Pete Christlieb (born February 16, 1945) is a jazz bebop, West Coast jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist.

Biography

Christlieb was born in Los Angeles, California and is the son of bassoonist Don Christlieb. Christlieb has worked with many musicians, such as Tom Waits, Louie Bellson, Chet Baker, Woody Herman, Steely Dan, Doc Severinsen, Warne Marsh and Bill Holman.

Christlieb played the legendary sax solos on Steely Dan's song Deacon Blues from the album Aja, Natalie Cole's Unforgettable, and the extended tenor sax solo on the song FM from the movie of the same name.

Christlieb currently plays with his recently formed 10-piece group, "Tall and Small Band;" the Bill Holman Orchestra; and his own quartet.

Equipment

Saxophone

Christlieb plays his own signature series model of saxophone made by Cannonball Musical Instruments.

Mouthpiece & Reeds

Christlieb plays a vintage Berg Larsen metal mouthpiece with Rico (plasticover) reeds.

Trivia

• Christlieb is an avid drag racer, and the hand-engraving motif he helped design on his limited edition signature series saxophones features a dragster with a series of smoke and flames.

Discography

• 150 MPH (1974) as a sideman with The Louie Bellson Orchestra
• The Louie Bellson Explosion (1975) as a sideman with The Louie Bellson Orchestra
• Louie Bellson's 7 (1976) with Blue Mitchell, Grant Geissman, Dick Nash, Ross Tompkins
• Matterhorn (1978) as a sideman with The Louie Bellson Orchestra
• Apogee (1978, Warner Bros. Records), produced by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker
• Mosaic (1990, Capri Records)
• The Pete Christlieb-Andy Martin Quintet (1998, Woofy Records)
• For Heaven's Sake (1999, C.a.R.S. Records)
• Live at the Jazz Cafe with the Lori Mecham Quartet (2007, Cognito Records)

References

External Links

• Official website
• Pete Christlieb Signature Series Saxophones