (Columbia, 1981)
4. Branford Marsalis – Scenes in the City (Columbia, 1981)
5. George Coleman – Comin’ Home (Atlantic, 1982)
6. Dexter Gordon – Generation (Blue Note, 1983)
7. Johnny Griffin – New York Session Vols 1&2 (Uptown, 1983)
8. Joe Henderson – The State of the Tenor Vols 1&2 (Blue Note, 1985)
9. Stanley Turrentine – Nice ‘n’ Easy (Blue Note, 1986)
10. Houston Person – Reunion (HighNote, 1987)

The Best Tenor Saxophone Jazz Music of the 1990s

The 1990s were a great decade for jazz music, and the tenor saxophone was one of the most popular instruments. There were many great saxophone players during this time, but here are some of the best.

Dexter Gordon was one of the most influential saxophone players of the 20th century. He played with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Dizzy Gillespie. His style influenced many other saxophone players, and he was an important part of the bebop movement.

Sonny Rollins is another important figure in jazz history. He was a part of the bebop movement, but he also played hard bop and free jazz. He was known for his innovative style and his ability to improvise.

John Coltrane was one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of all time. He played with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, and he helped to pioneer the free jazz movement. His playing was characterized by its intensity and its spirituality.

These are just a few of the great saxophone players who made waves in the 1990s. If you’re a fan of jazz music, be sure to check out their work!

The Best Tenor Saxophone Jazz Music of the 2000s

The best tenor saxophone jazz music of the 2000s includes some amazing artists who have pushed the envelope of what this genre can be. Tenor saxophone jazz music has come to be known for its unique blend of 2 genres, making it its own distinct sound. While it can be difficult to pigeonhole any one artist into a specific genre, these artists have all contributed to the evolution of tenor saxophone jazz music over the past decade.

The Best Tenor Saxophone Jazz Music of Today

Tenor saxophone is one of the most popular instruments in jazz music today. If you’re looking for some great tenor saxophone jazz music to add to your collection, here are ten of the best options currently available.

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