Famous Female Saxophonists

There are many talented women playing saxophone whose music conquers hearts, tops the charts, and wins prestigious awards. In this article, we will tell you about some of them and their achievements.

Vi Redd 

This woman was a prominent figure on the American jazz scene as a brilliant alto saxophonist and talented singer performing blues styles in the 1960s. She was greatly influenced by jazz from her early age thanks to her parents. Her mother was an amateur saxophone player while her father was a notable person on the Central Avenue jazz scene. Vi initially played the piano but switched to a saxophone so successfully that as a teenager she was already playing with Melba Liston and Dexter Gordon. This female musician managed to combine a career in education with playing jazz. She toured across many countries including Japan, London, Sweden, Spain and Paris.
Vi Redd performed with many talented jazz musicians — Count Basie, Max Roach, Linda Hopkins, Marian McPartland, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Dizzy Gillespie.

Candy Dulfer 

This Dutch alto saxophonist is known for her successful work in pop and jazz styles. As a daughter of jazz saxophonist Hans Dulfer she started her musical journey early — at the age of five she played drums and one year later switched to the soprano saxophone. At the age of seven Candy played an alto sax while also joining the band Jeugd Doet Leven. She played her first saxophone solo when sharing the stage with her father's band De Perikels.  When Candy was fourteen she founded her first band Funky Stuff. In 1990, Candy released her debut album Saxuality, some versions also included a hit "Lily Was Here" with Dave Stewart. The album debuted on the 4th position of the Dutch album chart and sold over a million copies around the world. Candy received a Grammy nomination for this album. 
In addition to her dad’s band and Dave Stewart, this female sax player performed with Prince, Van Morrison, Angie Stone, Maceo Parker, Rick Braun, Alan Parsons, Pink Floyd, and Tower of Power.

Tia Fuller 

This modern American jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator is also known as a member of Beyoncé’s all-female touring band. Tia was born into a musical family — her father played the bass and her mother sang. She regularly listened to her parents when they  rehearsed in the basement of their home.  Additionally Tia was interested in the music of John Coltrane, Sarah Vaughan and Charlie Parker.  
Her own journey into the world of music began with classical piano at the age of three. After studying piano for 10 years, she started playing the flute at the age of nine. During high school Tia became interested in the saxophone and jazz. Later Tia led a quartet where her sister Shamie Royston played piano. 
This female saxophonist leads an active musical life. In 2012, she toured with Esperanza Spalding. In 2019, she recorded with Roy Haynes, Jon Batiste, Linda May Han Oh and Marcus Gilmore for a Walt Disney Company film. Her album Diamond Cut, released in 2019, was nominated for a Grammy Award. These days she continues her career as a saxophone player and teaches at the Berklee College of Music.

Melissa Aldana 

This Chilean tenor saxophonist performs as a soloist and with her bands. Melissa began to play saxophone at the age of six. Her father, Marcos Aldana, was a professional saxophonist who provided a sort of guidance for his daughter into the world of music. Inspired by Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, and Michael Brecker, Melissa started by playing an alto sax, however switched to tenor sax once she heard  Sonny Rollins. 
Her first tenor instrument was a Selmer Mark VI that her grandfather played. Melissa recorded her first album  Free Fall in 2010. During that period she performed at the Blue Note Jazz Club and the Monterey Jazz Festival. At the age of 14, she won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition as the first female musician, the first South American, and the youngest person among the competitors. 
The musician has also formed several bands — a group, Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio, in 2012, and Melissa Aldana Quartet, in 2017. Her recent awards include Grammy nominations for "Best Improvised Jazz Solo" for "Falling” in 2023, and DownBeat magazine: Rising Star Artist of the Year in 2022.

Grace Kelly 

This singer, saxophonist, songwriter, composer, and bandleader is known for her sold-out concerts and 15 acclaimed albums — all achieved in her mid-twenties. She is also the youngest member of Berklee College of Music’s Board of Trustees. Kelly’s music journey began with her performance at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration at the age of 16. Two years later she already performed as a soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Her career rapidly developed which gave her opportunities to collaborate with Dave Brubeck,  Lee Konitz, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Harry Connick Jr., Jon Batiste, Phil Woods, Huey Lewis,  Gloria Estefan, Questlove, and Wynton Marsalis. 
From the age of 17, Grace won the Annual Downbeat Magazine’s Critics Poll “Rising Star Alto Saxophone”. She also became the winner of the poll in 2017 and in 2023 for “Rising Star Baritone Saxophone”. Her song “Feels Like Home” won “Song of the Year” in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2018. Grace also won ASCAP Composer Awards, Boston Music Awards, and International Songwriting Awards.
In addition to active performances and numerous wins, this female musician shares her experience with students and teaches them how to become more confident as saxophone players. Grace has even co-founded the Saxy School with Leo P where they help beginners and seasoned players to get better at their craft.  

Ingrid Laubrock  

This German saxophonist is known for experiments and ability to create multi-layered sound landscapes. She primarily began by playing tenor saxophone but also records on soprano, alto, and baritone saxes. After she moved to London in 1989 she became a member of creative music community  F-IRE Collective which also had its label. 
Her first solo album Who Is It?,  released in 1998, was nominated for the 'Rising Star of the Year' award. Ingrid was also nominated for BBC Award 'Rising Star' in 2005 and  won the SWR Jazz Award in 2009. Her composition ″Vogelfrei from the album Contemporary Chaos Practices was included in The New York Times' 25 Best Classical Music Tracks of 2018. These days the musician is part-time faculty member at The New School and Columbia University, while also offering workshops in other universities across the USA where she has lived since 2008. 

Lakecia Benjamin 

This New York-based alto saxophonist, arranger, composer, and educator has been nominated for a Grammy five times! Her repertoire features  R&B, jazz, and funk. Lakecia’s tone is sometimes compared to Johnny Griffin’s thanks to its warmth and resonance. 
This female alto sax player was born in New York City. During grade school and junior high, she began writing songs and lyrics. At the Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, where she was admitted, Lakecia began playing a saxophone. She was very successful so after she graduated, she joined the  jazz program at New York’s New School University, where she deepened her knowledge and enhanced her skills with jazz greats Billy Harper, Workman, Buster Williams, and Gary Bartz. Bartz became her mentor, helping her discover the music of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Jackie McLean, as well as introducing her to training technical exercises. 
Lakecia played with Clark Terry‘s Young Titans of Jazz and participated in sessions of Robert Glasper’s Miles Davis tribute. She released her debut album Rise Up in 2018. The musician collaborated with many players and bands, such as  Anita Baker, Blitz the Ambassador, Count Basie Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Harry Belafonte,  Joanne Brackeen, Keyshia Cole, and more. 

Conclusion 

This was our list of some of the most talented female saxophonists, each with a unique personal and creative story. If you’re not only a fan of saxophone music but play a sax, we’re inviting you to explore our high-quality saxophone accessories, featuring 100% genuine leather, a rich color palette and a focus on comfortability. 

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