Happy birthday to Ernie Watts, 81 today — quite possibly the most-heard saxophonist most listeners have never named. If you have ever watched late-night television, heard a Marvin Gaye record, or caught the Night Court… Read More »Ernie Watts – First Call
Don Byas was the bridge between two eras of jazz — and after he crossed it, he left America standing on the far side. Born Carlos Wesley Byas in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on October 21, 1912,… Read More »Don Byas – The Tenor Who Chose Europe
In 1961, a Chicago tenor saxophonist recorded a two-minute single that became the first jazz record ever certified gold — over two million copies, a pop album sitting at #2 behind only Elvis Presley. Then… Read More »Eddie Harris – The Hit He Refused to Play
Meet Marqueal Jordan, a Chicago-based saxophonist, vocalist, composer and producer whose music blends contemporary jazz with soul, R&B, funk and hip-hop. Known to many listeners through his longtime work with Brian Culbertson, Jordan has built… Read More »Marqueal Jordan’s Time is Now
Sonny Rollins, the tenor saxophonist universally known as the “Saxophone Colossus,” died on Monday, May 25, 2026, at his home in Woodstock, New York. He was 95 years old. His death was confirmed by his… Read More »Sonny Rollins, the “Saxophone Colossus,” Dies at 95: Jazz Loses Its Last Great Improviser
Michael Brecker (Mar 29, 1949 – Jan 13, 2007) is widely considered the most influential tenor saxophonist of the post-Coltrane era. A staggering virtuoso, Brecker won 15 Grammy Awards and completely revolutionized the technical vocabulary… Read More »Michael Brecker: The Most Influential Tenor Saxophonist Since Coltrane
Ben Webster (Mar 27, 1909 – Sep 20, 1973), affectionately known as “The Brute,” is universally recognized as one of the three most important tenor saxophonists of the swing era (alongside Coleman Hawkins and Lester… Read More »Ben Webster: The Brute with the Beautiful Sound
Born on March 27, 1963, Dave Koz is a towering figure in the world of smooth and contemporary jazz. Playing the soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones, Koz has built a massive, multi-decade career featuring numerous… Read More »Dave Koz: The Platinum-Selling Ambassador of Smooth Jazz
Tia Fuller, born March 27, 1976, is a Grammy-nominated alto saxophonist, composer, and educator whose career defies boundaries. While jazz purists know her for her fierce, blistering bebop chops and acclaimed albums like Diamond Cut,… Read More »Tia Fuller: The Alto Powerhouse Behind Beyoncé and Pixar’s ‘Soul’
Born on March 27, 1991, Braxton Cook is one of the most exciting voices in contemporary music. A Juilliard-trained alto saxophonist, vocalist, and producer, Cook seamlessly blurs the lines between modern jazz, indie soul, and… Read More »Braxton Cook: The Modern Voice Blending Jazz, R&B, and Soul
