David Sanborn, Grammy award-winning saxophonist, dead at 78

[The Grand Illuminist]

Source: CNN

David Sanborn, an influential saxophonist, who found success across the genres of pop, R&B, jazz and more, died Sunday.

He was 78.

“It is with sad and heavy hearts that we convey to you the loss of internationally renowned, 6 time Grammy Award-winning, saxophonist, David Sanborn,” reads a statement on his social media accounts. “Mr. Sanborn passed Sunday afternoon, May 12th, after an extended battle with prostate cancer with complications.”

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/13/entertainment/david-sanborn-death/index.html

[Torchlight]

1. He stood in as a special in Letterman's talk show band one night in 80's.

There was a politician on that night (no idea who, I was a soph or jr. in hs and politics was not in my wheelhouse) that used the "insanity is doing the same thing over and over..." line.

Close to the end of the evening, Letterman asked Sanborn to stand up and introduced him. Letterman asked, how did you get to be so skilled at this?" to which Sanborn responded something along the line of 'practicing arpeggios; you know, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Another Hand will always remain in my Top 10 albums list.

[progressoid]

12. He became a regular for a while on Letterman - every Thursday night.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I heard that on SiriusXM about an hour or so ago

Ironically, I have been listening to their "Watercolors" channel (66) the past week and that is the channel that plays his music. The host (I think Lily was still on, although Talaya is on now) mentioned it as a "breaking news" and was pretty shook up about it, and then put on one of his songs.

[Omaha Steve]

3. Marta and I listened to him this morning

Last edited Mon May 13, 2024, 08:28 PM - Edit history (1)

This is what we listened to.

[Midnight Writer]

4. Sad to see this. He was one of my favorites.

I remember the first time I heard his album "Taking Off'. I think it was his first as a solo artist. I was in a record shop and they played it while I was going through racks of vinyl records. I bought it right away, based largely on Steve Gadd's drum performance, but the whole album is a classic.

[Paha Sapa]

5. Very sad. He played with a lot of folks.

Here he was on a Tommy Bolin song. Jan Hammer played the drums and synth.

?si=qMdZWYHTpxjiDIYO

[2naSalit]

6. ...

[littlemissmartypants]

7. ...

[LudwigPastorius]

8. Dave is on this funky cut from Jaco Pastorious' debut album.

He's blowing some fills and opens up a bit on the outro. Sam & Dave are singing and Herbie Hancock is on keys on this.

[Cheezoholic]

9. Not to take away from Sanborn as I post below (plus they all played with him) but WTF was up at the U of Miami back then

Jaco, Metheny, Steve Morse, Hiram Bullock, Will Lee amongst others all there at the same time. That place was a musical juggernaut then, man, good stuff.

[LudwigPastorius]

10. In 1972 there were maybe 15, or so, colleges offering a jazz degree.

I know North Texas and Berklee were two, not sure where else. But, I can imagine Miami and its beautiful beach scene easily beat out cold Boston or backwater Denton, TX for a lot of aspiring students.

Also, the dean of the school of music, Bill Lee, was pretty active in recruiting players. He heard Metheny in a club in Kansas City and offered him a full scholarship to come to Miami

[Cheezoholic]

13. I was kinda familiar with the Metheny story and musical scholarships

and their, and the arts in general, criminal demise by Raygun Republicons, but not Bill Lee specifically although that rang a bell from a Morse interview I saw not long ago, thanx for that. And you're probably right about the weather but still, U of Miami was like a Fusion Romper Room in the 70's lol

[Cheezoholic]

11. I'd bet Sunday Night turned more people onto real music except for maybe a cool aunt/uncle lol

That was the best show on TV from '88 to '90 with him and Jools Holland hosting. I mean where else could a couple stoners in the 80's midwest get to see Dan Hiicks, Miles hell The World Saxophone Quartet on the tube over the antennae lol.

While a lot of snoots in the air Jazz aficionados didn't give him due creds for a long long time, he sure as fuck wasn't a Kenny G or a Mangione, he had legit Jazz chops.

Sanborn was a bridge for a lot of people to a musical scene they may have never gotten close to otherwise. His art will stand with the best IMO.

Peace

[Golfnbrew]

14. So sad to read this...

Back in the 80s, my twin and I went to Pensacola to see his concert, with Al Jarreau.

Great jazz musicians.

[qwlauren35]

15. I loved his music.

Major loss.

[RussBLib]

16. He played sax with Billy Joel at his MSG show

...on that 100th MSG show back on March 28, while battling prostate cancer. Wow.

I never really liked his playing that much. Too much hard honking and not much mellowness about him at all.