Best use of Saxophone in a prog song
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Top 10s and lists
Forum Description: List all your favourites here
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63602
Printed Date: August 21 2025 at 08:17
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Best use of Saxophone in a prog song
Posted By: soundscape
Subject: Best use of Saxophone in a prog song
Date Posted: December 15 2009 at 23:07
|
What are your favorite uses of saxophone in a progressive song? I would like to highlight the saxophone in an upcoming episode of Soundscape and there are so many good songs it is hard to narrow down. What is the best use of Theo Travis, Dick Parry, or even David Sanborn? One outstanding piece that I know belongs in the mix comes from King Crimson's 21st Century Schizoid Man...what others can you guys think of? Oh and my non-prog vote would have to go to Bluebird from Paul McCartney and Wings!! ------------- Listen to the best in Progressive Rock at www.thedividingline.com |
Replies:
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: December 15 2009 at 23:12
|
Hmm, the sax on Soft Machine's Third is pretty good. The sax in most VdGG songs is good as well.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: papaatto
Date Posted: December 15 2009 at 23:14
|
Certainly Shine On You Crazy Diamond and Goliath. I love the saxophone on Rain Dances and Mel Collins' work overall. Naked City as well. Amputechture has pretty great saxophone parts. Outside of prog, Your Latest Trick by Dire Straits.
|
Posted By: Evan
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 00:40
|
Tough, tough question. I consider sax to be my favourite instrument (well, on par with bass, but that's mostly because I play the latter). I'll go with Mel Collins on Camel's Rhayader Goes To Town. I'm pretty sure the version I'm thinking of is on one of their live DVDs. My honorable mentions: King Crimson (Mel Collins) - Starless [studio] King Crimson (Mel Collins) - Groon [live - Earthbound version] Gotta love Mel  |
Posted By: aprusso
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 01:38
|
VDGG - Lost
Osanna - Animale senza respiro
Pink Floyd - Shine on
King Crimson - Lizard pt. 3
|
Posted By: halabalushindigus
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 02:15
|
O.K. I'm thinking......Traffic's "Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys" Jim Capaldi is playing some sort of wind instrument and then he hits that off-note and holds it till it fades away. A pretty funky way to record that sax, all distorted, I like it, remember he is blowing one pitch, one note and holding it against the backdrop of the song. So how progressive is one pitch? Well if it's a pitch that doesn't belong there, then it becomes "Off-the-charts" and that IS progressive. And So His single-pitched note you can feel, jack. So thats my No. 1 ------------- assume the power 1586/14.3 |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 02:42
|
If it has to be a SONG, I would stick to Dick Parry (hard to say which is more beautiful: "Us and Them" or "Crazy Diamond") or else Mel Collins playing on Chris Squire's funky "Lucky Seven" (with BB on drums - mrrraw!)
If it doesn't have to be a song as such, I'd probably dig up GAZEUSE and look for my favourite Bloomdido moments there! 
|
Posted By: theBox
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 03:03
|
Shine on you Crazy diamond! For a guy who hates sax, that is saying a lot!
------------- |
Posted By: Pekka
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 03:16
|
My favourite sax moment in prog is probably David Jackson's solo in VdGG's Killer. Generally I really like pretty much all Jackson's and Mel Collins' contributions in their bands. ------------- http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=42652" rel="nofollow - It's on PA! 
|
Posted By: Kestrel
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 03:27
|
Birds and Buildings - Birds Flying into Buildings, Chakra Khan, Battalion King Crimson - Starless VDGG - The Sleepwalkers (especially the end of the instrumental section) VDGG - Scorched Earth (especially the end) Pink Floyd - Money Pink Floyd - Us and Them Uriah Heep - Salisbury |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 03:35
|
In all the songs mentioned the sax has been well used (as far as I know them), so I won't make up a long list here. However, I want to add two others: The Saxophone Song - Kate Bush (a nice little ditty)
What Love (Suite) - The Collectors (from about 13 to 15 minutes: the best of them all, should be canonical instead of overlooked!) ------------- 
|
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 07:13
| Ian Underwood does a fantastic job in "The Gumbo Variations" off Hot Rats. |
Posted By: LonesomeTwin
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 10:21
|
Not even slightly prog, but could I direct mostly non-UK peeps to Hazel O'Connor and Will You. Beautiful song for that late nite coffee moment,
------------- I always had a deep respect I mean that most sincere |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 11:21
|
Roxy's Andy Mackay on Song for Europe! Wow! ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 11:47
|
How about Nik Turner's sax chirping on early Hawkwind tracks. The guy couldn't play but he got some freaky effects out of his sax and flute. ------------- |
Posted By: Guitar1Jesse
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 11:57
The sax solo in my new song "Good Looking Heroes"  I usually think of Pink Floyd when I think of prog-sax (Us and Them, Gunner's Dream, etc) Bob Seger also has some nice sax music, although not considered progressive rock. ------------- Take a few minutes and listen to this! http://www.myspace.com/jlangmusic |
Posted By: Evolutionary Sleeper
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 13:30
|
Ulver's "Lost in Moments" has some of the most haunting sax work I have ever heard.
