bandman

This thread is a result of a question on another thread.

Who in your opinion are the 3 to 5 greatest jazz musicians of all time?

This is based strictly on your opinion, and you do not need to justify your answer.

NOTE: JAZZ MUSICIAN meaning they can play any instrument, or they could be a vocalist. This thread is not limited to trumpet players.

B15M

Louie Armstrong

Red Nichols

Spike Jones

cornetguy

Percy ####### (from Preservation Hall) and actually the whole touring band from 70's and 80's

Doc Severnson

Jack Teagarden (sp?)

I suppose that other then Doc I just gave away my preferance for Jazz

tpter1

Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
Billie Holliday
Miles Davis
John Coltrane

TO DATE those are the names that stand out to me the most. No one can quite match Billie Holliday's soulful quality, but her voice has made an indellible mark on so many musicians (not just vocalists or jazz musicians). Duke...what a forward thinker. He refused to "stay neatly put" in "his place". More and more, it is becoming apparant to me that he was the rare exception of outstanding talent and creativity which so often is overstated as genius. (NOT an overstatement in relation to him). Miles? The Stravinsky of Jazz, IMO. Coltrane...what he started is still merely only scratched at by many today. Armstrong...man played on the moon! Ok, seriously...he is unmistakable. Completely and utterly unmistakable, and his sound is in every jazz trumpeters' horn I can think of. A more significant name in jazz history I cannot think of.

Intersting to think about...what will this list look like in 50 years? 100? Who do we know now that will be included? Anyone? Do we band directors go to school every day and teach one of them? SOMEONE must! Not trying to hijack, Bandman...just a thought as I gave this topic some thought.

The_Lip

In no particular order:

Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
Dave Brubeck
Don Ellis (taken well before his time)
Maynard Ferguson

Solar Bell

Jimmie Smith

Jelly Roll Morton

Teddy Wilson

Harry James


How can we possibly choose?

-cw-

Vulgano Brother

Indeed, how can we choose "the best"? The best at what: being themselves, having a message, speaking into people's lives, bringing the most good feelings, selling the most records, getting mentioned at TM? My answer would have to be:

1. You!
2. You too! and
3 You, over there, yeah, you!

For me, jazz is all about freedom, freedom to be, and freedom from.

trpt2345

No. 1 is easy, Ellington. Along with Louis, who sort of invented modern jazz. How you could leave off Charlie Parker is beyond me. Monk, Miles, Mingus, Coltrane. That rounds out the top 5.

Michael McLaughlin

The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.
Benjamin Franklin

Dave

Duke
Louis
Bird
Miles
Trane

wiseone2

The latter three have a common thread, they were sidemen in bands led by Dizzy Gillespie.
Dizzy was a composer, arranger, soloist and bandleader. Dizzy was a teacher to all who came into his realm. Imagine not playing "A Night in Tunisia." Imagine not having "Manteca" in your latin jazz book......a that is only a start with his compositions. Listen to the trumpet players of the late thirties/early forties, Dizzy played rings around them. Licks that are cliches today were Dizzy's fresh ideas then. Miles early style was pure Gillespie. Diz had few equals at that time. There still are only a handful of players who can negotiate Diz style.
Diz could do it all...........and he was one of the funniest guys on the
planet

Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
John"Berks" Gillespie
That's my list.

Wilmer