Happy birthday to Pete Christlieb!
Pete Christlieb (born February 16, 1945) is a prolific American tenor saxophonist renowned for his "beefy" sound and aggressive bebop soloing style. While he is a mainstay of the West Coast jazz scene, he is perhaps most widely recognized for his high-profile studio and television work.
Notable Career Highlights
The Tonight Show: He was a featured soloist in Doc Severinsen’s Tonight Show Band starring Johnny Carson for 20 years.
Steely Dan: Christlieb played the legendary tenor saxophone solos on the classic tracks "Deacon Blues" from the album Aja and "FM".
Star Trek: He contributed to the scores of multiple Star Trek series, including The Next Generation, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine.
Collaborations: He has recorded and performed with jazz giants such as Chet Baker, Count Basie, Louie Bellson, and Warne Marsh, with whom he recorded the acclaimed album Apogee.
Natalie Cole: His saxophone work is prominently featured on her multi-platinum, Grammy-winning album Unforgettable... with Love.
Photo by Jimmy Emerzian via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0