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Chris’s Sound

The best way I can think to describe the appeal of Chris’s saxophone sound [on all his horns] is to use an analogy with clothes. Here’s samples of some of my fave post-Bird tenor players and their corresponding clothing:
 
Saxophonist Garment His Sound Is Like Why
click here to listen to Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins 		old cardigan with elbow patches loose, informal, durable, solid, not trendy or flashy
click here to listen to John Coltrane
John Coltrane 		tweed suit firm, strong, proper, ceremonial, intense
click here to listen to Albert Ayler
Albert Ayler 		medieval wool monk’s habit coarse, demanding, non-soothing, focused on higher things
click here to listen to Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson 		silk robe (with an ascot!) light, smooth, flexible, elegant
click here to listen to Lew Tabackin
Lew Tabackin 		red plaid lumberjack shirt thick, tough, no-nonsense, accessible
click here to listen to Scott Hamilton
Scott Hamilton 		it could only be a tuxedo! suave, sophisticated and classic
click here to listen to Chris
Chris Potter 		well-broken-in black leather jacket supple but strong, always looks and feels great [never uncool], a hint of danger and daring
So: Chris’s sound impresses me as being unusually versatile, attractive and enduringly classic -- he has a black leather tone!
 
 
REMINDER: all this is just my opinion, I could be wrong.