Fine trumpet , alto sax recordings?

Please dont get me wrong,but you all should sometimes take a look at ’Jazz for Afc.’ thread...there is much more great music posted...


https://youtu.be/tyX47iT4mM8

https://youtu.be/B7R6dp74fR0

https://youtu.be/BsYafl7o98M

https://youtu.be/nO1qwUM8q4s

https://youtu.be/qJi03NqXfk8

https://youtu.be/hPMzVYmekfI

Maynard  Ferguson 

Here's a couple for Trumpet. Both are disciples of Miles,his influence is all over their style.
Nils Petter Molvear. Try Streamer or Baboon Moon
Tomasz Stanko.  Try From the Green Hill 

Jeremy Pelt

All great suggestions on this thread... someone mentioned Chet Baker, and I would second that for trumpet, particularly “Chet Baker in Paris”. For alto sax, you might want to check out Art Pepper, particularly “Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section” ... both great players that bridge between the smooth and the straight ahead...

Music,Moonlight and Memories by the Jackie Gleason Orchestra is Bachelor or cocktail jazz  which features probably the sweetest sounding,mellow trumpet played by ex hard bopper Bobby Hackett you can imagine. Hackett wrote most of Gleason's material.

For saxophone give Boney James a try.

For smooth, agree with David Sanborn, would also check out early Spyro Gyra... a good place to start are the albums “Catching the Sun” or “Carnaval”. Would also try “Wizard Island” by the Jeff Lorber Fusion, or “Breezin” by George Benson.

in the straight ahead vein, I would suggest “Covered” by the Robert Glasper Trio, anything by Billy Taylor, “Time Out” by the Dave Brubeck quartet, “Ballads” by John Coltrane, or “The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery.

not all of these are strictly trumpet or saxophone records, but all are melodic, relaxed, and accessible.

I just bought a cd by Kenny Dorham called Quiet Kenny. Very nice mellow trumpet similar to Chet Baker.

This cna be pretty confusion to choose from   trumpet and alto sax.

This is basically the trumpet key. Generally speaking, trumpet comes in two types that is two category of keys one is Bb and second is C.

The Bb is a standard key that you will find in almost all the trumpet sold in the market. The Bb key is the modern trumpet key which gives a range of versatility in tone, music, volume, and sound. Overall, you can explore all the genres of music with this key.

A student trumpet is always a Bb trumpet as it is used for everyday practice for honing the skill and for playing different genres. We also recommend you to buy a Bb student trumpet.

On the other hand, a C trumpet is the less common form. This one you will find in professional bands. A C trumpet is a costly affair so on the student level, it is advised to stay away from it. Nevertheless, when you advance in your skills you can buy a set of this one too.

https://disappearsmusic.com/best-student-trumpet-for-beginner/

Two somewhat lesser known recordings that come to mind.

Frank Morgan - Listen to the Dawn - beautifully recorded on Verve in early 90's - much of it duets with Kenny Burrell.

Helen Merrill - Brownie: A Tribute to Clifford Brown - also recorded in 90's on Verve. Helen Merrill singing with a stunning trumpet choir consisting of Roy Hargrove, Lew Soloff, Wallance Roney and Tom Harrel - a unique and beautiful sound and stupendous recording.

Mark Isham is as relaxed and mellow a trumpeter as I can imagine, but he is real jazz not smooth jazz, IMHO! He is not challenging jazz either, so anyone who thinks jazz has to run the "unsophisticated listener" out of the room to be good stay away!

I only have 2 of his albums though, Blue Sun and Afterglow. Afterglow is a soundtrack. He does a lot of soundtracks. He also played with Van Morrison during his spiritual, ethereal period.

I'd start with Blue Sun and if you like that explore further.

Rick Braun, trumpet.

Duanegoosen,
I have to agree with you since I should've mentioned Big Trouble "The Unknown" where Phillip does have excellent solos blended onto band.

You might give Clifford Brown a spin, Embraceable You for starters, considered by some to be the greatest trumpet player of all time - a life cut far too short at 25 in a car accident in 1956.

I now listen to Lounge Lizards "Voice of Chunk" on Verabra german vinyl.
Not only the recording and cut quality, but amazing "story" of John Lurie's saxophone during the whole album.

... i'll butt in on Marakanetz again...The music on Johnston's recordings usually wouldn't lead you to key in on one instrument... I kind of forgot that he primarily plays soprano sax, (often one of my least favorite woodwinds). In terms of putting things together he's up there w/ Wayne Horvitz and Mario Pavone. Pretty much all his stuff is well recorded. I really like the Big Trouble releases, (especially Flood At The Ant Farm).

