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These ten female sax players showcase the breadth and depth of female saxophone excellence. From electrifying performances on global stages to ground-breaking contributions in jazz and beyond.
Give these female sax players a listen and see what you can learn from both their music and their stories. Written by Brooke Jessop.
Lovely Laura
Lovely Laura has become a global sensation. Her electrifying saxophone performances fused with house music, captivate audiences in Ibiza and amass millions of online streams worldwide. From headlining Tomorrowland to gracing iconic venues like Café Mambo and Pacha, her star continues to ascend.
Lovely Laura has collaborated with the Ulster Orchestra at Lush Classical, and remains among the most sought-after saxophonists globally. Teaming up with her DJ husband Ben Santiago, they form a dynamic duo, earning residencies with top clubbing brands.
Karen Sharp
Karen Sharp is a prominent figure on the UK jazz scene, known for melodic, full-toned saxophone playing. She has won the British Jazz Awards for best tenor saxophonist multiple times and was a rising star nominee in the DownBeat Critics Poll for baritone sax in 2018 and 2019.
Born in Suffolk, Karen transitioned from classical piano and clarinet to tenor saxophone. Her playing is inspired by jazz legends Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins. Her career launched with Humphrey Lyttelton’s band, touring Europe for four years. She then established her own quintet, recording six albums and touring extensively. Praised by DownBeat magazine for her “relaxed and natural phrasing”, she has a repertoire that spans from club circuits to international festivals. Sharp’s contributions to jazz are as diverse as they are impactful.
Anat Cohen
Anat Cohen is a Grammy-nominated clarinettist and saxophonist. Praised by The New York Times for her virtuoso clarinet performances, Cohen’s ability to evoke a spectrum of emotions—from infectious joy to soulful melancholy—has distinguished her as a unique talent in the jazz world.
DownBeat named Cohen Jazz Artist of the Year, and Rising Star on both tenor and soprano saxophones . Since launching her career in 2005 with her Anzic Records label, Cohen has released a series of acclaimed albums, exploring a diverse range of music. A native of Tel Aviv, Israel , she moved to New York in 1999. She toured with the Diva Jazz Orchestra and worked with various Brazilian groups, further expanding her musical horizons. Whether on stage, in the classroom, or through her recordings, she continues to inspire and elevate the art of jazz.
Camille Thurman
Camille Thurman is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist, hailing from New York. She effortlessly commands the tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute, and piccolo, and captivates audiences with her fluid solos and impressive vocal range.
Thurman’s stellar career has seen perform with Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, and George Coleman, among many others. She’s received numerous accolades for her contributions to jazz. She won the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award twice and was recognised as a Fulbright Scholar Cultural Ambassador. Thurman’s compositions have been featured in prestigious showcases and festivals, earning praise from Jazz Times and The New York Times. She made history as the first woman in 30 years to tour full-time with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Vanessa Collier
Collier is an electrifying musician who masterfully blends funk, soul, rock, and blues into her performances. A graduate of Berklee College of Music with dual degrees in Performance and Music Production & Engineering, she has toured nationally and internationally. Collier has shared stages with renowned artists like Joe Louis Walker, Michael Bolton, and Steven Tyler. She has released four critically acclaimed albums, with her 2018 release Honey Up topping the Billboard Blues Album Charts.
Collier’s accolades include two Blues Music Awards for “Horn Player of the Year”, and a third BMA for “Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year”. Known for her soulful vocals, searing saxophone, and engaging stage presence, she captivates audiences and critics alike. Vanessa inspires the next generation of female sax players through her work with Blues in the Schools programs.
Matana Roberts
Born in 1975 in Chicago, Matana Roberts is a versatile American artist. She is known for her ground-breaking work as a sound experimentalist, visual artist, jazz saxophonist, and clarinettist. Moving to New York in 2002, Roberts immersed herself in the city’s vibrant music scene. There she busked in subways and documented her experiences in the zine Fat Ragged. And she gained further recognition for her innovative Coin Coin project, exploring themes of history, memory, and ancestry.