------------- 
|
Posted By: TGM: Orb
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 13:37
|
Van Der Graaf Generator. That is all. And Killer as a choice piece, I think. |
Posted By: The Runaway
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 14:33
|
Either 21st Century Schizoid Man or Killer by VdGG. The latter's abstract solo near the end just makes me want to put the volume to maximum and introduce the neighborhood to avant-garde art eclectic british progressive rock! ------------- http://www.formspring.me/Aragorn224" rel="nofollow - Trendsetter win! The search for nonexistent perfection. |
Posted By: Tarquin Underspoon
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 15:41
|
Us and Them, totally.
But the first thing to come to mind was a KC song nobody's mentioned yet....how about that initial sax swell on Ladies of the Road? ------------- "WAAAAAAOOOOOUGH! WAAAAAAAUUUUGGHHHH!! WAAAAAOOOO!!!" -The Great Gig in the Sky |
Posted By: Nakatira
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 15:50
|
I think Early King Crimson: 21ct schizoid man and Pictures of a city are awsome. and VDGG has got it going on, I also dig Social embarrasment by Gnidrolog. ------------- http://daccord-music.com/home.cfm |
Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 17:42
|
Starless ------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |
Posted By: soundscape
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 23:24
|
A few I have not seen mentioned yet: David Sanborn's excellent work on Pro's and Cons. I can't decide which track shows his talent best but I really feel Sanborn in For the First Time Today. Also Tangent's use of Theo Travis and David Jackson (again I am hard pressed to decide which song is best). What about Supertramp- The Logical Song, The Labyrinth soundtrack with the track Hallucination, Pipeline (Mel Collins) and Hawkeye (Richard Cottle) from Alan Parsons. Finally I can't leave out Branford who played with Sting and with The Grateful Dead (really nailing Dark Star- which is about as proggy as the Dead get). I am sure we could pitch Karl Denson, and Leroi Moore from The Dave Matthews Band. Too many good moments to count.
------------- Listen to the best in Progressive Rock at www.thedividingline.com |
Posted By: PurpleWolfhound
Date Posted: December 16 2009 at 23:32
| Kraan's Johannes Pappert makes a number of contributions on Kraan Live. What makes his sound noteworthy is his use of wah wah and other effects; the sax often sounds like a synth or other keyboard. |
Posted By: The Runaway
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 03:22
------------- http://www.formspring.me/Aragorn224" rel="nofollow - Trendsetter win! The search for nonexistent perfection. |
Nakatira wrote:Posted By: halabalushindigus
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 04:22
|
Hey Blowin Free; what happened to the Warrior? Please say something more about Gnidrolog. This thread needs a fighter and a conqueror fighting.......to be free and yeah I want to know more about Gnidrolog, first of all because of it's weird name. Where are they from? ------------- assume the power 1586/14.3 |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 04:24
|
Michael Brecker fired by Jaco Pastorius on Dry Cleaner From Des Moines (Joni Mitchell's Shadows & Light).
Really dig the faux Junior Walker soul sax on Babe Ruth's Wells Fargo - but if we allowed to mention Foreigner (briefly Ian McDonald's band post -KC), the real thing in the form of Junior Walker blowing a storm on Urgent. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: halabalushindigus
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 04:37
|
Not to stick my face around here, but I was thinking about that sax solo on "Urgent" but didn't know if I would be millified, you know, looked-down on the fact that I even enjoyed such a band as Foreigner Now that I'm here, how bout a mention to Clarence Clemons playing on "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out". Idon't know, really I just dig the sax ------------- assume the power 1586/14.3 |
Posted By: weetabix
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 06:01
| I have always been a fan of a band Cattapilla and they relied on Sax tastefuly on 2 of their LP's that I know of. They were on Vertigo records which had some excellent talent on that label, Jade Warrior, Osibisa, were others on Vertigo that used Sax also. Chris Wood and Traffics Dear Mr. Fantasy to me was borderline prog. Vertigo was a prog label.IMO |
Posted By: The Runaway
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 06:14
They were formed by twin brothers Colin and Stewart Goldring in Wales, and their name is an anagram of their last name plus another O. If you want more PM me, this is the wrong place. ------------- http://www.formspring.me/Aragorn224" rel="nofollow - Trendsetter win! The search for nonexistent perfection. |
Posted By: TheCaptain
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 22:30
|
"Two Blocks From the Edge" by Karmakanic jumps to mind. I'm sure I've heard better but I can't think of any right now. I think it would have to be something by Theo Travis though.
