Lenny Pickett & David Bowie | The Borneo Horns Saxophone Master

Lenny Pickett is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive saxophonists of his generation. Best known to millions of television viewers as the musical director and celebrated tenor saxophone soloist of Saturday Night Live, he also played a significant role in David Bowie’s musical world for more than two decades.

Although many listeners associate Pickett with his extraordinary altissimo saxophone technique and his years with Tower of Power, Bowie fans know him as one of the driving forces behind the Borneo Horns. Together with Steve Elson and Stan Harrison, Pickett helped create the powerful brass sound that became an essential part of Bowie’s live performances during the Serious Moonlight Tour and continued to feature on later Bowie recordings.

His collaboration with Bowie extended far beyond a single tour. Pickett remained one of the musicians Bowie returned to repeatedly, contributing to Tonight, Never Let Me Down and, nearly twenty years later, reuniting with the Borneo Horns for Heathen. That remarkable continuity reflects the confidence Bowie placed in Pickett’s musicianship and unmistakable sound. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Key Facts

Full name: Leonard “Lenny” Pickett
Born: April 10, 1954, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
Instruments: Tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute, arranger
Best known for: Tower of Power, Saturday Night Live, The Borneo Horns
Bowie connection: Serious Moonlight Tour, Tonight, Never Let Me Down, Heathen

Early Life and Musical Development

Lenny Pickett was born on 10 April 1954 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but grew up in Berkeley, California, where he developed an early fascination with music. Unlike many professional saxophonists, Pickett was largely self-taught. His curiosity led him to explore the instrument far beyond conventional techniques, eventually developing the extraordinary control of the instrument’s highest register that would become his trademark throughout his career.

Influenced by rhythm and blues, jazz and soul, he quickly became known for combining technical virtuosity with an adventurous musical imagination. His unique sound attracted attention while he was still a teenager, leading to professional performances throughout the San Francisco Bay Area long before most musicians of his age had established careers.

Tower of Power

At just eighteen years of age, Pickett joined the legendary funk and soul band Tower of Power, replacing Skip Mesquite as the group’s lead tenor saxophonist. During the 1970s he became one of the band’s defining musical voices, contributing memorable solos, sophisticated horn arrangements and the powerful sound that made Tower of Power one of the world’s most respected horn sections.

The years with Tower of Power transformed Pickett into one of the most sought-after session musicians in American popular music. His remarkable versatility enabled him to move comfortably between rhythm & blues, jazz, rock and pop, resulting in collaborations with artists including Elton John, Talking Heads, Laurie Anderson, Madonna and many others before his first work with David Bowie. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Joining David Bowie’s Musical World

By the early 1980s, David Bowie was assembling an exceptional group of New York musicians capable of supporting the ambitious new musical direction that would emerge with the Let’s Dance era. Although Pickett did not perform on the Let’s Dance studio album itself, Bowie recruited him soon afterwards for the Serious Moonlight Tour, recognising both his exceptional technical ability and his experience as a member of one of America’s finest horn sections. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Working alongside fellow saxophonists Steve Elson and Stan Harrison, Pickett became part of the newly named Borneo Horns. Their combination of powerful brass arrangements, rhythmic precision and remarkable musical flexibility perfectly complemented the polished sound Bowie was developing during the mid-1980s.

The Birth of the Borneo Horns

The formation of the Borneo Horns marked the beginning of one of David Bowie’s most recognisable brass sections. Rather than functioning as anonymous session musicians, the three saxophonists developed a distinctive musical identity that became inseparable from Bowie’s live performances and several studio recordings throughout the decade.

Lenny Pickett‘s expressive tenor saxophone, Steve Elson‘s commanding baritone saxophone and Stan Harrison‘s versatile alto and tenor playing created a horn section capable of delivering powerful rhythm-and-blues lines, elegant jazz phrasing and tightly arranged pop melodies. Together they brought both musical sophistication and theatrical energy to Bowie’s evolving sound.

The Borneo Horns

The creation of the Borneo Horns marked a significant development in David Bowie’s live and studio sound during the 1980s. Built around the talents of Lenny Pickett, Steve Elson and Stan Harrison, the horn section combined outstanding technical ability with an instinctive understanding of rhythm, harmony and stage performance.

