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Famous Saxophone Players
Saxophonists have been an integral part of the American jazz scene, with the timbres of their chosen instrument often at the center of layered compositions. Coleman Hawkins was the first American jazz saxophonist to become famous during the 1920s-30s. Jimmy Dorsey and Johnny Hodges also had major success with big bands during jazz's heyday as a popular music juggernaut, while Lester Young popularized the West Coast, cool style. Later, soprano and tenor saxophonist John Coltrane created pioneering works that ranged from "sheets of sound" bebop to unbound, rhythmically complex free jazz. And Branford Marsalis has taken his sax to great heights in non-jazz arenas; he's toured with rock artist Sting and served as musical director for The Tonight Show.
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See all Famous Saxophone Players (22)
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John Coltrane
- In these groups:
- Sober Celebs
- Famous Jazz Musicians
- Famous Libras
John Coltrane
Songwriter, Saxophonist / 1926 - 1967
John Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer, and is an iconic figure of 20th century jazz.
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Cannonball Adderley
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- Famous Virgoans
- Famous Saxophone Players
- Famous People Born in 1928
Cannonball Adderley
Saxophonist / 1928 - 1975
Jazz musician Cannonball Adderley played the alto saxophone with his own band and with Miles Davis in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
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Charlie Parker
- In these groups:
- African-American Expats
- African-American Biopics
- Famous Jazz Musicians
Charlie Parker
Songwriter, Saxophonist / 1920 - 1955
Charlie Parker was a legendary Grammy Award–winning jazz saxophonist who with Dizzy Gillespie invented the musical style called bop or bebop.
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Jimmy Dorsey
- In these groups:
- Famous Irish-Americans
- Famous Pisceans
- Famous Saxophone Players
Jimmy Dorsey
Saxophonist / 1904 - 1957
Jimmy Dorsey was known for playing the clarinet and alto saxophone in the Dorsey Brothers, which performed with all the big names in big band and swing music.
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Coleman Hawkins
- In these groups:
- Famous Jazz Musicians
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Saxophone Players
Coleman Hawkins
Saxophonist / 1904 - 1969
Coleman Hawkins was an influential tenor saxophone player and one of the first prominent jazz musicians to be known for the instrument.
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Lester Young
- In these groups:
- Famous Jazz Musicians
- Famous Virgoans
- Famous Saxophone Players
Lester Young
Saxophonist / 1909 - 1959
Lester Young was a saxophonist who introduced an approach to improvisation that provided much of the basis for modern jazz solo conception.
profile name: John Coltrane profile occupation: Songwriter, Saxophonist
profile id: 9433413
profile name: Charlie Parker profile occupation: Songwriter, Saxophonist
profile id: 9542033
profile name: Jimmy Dorsey profile occupation: Saxophonist
profile id: 9176317
profile name: Cannonball Adderley profile occupation: Saxophonist
profile id: 9331743
profile name: Coleman Hawkins profile occupation: Saxophonist
profile id: 9539541
profile name: Lester Young profile occupation: Saxophonist
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