A Saturday Afternoon of Jazz featuring Bootsie Barnes. Robert (Bootsie) Barnes is an American jazz tenor saxophonist from Philadelphia. Bootsie began his musical career at age 6 on piano switching to drums at 10. His grandmother gave him a saxophone at age 19 and he knew he had found his niche. Today, "Bootsie" Barnes is known as "the man with the "Tenor Touch" because of his dynamic style on the tenor saxophone. His smooth and distinct sound is easily recognizable whether softly caressing a ballad, or swinging hard, during live performances or on CD.