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You are here: Home / Jazz Videos / The Ultimate Alto Sax Sound-Jesse Davis

The Ultimate Alto Sax Sound-Jesse Davis

March 3, 2010 by Steve 10 Comments

I love Jesse Davis! I listen to tenor saxophone players about 80% of the time but when I want to listen to an alto saxophone player Jesse Davis is usually my first choice.  If you don’t know him check out this video of “The Very Thought of You”…….He has an amazing sound that is huge,fat and soulful.  I love how melodic his improvising is. If you don’t know the jazz language you would do well to transcribe him.  He has the perfect blend of blues with bebop. Feeling with technique.  Enjoy!

Filed Under: Jazz Videos Tagged With: Alto Saxophone, Jesse Davis

Steve

About Steve

Steve Neff has been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for over 30 years. He is the author of many best selling jazz improvisation methods as well as founding the popular jazz video lesson site Neffmusic.com.

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Comments

  1. AvatarPaul Maine says

    March 4, 2010 at 10:00 am

    Until I read your blog article today,I had not heard of Jesse Davis. I love his playing and am going to buy some of his music after I finish my blog comment!

    Reply
  2. AvatarMelchi says

    March 9, 2010 at 7:53 pm

    Thanks for this, Steve. I hadn’t ever heard of Jesse Davis either.

    Reply
  3. AvatarJoseph says

    March 16, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    Great post…I studied with Jesse when he still lived in NY and he is my favorite alto player around. Though I play tenor, I always seem to go back to his sound and phrasing as inspiration….the best.

    Reply
  4. Avatarfrank b says

    April 24, 2010 at 4:52 pm

    Have to agree 100% Jesse b the man today on alto. Check out this solo. The lick he plays starting at 3:19 makes the bass player smile — and me too. His cd recording of The Very Thought of You is PERFECT!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dqg13BEBGE&feature=PlayList&p=A2D32543C851942E&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=27

    Reply
  5. AvatarFrank says

    April 26, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    Also note –as with many sax players from New Orleans, Jesse plays with a double lip embouchure

    Watch here
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKB-6EF6JuA&feature=related

    Reply
  6. Avatarfrank battaglia says

    May 4, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    BTW– one of the my favorite recordings of “The Very Thought of You” is pianist Kenny Baron’s version on the CD Table for Two– just great combo of beauty and swing. AND the cd has the GREAT Bob Sheppard playing like Trane on “Say It Over and Over Again” (Ballads CD) and also tracks on soprano ( the best today)and great flute (first heard it I thought it was Hubert Laws– big fat low register
    Great musicians make great music!
    Highly reco this cd but it is sometimes hard to find because limited pressing as Breast Cancer Society charity

    Reply
  7. AvatarArya Boustani says

    February 23, 2018 at 12:52 pm

    Hi Steve,
    Is there any particular path of learning regarding embouchure or setup to be able to create this delicate yet warm tone? Is it tighter rounder embouchure, squeezing a bit more toward the back of the mouthpiece, fatter lower lip contact, etc. etc. What can be said? I’m trying to get this classic kind of alto tone, and I don’t know if it is the setup or embouchure or both. Mouthpiece, reed, sax body can be replaced but without proper and specific embouchure training (and what happened in the mouth, throat, etc.) this could be an unending search. I appreciate your comment.