Photo by Keri Pickett. Reproduced with permission. Publication on DavidBowieWorld.com approved by Steve Elson.

Although each musician had an impressive career in his own right, together they developed a distinctive musical identity that extended far beyond traditional brass accompaniment. Their arrangements blended funk, rhythm & blues, jazz and contemporary pop, giving Bowie’s music additional energy without overwhelming the songs themselves.

The Borneo Horns became one of the defining musical features of Bowie’s mid-1980s performances. Whether playing tightly arranged horn riffs, expressive melodic lines or powerful rhythmic accents, the three musicians demonstrated remarkable precision while leaving room for individual expression.

Steve Elson, one of Pickett’s closest musical colleagues, later reflected on the importance of the group and noted in personal correspondence with DavidBowieWorld.com that Lenny Pickett deserved greater recognition for his role within the Borneo Horns. The two musicians had known one another since childhood in Berkeley, California, and their musical partnership eventually spanned more than six decades, creating an almost instinctive understanding between them on stage and in the recording studio.

The Serious Moonlight Tour

Lenny Pickett officially joined David Bowie’s touring band for the Serious Moonlight Tour in 1983. Supporting the enormously successful Let’s Dance album, the world tour visited Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, eventually becoming one of the largest and most successful tours of Bowie’s career.

For Pickett, the tour offered an opportunity to bring his unmistakable tenor saxophone sound to an audience of more than two million people. Working alongside Steve Elson and Stan Harrison, he helped recreate the sophisticated brass arrangements that had become synonymous with Bowie’s new commercial sound while also reimagining classic songs from throughout Bowie’s catalogue.

The Borneo Horns quickly became one of the visual and musical highlights of the concerts. Rather than remaining static at the back of the stage, the three musicians were fully integrated into the performance, interacting with Bowie and the rest of the band while contributing both dynamic horn arrangements and theatrical stage presence.

Night after night, Pickett’s extraordinary command of the saxophone’s upper register added excitement and colour to the performances. His distinctive tone complemented Steve Elson‘s powerful baritone saxophone and Stan Harrison‘s versatile playing, creating one of the most memorable horn sections ever to accompany David Bowie on tour.

Studio Collaboration: Tonight (1984)

Following the success of the Serious Moonlight Tour, Bowie invited the Borneo Horns to participate in the recording of Tonight, released in 1984. The album continued the polished production style established by Let’s Dance while giving the horn section an even more prominent place within several of its arrangements.

Lenny Pickett contributed not only as an exceptional saxophonist but also as one of the musical architects of the Borneo Horns. Together with Steve Elson and Stan Harrison, he helped create the bright, energetic brass textures that became one of the defining musical characteristics of Tonight. Their tightly arranged horn parts added colour, sophistication and rhythmic drive while perfectly complementing David Bowie’s evolving pop sound.

Although Tonight received mixed critical reviews upon its release in 1984, the musicianship throughout the album has continued to earn widespread respect. Pickett’s contribution demonstrated why Bowie repeatedly returned to the same trusted collaborators. The distinctive sound of the Borneo Horns remained an important element of Bowie’s recordings, reflecting both the exceptional chemistry between the three musicians and Bowie’s confidence in their creativity and professionalism.

Never Let Me Down

Lenny Pickett‘s collaboration with David Bowie continued on Never Let Me Down (1987), where the Borneo Horns once again contributed to the album’s rich musical textures. By this stage the three musicians had developed an almost intuitive understanding of one another’s playing, allowing them to perform intricate arrangements with remarkable precision.

The continued presence of the Borneo Horns across several David Bowie projects demonstrated the extraordinary confidence Bowie placed in the section. Rather than assembling a different group of horn players for each album or tour, he repeatedly turned to musicians whose creativity, versatility and musical instincts he knew and trusted.

For Lenny Pickett, this ongoing collaboration reflected far more than technical excellence. His distinctive tenor saxophone sound, innovative arrangements and intuitive understanding of Bowie’s music made him an integral part of the evolving horn section alongside Steve Elson and Stan Harrison. Together, they developed a musical identity that became instantly recognisable to audiences throughout the 1980s.

The Borneo Horns brought far more than brass accompaniment to Bowie’s recordings and concerts. Their combination of funk, jazz and rhythm & blues influences added warmth, power and sophistication to the music, helping shape the polished sound that characterised Bowie’s work during this period.

