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Whatever happened to sax?

My personal opinion of the saxophone is that like it is like cologne/perfume. When there is too much of it, everyone notices, and it's unpleasant for most of them... a little usually goes a long way and it's really a right place/right time kind of application.

Give me more vibraphones/xylophones/glockenspiels, though. Give me ALL OF THOSE.
 
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Came here to share Moon Hooch and Leo P, glad to see there's some more fans out there!

Marcus King was getting popular before touring all but ended; his arrangements heavily feature sax and trumpet. In fact a lot of bands that are on the "festival circuit" tend to feature at least one horn (or EWI player).
 
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One of my favorite contemporary uses of the saxaphone, or at least in the last 30 years, was that of Dana Colley from Morphine.

I have to agree. What a phenomenal band. I've been to many live shows over the decades and seeing them 22 years ago was still one of the most captivating experiences I've ever been a part of.
 
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Yeah, but this happened first...
1BB39E66-E6EA-4F1B-8E80-F3559EFC9FA0.jpeg

Granted, “rock and roll” was born of post war jump blues, with sax as the lead voice, but as more hillbilly cats got involved there was a shift. Plus, you had this guy....
4A96DC12-92EA-457E-A3A8-9C072939AB7E.jpeg
 
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Considering that some of my favorite musicians are saxophonists, I’m not really following you here…. Check out Mark Turner and Chris Potter. They are just a few fine examples of what Tenor Players are up to these days. Chris’s work with bassist Dave Holland is amazing!!!
And let's not leave out Kamasi Washington!
 
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I always hated stupid sax solo out of nowhere ... the sax is only there for solo.

While I don't quite share your level of vitriol against the out-of-the-blue sax solo in pop/rock music, it does make me realize that the art of rock'n'roll saxophone -- where the instrument is not just there for solos but is an integrated part of the ensemble, playing throughout most of the tune -- is definitely a dying art.

Is there anyone in the 21st Century playing sax parts like Bobby Keyes played with The Rolling Stones, or Clarence Clemons played with The E Street Band? (other than the kid who replaced Clemons) Much as I love Keyes' solo on "Brown Sugar" I think I'm far more enamored of his tenor playing during the verses and choruses of that tune...so tightly integrated with the rhythm section, a very effective bridge between melody, harmony, and groove.
 
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Back in the mid '70s (or there abouts) I remember seeing a sax player play two saxes at the same time, but I can't remember the name of the band.

Probably Ian Dury and the Blockheads - sax(s) by Dave Payne

Davey Payne - Wikipedia

at 2:14 here


"See and raise," saith the great Rahsaan Roland Kirk:
View attachment 4177778

Never seen them, these guys were a local rock group.

Yoikes!!!
In between Kirk originating that feat(as far as I know, and keep in mind that he was blind)and Davey Payne continuing the tradition, there was Dick Heckstall-Smith...

He played with John Mayall and Jack Bruce as well. Also from that Supershow film...


IIRC, there was a moment in that where Kirk and DH-S jammed together, but I couldn’t find the clip. Kirk’s flute playing was a big influence on Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson.