Date:	13-Nov-1999 00:50:33
From:	Michael Ricci
	The first batch that spring to my mind are... * Louis Armstrong * Duke Ellington * Charlie Parker * Art Tatum * Bill Evans * Miles Davis * John Coltrane * Ornette Coleman Anyone else?

 

Date:	13-Nov-1999 03:38:23
From:	D C DowDell (keyplyr@email.com)
	Ellington for a life of contributions, Charlie Parker for Bop, Armstrong for bringing in the hot, Jelly Roll Morton for those chord symbols, Miles for the cutting edge, Basie's swing, Sinatra's phrasing, Buddy's ego and Ella's style. I salute you all.

 

Date:	13-Nov-1999 10:25:03
From:	Vendy Voo
	Louie Armstrong Sidney Bechet Duke Ellington Benny Carter Count Basie Art Tatum Charlie Parker Dizzy Gillespie Lennie Tristano Bud Powell Miles Davis Bill Evans Sonny Rollins John Coltrane Ornette Coleman Eric Dolphy Julius Hemphill

 

Date:	13-Nov-1999 11:08:46
From:	marko (marko.kumer@guest.arnes.si)
	Eric Dolphy Albert Ayler Anthony Braxton Cecil Taylor Charles Mingus

 

Date:	13-Nov-1999 11:41:49
From:	Pombo
	In an attempt to counter the seemingly eternal prejudice against these instruments: Max Roach Elvin Jones Paul Motian Oscar Pettiford Charles Mingus Scott Lafaro

 

Date:	13-Nov-1999 12:24:49
From:	jim smith (ajimsmith@aol.com)
	most choices read so far are great. many of the best jazz musicians were former big band and/or studio personnel.consider conte candoli, doc sevrinsen, bill watrous, pete christlieb. there are many others. thank you.

 

Date:	13-Nov-1999 15:10:59
From:	Hal
	What no Thelonious Monk!!!! No Lee Konitz? No Earl Hines? Lionel Hampton? What about: Gil Evans George Russell Gerry Mulligan Bill Holman Muhal Richard Abrams Benny Goodman Tad Dameron and other arranger/big band folks?

 

Date:	13-Nov-1999 20:58:22
From:	mike
	Ella Fitzgerald Earl Hines Ben Webster Vic Dickenson Johnny Hodges Coleman Hawkins Clark Terry with Louis Armstrong Duke Ellingoton Charlie Parker

 

Date:	14-Nov-1999 11:19:25
From:	Ignatz
	Louie Armstrong Count Basie Duke Ellington Art Tatum Charlie Parker Max Roach Charles Mingus John Coltrane Ornette Coleman Bill Evans Julius Hemphill

 

Date:	14-Nov-1999 11:21:11
From:	Mike Head (michael_head@hotmail.com)
	What about Sarah Vaughn? Oscar Peterson? Lionel Hampton? Those are just a few who come to my mind. Also Lady Day, Dinah Washington

 

Date:	14-Nov-1999 15:22:21
From:	Zimbo
	Jelly Roll Morton Lennie Tristano Julius Hemphill (leader of the World Saxophone Quartet and of the Julius Hemphill Sextet etc.) The three most underated of the 20th century jazz immortals.

 

Date:	14-Nov-1999 18:57:46
From:	Judson O. Maynard (jazzbo112@aol.com)
	Thought I would throw my two cents in. What about dave Brubeck. Brubeck has done much for jazz outside of the music itself. He was instrumental in taking jazz out of the nightclubs and bringing it to college campuses and concert halls all over the world. He was also one of the first to use time signatures outside of the usual 4/4 and 3/4 time. I think we should also consider Jimi Hendrix as a major influence on jazz as well as rock and an entire generation of guitar players.

 

Date:	15-Nov-1999 08:05:31
From:	Takis Lebessis,ATHENS(GR)
	Duke Ellington John Coltrane Miles Davis Ornette Coleman Sun Ra

 

Date:	15-Nov-1999 19:45:18
From:	Ray Trent (RTrent3440@aol.com)
	ELLA possessed the greatest vocal instrument of the 20th Century!

 

Date:	16-Nov-1999 01:39:31
From:	clay thompson (littleniles)
	Founders,pioneers and innovators define any art forms greats. Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Lester Young, Art Tatum,Thelonius Monk, Charlie Parker, Gil Evans, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Lee Konitz, Max Roach, Dave Brubeck, Ray Brown, Stan Getz and Wes Montgomery all qualify just to name a few.

