Yeah, we put together a big band out of local musicians to back her up, so it was a lot of that kind of stuff.
Whom else have you played with? Which saxophonists are your favorites today? Do you have recordings?
I played with Billy Taylor, again in Savannah, that's where most of my paying gigs were, around Savannah and Hilton Head. Dexter Gordon was my primary influence. I've sort of migrated to David Murray. Check 'em out.
Sonny Rollins is the nicest person I've ever met.
Dewey Redman was mentioned here, I met his son Joshua. Good player.
I think David Sanchez and Eric Alexander are going places.
I'm probably on about a dozen recordings, none of which I own. These are from GA Southern, and Northern Colorado.
You have played with some of the best in the trade. I've really liked Billy Taylor's style.
I also checked out David Murray on-line and heard numerous portions of cuts, all were well done.
On this very well done David Sanchez LP (Coral) he is focuses on the music of Brazil and Argentina, In addition to his own band, the City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra makes this a smooth & lush sounding album. This one is on the must get list. I'll be checking out his other works.
Eric Alexander I was already aware of although I don't have any of his LP's.
You mentioned Sonny Rollins & Dexter Gordon, both masters.
In terms of today's smooth or urban jazz some of those I like would be Norman Brown, Rick Braun, Bobby Lyle, Euge Groove, Kim Walters, Anita Baker, Walter Beasley, Chuck Loeb, Peter White, Paul Taylor, Steve Cole, Paul Hardcastle, Boney James, Doc Powell, George Benson, Jonathan Butler, Bobby Caldwell plus many more.
Older stuff would be of course Miss Ella, Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennet, Mel Tormé, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, Grover Washington, Jr,Count Basie, Glenn Miller, George Shearing, Stan Getz, Art Pepper, Bobby Hutcherson, Jimmy Smith, Coleman Hawkins, Wes Montgomery, Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Julie London, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, etc, etc.