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David Sanborn Grammy Award Winning Saxophonist dead at 78
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Info from BestClassicBands.com:
David Sanborn, the alto saxophonist who crossed over from jazz to pop, R&B and other genres, has died. A statement on his social media pages read, “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. Mr. Sanborn passed Sunday afternoon, May 12th, after an extended battle with prostate cancer with complications.” Sanborn, who amassed several gold and platinum albums over a career that began during the 1960s, was 78.
Sanborn had reportedly been diagnosed with cancer in 2018 but continued to perform until recently. He was booked to play a residency at New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club this August.
An obituary published on CNN’s website stated that Sanborn’s publicist confirmed his death.
David William Sanborn was born July 30, 1945, in Tampa, Fla., and grew up in Missouri. He began playing saxophone during his youth and was working with blues musicians Albert King and Little Milton by age 14. Sanborn joined the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 1967 when that outfit added a horn section, and performed with them at the Woodstock festival in 1969.
https://bestclassicbands.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/David-Sanborn-1200.jpg
He found work as a session musician and beginning in the ’70s, contributed to recordings by Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, David Bowie , James Brown, Billy Joel, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Toto, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Elton John, and many others in the early ’70s, then joined the popular Brecker Brothers band in the mid-’70s. Sanborn also collaborated with Eric Clapton on film soundtracks such as Lethal Weapon (and its sequels) and Scrooged. In 1994, Sanborn performed on a two-night celebration of the music of Pete Townshend at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Sanborn launched his solo career with the album Taking Off on the Warner Bros. label in 1975 , but it wasn’t until the ’80s that he found commercial success with his hybrid approach. His albums Hideaway, Voyeur, Backstreet, Straight to the Heart (which won a Jazz Fusion Grammy), Double Vision (a duets set with Bob James, which took home a Grammy), A Change of Heart, Close-Up (Grammy for Pop Instrumental Album) and Upfront were all certified gold or platinum. Although Sanborn’s music was usually slotted into the smooth jazz category, he occasionally ventured into more “out” subgenres of jazz.
Beginning in 1980, Sanborn was a member of the Saturday Night Live band, then moved over to Late Night With David Letterman. From 1988 to 1989, he co-hosted the late-night music program Night Music, performing with a wide variety of artists ranging from Santana to Miles Davis to Todd Rundgren and Leonard Cohen. He also hosted a syndicated radio program, The Jazz Show with David Sanborn.
David Sanborn, the alto saxophonist who crossed over from jazz to pop, R&B and other genres, has died. A statement on his social media pages read, “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. Mr. Sanborn passed Sunday afternoon, May 12th, after an extended battle with prostate cancer with complications.” Sanborn, who amassed several gold and platinum albums over a career that began during the 1960s, was 78.
Sanborn had reportedly been diagnosed with cancer in 2018 but continued to perform until recently. He was booked to play a residency at New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club this August.
An obituary published on CNN’s website stated that Sanborn’s publicist confirmed his death.
David William Sanborn was born July 30, 1945, in Tampa, Fla., and grew up in Missouri. He began playing saxophone during his youth and was working with blues musicians Albert King and Little Milton by age 14. Sanborn joined the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 1967 when that outfit added a horn section, and performed with them at the Woodstock festival in 1969.
https://bestclassicbands.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/David-Sanborn-1200.jpg
He found work as a session musician and beginning in the ’70s, contributed to recordings by Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, David Bowie , James Brown, Billy Joel, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Toto, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Elton John, and many others in the early ’70s, then joined the popular Brecker Brothers band in the mid-’70s. Sanborn also collaborated with Eric Clapton on film soundtracks such as Lethal Weapon (and its sequels) and Scrooged. In 1994, Sanborn performed on a two-night celebration of the music of Pete Townshend at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Sanborn launched his solo career with the album Taking Off on the Warner Bros. label in 1975 , but it wasn’t until the ’80s that he found commercial success with his hybrid approach. His albums Hideaway, Voyeur, Backstreet, Straight to the Heart (which won a Jazz Fusion Grammy), Double Vision (a duets set with Bob James, which took home a Grammy), A Change of Heart, Close-Up (Grammy for Pop Instrumental Album) and Upfront were all certified gold or platinum. Although Sanborn’s music was usually slotted into the smooth jazz category, he occasionally ventured into more “out” subgenres of jazz.
