Turns out both sax players have hung around E Street before. Springsteen chronicler Backstreets notes Jake Clemons has played with the band in the past but this will be his first tour.
Also onboard for the tour is saxophonist Eddie Manion who, according to Backstreets, has “played with Bruce in various incarnations for decades.”
The tour will also include trombonist Clark Gayton and trumpeter Curt Ramm, both of whom have worked with The Boss in the past, plus newcomer Barry Danielian on trumpet. Rounding out the additions are backup singers Cindy Mizelle and Curtis King who appeared on Springsteen’s Sessions tour.
Today’s announcement ends speculation regarding the gigantic hole in the band that was created by Clemons’ passing in 2011 after suffering multiple strokes. When North American tour dates were announced last month, the Springsteen camp made it clear as to who was in E Street and who wasn’t, saying violinist Soozie Tyrell and keyboardist Charlie Giordano were appearing “with” band members Roy Bittan, Nils Lofgren, Patti Scialfa, Garry Tallent, Stevie Van Zandt and Max Weinberg.
The omission of a sax player in the U.S. tour announcement led some publications to report that Springsteen was hitting the road without someone belting out those famous solos on songs like “Badlands” and “Jungleland.” But a rendition of “Born To Run” without the saxophone solo following the second verse? Maybe in an alternate universe, but not on the upcoming tour.