Saunders Jones, lead alto sax


Has Played with:  UGA Redcoat Band, UGA Jazz Ensemble, AV Node and the Valves of Houston, Flashback, Augusta Big Band, Played with “Whisperin’” Bill Anderson, James Brown, Francine Reed, The Sentimental Journey Orchestra, Atlanta Swing Orchestra ,GPC Jazz Ensemble, Frankie Avalon, Storm Large, Michael Epstein, The Velvet Note, The Usual Suspects Big Band of Atlanta, Peachtree Jazz Edition, Big  Band Contractors, Atlanta Brass Cats, Atlanta 17, Multiple Churches . Music Director of EJS Big Band and Big Band Contractors. More recently, toured Berlin and Prague with a Combo in 2015 and 2019, and Portugal in 2016, and in 2018.

Discography: 5 CD’s with the EJS as section and solo player, 3 CD with Big Band Contractors as solo and section player , Sax on several contemporary rock albums with Donnie Hammonds and others and clarinet and sax on updated  Rosemary Clooney, Elvis Presley, and Tony Bennett remake albums.

Instrument(s): saxophones (all) and clarinet/flute.    
Influences: UGA Roger Dancz and Steve Dancz, Scott Slade, Dana Taylor, Tim Burton, Tim Crump, Randy Hunter, Sam Skelton, Jason Passmore, Eric Alexander
I knew I wanted to be a musician when… My mother made me practice piano
My sound and approach to music: Whatever makes me feel good…musical and melodic…..not too out of the box….really old guy stuff I usually sneak up on it… sounds kind of like garbage cans falling over.
Favorite recording in your discography and why: Anything by Eric Alexander. His tone is great. Most people like his technique but he does it with great tone all the time!