Beginning in 1980, Sanborn was a member of the Saturday Night Live band, then moved over to Late Night With David Letterman. From 1988 to 1989, he co-hosted the late-night music program Night Music, performing with a wide variety of artists ranging from Santana to Miles Davis to Todd Rundgren and Leonard Cohen. He also hosted a syndicated radio program, The Jazz Show with David Sanborn.
Such a talented artist! I saw him years ago in Vegas fronting the band from his TV show, Night Music. Marcus Miller (bass), Hiram Bullock (guitar), Philip Saisse (keys) & Omar Hakim (drums). One of THE tightest bands I’ve had the pleasure to see live. RIP
I was a bit surprised he was 78. Dang.....
RIP and thanks for the wonderful music.
Pianist Ethan Iverson on Sanborn's surprising connection to the avant-garde (and beyond):
https://iverson.substack.com/p/tt-404-david-sanborn-on-phillip-wilson
And here's a wonderful obit by Lee Mergner, former editor of Jazz Times, at WBGO:
https://www.wbgo.org/music/2024-05-13/david-sanborn-renowned-saxophonist-dies-at-the-age-of-78
https://iverson.substack.com/p/tt-404-david-sanborn-on-phillip-wilson
And here's a wonderful obit by Lee Mergner, former editor of Jazz Times, at WBGO:
https://www.wbgo.org/music/2024-05-13/david-sanborn-renowned-saxophonist-dies-at-the-age-of-78
Another one of my musician Idols has left. He had such a huge influence on my musical journey. I remember listening to his nationally syndicated radio show (believe in the late 80's or early 90's) out of New York - "The Jazz Show with David Sanborn" that I'd catch every week-end and record on either a cassette deck or Panasonic video recorder. Of course I've also bought a majority of his solo albums which are superb.
I'd also catch his late night show religiously; first Sunday Night with Jools Holland and later named Michelob Presents Night Music, where I was initiated into a smorgasbord of music's elite artists, expanding my musical horizons exponentially.
Here's a video of him talking about Night Music; which really needs a legitimate DVD or Blu-Ray release as it was IMO the best weekly program I've ever seen showcasing a diverse group of the best artists playing together. Later, Jools Holland did something similar on another program.
There are many of those shows however that you can catch on YouTube.
Here's a show with Miles..
I was also fortunate enough to see him in concert several times (once with Chris Botti) and even briefly met him before one of his shows.
Here's also one of my favorite DVD Audio surround releases by him with killer sound quality-
https://www.discogs.com/release/3169735-David-Sanborn-Timeagain
and here's a discogs list of his credits, which is just massive-
https://www.discogs.com/artist/185751-David-Sanborn?superFilter=Credits
I could keep going with remembrances, but I'll leave it there saying he was a Giant to me, with a Giant musical legacy that he leaves behind.
I'd also catch his late night show religiously; first Sunday Night with Jools Holland and later named Michelob Presents Night Music, where I was initiated into a smorgasbord of music's elite artists, expanding my musical horizons exponentially.
Here's a video of him talking about Night Music; which really needs a legitimate DVD or Blu-Ray release as it was IMO the best weekly program I've ever seen showcasing a diverse group of the best artists playing together. Later, Jools Holland did something similar on another program.
There are many of those shows however that you can catch on YouTube.
Here's a show with Miles..
I was also fortunate enough to see him in concert several times (once with Chris Botti) and even briefly met him before one of his shows.
Here's also one of my favorite DVD Audio surround releases by him with killer sound quality-
https://www.discogs.com/release/3169735-David-Sanborn-Timeagain
and here's a discogs list of his credits, which is just massive-
https://www.discogs.com/artist/185751-David-Sanborn?superFilter=Credits
I could keep going with remembrances, but I'll leave it there saying he was a Giant to me, with a Giant musical legacy that he leaves behind.
