Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander

Galesburg, IL-born saxophonist Eric Alexander: warm-toned, hard-bop torchbearer; 2nd in Thelonious Monk Sax Comp; co-founded One for All; key LPs: Man with a Horn, Song of No Regrets.

Vincent Herring, born in Kentucky and raised in California, is a renowned alto saxophonist known for blending blues-based jazz with advanced harmonics. Influenced by Cannonball Adderley, he rose to fame with Nat Adderley in the '80s. Herring has collaborated with Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, and the Mingus Big Band, and has released notable albums like "Scene One" and "Bird at 100." A key figure in hard bop, his work includes funk and soulful explorations.