# Songs that prominently feature a baritone saxophone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 22, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974 "2013-12-22T21:49:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/21 "2013-12-23T13:40:47Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > Holy Crap **Word Man** , I did not know about Gerry Mulligan at all. > > Thank you, Thank you > > **Capt** By the way, just a note that Gerry Mulligan is a pretty big jazz name. His work with Chet Baker, Miles Davis and others during the West Coast Cool Jazz era in the late 50’s and early 60’s is considered standout. > **[Gerry Mulligan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Mulligan)** > > Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz—Mulligan was also a significant arranger working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton, and others. His piano-less quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as o Ger... So he’s a great player, composer and arranger you could spend some time listening to and investing in if you want to learn more about jazz or jazz from that era. Here’s the CD I have of him with Paul Desmond (the guy who wrote and played soprano sax on Brubeck’s Take Five) [http://www.amazon.com/Gerry-Mulligan-Paul-Desmond/dp/B001NZGCOY](http://www.amazon.com/Gerry-Mulligan-Paul-Desmond/dp/B001NZGCOY) And here he is with Ben Webster - the grand old man of Tenor Sax, at the time this would be like a newbie hotshot producing a record with an older, retro jazz dude - e.g., Jack White producing Loretta Lynn, or the Black Keys Dan Auerbach producing Dr. John - but for jazz. Ben Webster is pretty much one of the best - smoothest Tenor tone - ever. [http://www.amazon.com/Gerry-Mulligan-Meets-Ben-Webster/dp/B001NT94CM/ref=sr\_1\_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&sr=1-1&keywords=gerry+mulligan+ben+webster](http://www.amazon.com/Gerry-Mulligan-Meets-Ben-Webster/dp/B001NT94CM/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&sr=1-1&keywords=gerry+mulligan+ben+webster) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/22 "2013-12-23T13:43:31Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Los Lobos use bari sax a lot, though I’m not familiar enough with their discography to cite a good example. Mas y Mas would be a fun place to start. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/23 "2013-12-23T14:45:57Z")
John Linnell played bari on a lot of old **They Might Be Giants** tracks. I’ll dig up some links once I’m off my phone. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/24 "2013-12-23T14:54:16Z")
Tower of Power has a baritone sax player who is pretty prominent in the mix. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/25 "2013-12-23T15:14:21Z")
Elton John’s [Honky Cat](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzYwz1_Imk8) has a nice bari riff. It’s not exactly used prominently, but it’s essential to the song. First heard around 34 seconds in. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/26 "2013-12-23T15:17:36Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > By the way, just a note that Gerry Mulligan is a pretty big jazz name. His work with Chet Baker, Miles Davis and others during the West Coast Cool Jazz era in the late 50’s and early 60’s is considered standout. > > [Gerry Mulligan - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Mulligan) > > So he’s a great player, composer and arranger you could spend some time listening to and investing in if you want to learn more about jazz or jazz from that era. > > Here’s the CD I have of him with Paul Desmond (the guy who wrote and played soprano sax on Brubeck’s Take Five) > [http://www.amazon.com/Gerry-Mulligan-Paul-Desmond/dp/B001NZGCOY](http://www.amazon.com/Gerry-Mulligan-Paul-Desmond/dp/B001NZGCOY) > > And here he is with Ben Webster - the grand old man of Tenor Sax, at the time this would be like a newbie hotshot producing a record with an older, retro jazz dude - e.g., Jack White producing Loretta Lynn, or the Black Keys Dan Auerbach producing Dr. John - but for jazz. Ben Webster is pretty much one of the best - smoothest Tenor tone - ever. > > [http://www.amazon.com/Gerry-Mulligan-Meets-Ben-Webster/dp/B001NT94CM/ref=sr\_1\_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&sr=1-1&keywords=gerry+mulligan+ben+webster](http://www.amazon.com/Gerry-Mulligan-Meets-Ben-Webster/dp/B001NT94CM/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&sr=1-1&keywords=gerry+mulligan+ben+webster) I agree with all of this, except that Desmond primarily played alto, not soprano. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/27 "2013-12-23T15:39:32Z")
I little off topic, but, yes the upper register on large reed instruments is underused. I used to play the bass clarinet decently, and really appreciated the range of the darned thing, and the upper register smoothness. the saxophone, though, overall, is a meatier instrument, more character, more variety from the way you squeeze the reed. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/28 "2013-12-23T16:09:35Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > John Linnell played bari on a lot of old **They Might Be Giants** tracks. I’ll dig up some links once I’m off my phone. As promised. Here’s a list of [all TMBG tracks that have bari on them](http://tmbw.net/wiki/Category:Songs_Featuring_Saxophone) - not all old ones either, they’re still using it on new recordings as well: [She Was a Hotel Detective](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkVHvD-IMbg) [The World’s Address](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc9Ch4G7J60) [She’s Actual Size](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OQ0RvMLVUM) [The Guitar (Lion Sleeps Tonight)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OKac0K91p4) [Shoehorn with Teeth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5DJveHYslk) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/29 "2013-12-23T17:08:24Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I agree with all of this, except that Desmond primarily played alto, not soprano. Argh - correct. I thought he was on soprano on Take Five, but the Wiki listing shows you to be correct with alto. