Your Top 5 Sax Players?

Yes, I saw Mr. Sanborn about a month and a half ago at Jazz Alley in Seattle and he did a good set, more uptempo than I would have imagined. And while his style and sound has grown on me over the years, I will still never put him in the same boat with Coltrane, Getz or Rollins.

Eddinanm3, I don't disagree with you. There is no question that Sanborn is not the kind of great artist that Coltrane, Getz, or Rollins (and many others) are. An artist he is, however; and as far as my strict interpretation of your original query (for better or for worse), there is also no question that he has been a major influence (IMO, more so than even Getz). I have already explained the reasons that I think that is so). Unfortunately, he is also a reflection of the state of music today. You can disagree with my interpretation of your original query, but not with my explanation of it. Let me put it this way: for better or for worse (and personally, I believe it's for the worse), I don't think a single day goes by that I don't hear a saxophonist on the radio or on television that does not clearly owe his/her style to Sanborn.

Is Sanborn's artistry on the same level, in absolute terms, as Getz's "Focus", or the Bill Evans sessions? Of course not. That wasn't my point.

Best.

John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Pharoah Sanders, Ornette Coleman, and Archie Shepp. I have to say that J.C. really does it for me, spiritually. Especially, the later quartet period of 1965. IMHO, no one else can compare! I mean the guy use to practice for 8 hrs. a day religiously, also meditating for long periods of his day. He got to the point that he didn't even need to blow through the SAX to practice, he just used the key pads. Talk about becoming ONE with your instrument!