[2026] Summary of popular saxophonists abroad. Recommended saxophonists.

Slow DropJonas Kullhammar

Jonas Kullhammar Quartet With Norrbotten Big Band – Slow Drop

Born in 1978 and still relatively young among performers, he is known in his homeland of Sweden as one of the most established jazz saxophonists.

He has received various jazz awards in Sweden, and you can sense his prowess from the pieces performed by this quartet.

While the music is jazz, it carries an atmosphere that differs in some way from the traditional aesthetic.

Romance, Op. 62Kenneth Radnofsky

Edward Elgar – Romance, Op. 62 – arr. Kenneth Radnofsky at Jordan Hall

I am a classical saxophonist from the United States.

I mainly perform on alto saxophone, but I also play soprano saxophone at times.

I currently teach at a conservatory and a university, and I also give regular concerts.

The piece is Edward Elgar’s Romance, Op.

62, which was originally written for bassoon and orchestra.

HAPPYMarius Neset

Marius Neset – HAPPY

Marius Neset from Norway demonstrates his talent not only as a jazz saxophonist but also as a composer.

His journey began in 2003 at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, where meeting Django Bates became a turning point in his musical career.

Across a wide range of genres—jazz, classical, chamber music, concertos, and orchestral music—he continues to create new sounds.

In particular, albums such as Golden Xplosion, Birds, and Lion showcase his multifaceted musicianship and cement his status as a progressive jazz player.

On his latest album, Happy, he takes a different approach, focusing on pop, soul, and funk from the 1970s and ’80s, and, together with new band members, crafts a more rhythm-driven and experimental work.

His illustrious career and pursuit of innovative music will continue to captivate many music fans in the years to come.

Stolen MomentsOliver Nelson

Oliver Nelson Septet – Stolen Moments

Oliver Nelson is better known as an arranger than as a saxophonist, but he is such a distinguished saxophonist that some professionals praise his playing as having the finest saxophone sound.

“Stolen Moments” is one of his signature works.

BeatriceSam Rivers

Beatrice

The saxophonist who joined Miles Davis’s quintet after John Coltrane’s departure and devoted himself to modal jazz and the later emergence of the new mainstream jazz was Sam Rivers.

His performance of “Beatrice” introduced a new approach to jazz improvisation.

Son of God MassSteve Duke

Chamber Choir with Steve Duke, saxophone – Whitbourn – Son of God Mass – V – Lava Me

Steve, born in 1954, originally started out as a jazz saxophonist.

He has a career that includes performing with the famous female jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald.

However, since 1993 he has shifted his musical style, focusing mainly on classical and electronic music.

This piece is a good example of his contemporary style.

ShineWalter Smith III

Walter Smith III – Shine (Official Video)

Walter Smith III, a native of Houston, Texas, has built a multifaceted career that includes teaching at Berklee College of Music.

Centered on jazz and post-bop, he has crafted a distinctive musical world that fully brings out the allure of the tenor saxophone.

Having taken up the saxophone at age seven, he went on to win numerous awards and study at music schools that could be described as paradises for aspiring musicians.

Performing with luminaries such as the Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet and Eric Harland’s Voyager, and sharing the stage with heavyweights like Terence Blanchard and Roy Haynes, he has demonstrated both depth and breadth in his playing.

The year 2023, which saw the release of his latest album, “Return to Casual,” on Blue Note Records, can be considered a new milestone in his musical life.

His music holds immense potential for the future of jazz.