When I wrote yesterday's post, I hadn't heard that David Sanborn had passed away. Since learning of his passing, I've thought a lot about his most memorable melodies. Sanborn's way with accessible hooks on the saxophone netted him deserved acclaim and considerable commercial success in the jazz world. These are 10 of his best tracks, in my opinion:
- Bang Bang (A former KNJZ personality used to play this every Friday afternoon to kick off the weekend. It's an appropriate choice, given the festive, party-like atmosphere that the instrumentation and vocals create. It doesn't surprise me that multiple artists have released their own versions of this.)
- Benny (One of Sanborn's best slower-paced tracks. This laid-back melody shows how effectively Sanborn was able to wail.)
- Chicago Song (This no-nonsense rhythm suggests a gritty setting.)
- Hideaway (I cited this song in yesterday's post as an example of jazz getting its due in a concert promo. It's one of Sanborn's most immediately ear-catching uptempo melodies.)
- Lesley Ann (I always liked playing this on KNJZ, as its hook is fit for a lullaby.)
- Maputo (with Bob James) (Nice interplay between keyboard and saxophone here. This is one of Sanborn's many compelling ballads.)
- One In A Million (Reflective. I can imagine Stevie Wonder playing Sanborn's sax part on the harmonica.)
- Since I Fell For You (with Bob James and Al Jarreau) (These lyrics are appropriate in any era, and this melding of saxophone, keyboard, and vocals serves the narrative especially well. There are many renditions of this tune, but this one ranks first with me.)
- Slam (This track's synthesized scoring is rooted firmly in the '80s, which is probably why a friend who drove me home from school in that decade played it at full blast in the car.)
- Summer (Another immediately accessible, high energy Sanborn track. This appropriately titled instrumental conveys the joy and freedom many listeners associate with Summer.)
