The Greatest Sax Solo
So which of these twelve featured sax solos is the greatest of all? Vote below to promote your favorite. You'll find videos of all the tracks listed in the body of the lens so that you can listen to them again. Just click on the name of the saxophonist in this list and it will jump you down the lens to the right section - they are all hyperlinked. To return to this voting list, click on your browser's back button.
Of course if there are any great sax solosI have missed, there is an opportunity at the bottom of the lens to add any of your own favourites.
More Top Sax Solos
There were too many great sax solos for one page - so I added some more! Listen to ten of the best sax solos from the 1970s. And don't forget to leave your feedback!
Share the poll with your friends by clicking on the Share button ↗
And here's one of those I missed. Sting sings the classic Police song Roxanne with a stunning soprano sax solo/accompaniment by Branford Marsalis. Remember there are more like this on the main site so do visit! (I can't add Branford Marsalis to the main vote without zeroing the counters, sorry, but you can vote for it in the extras section towards the bottom of the page.)
Alto Reed - Turn the Page
(Alto Sax)
Candy Dulfer - Lily was Here
(Alto Sax)
I am often asked about scores for the tracks I have featured, well the good news is that the alto sax score is available for free online. It is a PDF so you will need Adobe Acrobat to read it but most people already have it installed.
Best of
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Since Lily was Here was originally on a soundtrack, a "best of" CD is probably the way to go and gets you more great sax tracks by Candy Dulfer.
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Chris White - Your Latest Trick
(Tenor Sax)
In 1991 Chris also released a solo album called Shadowdance, which is much mellower as shown in this eponymous track from the album with some my soulful tracks like Mr Fats.
Brothers in Arms (20th Anniversary Edition)
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Here is the 20th Anniversary edition of this classic album.
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Clarence Clemons - Jungleland
(Tenor Sax)
There's a video of a live performance on the main Greatest Sax Solos site that's unbelievable. The contrast between Clarence Clemon's performance (and that of all of the E Street Band) really is worth listening to. You'll be blown away I'm sure - just as I was when I first heard that live version of Jungleland.
Born to Run
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For many people, Born to Run is the definitive Springstein studio album - although personally I think I prefer Born in the USA.
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The Big Man has an autogiography out in October. It's available now on pre-order.
Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales
Amazon Price: $3.73 (as of 05/31/2012)![]()
Make sure you are one of the first to get this eagerly awaited book.
Lee Thompson - Night Boat to Cairo
(Tenor Sax)
One Step Beyond
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There are loads of Madness compilations but some can be hard to find. Unless you are a hardened fan, this should be a good starter.
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Phil Woods - Just the Way You Are
(Alto Sax)
Phil Woods has also worked with Steely Dan, including a memorable sax solo on Dr Wu. (The other famous Steely Dan sax solo is Deacon Blues featured on my collection of the top sax solos from the 1970s.)
The Stranger: 30th Anniversary [Legacy Edition] - 2 CD Set
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When The Stranger is such a great album, why buy a compilation? Here is the special 30th anniversary edition.
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Raphael Ravenscroft - Baker Street
(Alto Sax)
There are several sax solos on Pink Floyd tracks. I'm not a fan of Floyd, but Raphael Ravenscroft's sax solo on The Gunner's Dream (the Final Cut, 1983) is one of the better ones, and is clean of the electronic sounds I dislike on other Pink Floyd tracks.
Sadly, Gerry Rafferty himself passed on 4th January 2011.
One More Dream: Very Best of
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Gerry Rafferty fans will probably want to track down a copy of City to City but they can be hard to find so maybe a collection is a better bet for everybody else?
Richie Cannata - Scenes from an Italian Restauarant
(Soprano Sax)
There's also a great live version which I cannot embed due to YouTube restrictions. Listen here.
(I have trouble finding a version of this video which doesn't get removed from YouTube. I'm now trying other sites as well. If you find this one has been removed, could you please contact me so I know to update the link again. Thank you.)
The Stranger
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When The Stranger is such a great album, why buy a compilation?
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Richie Cannata - Some Additional Links
- Richie Cannata at Keith Valley - Part 1
- The highlight in this part is the sax work from Billy Joel's New York State of Mind.
- Richie Cannata at Keith Valley - Part 2
- Richie answers questions including how he got into music & jams with his band and the students
- Richie Cannata at Keith Valley - Part 3
- Skip the first 4m 50s unless you are interested in sax as backing to schoolchildren singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer ...
Sonny Rollins - Who By Fire
(Tenor Sax)
Steve Gregory - Careless Whisper
(Alto Sax)
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
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This is the George Michael compilaton I own - it does me just fine!
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Stu Matthewman - Smooth Operator
(Tenor Sax)
(I have trouble finding a version of this video which doesn't get removed from YouTube. I think this is now one which has official support.
Diamond Life
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If you would like to hear more from Diamond Life, here is the link.
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Wesley McGoogan - Will You
(Alto Sax)
More Great Sax Solo Resources
Reader's Favourite Sax Solos
wrote...