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/30 "2013-12-23T17:32:14Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Argh - correct. I thought he was on soprano on Take Five, but the Wiki listing shows you to be correct with alto. Thanks! You’ve forgotten more about music than I’ll likely ever know, so I couldn’t resist dinging you on your typo. 😃 That, and west coast jazz is my favorite music, with Desmond being one of my earliest addictions. I used to have a pristine copy of [this Mulligan LP set](http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOSAIC-GERRY-MULLIGAN-COMPLETE-PACIFIC-JAZZ-CAPITOL-SESSONS-3CD-BOX-QRT-TENTETTE-/281230055431?pt=Music_CDs&hash=item417a9e1807), but sold it and several others a few years ago after digitizing them. In retrospect, it may have been a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/31 "2013-12-23T18:14:45Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > You’ve forgotten more about music than I’ll likely ever know, so I couldn’t resist dinging you on your typo. 😃 That, and west coast jazz is my favorite music, with Desmond being one of my earliest addictions. I used to have a pristine copy of [this Mulligan LP set](http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOSAIC-GERRY-MULLIGAN-COMPLETE-PACIFIC-JAZZ-CAPITOL-SESSONS-3CD-BOX-QRT-TENTETTE-/281230055431?pt=Music_CDs&hash=item417a9e1807), but sold it and several others a few years ago after digitizing them. In retrospect, it may have been a mistake. Ah - I have a few from Mosaic Records - love their reissues of wonderful jazz and blues. Mine are all CD - I spend enough time maintaining my guitars to be able to also have a decent vinyl collection, etc. I have friends who do - fun to listen. Yeah, I really like a bunch of West Coast Jazz, like the stuff being discussed. Baritone sax sounds so good in that context. That and boogie-woogie groove stuff like Morphine. Man, was I sad when Mark Sandman, their leader, died so suddenly of a heart attack on stage. I was interested to hear what they’d do… ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/32 "2013-12-23T18:48:50Z")
The Scofflaws’ [Nude Beach](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuGbdhF2BlQ) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/33 "2013-12-23T19:04:04Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Ah - I have a few from Mosaic Records - love their reissues of wonderful jazz and blues. Mine are all CD - I spend enough time maintaining my guitars to be able to also have a decent vinyl collection, etc. I have friends who do - fun to listen. > > Yeah, I really like a bunch of West Coast Jazz, like the stuff being discussed. Baritone sax sounds so good in that context. That and boogie-woogie groove stuff like Morphine. Man, was I sad when Mark Sandman, their leader, died so suddenly of a heart attack on stage. I was interested to hear what they’d do… How did I not hear of Morphine before this? That’s some good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/34 "2013-12-23T19:40:25Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > John Linnell played bari on a lot of old **They Might Be Giants** tracks. Indeed. [See this performance of “Lie Still, Little Bottle”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPkthnUdYro) which is pretty much just baritone sax. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/35 "2013-12-23T21:48:12Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > How did I not hear of Morphine before this? That’s some good stuff. Listen to _You Look Like Rain_ and tell me that it isn’t the perfect seduction song. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/36 "2013-12-23T23:59:47Z")
How about “Us and Them” by Pink Floyd? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nDbeqj-1XOo/hqdefault.jpg "Pink Floyd - Us and Them") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDbeqj-1XOo) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/37 "2013-12-24T14:55:07Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > How did I not hear of Morphine before this? That’s some good stuff. IIRC, it’s just two guys, and the sax guy will often play two at once (tenor and bari, maybe?). Mind: blown. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/38 "2013-12-24T15:06:10Z")
> [@digs](#): > > IIRC, it’s just two guys, and the sax guy will often play two at once (tenor and bari, maybe?). Mind: blown. 3 guys - drums, sax, bass. But the bassist (and singer, main songwriter and band leader), Mark Sandman, only played a two-string bass. Kept it simple. Damn he was good. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/39 "2013-12-24T18:13:38Z")
Best bari sax ever is [Charles Mingus’ rendition of _Moanin’_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__OSyznVDOY). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974/40 "2013-12-24T18:41:06Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Best bari sax ever is [Charles Mingus’ rendition of _Moanin’_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__OSyznVDOY). Mingus played bass; that’s [Ronnie Cuber](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Cuber) on baritone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-prominently-feature-a-baritone-saxophone/676974.md?page=3)