------------- Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal. |
Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 23:22
|
John Zorn is one of my favorite sax players and he hasn't been mentioned yet so I'll throw his name out there. Lot's of songs you could chose, I'll say "Contempt" since it's on right now. ------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |
Posted By: antonyus
Date Posted: December 18 2009 at 07:52
|
21ct schizoid man - kc
all songs from vdgg
|
Posted By: tamijo
Date Posted: December 18 2009 at 08:09
|
Mel does some great sax stuff on Richard Wright 1st. solo album. Wet dream if i remember ------------- Prog is whatevey you want it to be. So dont diss other peoples prog, and they wont diss yours |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: December 18 2009 at 08:59
I work on the principle that if I enjoy the music, then why care about the views of others especially those pundits who are know no better than us. And that Junior Walker solo on Urgent wails man!!!! For goodness sake I've put up with 25 years or more of contempt from those who labelled prog : 'as bollocks, total bollocks', and kept playing/listening to the music . ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 18 2009 at 12:14
|
Is Edgar Winter prog ? Well even if he isn't his sax work on Frankenstein is pretty cool. In fact the whole song is damn cool. Not just cool but damn cool! ------------- |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 18 2009 at 12:43
I really enjoyed Frankenstein as a kid although it's faded so much in memory that I don't remember any sax in it.
Even though Roxy is officially just prog related around here, he was the first to come to mind.
Yeah, the Shadows and Light Video was what got me into Joni.  ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
|
Posted By: soundscape
Date Posted: December 18 2009 at 12:50
|
Another sax player that has yet to be mentioned here ios Jeff Coffin of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Some of the work he has done with them such as his appeearance on "Left of Cool" and "Live at the Quick" are phenomenal. I think he has also played with Dave Matthews on the newest DMB album "Gru Grux" which honors Leroi Moore.
Theo Travis- I did not realize how prolific this guy had been. He does the first use of Sax in porcupine Tree on the Stupid Dream album with Don't Hate Me. He also shows up on the newest Umphrey's McGee album- Mantis, No-man on several occasions, continued work with The Tangent...and many other places you would not expect him. ------------- Listen to the best in Progressive Rock at www.thedividingline.com |
Posted By: zachfive
Date Posted: December 18 2009 at 19:21
| Didier Malherbe has yet to be mentioned. Odd, cause he was one the very first sax players that jumped in my mind.Shamal in particular has excellent sax. |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: December 18 2009 at 20:29
Gentle Giant have some brilliant saxophone, Roxy Music  great, Supertramp whith Halliwell is one genious sax player signature sax sound in the 70ts, but alos old Tramps on Indlible stamped - by Winthorpe |
Posted By: himtroy
Date Posted: December 18 2009 at 23:26
|
The sax on Soft Machine Third and Fourth, Elton Dean is a beast. Van Der Graaf Generator is pretty quality I've always liked the sax on Hatfield and the North's song "The Yes No Interlude"
|
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: December 18 2009 at 23:39
| Nirvana for Mice |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: December 19 2009 at 00:23
|
Most of what I immediately thought of has been mentioned. VDGG, Ulver, early KC.
I'll throw a vote out there for The Muffins. An excellent avant-rock/avant-prog band with dual saxophones at times. Can't really go wrong with any material, but I'll say the stuff on <185>, Open City (which contains many-a-<185> song), and Double Negative is probably the best. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: December 19 2009 at 03:09
|
Crap, all this thread has taught me is that Crimso ROCKS THE SAX. The shivery "Schizo?" Yep. The stately, sad "Starless?" Oh yeah. And let's not forget the manic soloing off "One More Red Nightmare," or the live version of "Schizo" off Earthbound. The latter might actually be my favorite sax soloing ever; it's so lazy and jazzy and perfectly counter-parting the Fripp solo. Also, kudos to those who mentioned the Volta ("Meccamputechture"), although no one's mentioned my favorite V der G song ("Sleepwalkers" anyone? Cabaret parts contrasting the heavier parts). Additional, I'm rather fond of the sax in the "Overseer Overture," but most people won't know what the hell I'm talking about... ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: December 19 2009 at 09:13
Mon ami, I mentioned him early on, when talking about GAZEUSE! |
Posted By: NecronCommander
Date Posted: December 19 2009 at 09:21
| I like maudlin of the Well's use of the sax on "They Aren't All Beautiful", as well as Kayo Dot's use of it on Choirs of the Eye. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 19 2009 at 14:15
|
Hi,
For the time that Hawkwind started and it's style of music that at one time was considered "psychedelic rock", it was for the most part fairly progressive, specially when Simon House was added ... Nik Turner is very good.
