Born not long after the turn of the 20th Century, American jazz tenor saxophonist Ben Webster was an early pioneer who made is mark on some of the most important albums in history. In this article we look through 10 of the best… Benjamin Francis Webster was born in Kansas City, Missouri on March 27th …
If blues music laid the foundations for jazz as we know it today, it makes sense that those early saxophone players influenced those instrumentalists who came after. In this guide, we’ve picked 10 famous blues saxophone players that should be on every fans’ radar, along with some recommended blues albums to check out. 10. Wild …
Whilst there are without a doubt four main types of saxophones in this family of instruments, a handful of additional ones (both bigger and smaller) are seen more sparingly, including the fascinating sopranino saxophone we’ll talk about in this article… When it comes to saxophones everybody thinks of the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. But …
Whilst there are many general jazz education books out there, sometimes it pays to get more specific. So if you’re learning sax and focusing on playing jazz, there are some essential saxophone method books to check out… In this article we’ve selected some of the best for your attention! When it comes to ‘improvisation’ you …
Two of the most famous jazz musicians in history going head to head? That’s the prospect on this iconic recording “Duke Ellington & John Coltrane” which features in our list of best jazz albums of all time… On the face of it, this is most unusual album, and for a number of different reasons. It’s …
Some the very greatest jazz records were created in fortuitous circumstances and sometimes against the odds, and this is especially true of Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section, as we discover in this article about the 1957 release from the alto saxophone great. Everything seemed stacked against the session even taking place never mind producing music …
One of the most influential saxophonists to emerge from Lennie Tristano’s ‘cool school’ of improvisation, saxophonist Lee Konitz cuts a lonely figure in the history of jazz. In this article, we review his groundbreaking record “Motion” from 1961. So unique was his sound and phrasing, and so focused was his musical vision and philosophy that …
Whilst reviews and interviews have long been a part of the jazz world, podcasts are a newer phenomenon which allow a deeper level of insight into the musician’s story. Here at Jazzfuel we’re a big fan of these, both as listeners and as partners for press campaigns we’re working on. One which we recently featured …
At some point in your learning journey, the issue of saxophone transposition is likely to pop up. But whilst it might seem, at first, an unnecessary complication, there are plenty of reasons why it’s both a simple and important skill to master. Have you ever wondered why you have to play in a different key …
American saxophonist Albert Ayler remains in many respects as mysterious and as divisive a figure as any jazz musician throughout its history. In this article we trace his career through some of his iconic albums. For some, along with the likes of Pharoah Sanders and Ornette Coleman, he is one of the pioneers of a …