Roberts’s contributions to jazz and experimental music have earned her numerous awards and honours, including Downbeat Magazine‘s recognition as a Rising Star in both the alto saxophone and clarinet categories. She won the prestigious Doris Duke Impact Award and Doris Duke Artist Award for her exceptional contributions to the arts. Through her innovative compositions and boundary-pushing performances, Roberts continues to challenge and inspire audiences worldwide.
Jane Ira Bloom
An iconic figure in contemporary jazz, Bloom has spent over 40 years shaping her distinctive voice on the soprano saxophone. She is renowned for her soaring, poetic sound, pioneering the use of live electronics and movement in jazz.
Bloom’s Grammy-winning album “Early Americans” is a great example of her boundary-pushing approach, blending innovative compositions with surround sound.
With collaborations with legends such as Kenny Wheeler and Charlie Haden, Bloom’s has played prestigious venues from Carnegie Hall to the Smithsonian’s Einstein Planetarium.
She has won widespread recognition including 13 Jazz Journalists Awards and a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Bloom’s creative vision has inspired collaborations with actors, painters, and dancers. As a professor at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, she continues to inspire future generations of female sax players with her fearless pursuit of artistic expression.
Claire Daly
Daly, born in Bronxville, New York, discovered her passion for jazz at a young age, inspired by a Buddy Rich performance. She honed her skills on the saxophone, graduating from Berklee College of Music in 1980. Daly embarked on her career as a freelance baritone saxophonist, later establishing herself as a bandleader and prolific recording artist.
With six albums released with pianist Joel Forrester and several acclaimed solo projects, Daly’s music has left a lasting impression. Her album “Swing Low” found its place in the William Jefferson Clinton Library, a testament to its significance. Daly has received numerous awards, including the Jazz Journalists Association’s “Baritone Sax of the Year” Award. Her playing and composing style is characterized by hard-bop influences and conversational compositions. She has earned praise from critics and fellow musicians alike. Beyond her musical endeavours, she is a dedicated educator, sharing her expertise at esteemed institutions and jazz camps worldwide.
Lauren Sevian
A Grammy award-winning baritone saxophonist, Sevian has solidified her position as one of the most sought-after musicians in the jazz scene. Since moving to NYC in 1997 to attend the Manhattan School of Music, Sevian’s career has soared. As well as touring with Diva and the Artie Shaw Orchestra, Sevian has performed across NYC with her quartet, the LSQ. She also co-leads a quintnet – LSAT – with alto saxophonist Alexa Tarantino. Notably, LSAT clinched first place in the prestigious “Made in NY” jazz competition. Sevian also co-directs the all-female collective “Lioness™️.”
Her versatility shines as she collaborates with icons like the Mingus Big Band, Steely Dan, and the Count Basie Orchestra. Sevian’s albums, “Blueprint” and “Bliss,” have garnered critical acclaim.
Karolina Strassmeyer
Karolina Strassmayer‘s musical journey spans from the Austrian Alps to New York City’s jazz circuit. She has been hailed as “one of the most interesting saxophonists of her generation”.
As leader of KLARO!, her quartet with drummer Drori Mondlak, she shapes a profoundly personal sound. And she has made over 80 recordings and 10 CDs, earning numerous Grammy nods.
Before joining the esteemed WDR Big Band Cologne, she thrived in New York’s jazz scene for over 15 years, collaborating with icons like Chico Hamilton. A professor at Folkwang University of the Arts, Karolina champions women in jazz through mentorship initiatives and empowering courses, solidifying her status as a jazz luminary.
Final thoughts
The collective body of work from these female sax players underscores the remarkable talent and diversity within the saxophone community. Their contributions to music, across genres and styles, show their skill, dedication, and innovation. Check out their music to discover the invaluable role of female sax players in shaping the saxophone landscape.
If you’re ready to become a saxophone legend like these female sax players, you’ll need to right support lessons and resources. Check out Sax School Online with a 14 day free trial here and see how you can supercharge your saxophone progress.