His solo albums had such a smooth, cool vibe. Classic. 
Interesting that in all of the obits on Sanborn they are not mentioning that he played all sax on Roger Waters' album "The Pro and Cons of Hitchhiking" or that he performed and recorded a Concerto for Sax and Orchestra composed and conducted by Michael Kamen. It was Kamen who he worked with on the Lethal Weapon film scores, some with Eric Clapton.
I got to know Sanborn a bit from 1989 to '95 when he was in LA. And saw him in concert a few times, and one time was when he was touring for the "Another Hand" album which was actually real jazz for many of the tracks, Charlie Haden was in the band on that tour.
He told me he was recording a R&B (funk/soul) styled album. I suggested he record a song from a King Curtis album, the song called "Jump Back" a deep track (written by Rufus Thomas) from a very old Atlantic album. He said he would look into it. The next time I saw him I asked if he had checked out the tune, and he said yes, he had, a great track. Had he covered it in the sessions for the new album(?), and he said he did something "like it."
Anyway, I saw some pictures of Sanborn a year or so ago and noticed how much older he looked. I thought well we are all getting older as well. But he looked worse than I would have expected.
But he had am amazing career and bounced in and around rock, jazz and R&B effortlessly, and toured most every year outside of the pandemic. I thought I would get to see him live again and meet him at least once more. He did eat well, living on salmon with lemon, and fresh carrot juice almost daily.
So sad.
I got to know Sanborn a bit from 1989 to '95 when he was in LA. And saw him in concert a few times, and one time was when he was touring for the "Another Hand" album which was actually real jazz for many of the tracks, Charlie Haden was in the band on that tour.
He told me he was recording a R&B (funk/soul) styled album. I suggested he record a song from a King Curtis album, the song called "Jump Back" a deep track (written by Rufus Thomas) from a very old Atlantic album. He said he would look into it. The next time I saw him I asked if he had checked out the tune, and he said yes, he had, a great track. Had he covered it in the sessions for the new album(?), and he said he did something "like it."
Anyway, I saw some pictures of Sanborn a year or so ago and noticed how much older he looked. I thought well we are all getting older as well. But he looked worse than I would have expected.
But he had am amazing career and bounced in and around rock, jazz and R&B effortlessly, and toured most every year outside of the pandemic. I thought I would get to see him live again and meet him at least once more. He did eat well, living on salmon with lemon, and fresh carrot juice almost daily.
So sad.
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Ack! I had tickets to see him on June 8th at the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina. 
He was so talented.
He was so talented.
If you want to hear an album with more real Jazz, then "Another Hand" is hot, subtle and varied. The Lou Reed song, a VU cover "Jesus" is included.
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He was a major influence to all the musicians I have known! He will be missed!
Awesome player! Saw him early 90’s with Larry Carlton. Super evening. RIP
Love the story near the end of how Phillip Wilson got him into the Butterfield Blues Band.
Sanborn takes a solo about a minute into this out-take from the Woodstock movie.
Monday sunrise set, followed by Sha Na Na -> Jimi Hendrix.
splinter7
1K Club - QQ Shooting Star
Such a well rounded talent. His saxophone on Ian Hunter's "You Nearly did Me In" is so good.
And I remember when I was a kid, my parents playing Michael Stanley's (Cleveland rock legend & criminally underappreciated) second MSB album (Ladies Choice) that closed with a jazzy, pop rock number called "Choice & Sanborn" featuring of course David Sanborn.
Sad to hear of his passing
And I remember when I was a kid, my parents playing Michael Stanley's (Cleveland rock legend & criminally underappreciated) second MSB album (Ladies Choice) that closed with a jazzy, pop rock number called "Choice & Sanborn" featuring of course David Sanborn.
Sad to hear of his passing
Another hero. They are dropping like flies.
Always loved the album he did with Bob James 'Double Vision'; and the wonderful Tommy LiPuma production.
- wouldn't this make a great evosound Surround SACD!
- wouldn't this make a great evosound Surround SACD!
