The saxophone has always been and remains one of the most versatile and familiar-sounding instruments. The saxophone family of instruments’ ability to adapt to any musical situation has allowed many saxophonists to work in the movie and television industries both as sidemen and soloists. Their soloistic abilities have been used to sell products (TV themes and jingles) as well as to set a mood for a movie. Unfortunately, many times these musicians who help make these forms of entertainment successful often go uncredited. Below, I have put together a brief list of movie scores and television theme songs that feature a saxophone solo while also identifying the artist associated with the soundtrack on the YouTube link. This is just a small cross section of the many musical scores where the saxophone has been used. It is offered here to not only identify those musicians but also as a means of presenting styles that working saxophonists might encounter. Even with AI as a means for trying to find saxophonists on certain scores, many remain unknown. (i.e. the soprano saxophonists on the themes for Law & Order and New York Undercover)
Hopefully, this list will inspire those primarily concerned with studying jazz and/or concert saxophone in degree programs to also investigate other musical genres. There is so much great music to discover beyond what typical educational programs offer. The saxophonists are listed alphabetically in both lists shown below.
I wish to thank the great saxophonists Dan Higgins and Ronnie Lang for their input in helping me put this list together.
Movie Soundtracks/TV Themes with Sax Solos
Movie Soundtracks
Gato Barbieri (tsx)
Last Tango in Paris
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrBSrcjGd9E
Gus Bivona (asx)
The Bad and the Beautiful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZMnVfVEx3I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euJ22UqLD5Y
Paul Brodie (ssx)
Heaven Can Wait
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDcbQNdSkWM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03COCY5SVwI
Dexter Gordon (tsx)
Round Midnight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLe5_QZtk-s&list=PLyHn3f7-9IUJ1nSug6N_klm5OQZgZyVhf&index=18
Bill Hamilton (asx)
A Place in the Sun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJtlI8BB9t8&list=PL7UuNnvYPeGQSMLV4n_83cBcwKC8Do4bk
Dan Higgins (asx, ssx, tsx)
Catch Me If You Can
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcOkk03PnZE&list=PLB71872ADAF25DCA0
Benny and Joon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OjFtBv9BSQ
White Palace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdmrzcctFdk
The Paper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li5_rG4vZHM&list=OLAK5uy_ltxxQKPdComII1z6Pou2DIjUM2sD9Z2qc&index=19
Plas Johnson (tsx)
Pink Panther
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilull9eS3mQ
Ronnie Lang (asx, ssx)
Body Heat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPI-TgMID40
Taxi Driver
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPI-TgMID40
Farewell, My Lovely
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMxYE46HXXY
Two for the Seesaw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=278hKJgrWa0&list=RD278hKJgrWa0&start_radio=1&rv=278hKJgrWa0
The Specialist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl2wpdl9XHs
Gerry Mulligan (bsx)
I Want to Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPAIE4-mi80
Les Robinson (asx)
Baby Doll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDC2xrZoR6g
A Streetcar Named Desire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oyuf0C_RX1k
Sonny Rollins (tsx)
Alfie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6BAN0zM0X4
Tom Scott (tsx)
Three Days of the Condor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CLOC-Ezaco
Bud Shank (asx)
Slippery When Wet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PEnQSsYS8g&list=RDEMnS5SITKV-QwH3Aa2vWJXOQ&start_radio=1&rv=rHe-4BO77ak
George Young (tsx)
Another You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd_ljli5xb0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oysMt8iL9UE
TV Themes
Lawrence Feldman (asx)
Square One TV Theme Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkQsoHfsglk
Gary Herbig (tsx)
Roseanne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT_-ZGe7WHw
Alf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I_3bu9zgDk
Terry Harrington (bsx)
The Simpsons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fttst9dG6Ko
Dan Higgins (asx, tsx, ssx)
Jake and the Fatman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a20SFSZTKhI
Lucky Chances
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0kJCXLk-6g
*TV Commercial for United Airlines
https://share.google/8i9qfsqiQ8xu8kzrh
Plas Johnson (tsx)
The Untouchables
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ1QX9vc5zk
Ted Nash, Sr. (tsx/asx)
Peter Gunn (TV Show Theme & Dreamsville)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWh-ppeyFB4
Pink Panther (TV Show)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy0ZoiJVmQk
Lenny Pickett (tsx)
Saturday Night Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHy3dTA4S_g
Boots Randolph (tsx)
The Benny Hill Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPnzagrEYxQ
Tom Scott (ssx/asx/tsx)
The Streets of San Francisco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mijBMpnS3a4
Fish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAeO5f_aecA
Bud Shank (asx)
Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkal2bNKZe4
Ernie Watts (ssx/asx)
Night Court
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUltrX-ICew