 

Date:	16-Nov-1999 17:43:28
From:	Elgin
	Have we forgotten about Clifford Brown?

 

Date:	16-Nov-1999 20:08:52
From:	Billy T.
	Kenny G is the little germ who spawned the smooth jazz virus. Does this count?

 

Date:	17-Nov-1999 12:06:37
From:	Max DeLucas
	BIRD

 

Date:	17-Nov-1999 12:23:28
From:	ChriS (cslawec9@idt.net)
	He wasn't the most technically accomplished trumpet player (although I believe "his lack of technique" is over-rated), but Miles assembled two of the greatest quintets and was personally involved in "The Birth of the Cool," modal jazz, jazz fusion, and helped bring bop to birth. He was also one of the first to incorporate the techniques of Stockhausen and electronic instruments into the jazz vocabulary. So even though Dizzy "played better," Miles Davis gets my vote.

 

Date:	17-Nov-1999 16:10:24
From:	C. Michael Bailey (cmbailey@aristotle.net)
	1. Miles Davis-- for shepherding five revolutions in jazz. 2. Duke Ellington-- for legitimizing jazz as an orchestral music 3. Count Basie-- for his effortless and good-natured swing and Lester Young. 4. Dizzy Gillespie-- for his profound technique both musically and socially. 5. Louis Armstrong-- See above. 6. Charlie Parker-- for single-handedly standing jazz on its ear. 7. Charles Mingus-- for the same reason as Ellington, but as an iconoclast. 8. Art Tatum-- a titan loud. 9. Frank Sinatra-- the chairman of the phrase 10. Elle Fitzgerald-- music was not the same the first time air crossed her vocal chords..

 

Date:	18-Nov-1999 12:22:35
From:	ADR - The Devoted Jazz Fan(atic) (jazzfan333@aol.com)
	I think some of the posters on this thread were confused about the topic. The topic was not "favorite" jazz musicians of the 20th century or "most underrated" jazz musicians of the 20th century, but the "most *influential*" jazz musician of the 20th century. My opinion is that you could make serious arguments in favor of the following individuals: 1. Louis Armstrong - revolutionized all subsequent jazz by changing jazz from an ensemble based art form to a soloist based art form. Set jazz on a course of linear innovation/development that would last nearly half the century. 2. Duke Ellington - paradoxically, he was essentially a self confessed dance tune composer - yet he simultaneously elevated jazz to art music through his style, grace, intelligence, and (of course) brilliant compositions that harnessed the strengths of the individual musicians in his band. 3. Miles Davis - My choice for most influential jazz musician of the 20th century. His qualitative influence is pperhaps not greater than the other candidates in their peak periods of influence. However, quantitatively, no one else can compete with his period of nearly 30 years, from the late 40's to the early 70's when he was at the forefront of almost every significant development in jazz: the "Birth of the Cool" nonet with Gil Evans; the pioneering hard bop sessions with Horace Silver, Sonny Rollins and others; the first classic quintet with Trane, Red, P.C., and Philly Joe; the modal experiments of the Milestones/Kind of Blue period; the stretching of the limits of bop by the second classic quintet with Herbie, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams; and, finally, the fusion experiments of the In A Silent Way/Bitches Brew period. 4. Charlie Parker - Spiritually he is the father and practically he is one of the most important (if not the most important) theorist of the bop movement which ushered in the era of modern jazz. His spectre still looms large over all the jazz music played today more than 40 years after his death and more than 50 years after his chief musical innovations. 5. Ornette Coleman - Revolutionized modern jazz and provided a shot in the arm to the music at a time when bop was beginning to run out of gas. We're still coming to grips with his legacy today, although his inclusion in the cannon is certain. I really don't think anyone else has had the impact on jazz this century that these seminal figures have had (with all due respect to other giants of jazz such as Jelly Roll Morton, Coleman Hawkins, Sidney Bechet, Stan Getz, Benny Goodman, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, and Anthony Braxton, to name just a few). ADR The Devoted Jazz Fan(atic)

 

