George Antheil
American avant-garde composer, pianist, author and inventor
David Sanborn was an acclaimed American alto saxophonist who blended jazz with pop and R&B, playing on albums for many famous artists. He won six Grammys and was known as one of the most commercially successful saxophonists since the 1980s, despite disliking the term ‘smooth jazz’.
Table of Contents
About the David Sanborn
David William Sanbornwas an American alto saxophonist. Sanborn worked in many musical genres; his solo recordings typically blended jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He began playing the saxophone at the age of 11 and released his first solo album, Taking Off, in 1975. He was active as a session musician, and played on numerous albums by artists including Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Sting, the Eagles, Rickie Lee Jones, James Brown, George Benson, Carly Simon, Elton John, Bryan Ferry and the Rolling Stones. He released more than 20 albums and won six Grammy awards.
Sanborn was one of the most commercially successful American saxophonists to earn prominence since the 1980s. He was described by critic Scott Yanow as “the most influential saxophonist on pop, R&B and crossover players of the past 20 years.” He became identified with radio-friendly smooth jazz, although he disliked the term and said he was not a jazz musician.
Frequently Asked Questions
David Sanborn worked in many musical genres, including jazz, instrumental pop, and R&B.
David Sanborn started playing the saxophone at the age of 11.
David Sanborn’s first solo album was called ,Taking Off,, which he released in 1975.
David Sanborn played on numerous albums by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Sting, the Eagles, and many others.
David Sanborn released more than 20 albums throughout his career.
David Sanborn won six Grammy awards during his career.
David Sanborn disliked the term ,smooth jazz, and said he was not a jazz musician.
5 Quotes by David Sanborn
- 1.
Instrumental music is increasingly marginalized and there’s just no outlet, there’s no venue for it, in terms of media.
David SanbornAmerican saxophonist
- 2.
You’re only as good as your last record.
David SanbornAmerican saxophonist
- 3.
Its all about finding the right note at the right place and knowing when to leave well enough alone. And that’s a lifelong quest.
David SanbornAmerican saxophonist
- 4.
When you have an acoustic bass in the ensemble it really changes the dynamic of the record because it kind of forces everybody to play with a greater degree of sensitivity and nuance because it just has a different kind of tone and spectrum than the electric bass.
David SanbornAmerican saxophonist
- 5.
Well, I guess my unease with that is… I’m always a little uneasy with that phrase – smooth jazz, as opposed to what?
David SanbornAmerican saxophonist