ANTHONY wrote... CARELESS WHISPER WITH ANY DOUBT, IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND FAMOUS SAX LINE OF THE PLANET, EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS SAX LINE IN ENTIRE WORLD. I CHECK THE OTHER SONGS, A...
May 23, 2012 @ 9:32 pm rss
wrote...
KLA wrote... My vote is for Junior Walker's smokin' solo in Foreigner's 1981 song "Urgent". HOTTT!!!
Mar 6, 2012 @ 9:53 am rss
wrote...
laces wrote... good gracious. Did anyone mention LeRoi Moore's soprano sax solos - Dave Matthews Ants go Marching is one of my favorites. But there are many, many Moore.
Feb 15, 2012 @ 11:33 am rss
wrote...
Marshall1969 wrote... where is the solo from Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Floyd?
Feb 1, 2012 @ 12:02 am rss
wrote...
Marshall1969 wrote... where is the solo from Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Floyd?
Feb 1, 2012 @ 12:02 am rss
wrote...
casquid wrote... Great lens, but where's David Sanborn? "Tin Tin Deo from The Closer" is not to be missed! I still can't be mad at you for this lens, it's Awesome!
Jan 30, 2012 @ 8:33 pm rss
wrote...
Edutopia wrote... Good list, good lens, a shame to see how the sax has fallen out of favor for mainstream music.
Jan 30, 2012 @ 7:19 pm rssGreatest Sax Solo
On this page you can see what other people are saying about their favourite sax solos. Agree or disagree, why not have your say too?If you are looking for the poll and the tracks then please visit the main page.
Small Change
Freeform Feedback
If there's more you want to say - for instance to rave about your favourite sax solo - here's your chance!
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ANTHONY
May 23, 2012 @ 9:32 pm | delete
- CARELESS WHISPER WITH ANY DOUBT, IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND FAMOUS SAX LINE OF THE PLANET, EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS SAX LINE IN ENTIRE WORLD. I CHECK THE OTHER SONGS, ANY ONE OF THEM CAN BE COMPARED WITH CARELESS WHISPER. JUST BEEING HONEST !
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WRB
Apr 14, 2012 @ 11:27 am | delete
- Don't leave out Al Stewart's Year of the Cat
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KLA
Mar 6, 2012 @ 9:53 am | delete
- My vote is for Junior Walker's smokin' solo in Foreigner's 1981 song "Urgent". HOTTT!!!
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Jonah
Mar 4, 2012 @ 6:20 pm | delete
- John Coltrane in "Giant Steps"
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laces
Feb 15, 2012 @ 11:33 am | delete
- good gracious. Did anyone mention LeRoi Moore's soprano sax solos - Dave Matthews Ants go Marching is one of my favorites. But there are many, many Moore.
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- Load More
What Great Sax Solos have I Missed?
If I have missed your favourite sax solo, then you can add it to the list below and still vote on it!
Tex Beneke - In the Mood
This Glen Miller track opens with a famous alto sa more...2 points
Bobby Keyes - Can't You Hear Me Knocking
Killer sax on this Stones classic0 points
More Great Sax Solos
There are even more great sax solos on my main site showcasing the Greatest Sax Solos. You may like to visit.
My Personal Favourite Sax Solo
My personal top two are Candy Dulfer (Lily was here) and Wesley McGoogan (Will You), but I'm really unable to choose between them! Lily was Here I love for the brilliant interplay between Dulfer and Stewart; Will You is top of my favourites because McCoogan brings more passion to that soloI think than any other saxophonist has managed.Other sax solos have very strong personal memories. I had to include Night Boat to Cairo and Baker Street in this lens because of those memories, but that isn't (quite) enough for me to put those two in top place.
Whether you agree with my favourites, or have your own, I hope you have enjoyed my selection. Amd remember, my Greatest Sax Solos site has even more sax solos for your to enjoy.
Top Music
Compilation of 10 Great Sax Solos
- David Sanbourn on the 1975 David Bowie track, "Young Americans"
- Raphael Ravenscroft on "Baker Street", the 1978 Gerry Rafferty classic
- Pete Christlieb playing on the 1977 "Deacon Blues" by Steel Dan
- Michael Brecker on "Still Crazy after all these Years" by the great Paul Simon (1975)
- Phil Woods playing the 1977 "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel
- Dick Parry plays the sax solo on the Pink Floyd track, "Money", from 1973
- Bobby Keys on the 1971 Rolling Stones track, "Brown Sugar"
- Andrew Mackay of Mott 'the Hopple' playing "All the Way from Memphis" in 1973
- Big Man Clarence Clemons playing on Sprinstein's "Jungeland" from 1975
- Ronnie Ross on Lou Reed's 1972 track "Walk on the Wild Side"
All of these are presented on my top rock sax solos of the 1970s lens where you can listen to all of these tracks.
Dangoist has found some great stills to accompany the video so if your favourite saxophonist is featured, then it's well worth viewing the video.
Mott the Hoople are the only band which had the legendary Queen as support
Listen to the Full Tracks
Cheesiest ... Funkiest ... Nuttiest Sax Solos/
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