Date:	18-Nov-1999 14:41:16
From:	Keith (akanauls@earthlink.net)
	Each list I've scanned so far has seemed to glaringly omit "The Genious of Modern Music/The High Priest" Thelonious Sphere Monk. He was much more than a mere Jazz pianist. No other Jazz musician has been given more album tributes by other Jazz artists. 'Round Midnight' is arguably the most played/recorded Jazz standard. Elements of Monk's music and playing style have borrowed by many, both Jazz and near Jazz people, and has been poorly copied by some. If Jazz is America's classical music, Monk has had the most influence on the individuals who create this art. The rest of my short list: Armstrong-perhaps the most influential of Jazz's founders. Bird- the saxophone gateway from swing to free jazz. Dizzy-the trumpet king gave us latin jazz and an ambassador. Miles-Influenced everyone. Trane-Trancendental Duke-Our greatest Amercan composer/orchestrator. Kenny Clarke and Max Roach set the table for polyrhthms. Ray Brown, Charles Mingus, and Ron Carter all expanded the language of the bass and have an incredible body of works. There are obviously others who were influential, however their legacy can probably be traced back to the folks on this list, or their influence was limited perhaps to others playing the same instrument or style of music.

 

Date:	18-Nov-1999 15:47:17
From:	Hendrik Oberwinter (god.dog@T-Online.de)
	John McLaughlin (for Mahavishnu Orchestra, Skakti and his classical work) Keith Jarrett Don Cherry Trilok Gurtu Pharoah Sanders Airto Jack DeJohnette Ralph Towner (For his Work with Oregon and his nearly perfect Solo-Album) Nils Petter Molvaer (Not realy big, but his album "Khmer" was very beautyfull, new Jazz) Jan Garbarek (as the founder of an european jazzstile, a new sound)

 

Date:	18-Nov-1999 15:55:03
From:	neil
	I guess if were talking influential as in contributing to the world of modern jazz the most then I would argue that possibly Stevie Wonder could take precedence...!! When you consider all of the albums since the 60's that have Stevie's tracks on them done in the Jazz style and the people he has influenced today. yeah I know it sounds ludicrous but check out todays Jazz musicains favourite albums and you'll definitely see some Stevie in there (Herbie H, Pat Meth, Josh R etc......) Oh yeah and err Coltrane and McCoy would also be in there too.....!

 

Date:	18-Nov-1999 20:03:21
From:	Wally Tadpole
	I think ADR makes strong a point, although I think that Julius Hemphill could be added to his list while acknowledging that his influence will be more in the 21st century.

 

Date:	19-Nov-1999 06:24:16
From:	Stanton (stanton@pc.jaring.my)
	All of the obvious musicians have been mentioned. So I will weigh in with Scott LaFaro who has had the most profound influence on bass playing of the past 40 years.

 

Date:	19-Nov-1999 12:53:29
From:	ANGEL CRUZ (angel.cruz@ps.ge.com)
	For the most influential west coast "Cool Jazz" musicians I consider Chet Baker and Art Pepper. I also believe Art Pepper was grossly underrated

 

Date:	20-Nov-1999 08:29:30
From:	Jorge Sica (jsica@adinet.com.uy)
	Miles Davis Charlie Parker Thelonius Monk John Coltrane Wayne Shorter Bill Evans Charles Mingus Gil Evans Chick Corea Herbie Hancock Marsalis Bros.

 

Date:	20-Nov-1999 11:08:26
From:	elgin
	I would have to agree with C.Micheal and ADR.

 

Date:	20-Nov-1999 12:10:44
From:	Roberto Rodriguez-Silva (robertor@cable.net.co)
	Louis Armstrong Fletcher Henderson Artie Shaw Billie Holiday John Coltrane Miles Davis Duke Ellington

 

Date:	20-Nov-1999 12:12:46
From:	Roberto Rodriguez-Silva (robertor@cable.net.co)
	and CHARLIE PARKER!!

 

Date:	21-Nov-1999 13:51:52
From:	Ignatz
	Louis Armstrong Duke Ellington Coleman Hawkins Art Tatum Charlie Parker Miles Davis John Coltrane Ornette Coleman Bill Evans Julius Hemphill

 

Date:	21-Nov-1999 13:54:08
From:	Ignatz (again)
	INFLUENTIAL not necessarily favorites.