Thanks Marakantz!! I will check out Philip Johnston in the next couple of days. Any specific albums that stand out above the others for music and sound quality?

One of the best soprano sax masters is IMHO Philip Johnston.

The problem with traditional "smooth jazz" (Kenny G and ilk), is they have a nice tone, but the music is artistically shallow. My favourite saxophone player with a beautiful mellow tone AND artistic depth is Paul Desmond. For beatifully mellow music on trumpet, you can't go wrong with Chet Baker.

Thanks for all of the great recommendations.
I forgot a fantastic trumpeter, local legend and an international star, named Sean Jones. He has many fantastic albums that can be found on Spotify. He used to play every week in club here in Pittsburgh. I saw him play there once , I remember thinking I am witnessing a real genius. I have never heard any intrument sound that good live. He has played with one of the Marsalis brothers for a year, plays in Carnegie Hall, with the Pittsburgh Sypmphony etc. He is the REAL deal!!
http://www.seanjonesmusic.com/
How about soprano sax players?

Not 'smooth jazz' but it sure is great evening listening - Andre Previn (P) and Thomas Stephens (T) "Play and American Song Book. DRG5222. Been around for a while so it might be OOP. One of my favorite late PM CD's (Along with Charlie Haden's recordings but there is no trumpet in any of them).

Try 'Musician' by Ernie Watts. Probably my all time smooth jazz alto sax album since it was released 25 years ago. The CD version was just released on Wounded Bird records. 'One Love' is one of my favorite instrumentals. The CD 'Sanctuary' is good, as well.

Rich

Kenny G's just pure lullybuys. I'd call his music 'rectangular' with no unordinary shapes.
Chris Botti's the best before getting laid. He's great trumpeter.
From the today's trumpeters I give my preference to Roy Hargrove -- the REAL JAZZ. Recently deceased Michael Brecker was a true genius of the saxophone.

"Finger Painting" features beautiful trumpet playing by Nicholas Payton.Beautiful music and excellent natural recording. Also has Mark Whitfield(guitar) and Christian McBride(acoustic bass).

Thank you Frogman for your detailed response. Much appreciated!
I own a bunch of Sandborn cd's, and there are a few tracks that I use as a reference cd.
I will look into your suggestions. I think I will start with the Paul Desmond and Clifford Brown cds.
I am very lucky to have seen a ton of live shows since 1980.(hundreds)
Just for a reference I have saw about 75 Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia Band shows. I even got too see Jerry and David Grisman on Broadway. John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins and the Icebreakers, to Ricky lee Jones and Joan Armatrading,Toots Thielemans and Chuck Mangione.etc... (Symphonies and Operas too) So I think I have a very good reference for live music. Of course I continue to see live music as much as possible.
I'm going to Damien Jurado tomorrow evening. (an awesome singer song-writer)

Thanks Yashu. It looks like I will be picking up a couple of Stan Getz cd's. I will also look into Sonny Rollins.
I bought Kind of Blue about 6 years ago and have listened to it many times, but not on the new system. I need to revisit this masterpiece for sure.

****So I looking for more smoothe jazz styles for now.****

Dave Sanborn: "Another Hand". He created the "smooth jazz" alto sound. One of his most interesting recordings.

Michael Franks: "Barefoot On The Beach". Typical relaxed, catchy Franks tunes featuring just about every leading "smooth jazz" saxophone player on the scene. Brecker, Sanborn, Mann, Snitzer...

**** I do enjoy more straight ahead Jazz, but want to try a couple of albums with a more relaxed feel.****

Cannonball Adderly "With Strings". Fantastic.
Paul Desmond "My Funny Valentine". Smoothest alto sound, ever.
Clifford Brown "With Strings". Incredibly beautiful trumpet ballad playing.
Miles Davis "Plays For Lovers". Great compilation from the master.

****Are Botti and Kenny a good place to start?****

Well, if you want music with some meat-on-the-bones, any of the above has far more than anything ever done by either Botti or Kenny.

****Is trumpet,alto sax, and symbols , the best instruments to test the highs of my Raal tweeter?****

ANY instrument is good to test highs of a tweeter. You just have to know what a real instrument sounds like. Go hear a live trumpet, sax, or drum kit somewhere in order to establish a meaningful reference (live show, college band/orchestra).

Enjoy!

Thanks Roxy! I will pick up this cd for sure. I like the way you put that, "revel in lovely timbres and a relaxed feel". That is exactly what I'm looking for.

A good place to start and finish - Miles Davis Kind of Blue.

For piano and magnificent haunting sax - Stan Getz and Kenny Barron People Time.

Sonny Rollins Road Shows #2.

If you want to revel in lovely timbres, and a relaxed feel, I recommend Stan Getz "The Lost Sessions".