Arguably the best horn band of all time, Tower of Power (TOP), has been around since 1968. The founding members and alumni of the band’s horn section, are literally a who’s who of some of the most famous, contemporary saxophone players.
Over the band’s 44 year history, they have released albums with some interesting cover art. When I saw the 1988 album Direct, it reminded me of a famous album cover: one featuring a painting by Mark Hess.
Source: Euclid Records
One of TOP’s most visible alumni is of course Lenny Pickett. Pickett can be seen and heard every Saturday night heading up the band on Saturday Night Live (SNL)—where’s he’s been the musical director since 1995.
Before joining SNL in 1985, Pickett played sax for Tower of Power. On the Direct album, Pickett demonstrated his signature altissimo skills in Squib Cakes.
Tower of Power still actively tours and performs around the world. If you have never had a chance to see them live, check out their Tour Dates page, to find out where and when they’ll be playing next.