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      February 23, 2018 at 1:09 pm

      Arya, When I hear the words “tighter” and “squeezing” it makes me think of squashing the sound and restricting it. I just had a Skype lesson with a student and the whole hour we were talking about shaping the sound. The embouchure has to just be tight enough to keep air from leaking. There is really no need for more tightness and in fact that can hamper the reed from working efficiently. I’m a big fan of the fat bottom lip rolled out a little bit. I talk about that and demonstrate in my “a Mature Embouchure” lesson. I am also big into subtone and do it all the time when I am playing. I also have a lesson on that called “The art of Subtone”. The combination of those two things makes the bottom of the embouchure like a pillow on the reed and makes the sound fatter and warmer. Before you look for different equipment I would see how working with your embouchure and subtone can afffect the tone. Steve

      Reply
  8. AvatarArya Boustani says

    February 23, 2018 at 1:28 pm

    Thanks Steve. For sure. I’ll look into that further. I know embouchure is the main variable in this path of shaping the tone. I just like to find that kind of delicate and warm tone at the same time. When I use my subtone kind embouchure, it definitely becomes warmer but I loose some the focus of the tone that is a contributor of that cute and delicate character. I’m trying to find some particular embouchure techniques to have that combination of subtone (warmth) but with enough core and focus. The other issue is that my refaced Meyer spills out quite an edge when pushed (more like Sanborn kind of tone). What I hear from Jesse Davis, the tone stays with that classic jazz warmth even it it is pushed. Is that also embouchure or to some extend the mouthpiece? I’m interested in your lessons. I’ll check them out. Thanks again.

    Reply
    • AvatarKenneth Reed says

      February 27, 2021 at 5:29 pm

      Use warm air from the back of your throat instead of cold air
      .

      Reply

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Two years later I began a search for a sax teacher and happened to come across Steve Neff when I was searching YouTube for sax teachers.  I went to neffmusic.com and was very impressed with the lessons Steve Neff was offering.  The concept of selecting lessons was an approach that I thought was unique and purchased a few lessons.  I liked the lessons so much that I signed-up for a 6 month package. I was very happy with all the lessons I selected.  I also purchased Steve’s book Mastering the B… Read more
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I have not received my alto yet but have already gone through 14 lessons. I love your approach, style, knowledge and competence. I now regret so much to have stayed away from playing the sax for the past 45-50 years…(I am 65).  But It is never too late to get back to your first love. After 23 years in compuer sciences and 22 years in finances…I am now back to music for the rest of my life.

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Just to say thanks for your advice and lessons.  I’ve just read your amazing story.  I really appreciate what you do in regards to teaching.  I have bought a couple of your lessons and frankly they’re undersold.   I’ve learned much more with these two lessons than with 2 years of sax teachers.   Thanks so much………..
Mike
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Never really had lessons before just kinda worked things out on my own. Was in a rut but your lessons are really helpful in opening melodic possibilities. Ur an awesome resource to the saxophone community. Thanks for sharing. 

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Mr. Neff,  I want to thank you for sharing your God-given talents through your on-line lessons.  My husband, Michael, is blind, but he is a great sax player and he has been enjoying your lessons for quite some time now.  It’s not unusual for me to hear “Hey, babe, listen to THIS!” – and he will cut loose on his sax, just thrilled at what he learned during his session with you.  His excitement warms my heart!  You have no idea how much you have poured into my husband.  You have opened musical … Read more

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I am enjoying your style of teaching, and you’ve done a great job with the videos….good sound quality and well constructed lessons.  Balances the more guitaristic material found on the majority of guitar based programs.  Jazz vocab is what I’m all about at this point in the journey.  I especially dig the fact that you’ve studied with Bergonzi…helps me see his voluminous output in a more bite sized way.

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I have played for many years and have enjoyed going “back to the basics” in some of your lessons!  You have such a gift for explaining concepts.  As I have gotten older, some of the basic things have gotten muddled because I just play, not knowing why.  As I refresh myself with “why”, it increases my confidence and expands my playing.  Thank you so much for using your gift!  You are a blessing!

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After reading your story I will never feel quite right about complaining about any of my MINOR health issues!!    God bless Steve and I really hope that your health doesn’t stop you from fulfilling your calling.    These books have been such a help to open up my jazz vocabulary…   Thanks so much for sharing your story and for providing these great teaching tools…   John Leclerc   Saxophonist / composer/ EWI player and professional working musician of 35 years….

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