But of all the saxophone players, even though we refuse to put together a "prog-jazz" group, the person that needs to be here and deserves the best mention of all isJan Garbarek ... few people can touch his quality and abilities ... and if there ever is any doubt, catch him with Egberto Gismonti and Charlie Haden ... it's magical stuff ...
Unfortunately we are too much into labels to actually apreciate great music. ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: b4usleep
Date Posted: January 06 2010 at 14:52
|
Starless - King Crimson
------------- Really don't mind if you sit this one out. My words but a whisper, your deafness a shout. |
Posted By: UndercoverBoy
Date Posted: January 06 2010 at 21:12
|
Posted By: whydontyoueatcarrots
Date Posted: January 06 2010 at 21:17
|
Not specific song examples, but a couple that were left out that I really enjoy: Johannes Pappert from Kraan Tim Belbe and Hansi Fischer from Xhol Caravan |
Posted By: Thkasabrk
Date Posted: January 06 2010 at 23:36
| Listen to "A Live Record" by Camel....lots of great sax by Mel Collins! |
Posted By: Astrapto
Date Posted: January 07 2010 at 14:59
|
How about "Another Day" by Dream Theater? Not that it's a very progressive song. The guitar solo is awesome though. ------------- Jesus is real, God and man. GENERATION 41i: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and subtract 1 from the generation. Social experiment. |
Posted By: Tsevir Leirbag
Date Posted: January 07 2010 at 15:53
|
Les Poules' Les contes de l'amère loi ------------- Les mains, les pieds balancés Sur tant de mers, tant de planchers, Un marin mort, Il dormira - Paul Éluard |
Posted By: sealchan
Date Posted: January 07 2010 at 16:18
| This thread has made me realize that I have not given the saxophone due credit, because I find it hard to recall songs with the saxophone in it. However, I appreciate deeply the saxophone in Supertramp's sound. |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 07 2010 at 16:20
|
Not really prog but any old excuse to post a little light Roxy Music ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: Zebedee
Date Posted: January 07 2010 at 16:22
|
Roxy Music, one of those few bands with a permanent saxophonist (and highly underrated nowadays imo). I love Andy Mackay's solo in this lovely ballad: ------------- 
Friendship is like wetting your pants: everyone can see it, but only you can feel its warmth. |
Posted By: A Person
Date Posted: January 07 2010 at 16:35
|
I don't really have a favorite, but here is an honorable mention: |
Posted By: soundscape
Date Posted: January 07 2010 at 18:50
|
For those who are interested we did a podcast based on suggestions from this list. The show can be found here http://www.thedividingline.com/ss.html It was very difficult to make decisions throughout but hopefully you will find some joy in what is played. Woody ------------- Listen to the best in Progressive Rock at www.thedividingline.com |
Posted By: pfptmvandkc
Date Posted: January 29 2010 at 21:52
|
Us and Them - Pink Floyd and 21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson ------------- "There is no dark side of the moon.. It's all dark really" |
Posted By: b4usleep
Date Posted: January 30 2010 at 07:26
|
looks everyone overlooked Pink Floyd's "Gunner's Dream" short but beautiful sax solo
------------- Really don't mind if you sit this one out. My words but a whisper, your deafness a shout. |
Posted By: The Block
Date Posted: January 30 2010 at 07:43
|
I was listening to Hot Rats the other day and when I got to The Gumbo Variations, I was wowed. It is a whole song of mostly a sax solo, awesome. -------------  |
Posted By: Geizao
Date Posted: February 02 2010 at 13:19
|
David Jackson of course. So intensely in all of VdGG numbers!
 |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: February 02 2010 at 15:07
|
For me, "Dewey-Eyed, Then Dancing", the last track on Bill Bruford's Earthworks' A Part And Yet Apart. It's a climax to the whole album. Patrick Clahar is the name of the wonderful saxophone player. And further on, as mentioned before, "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Us And Them" from you know who. |