Johnny Hodges (1906 – 1970) was one of the greatest altosax players in jazz history, also a master of the sopranosax, playing with the Duke Ellington orchestra almost all his life, with an enormous production of masterworks in all tempi… … Read entire article »

Pete Brown (1906 – 1963) was a highly original altosax player, known for his staccato and jumping style, with his roots in the thirties… … Read entire article »

Dave Schildkraut (1925 – 1998) was a brilliant altosax player, closer in style to Bird than any of his white contemporaries but not competitive enough to achieve the status he deserved… … Read entire article »

Hilton Jefferson (1903 – 1968) was in possession of the sweetest and most lovely altosax sound, almost to the point of camouflaging his great qualities as jazz improviser… … Read entire article »

Hallie Dismukes was a Detroit altosax player with the most beautiful sound, playing with the Todd Rhodes band in the late forties and into the fifties, almost forgotten, until now… … Read entire article »

Joe Eldridge (1908 – 1952) was not only the big brother of Roy Eldridge, but a good altosax player with a potential never really realized, and he dropped out of music early… … Read entire article »

Edgar Sampson (1907 – 1973) was not only a very important arranger but a fine altosax player, mostly known through his work with Chick Webb in the middle 1930s… … Read entire article »