 

Date:	25-Nov-1999 15:43:30
From:	viks
	chick corea? give me a break...... What has he done compared to many musicians who wern't mentioned much in peoples lists? (e.g. Bud Powell, Count Basie, Jelly roll Moton, Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, Cannonball Adderley, Elvin Jones, Art Blakey and many more)

 

Date:	25-Nov-1999 18:45:25
From:	Neil
	In response to the previous How can you say that Chick Corea wasn't influential? He and Herbie were 'THE' pianists of the late 1960's and practically all of the 70's and still set the mark today. His lyricism and inventiveness is unmatched by any keyboard player in the history of Jazz. His solos are the most melodic, yet complex lines I've heard in Jazz. His contribution to latin jazz/fusion with RTF in the 70's brought the rhodes into the spotlight (yeah I know that it was used by Joe Zawinul earlier) and influenced practically every keyboard player since then. Best Regards Neil

 

Date:	28-Nov-1999 13:48:32
From:	Ralph Reno
	I think there is a difference between someone who has influenced the development of a particular instrument and someone whos influence crossed instrumental boundaries. Let's say Louis Armstrong who in a sense brought soloing to a higher level and became a model/standard for all jazz musicians/soloists in his day and beyond or a Charlie Parker who developed the language of be-bop which became much larger than just the development of how to play the alto saxophone. It became a language that influenced everyone from pianists, bassists, to big band composers and arrangers etc. etc. etc. There are many, many great musicians but much fewer truly influential musicians in this broader sense.

 

Date:	29-Nov-1999 13:20:43
From:	dan patten (dpatten@mtt.ca)
	oscar peterson,joe pass,jimmy smith,charlie parker,roy eldridge,ray brown,stephane grappelli,louis armstrong,buddy rich

 

Date:	02-Dec-1999 13:48:17
From:	Neil
	In response to Ralph Reno I totally agree with your view about how the musicians you mentioned influenced jazz. However I think that most young jazz musicians today are not 'directly' influenced by them. Most of the people I know who are into jazz or playing jazz are influenced by the music of the last 20-30 years and know little or zero about the older musicians. By influence I guess were talking about artists that influence us directly. I don't hear too much of say, Louis Armstrongs influence in many young musicians as they have lots of influence around them in music forms such as rock, funk, hip hop reggae etc.... that's not to say Armstrongs contribution isn't there, all I'm saying is that the majority of younger musicians aren't into it. I've seen many lists where many jazz musicians list 'the' record that has influenced them. One that springs to mind was Julian Joseph who got into jazz from listening to Herbie Hancock's 'I thought it was you' disco record from 1978. Which I guess most purists wouldn't call jazz, but check out the changes and the solo and you've got a classic jazz standard form. Many artists into say, dance music are influenced by the funky jazz that was coming out in the 60's and 70's and look how big the dance market is today. We are hearing 60's jazz tunes and samples from rare jazz records all the time now on the radio and TV. Of course all the above is just my opinion but I think people forget that the likes of Herbie, Chick etc... have been on the scene for 30-40 years, long enough to influence any musician never mind just pianists. Peace Neil

 

Date:	03-Dec-1999 07:40:41
From:	Ralph Reno
	Neil: I agree with most of what you've said. I agree that the influence may not be direct but the question is who did Herbie Hancock learn from and who did his mentors learn from? Armstrong & Parker are part of the "culture" of jazz -of its fundamental language. They have helped to teach others to find their own voices. Armstrong and Parker are in some ways like the trunk of the tree that brings nutrients to the leaves. I'm more interested in the trunk and the structure/function of the tree than the leaves. I don't think we disagree, it's just a difference in perspective. Thank you for your comments and interest.

 

Date:	03-Dec-1999 08:30:25
From:	Ralph R.
	Just a note: I have in my hand a list of the Verve "Ultimate" CDs. In this series a contemporary jazz musician chooses a mentor and then chooses his/her favorite cuts from past Verve albums. In this series is "Bud Powell selected by Chick Corea." Also in the series is "Bill Evans selected by Herbie Hancock." Both of these CDs can take you back to Charlie Parker. Few would dispute that Parker is a mentor figure to Bud Powell's bebop - it's a truism if there ever was one. Anyway, you can see the line of influence: Parker to Powell to Corea. The other CD has a similiar line. If you've ever heard the early Bill Evans CDs ("Conception" and "On Green Dolphin Street") you hear a whole lot of bebop Bill Evans. He has often publically acknowledged the influence of Powell. Also, if you've heard one of the last CDs Evans recorded, the live "Turn Out The Stars" (single CD highlights or the 6 CD set) you hear an awful lot of bebop Evans again. So, you have a Parker to Powell to Evans to Hancock line of influence. I don't think either Corea or Hancock would deny their influences - actually they are celebrating it by participating in this gracious acknowledgement of their mentors through involvement with the Verve series. History is now - there's nothing else to build on.

