An improvisational style like jazz is not found in any other genre. Each artist you find in this article made a unique impression. These are the jazz scholars who have reconciled the social issues of their day with the beautiful sound waves of their instruments. Today, jazz lovers have the opportunity to enjoy this music in more ways than one. Some of the subgenres are bebop, latin, free jazz, acid jazz, hard bop, smooth jazz and many others.

The 15 jazz musicians you read hereare known for the variety of different styles. Also, let’s not forget that rap music evolved naturally from jazz, as many hip-hop producers sampled jazz to create a unique sound in a new genre.

Art Tatum – Pianist

Art is a jazz pianist like no other in world music history. Born in Toledo, Ohio, the musical genius was nearly blind. Since Tatum could not get piano lessons, he became self-taught. Another fascinating fact are his solo pieces, since the accompanists could not follow his musical ideas and realizations. One of the most outstanding features is the ability to use innovative chord extensions. Art was able to make bebop music ten years before bebop records came out.

Thelonious Monk – Pianist & Komponist

Monk is considered a tremendous contributor to modern jazz and one of the founders of bebop. His style has evolved significantly over the years than the bebop style. Born in North Carolina, Thelonious became an exceptional pianist and composer of complex/dissonant harmonies. Monk’s visual style was also an influence as he always appeared with hats and sunglasses. Not just in jazz, but Thelonious Monk is hailed as one of the greatest pianists in any genre.

Charles Mingus – Bassist

Mingus’s bass creations have had the most influencing influence on the roster of jazz musicians. A unique style only develops through hours of practice and Charles has put a lot of effort into practicing gospel, hard bop, free jazz and classical music. His inspiration is Duke Ellington, but also New Orleans jazz in general. His 100 recorded albums are celebrated as the exceptional work of what is arguably the greatest bass player. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat is Karl’s most famous short composition and is dedicated to jazz saxophonist Lester Young.

Art Blakey – drummer

Art is proof that drummers can be band leaders, too. Working with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie has made him one of the greatest drummers in jazz. Blakey influenced the development of the bebop style and his band Die Boten would never have achieved their legendary status without him. Some of the band members were Wayne Shorter, Curtis Fuller, Horace Silver and many others. Blakey’s style of drumming is always mentioned in the essential elements of jazz history.

Dizzy Gillespie – Trumpeter

Jazz critics consider Dizzy to be one of the main reasons why we can enjoy modern jazz music. His improvisations and trumpet playing were widely imitated in the 1950s. Dizzy was interested in music from a young age. He attended the Laurinburg Institute in 1932 to play the trumpet and playfully learn the instrument without instruction. His style was very influential since it inspired Miles Davis, but his looks were also very amusing. Gillespie wore horn-rimmed glasses and his puffy cheeks were always noticeable.

Max Roach – drummer

Another drum legend, also known as. GiltOne outstanding jazz musician is Max Roach. Max is also one of the founders of bebop and his career as a musician is celebrated in this genre. His career has allowed him to experiment with a variety of contexts that music can provide, rather than just standard jazz instrumentation. His fans will never forget the album starring Oscar Brown Jr. and Coleman Hawkins We insist! – Freedom Now , dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Billie Holiday – singer

Billie was arguably the first black singer in a white orchestra in 1938. She quickly climbed the ladder of success and became instantly popular. Many people will admit that she sang exceptionally well when writing songs, but she didn’t write badly at all. The Strange Fruit track is considered her best work and one of the greatest tracks in history. Billie received Grammy Hall of Fame Award and Grammy Best Historical Album for her work after her death. She is one of the most important jazz vocals of all time.

John Coltrane – Saxophonist

Coltrane’s legacy is shared with that of other jazz musicians. His 50 albums show musical advances that are a testament to the artist’s evolution and commitment to jazz and bebop. His tenor sax showed massive and dark tones with a clear definition. There was no doubt about the intensity of his style and his originality. Miles Davis was fascinated by his work and told him to take part in his quintet in 1955. John has demonstrated his skill with the solo sax improvisations, composition and the respectable Coltrane changes alongside the modal harmony.

Count Basie – pianist

Here’s another pianist considered a pioneering player in the jazz genre. Count recorded a piano style that defined jazz. Nowadays many people try to copy and learn his way of playing the piano. Some even say that he is the Beethoven of jazz. Basie has won nine Grammy Awards and is the author of some of the most famous standards like April in Paris and One O’Clock Jump .

Coleman Hawkins – Saxophonist

The tenor sax would not have the same appreciation if it were not for Coleman. His way of playing the saxophone introduced an expressive and hard instrument. Legends like Thelonious Monk, Max Roach and Dizzy Gillespie were influenced and motivated by Hawkins records. The Recording of Body and Soul (1939) is a standard that every saxophonist uses as an example of the great work. Coleman’s improvisations were unique at the time, making him a very important part of modern jazz.

Benny Goodman – Clarinetist

Jazz critics consider Benny to be the king of swing. His band made history in the early 20th century and they are known for Benny’s profound performance. However, achieving such a goal is not easy. He put a lot of time and effort into learning the clarinet from a young age. Some of his best known records are Ol Pappy , I’m Only Dreaming , Don’t Be Like This and many others. The Benny Goldman Trio had many concerts, but that at Carnegie Hall in 1938 was the most memorable in jazz history.

Miles Davis – trumpeter

Miles is without a doubt a very influential figure in jazz music. You can hear his influence in almost every jazz artist today. He laid his signature sound on hard bop, cool jazz, free jazz and fusion. Kind of Blue is the album every musician should know about as it comes to their music. Don’t forget that he has excellent composition and leadership of his band. Miles was always trying to reinvent his own style. Many of the legendary jazz musicians look back on his success. Eight Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame prove he was one of modern music’s most innovative musicians.

Charlie Parker – Saxophonist

Possibly the greatest saxophonist of all time, he definitely deserves a spot on this list. A man who helped transform and advance jazz music as a genre, there isn’t a jazz musician who wouldn’t appreciate the work of Charlie. Its standards, such as anthropology , ornithology, scrapple from the apple , and ko ko , transformed jazz progression through the years. Charlie was able to produce clear tone and demonstrated amazing improvisational skills. Many artists have tried to copy his style, but there is only one Charlie Parker.

Duke Ellington – Pianist

Ellington was a great bandleader, but also a great pianist in other genres of music. He strove to play gospel, blues, classical and other popular music at the highest level. One of the outstanding qualities he had was his charisma. He knew how to use it to his own advantage, but he also knew how to make jazz music similar to classical. Duke’s list of awards is huge. Some of them are 13 Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, a Presidential Medal of Freedom and many others.

Louis Armstrong – Trompeter

Not only a trumpeter, but also a singer, Louis has influenced jazz music in tremendous proportions. A trumpet virtuoso like Louis introduced the instrument to jazz. He is also one of the first scat singers since influencing the likes of Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. There isn’t a musician who wouldn’t add Louis to the list of influential musicians in a genre. Armstrong was an inspiration to Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. In general, there is no musician who has not been influenced by him, even indirectly.