I can see why one would call Dexter Gordon foo foo...he has that big dark sound (Dexter Gordon Go is a good start). I personally prefer early Sonny Rollins to later Sonny Rollins (the Sound of Sonny is a good start). Don't forget Coltrane of course (Giant Steps and probably Love Supreme are a good start). Joe Henderson (perhaps Inner Urge for his early period and maybe So Near, So Far for his later period). Lester Young, Ben Webster, Gene Ammons, Johnny Griffin, Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Lovano, Dewey Redman, David Murray (great bass clarinetist too), Michael Brecker, Steve Grossman, all the recommendations above and below (I'm forecasting). There are so many players to listen to I know I'm forgetting so many. You might even check out Ornette Coleman's Ornette on Tenor for something more outside...interesting to hear him play his concept on tenor instead of alto. Just a few suggestions... Have Fun!

I think I might know what he's trying to say by foo-foo. Like the softer attacks on some of his songs. Sort of sub-tone type stuff. I really like Sonny Rollins, and another good tone I really like is Lenny Pickett. It's great for jazz or rock. He's got a great altissimo range; one of the best I've ever heard.

Joshua Redman.

i don't call that "foo foo". I call that drunk.

It's been a while since I've posted this, and I've been listening to Coltrane more and more. I used to only be able to handle so much of his music, but the more I listen, the more I hear the genius. Every time I listen to Giant Steps I get chills, and I love the Blue Train album. I have this one live album of Paquito D'Rivera that I enjoy a lot too (Live at the Blue Note). Even before I began the post I listened to Miles Davis all the time. I really like the Birth of the Cool sessions. I've never heard the music of Payton, I'll have to check him out. I am listening to more piano now, too. Bill Evans is awesome, and I like Kenny Barron and Vince Guaraldi, among others. I kind of wish I had played piano before any other instrument, I might have had a better grasp of chords and composition at an earlier age.