Review Centre: Saxophone Players

"Great improv i loved how much you interacted and how clean your sound was"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"All of this is an admittedly roundabout way of confessing that I wasn't prepared to be as delighted as I am with Go Tell It on the Mountain (Silkheart), an album of traditional hymns and originals with heaven-gazing titles by Booker T. Williams Jr., a New York-based tenor saxophonist originally from Seattle who performs as Booker T. The obsessive soul-searching implicit in the programming suggests an affinity with John Coltrane. But unlike too many of the saxophonists who aim for Coltrane's spiritual elevation, Booker T has a devilish sense of humor best illustrated by his "Say amen, Gracie" drollery on "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," a homey little melody he elongates and fragments with the comic élan of a Sonny Rollins. In fact, the classic album that Go Tell It on the Mountain most recalls is Way Out West, Rollins's 1958 album of cowboy tunes--and not just because Booker T, like Rollins before him, finds inspiration in unlikely places. It's also because Booker T's interaction with the bassist Saheb Sarbib and the drummer Andrew Cyrille is as carefree and almost as electrifying as Rollins's with Ray Brown and Shelly Manne thirty years ago (or better yet, with Wilbur Ware and Elvin Jones on A Night at the Village Vanguard, from around the same time). Despite the sarcasm implicit in Booker T's low-register bleats, his performances of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "Jesus Loves Me" exude sincerity, much the way Rollins's interpretations of oddball pop tunes do. For Booker T, as for Rollins, satire is a sign of respect, not condescension. Booker T is ecumenical: one of the album's most infectious cuts is "Halle Kalle Mazeltov," a hora whose modality he cagily exploits. The Spartan trio format means that Sarbib and Cyrille have to function as soloists as well as rhythm stalwarts, and both men shoulder the added burden gracefully, maintaining melodic continuity in a manner that bassists and drummers seldom do when they solo. Despite the length of some of the tracks (the title tune, which is just over sixteen minutes, is a Booker T original, not the folk song of the same name), Booker T's solos never deteriorate into self-indulgent braying. His sense of thematic exposition is too well developed for that-another cue he takes from Rollins. (And as if to underscore his lineage, the CD-only bonus track is Rollins's calypso "St. Thomas.") He switches to alto on his own "When Mama Cries I Cry," and his phrasing is impressively speechlike on this lighter horn. To the best of my knowledge, Booker T's only other recording has been as a sideman on Cold Sweat, a recent album of James Brown tunes (also featuring Craig Harris and David Murray) that illustrates the sloppiness jazz musicians are capable of when trying to show they can be Regular Guys. But Go Tell It on the Mountain is stunning enough to make me a believer in Booker T's potential. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Couldn’t ask for a better sax and DJ for our wedding! He was amazing from start to finish, looked fantastic in his suit and had our guests dancing all night! We are from the UK so booking entertainment for our Italian wedding was nerve-racking as we were relying on reviews and communication. His communication was outstanding from start to finish, making it really easy to understand everything. You won’t regret booking him for your wedding. 🤗"

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"Bro was playing some really good bangers from the beginning. Made the whole meal more pleasant! I would 100% come back just to listen to him"

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"Dee was incredible, all our guests said how amazing he was. We are so glad we picked him for our wedding such a memorable evening. Thank you again!! "

Reply by DeeSaxx
Thanks a lot Laura, a pleasure to be a part of your day!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I’ve just had Carlos as my saxophonist for my engagement party and wow! He was amazing and the crowed were loving it, he really made the party amazing! (10 / 10) Claudia Gold"

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"“Maya Fadeeva’s voice is certainly one of the most powerful and grooviest in the German jazz and soul scene. Unmistakable and unique” - SR (Album of the Week)"

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"A wonderful performance! With a beautiful white suit and white hat, Tal performed an amazing show! All of our guests were amazed with his performance. Thank u Tal!"

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"Very nice. A good music selection. Entertaining. Best part, I got to hang out with my favorite son!"

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"Mark was incredible at our wedding!! Did everything I asked, communicated with our DJ without input from me, had the perfect playlist and fulfilled my surprise of an entrance with a bang for our guests! Kept all our guests on the dance floor all night long with a great choice of songs. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to have the best party! Thank you Mark!"

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"Jovie was fantastic at my wedding party! She's a skilled musician who pays attention to detail, tailoring her performances with sophisticated elegance. Highly recommend!"

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"Darron provided great music and an awesome vibe! Listening to his soulful smooth sax gave me chills! I’d highly recommend for any event. He provided a fun energy and really brought the experience to the next level!"

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"naast de sfeervolle muzikale ondersteuning ook een erg prettige persoonlijkheid om erbij te hebben!😃"

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"Nous avons eu le plaisir de réserver et son collègue pour un mariage, grâce à l’insistance de mon mari, qui est aussi guitariste et était vraiment enthousiaste à l’idée d’avoir des virtuoses de la guitare parmi nous. Ce fut vraiment la meilleure décision. – Benedetta Frandi-Lambert & Thomas Lambert, 16 March 2026, wedding at Villa la Vedetta, Florence, Italy"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Excellent communication, professional setup, and an unforgettable performance."

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