By: Harry Coomer

If Bird and Diz were still around, they'd be glad to see that the sax, trumpet, and other woodwind and brass instruments haven't been swept off into some dusty, forgotten corner of the music industry. Jazz clubs, college convocations, and televised award shows aren't the last places for a horn player to get work. In fact, the funk is back, and it's on the rise in so many ways.

Some of the freshest and most interesting music coming out of the electronic/dance scene is coming from the confluence of the electro-soul and funk worlds. At festivals, which are now a melting pot of musical styles, producers are tagging instrumentalists to spice up their sounds, and the pendulum is shifting away from laptop DJ's to more live sets with an interesting assortment of sonic attacks.

We wanted to highlight some of the best horn players we've come across over the years, because it really is an exciting time for dance music, and we really feel these artists are at the heart of it.

10. Nicholas Gerlach

There's no denying the raw talent of Turbo Suit's powerful sax slinger. Not to mention the fact that he sits in with any band worth its salt in the jam scene including, but not limited to, Umphrey's McGee and Lotus.

9. Khris Royal

The Rebelution horn player is starting to dip his toes into the world of electronic music, and because of this stunning Greenhouse Lounge track, we're hoping he dives all the way in.

8. Stone Soul

We saw this dude rocking a euphonium or Sousaphone or something gnarly at SONIC BLOOM this year. Yeah, Jordan Stone is talented, but let's also give him props for lugging that giant fucker around!