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Apr 2, 2023 · Learn about the history and achievements of 44 of the most influential and famous jazz musicians of all time, from Louis Armstrong to Wynton Marsalis. Discover their styles, genres, compositions, and legacy in this comprehensive list of the greatest and most famous jazz musicians of all time.
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- Charles Waring
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- Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) Born in Newport News, Virginia, Ella Fitzgerald earned the title “The First Lady Of Song” due to her peerless vocal abilities.
- Duke Ellington (1899-1974) Between 1927 and 1974, Washington DC-born Duke Ellington commanded one of the finest ensembles in jazz. A pianist by trade – he played in a unique staccato style – Ellington made his name performing at Harlem’s famous Cotton Club in the late 20s where his orchestra helped to usher in the big band swing movement.
- Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) Nicknamed “Satchmo” or “Pops,” New Orleans-born Louis Armstrong was one of jazz’s most significant founding fathers and played a profoundly influential role in exporting the music to other parts of the world.
- Miles Davis (1926-1991) A trumpeter and bandleader from East St. Louis, Illinois, Miles Davis is arguably the most influential jazz musician of all time.
- Duke Ellington. Born: 1899. Best known as the leader of his long-running Duke Ellington Orchestra, Ellington is the most recorded, and arguably greatest, jazz composer in history, with tunes like Satin Doll , Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Mood Indigo, and hundreds of other jazz standards to his name.
- Louis Armstrong. Born: 1901. After growing up in extreme poverty in New Orleans, jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong broke down racial barriers and became a hugely famous mainstream celebrity at a time when this was unusual for African Americans.
- Count Basie. Born: 1904. For many, the Count Basie Orchestra, with its vibrato-drenched, deeply swinging sound, is the quintessential big band in jazz. Count Basie had played piano with two important early swing bands (Walter Page’s Blue Devils and Bennie Moten’s orchestra) before forming his own Kansas-based outfit in 1935.
- Coleman Hawkins. Born: 1904. Hawk, or Bean as he was also sometimes nicknamed, is widely regarded as the father of jazz saxophone which, remarkably, was not really considered a jazz instrument until his emergence in the 1920s.
- Miles Davis. 1,636 votes. Miles Davis, a true innovator, pushed the boundaries of jazz with his pioneering approaches to improvisation, harmonic structure, and instrumentation.
- Louis Armstrong. 1,537 votes. A founding father of jazz, Louis Armstrong's impact on the genre remains unparalleled, as his virtuosic trumpet playing and distinctive gravelly voice laid the foundation for its future.
- John Coltrane. 1,391 votes. John Coltrane's powerful saxophone playing and relentless pursuit of innovation make him a true titan of jazz. With a career spanning bebop, hard bop, modal jazz, and the avant-garde, Coltrane consistently reinvented his sound and expanded the boundaries of jazz expression.
- Art Tatum. 1,176 votes. Art Tatum's jaw-dropping technique and incomprehensible speed on the piano place him among the greatest pianists in jazz history and arguably of all genres.
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- Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World. This New Orleans-grown jazz musician is part of this list because he was a double threat—a talented singer and a brilliant trumpeter.
- Ella Fitzgerald. Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" Perhaps you know her as the “First Lady of Song” due to her flawless, yet fierce, vocal stylings.
- Duke Ellington. Duke Ellington - Satin Doll (1962) [official video] In the late 20s, Duke Ellington began his career playing at Harlem’s Cotton Club. He helped grow the big band swing movement along with his orchestra.
- John Coltrane. My Favorite Things. Maybe it’s his diverse background of being born in North Carolina yet raised in Philadelphia. Or maybe it was his natural ability or dedication to his instrument.
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Jun 7, 2021 · Learn about the history and evolution of jazz music and some of the most influential jazz musicians who shaped the genre. From Louis Armstrong to Miles Davis, from bebop to fusion, discover the stories and styles of jazz legends.
May 16, 2023 · A list of the most talented and influential jazz vocalists in history, from Bessie Smith to Madeleine Peyroux. Learn about their styles, influences, and achievements in this comprehensive countdown.
