Sanborn, David

Sanborn, David , hit-making jazz-fusion saxophonist of the 1980s; b. Tampa, Fla., July 30, 1945. Although born in Fla., David Sanborn grew up in St. Louis. Despite an early bout with polio as a child (that causes him to lean to one side when he plays), he developed a powerful, biting sound on his alto saxophone. By the age of 15, he was sitting in with local bluesmen such as Little Milton and Albert King. In the later 1960s, he became a member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, playing with them at Woodstock. During the 1970s, he became an in-demand session player working with artists ranging from Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, and Bruce Springsteen to Gil Evans. He played the sax on David Bowie’s hit “Young Americans.”

While he still continues to work as a session musician, since 1975 Sanborn has earned kudos for his solo work. He started releasing rhythm and blues- flavored dance music with jazzy improvisation, earning the Best R&B Instrumental Performance Grammy in 1981 for “All I Need Is You.” His 1985 record Straight to the Heart won him the Best Jazz Fusion Performance or Instrumental Grammy in 1985. He took the same award home a year later for his work with Bob James on Double Vision. A year after that, he took Best R&B Instrumental Performance, Orch., Group or Soloist for “Chicago Song,” taking the same award home the next year for Close-up, with its rollicking cover of “You Are Everything.” During this period of recording success, Sanborn also hosted the weekly late night variety show Night Music, which generally hosted an eclectic group of musicians and gave them the opportunity to play together. He also hosted a show for National Public Radio.

By 1991, Sanborn felt comfortable enough with his success to emphasize his love of jazz over his more pop-oriented hits. Upfront marked the first release Sanborn considered jazz. Even his follow-up, the more earthy, blues- oriented Another Hand included a cover of Omette Coleman’s “Ramblin’.” However, by the middle of the decade, he returned to more mainstream work. 1995’s Pearls found him playing ballads with an orchestra arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel. He earned his sixth Grammy in 1999, taking the trophy for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance for his Inside album.

Discography

Taking Off (1975); Love Songs (1976); Sanborn (1976); Promise Me the Moon (1977); Heart to Heart (1978); Hideaway (1979); Voyeur (1980); As We Speak (1981); Backstreet (1982); Straight to the Heart (1984); A Change of Heart (1987); Close-Up (1988); Another Hand (1991); Upfront (1992); Hearsay (1994); Pearls (1995); Songs from the Night Before (1996); Inside (1999).

—Hank Bordowitz