One fellow tenorman I should have written about a long time ago is Bob Mintzer. He is mostly known for holding down the tenor chair for the band “The Yellowjackets” for the last 15 years.

What some may not know is he is an award winning big band leader, writer and arranger. Check out his latest big band release “Swing Out.”

You should check out his web site at www.bobmintzer.com/

There is something about the dry, dark, secco spicatto tone he gets from his tenor. I love the raspy, dirty  sound he gets in his altissimo register. I gotta figure out how to do that one of these days.

I was playing at a Crawdad Festival in Isleton, Ca. of all places, and I met his Cousin. My brush with greatness. 😉

So, here are a few Bob Mintzer videos you should check out.

This a tune called “Even Song.” Jimmy Haslip describes this offering as “a song about church”.

This is from the “Politics” album, released in 1988.

Here is Bob live at the Krizanke Theatre, Slovenia, July 2006 supporting the Yellowjackets. Bob Mintzer guesting with SaxAssault here live – he is also guesting on this track for SaxAssaults new album due out spring 2007 with special guests Bob Mintzer, Jonny Hayes and Gwilym Simcock.