Classic Tenors

The saxophone is a relatively new instrument invented in the 1840’s by a Belgian instrument maker by the name of Adolphe Sax. The instrument emerged in the United States at the turn of 20th century and was popular in the large marching and concert bands of the period. The dance/jazz band musicians adopted the instrument in the early 1920’s. The saxophone represented everything that was new and different and became a symbol for American popular music in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Classic Tenors - Episode 1

It took jazz musicians to show us its potential, starting with the C melody sax and eventually the great tenor and alto players in the 1920’s. The tenor sax in the hands of Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Chu Berry, and Lester Young represent jazz at its best from this era. On this podcast I will play excerpts of Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, both originally from the Kansas City area.

Composition	Artist	Year
Body and Soul	Coleman Hawkins	1935
Sugar Foot Stomp	Coleman Hawkins and Fletcher Henderson	1925
Chelsea Bridge	Ben Webster and Duke Ellington	1941
Cottontail	Ben Webster and Duke Ellington	1940
Lafayette	Ben Webster with Bennie Moten	1932

Classic Tenors - Episode 2

On this continuation of the previous podcast I will examine the playing of two other great 1930’s era tenor saxophonists, Leon “Chu” Berry and the inimitable Lester Young. Both of these great tenor plays left a great legacy, but in hindsight it might be said that Lester Young left the largest footprint of these four classic tenor giants.

Composition	Artist	Year
Body and Soul	Chu Berry and His Little Jazz Ensemble	1938
Sittin' In	Chu Berry and His Little Jazz Ensemble	1938
Lester Leaps	Count Basie with Lester Young	1939
Jumpin' with Symphony Sid	Lester Young Sextet	1946