Celebrating National Saxophone Day with Great Jazz Saxophonists from Chicago Area

Nov 6, 2022

Today is National Saxophone Day, and we’re highlighting some incredible musicians from the Chicago area that have more than earned their moment in the spotlight. These great musicians have made their indelible mark on the Chicago music scene, and heavily influenced Chicago Jazz and Blues styles.

Ari Brown is a Chicago based musician and composer who plays tenor saxophone as well as piano. He’s performed alongside some of the most notable musicians in Jazz history including Lou Rawls, BB King, and Chuck Berry!

Fred Anderson is a Chicago based musician and tenor saxophonist known for his mentorship of up-and-coming jazz musicians. Anderson’s got a long legacy of playing swing music, bebop jazz, and in free jazz movements. He also founded The Velvet Lounge and has become a fixture of the Chicago Jazz Scene.

Von Freeman was a bop-style tenor saxophonist with his finger on the pulse of the music industry since the age of 16. He was known for his work playing with the Horace Henderson Group in the 40s. He became an iconic fixture in the Chicago Jazz scene and truly beloved by Jazz aficionados worldwide, though only achieved notoriety late in his life.

Walter Parazaider is a versatile woodwind musician, playing saxophone, flute, and clarinet as well as the guitar. He’s best known for being a founding member of the Jazz Pop Rock band, Chicago!

Gene Ammons was called “The Boss” , and destined to be legendary, being practically born into the music business as the son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons. Gene Ammons chart-topping, bluesy flavor of tenor saxophone music was heavily rooted in soul and R&B styling.

Johnny Griffin was nicknamed “the Little Giant” due to his short height, but that didn’t stop him from climbing the ranks to legendary status! His huge career began in the 1940s and he played well into the 2000s! His speed, harmonic acuity, and precise control made him almost untouchable.