Play difficult and interesting things. If you play boring things, you risk losing your appetite. Saxophone can be tedious with too much of the same.
Make the drummer sound good.
When I found the music of Monk I finally found music that fit that horn. Every one of his tunes fit it perfectly.
Circumstances can be very important. Find the right people to work with.
I started in New Orleans music and played all through the history of jazz.
To me, there is spirit in a reed. It's a living thing, a weed, really, and it does contain spirit of a sort. It's really an ancient vibration.