Are unabashed saxophone solos back? (with examples)

Cafe Society
1

The first one I caught was from Minneapolis indie super group Gayngs, but you probably haven’t heard of them. /puts on hipster glasses. But they’re a retro act. The entire concept and sound of the group was based around 10cc’s “I’m Not in Love.” And it’s sleepy, not raucous. So, anomaly?

Then I heard M83’s Midnight City. (FF to 3 mins for the impatient)

Then Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night” arguably the most unabashed one yet, and it’s Kenny G! Wait no, it’s by Lenny Pickett of SNL, but it’s Kenny G in the video.

Then I heard that the late Clarence Clemons plays on a couple of tracks on Lady Gaga’s latest album.

So, we cool, sax solo? Are you back for reals, or is it just another instance of my generation combining nostalgia and irony into what I call nostalgony or ironalgia.

Because, Clemons aside, when I think of sax solos, I think of the most homoerotic thing Joel Schumacher ever filmed. Which, naturally, once it properly aged, we spoofed.

Can we enjoy these solos again, or were we supposed to “enjoy” them?

2

I’ve never stopped enjoying Baker Street. It’s one of those rare things where my ironic hipster detachment is totally destroyed.

3

Bump.

4

When I think about sax solos, I think about a lovely horse

And I agree – the solo in “Baker Street” is terrific and not cheesy at all.