 

Date:	05-Dec-1999 04:08:22
From:	Teirersias (shamus75@home.com)
	Well, to name the best jazz artists of the millenium (well at least last century) 1. Miles Davis 2. Charles Mingus 3. Sun Ra 4. John Zorn 5. John Coltrane 6. Pharoah Sanders 7. Louis Armstrong 8. Donald Byrd 9. Wayne Shorter 10. Ron Carter 11. Chick Corea 12. Herbie Hancock 13. Ronny Jordan 14. Thelonius Monk 15. Billie Holliday 15. Dinah Washington 16. Sarah Vaughn 17. Gary Peacock 18. Roy Ayers 19. Chet Baker 20. Dizzy Gillispie That's my top 20 I don't know if thats my actual top 20, but I think that those folks are 20 of the most influential artists covering all facets of jazz culture

 

Date:	05-Dec-1999 04:11:27
From:	Teirersias
	I just had to add the vocalists since everybody before me pretty much missed them, except for Louis Armstrong (no offense, but there were a few females too guys)!

 

Date:	05-Dec-1999 11:04:21
From:	Saber2th
	Ella Duke Louis Oscar

 

Date:	05-Dec-1999 11:33:53
From:	Peter Roberts
	1 Miles 2 John McGlaughlin 3 Frank Zappa

 

Date:	05-Dec-1999 11:36:33
From:	David R.
	Definitely Louis - nobody had done jazz before him really. Gotta count Miles - brought in fusion, pop-jazz, modal, everything. Herbie Hancock too, with Headhunters, for fusion. Monk, Bird and Diz brought incredible skill and complexity. Ellington brought grace and dignity. Those are my picks. Check out JazzTimes' current issue for others.

 

Date:	05-Dec-1999 12:38:41
From:	A. Waller
	Where is George Benson?

 

Date:	05-Dec-1999 16:08:07
From:	dwc (boze@home.com)
	how come SHAMUS75 was the only one who had CHET BAKER on their list...rite on dude.

 

Date:	05-Dec-1999 16:10:23
From:	dwc (boze@home.com)
	how come SHAMUS75 was the only one who had CHET BAKER on their list...rite on dude.

 

Date:	05-Dec-1999 16:24:52
From:	Pete Schmidt (pschmidt@iprimus.ca)
	How about the swinging jazz guitar innovators: Charlie Christian Tiny Grimes Oscar Moore Bill Jennings T-Bone Walker Lonnie Johnson Mickey Baker Freddie Green

 

Date:	06-Dec-1999 05:27:14
From:	tingato
	i dunno if anybody mentioned, but what about antonio carlos jobim? the originator of the bossa nova sound along with getz and gilberto.

 

Date:	06-Dec-1999 11:04:11
From:	A JAZZAHOLIC
	i noticed dozens of really great jazz and jaz oriented performers on these lists, many of whom were mentioned several times ... strangely, two of the absolute greatest were mentioned but once and so i want to give them a bit more airplay here ... Buddy Rich was ranked by Downbeat magazine as the best drummer in the world for about 50 consecutive years (1939-89) which is obviously a record never to be broken and Buddy could excel at every drumming style and format from big band to small jazz combo because he was the most brilliantly inventive drummer the world has ever heard ... Frank Sinatra sang everything from jazz to classical and made everything his own as the best phrase maker and stylist of the century and Frank could make the Gettysberg Address or the Mississauga bus schedule swing if he so desired.

