Famous Saxophone Solos & Riffs (Part 4 – 2000-2015)

Reading Time: 4 minutesFebruary 25, 2022
FAMOUS SAXOPHONE SOLOS & RIFFS (PART IV – 2000-2015)

FOREWORD ON PART 4: Except for “Lazarus” by Bowie I do not like any of the tracks listed below. I added them to create a more complete picture for this blog article, some of the visitors might like them.

Get Right (2005)
#2 (Top 40), #3 (NL Single Top 100), #1 (US Billboard Dance Club Songs), #8 (US Billboard Pop Songs), #1 (UK Singles OCC)

Saxophonist: MACEO PARKER, sampled from “Soul Power 74” (Maceo and the Macks).

Get Right” is the 1st single of the 5th album “Rebirth”, by Jennifer Lopez.

Maceo Parker (born in 1943) is an American Funk, Soul and Jazz saxophonist. He gained fame by working with James Brown and Prince (New Power Generation). He is the most influential Funk and Soul alto saxophonist due to his unique sound and timing.

Mr. Saxobeat (2010)
#2 (Top 40), #4 (NL Single Top 100), #11 (US Billboard Hot Latin Songs), #21 (US Billboard Hot 100), #3 (UK Singles OCC), #1 (UK Dance OCC)

Saxophonist: ? 

Mr. Saxobeat” is a single by Romanian singer Alexandra Stan. It was her first single with international succes and reached hitlists.

It is unclear if the saxophone in this track is a synthesizer or actually played by someone. No name is mentioned anywhere.

The Edge Of Glory (2011)
#36 (Top 40), #9 (NL Single Top 100), #1 (US Billboard Dance Club Songs), #2 (US Billboard Adult Top 40), #3 (US Billboard Mainstream Top 40), #6 (UK Singles OCC)

Saxophonist: CLARENCE CLEMONS

The Edge of Glory” is a song of the American singer Lady Gaga.

Clarence Anicholas Clemons jr. (1942 – 2011) was an American saxophonist en actor. Clemons was a leading member of the E Street Band (de band of Bruce Springsteen – zie Deel 1). He worked with many artists and bands, like: Grateful DeadRingo StarrRoy OrbisonJackson Browne and Twisted Sister.

Midnight City (2011)
#11 (US Billboard Hot Latin Songs), #5 (US Billboard Alternative Songs), #7 (US Billboard Hot Rock Songs), #34 (UK Singles OCC), #2 (UK Indie OCC)

Saxophonist: JAMES KING

Midnight City“is a song by the French band M83 with Anthony Gonzalez as frontman. The band was named after the spiral shaped starcluster Messier 83.

James King is an American multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of the band “Fitz and The Tantrums“.

Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (2011)
#7 (Top 40), #24 (NL Single Top 100), #1 (US Billboard Dance Club Songs), #1 (US Billboard Hot 100), #1 (US Billboard Mainstream Top 40), #9 (UK Singles OCC)

Saxophonist: KENNY G

Last Friday Night (Thank God It’s Friday)” is the 5th single from Katy Perry‘s album “Teenage Dream“.

Kenneth Bruce Gorelick (born in 1956 in Amerika) is with a total of 75 million sold albums the best selling instrumental pop artist ever. He has played with: Barry White‘s Love Unlimited OrchestraJeff LorberKashifGeorge Benson, Patti LaBelle, and Aretha FranklinMichael Bolton, Celine Dion, Bebel Gilberto, and others.

Just for visitors of Roel’s World unfamiliar with saxophonists: Kenny G and Kenny Garrett are two totally different saxophonists!

One Day (Vandaag) (2012)
#2 (Top 40), #2 (NL Single Top 100), #15 (UK Singles OCC)

Saxophonist: BEN RODENBURG

One Day” is a track by DJ/Producer Bakermat from 2012. Untill 2014 the number was known under the name “Vandaag” (Dutch for “Today”).

Ben Rodenburg (born in 1988 in Rotterdam) has studied at Codarts (Conservatory) in Rotterdam. He has worked with: WaylonEdsilia RombleyAlain ClarkSam Feldt, De HofnarRoog, Erick EShermanologyThomas JackLucien Foort and Federico Scavo and others.

Talk Dirty – feat. “2 Chainz” (2013)
#5 (Top 40), #5 (NL Single Top 100), #1 (US Billboard Mainstream Top 40), #3 (US Billboard Hot 100), #2 (US Billboard R&B/Hiphop), #1 (UK Singles OCC), #1 (UK R&B OCC)

Saxophonist: ORI KAPLAN

Talk Dirty” is the 2nd single of Jason Derülo‘s 3rd album.

Ori Kaplan (born in 1969 in Israel) is a saxophonist and producer also known as “DJ Shotnez“. He has worked with: Tom Abbs, Firewater, Gogol Bordello, en Balkan Beat Box.

Ori Kaplan also played similar ethnic motives in the track “Worth It – feat. Kid Ink” by “Fifth Harmony” in 2015.

Jubel (2013)
#9 (Top 40), #9 (NL Single Top 100)#24 (US Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs), #3 (UK Singles OCC), #2 (UK Dance OCC)

Saxophonist: SNAKE DAVIS

Jubel” is a song by Klingande, a Deephouse formation from Frankrijk. 

Christopher McFarland Davis (artiest name Snake Davis) is a British saxophonist and flutist. He worked with: Lisa Stanfield, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Culture Club, George Michael, Tina Turner, Paul Hardcastle, Take That, Cher, Kylie Minogue, Paul McCartney, Dave Stewart, Paul Young, Pet Shop Boys, Robert Palmer, Motörhead, Primal Scream, Spice Girls, Cliff Richard, Dionne WarwickAmy Winehouse and others.

Problem ft. Iggy Azalea (2014)
#5 (Top 40), #10 (NL Single Top 100), #1 (US Billboard Mainstream Top 40), #2 (US Billboard Hot 100), #2 (US Billboard Dance), #1 (UK Singles OCC)

Saxophonist: LEON SILVA

Problem” is a song by the American singer Ariana Grande together with Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.

Leon Silva is an American saxophonist. He has worked with: Andra DayBruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Aloe Blacc, Mary J. Blidge, Jill Scott, Coldplay, Justin Timberlake, and Michael Jackson.

Lazarus (2015)
#32 (Top 40), #32 (NL Single Top 100), #3 (US Billboard Hot Rock Songs), #40 (US Billboard Hot 100), #45 (UK Singles OCC)

Saxophonist: DONNY MCCASLIN

Lazarus” is a single from the last album Blackstar by David Bowie. The song was written for the musical Lazarus.

Donny McCaslin is an in 1966 born American Jazz saxophonist. He played with Steps Ahead, the Gil Evans Orchestra, John MedeskiDavid Binney, and others.