Returning to David Bowie: Heathen

Nearly two decades after the height of Bowie’s commercial success during the 1980s, Lenny Pickett once again found himself working with David Bowie. For the critically acclaimed album Heathen, released in 2002, Bowie reunited with several trusted musicians from earlier periods of his career, demonstrating the lasting musical relationships he had built over the years.

Lenny Pickett‘s return for Heathen illustrated the lasting respect David Bowie continued to have for his musicianship. Almost twenty years had passed since their first collaboration during the Serious Moonlight Tour, yet Bowie once again chose Pickett’s unmistakable saxophone sound for one of the strongest and most critically acclaimed albums of his later career.

Although Bowie’s musical direction had evolved considerably since the Let’s Dance era, Pickett’s expressive playing remained perfectly suited to the more mature and atmospheric sound that characterised Heathen. His ability to combine technical brilliance with musical sensitivity made him a natural fit for Bowie’s constantly evolving artistic vision.

The reunion demonstrated Bowie’s loyalty to musicians whose talent and creativity he valued. For Pickett, contributing to Heathen represented another significant chapter in a professional relationship built on mutual respect, exceptional musicianship and a shared commitment to musical excellence.

A Unique Saxophone Voice

Among professional saxophonists, Lenny Pickett is recognised for one of the most distinctive sounds in contemporary popular music. His extraordinary command of the instrument’s altissimo register allows him to reach notes that very few tenor saxophonists can produce with comparable power, accuracy and musical control.

Rather than treating technical ability as an end in itself, Pickett has always used these extended techniques to serve the music. Whether performing with Tower of Power, David Bowie, Saturday Night Live or numerous other artists, his playing combines remarkable virtuosity with warmth, rhythmic precision and unmistakable personality.

Beyond David Bowie

Outside his work with Bowie, Lenny Pickett has enjoyed one of the most diverse careers of any American saxophonist. Following his years with Tower of Power, he became one of the most respected session musicians in the music industry, collaborating with artists including Elton John, Talking Heads, Laurie Anderson, Madonna, Joe Cocker, David Byrne, St. Vincent and many others.

Since 1985 he has been a central figure in the Saturday Night Live band, becoming its musical director in 1995. Millions of viewers have heard his instantly recognisable saxophone playing every week during the programme’s famous opening and closing themes, making him one of the most familiar saxophonists in American television history.

Legacy

Within David Bowie’s remarkable circle of collaborators, Lenny Pickett occupies a unique position. His work with the Borneo Horns helped define the sound of Bowie’s live performances during the mid-1980s, while his later return for Heathen demonstrated the lasting respect Bowie had for musicians whose creativity and professionalism he valued.

Although many listeners know Pickett through Saturday Night Live or Tower of Power, Bowie fans recognise him as one of the musicians who helped transform Bowie’s music into a spectacular live experience. His powerful saxophone playing, inventive arrangements and remarkable versatility ensured that his influence extended far beyond a single tour or recording session.

Video

Lenny Pickett‘s extraordinary saxophone technique, particularly his famous altissimo register, has made him one of the world’s most admired tenor saxophonists. The following performance provides an excellent introduction to the musical style that David Bowie valued so highly throughout their years of collaboration.

Place Within Bowie’s Universe

David Bowie consistently surrounded himself with musicians who brought individual character as well as technical excellence to his recordings and concerts. Lenny Pickett perfectly embodied that philosophy. Rather than functioning simply as a member of a horn section, he contributed a distinctive musical voice that became an integral part of Bowie’s evolving sound during the 1980s and beyond.

His collaborations with Steve Elson and Stan Harrison in the Borneo Horns remain among the finest examples of brass ensemble playing in Bowie’s career. Together they demonstrated how exceptional musicianship could enhance Bowie’s music while always serving the songs themselves. Their work continues to be admired by musicians and Bowie fans alike.

Article Origin

This article has been researched and written for DavidBowieWorld.com as part of the website’s ongoing series documenting the musicians, singers and creative collaborators who helped shape David Bowie’s extraordinary career. Every effort has been made to ensure historical accuracy through consultation of reliable published sources, official musician biographies and documented recording and touring credits.