The Artistry of… David Sanborn
Inspired jazz and blues as played by his heroes of the Chicago blues scene is the starting place — the heart and soul. It energizes everything he plays and he plays everything with as much sophisticated respect and focus.
Playing sax came out of a doctor’s idea for treatment therapy after contracting polio. The disease and time spent in an iron lung left him with compromised chest muscles and lungs, and meant a need to strengthen his breathing as he overcame polio. Not a bad idea, huh? Artistry out of spirited inspiration and dedication — it’s as spirited by necessity and drive.
He studied music formally and then was schooled playing with some of the best, including greatness like Albert King, Paul Butterfield, the Brecker Brothers, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Joey DeFrancesco, Kenny Garrett and Jaco Pastorius. Lists may be impressive, but it’s about the soul in and from a body’s body of work that is inspired and inspiring.
The Artistry of… airs Wednesday evenings on Dinner Jazz with John Devenish.