The Saxophone History Podcast

In this episode I'll examine the life and times of Sigurd Raschèr, one of the first major soloists on the saxophone. I'll dive into his legacy in terms of the repertoire he generated, his advances to the altissimo register, and his general "school of playing," as well as some really interesting facts along the way. Sources and links at http://www.andrewdmeyer.com

In the second part of the Lester Young story I'll take you through the highs of commercial and critical success as well as the the lows of military service and alcoholism. Lester Young lived a hard life with a less than pleasant end but left a lasting musical legacy that is easily found in many players today.

In this first episode on Lester Young I'll look at Young's early life and career, including his work in territory bands and his role in the development of the Kansas City Sound. Also, his time with Fletcher Henderson and early recordings with Basie and lifelong friend Billie Holiday.

In this third and final episode on the life and times of Paul Desmond, I'll look at the explosion of fame for the Brubeck Quartet, largely because of Take Five, Life after Brubeck, and Desmond's final years.

In this episode I look at how Desmond methodically weaseled his way back into Brubeck's good graces, got scammed by a woman claiming to be very wealthy, got run out of Reno, and recorded his first sides as a leader. Also, I'll discuss the formation of the classic Brubeck Quartet and the early Colombia recordings.

In the first episode of this three part look at the life of Paul Desmond I'll dive into Paul's somewhat unusual upbringing, his struggles to fit in in the military, early career as a saxophonist, and his fraught relationship with Dave Brubeck. Desmond was such an interesting character and his early playing was quite different from the style we mostly associate with him. I think it's really interesting to dive deep into what made him into the alto icon that we know him as!

Meet Johnny Hodges, the influential saxophonist who topped Downbeat polls for a decade! Dive into his fascinating life, from hiring and firing John Coltrane to owning a pet monkey. Explore his unique sound, collaborations, and legacy within Duke Ellington's orchestra.

In this episode, we'll go through the true story of the classic Cannonball Adderley Quintet album, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at The Club. It's a quick but interesting story. Deception! Secrets! Cloak and Dagger! Enjoy!

Did you know that Joe Henderson anonymously recorded film music in the late 60’s to get around legal restrictions? Did you know that he quit a lucrative gig with Horace Silver onstage at the Jazz Workshop in San Francisco? How about his all-female band? In this episode we’ll take a very deep dive into the life and times of the Phantom — Joe Henderson. As always, sources and more information available at my website, http://www.andrewdmeyer.com

In this episode I'll be looking at the life and times of David Sanborn. He's a player that we all know but I'll go deep into the sides of Sanborn that many people might not yet know about.