Jazz musicians are often noted for their improvisational skills and ability to master their chosen instrument. Often they branch out and dabble here and there in other genres.

That is certainly the case with David Sanborn who has put together an incredible legacy as a solo artist and as a guest star with some of the greats of other music genres, such as Stevie Wonder, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Eric Clapton.

Ever heard the "Saturday Night Live Theme?" The sax solo in David Bowie's "Young Americans?" The sax solo in James Taylor's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)?" Those are all works by the legendary saxman who will perform Sunday at Thornton Winery as part of the 2008 Champagne Jazz Concert Series.

"The smooth jazz label I think has taken on a kind of negative attribute," he said. "Jazz has a long history and calling it smooth jazz has a limitation. It's like rock and roll. You can say that everything in rock and roll has a backbeat in rock music but some of it doesn't. It winds up turning a marketing move into a lifestyle."

The fact that Sanborn has achieved such an illustrious career is a tribute to a great deal of dedication on his part and a doctor's encouragement.

"I had polio as a child and was in an iron lung for a year and paralyzed for another year," he said. "When I was 11 my lungs went and the doctors thought it would be a good idea for me to play a wind instrument."

Having already become a big fan of Ray Charles and seeing that at the time the saxophone was a major pop and rock and roll instrument, he picked the sax.

"I was a huge fan of Hank Crawford who ran the Ray Charles Band and the sax was it for me," he said.

He eventually began playing gigs in St. Louis before moving to California.

While living in California, he sat in on sessions with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and wound up with the band for five years. After the band broke up, he joined Stevie Wonder and numerous other performers such as The Rolling Stones, Taylor and Bowie.

"Being influenced by Ray Charles as important for me because while he was hitting the pop charts he was still on the blues side of the spectrum and that is where a ton of pop and rock and roll derived from and knowing those basics put me in a good place," he said.

It also helped that he was already making a name for himself.

"I've been fortunate that I was hired by these artists because they wanted me and wanted to have my input on the music," he said. "I was never really a session guy. Most of the solos I did were a result of playing on tour with these musicians."

Of course, the fame has extended to his solo works, which in addition to being consistent chart toppers have earned him two Grammy awards. His latest CD, "Here and Gone," which will be released next week, features a number of covers and guest stars, including Eric Clapton.

"Eric and I have done stuff in the past," he said. "It's all about finding something appropriate for another artist, not just trying to do a song just for the sake of working with that person. 'I'm Going to Move to the Outskirts of Town' was the perfect song to do with Eric."

For an improvisational artist like Sanborn, the studio can be a stale environment if the musicians try to be perfectionists.

"In the studios these days you can just keep doing it again and again and actually construct a record," he said. "That leads to a place that I don't really like to go to because you lose your ability to react and be spontaneous. That's why I do it live in the studio."

He believes that gives his music a more creative and warm touch.

"I don't want anyone to play in the studio and figure that they can go back in and sort of airbrush their parts to make them sound perfect," he said. "You get a more accurate reflection, a more human moment when it's live. It's like cosmetic surgery. You can build the perfect person but is that what you really want?"

Sanborn certainly carried that idea with him in recording "Here and Gone."

"We went back to that time and place and style of the Hank Crawford albums and David 'Fathead' Newman sounds," he said. "I enjoyed the recording of the album and I tried to be appropriate to the originals."

For Sanborn, the stage presents its own challenges.

"It's important to maintain your interest so the fans can get the best from you," he said. "If you are playing and you are thinking about room service because the song has become so monotonous, then it's time to take that song out of the set list."

Much of Sanborn's success is derived by his strong belief that music must be spontaneous.

"Records are snapshots of moments in time," he said. "If a musician has a successful song or album and just tries to do a follow-up that is just 'son of the hit record,' he or she is going to fail more often than not. You have to be creative and let that lead you."

David Sanborn with special guest

When: 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Thornton Winery, 32575 Rancho California Road, Temecula

Tickets: $60 ($130, gourmet supper package)

Info: (951) 699-3021