 

Date:	06-Dec-1999 11:44:09
From:	Margie (margieskywatcher@home.com)
	I agree with all that has been written so far. I would also add to the list Stan Getz, Gene Krupa, Mel Torme, Chano Pozo and Stan Kenton. Thanks

 

Date:	20-Dec-1999 23:01:26
From:	Don Voltmer (donvolt@rof.net)
	Thought you might be interested to know that as of 12/20/99 the top 5 vote getters, each with 10 or more votes, are - 1. Louis Armstrong - Trumpet, Cornet, Vocal 2. Duke Ellington - Piano, Composer 3. Charlie Parker - Alto Saxophone, Composer 4. Miles Davis - Trumpet, Composer 5. John Coltrane - Tenor & Soprano Saxophone, Composer The next 5, each with either 4 or 5 votes are - 6. Art Tatum - Piano 7. Thelonious Monk - Piano, Composer 8. Ornette Coleman - Violin, Alto & Tenor Saxophone 9. Jelly Roll Morton - Piano, Composer 10. Dizzy Gillespie - Trumpet, Composer 4 piano players, 3 trumpet players and 3 sax players. It's also interesting to note that Jazz Times magazine recently polled over 100 jazz musicians asking them to pick the Jazz Artist of the Century. They voted this way - 1. Duke Ellington 2. Louis Armstrong 3. Charlie Parker 4. Miles Davis 5. John Coltrane 6. Dizzy Gillespie

 

Date:	22-Dec-1999 14:25:34
From:	Holly (Holly@internetga.com)
	Nice work, Don! Neat. Sounds reasonable to me.

 

Date:	29-Dec-1999 16:52:59
From:	shanajazz
	you all mention some big names, it's great to hear so many people listening to the greats today. There's no competition here though, each artist contributed to what is now what we all enjoy so much-jazz.

 

Date:	29-Dec-1999 16:57:49
From:	shanajaz
	Jazz is great, and I love reading that you all love it as much as I do. There's no compitition though who's the best, they all made what we love today what it is today.

 

Date:	03-Jan-2000 18:41:27
From:	Joe (joeandflav@netscape.net)
	John Coltrane Charlie Parker Miles Davis Tommy Flanagan Paul Chambers Hey let's not forget guitarists The Incredible Wes Montgomery Charlie Christian Herb Ellis Thelonious Monk Sonny Criss Dylan Cramer Dizzy Gillespie Sonny Rollins

 

Date:	05-Jan-2000 17:27:02
From:	DrDukeGono
	Lenny Breau,Max Roach,Buddy Rich,Wes Montgomery,Tal Farlow,John Coltrane,(the band)Soft Machine,Croopa,Trey Anastasio(of Phish),ect...

 

Date:	12-Jan-2000 22:44:12
From:	Soozie
	DON V. - I count 7 mentions of Charles Mingus in lists or comments.

 

Date:	26-Jan-2000 15:58:39
From:	Ben W. ((none of your business))
	Max Roach - to this day he is the best drummer in the history of jazz. Perhaps, Parker is the only rival he has as far as influence on the way his instrument is played. I say perhaps. He was crucial in bringing the sound of the jazz rhythm sections up to the level of piano/horn sophistication. Who was Parker's drum pick? Who was drummer with Clifford Brown? With "The Birth of the Cool"? M'Boom . . . The list goes on and on . . .

 

Date:	26-Jan-2000 22:15:27
From:	ray
	Lots of Oscars mentioned..............I missed seeing my favorite.......Peterson.

 

Date:	21-Feb-2000 12:55:37
From:	Don Voltmer
	Soozie - It appears that I missed counted the mentions of Charles Mingus. I have taken another count as of 2/20. I count 112 artists of which the following 28 received 3 or more votes. Charlie Parker - 18 My votes (not included in the Louis Armstrong - 16 above) are for - Miles Davis - 16 Arranger Duke Ellington - 14 Fletcher Henderson John Coltrane - 14 Jerry Gray Charles Mingus - 8 Duke Ellington Thelonious Monk - 7 Trumpet Max Roach - 7 Louis Armstrong Ornette Coleman - 7 Miles Davis Bill Evans - 6 Chet Baker Art Tatum - 5 Trombone Julius Hemphill - 5 Bill Harris Dizzy Gillespie - 5 Bob Brookmeyer Herbie Hancock - 5 Alto Sax Ella Fitzgerald - 5 Charlie Parker Oscar Peterson - 4 Johnny Hodges Jelly Roll Morton - 4 Tenor Sax Sonny Rollins - 3 John Coletrane Count Basie - 3 Stan Getz Gil Evans - 3 Baritone Sax Buddy Rich - 3 Gerry Mulligan Wes Montgomery - 3 Clarinet Stan Getz - 3 Benny Goodman Ron Carter - 3 Guitar Ray Brown - 3 Charlie Christian Billie Holiday - 3 Wes Montgomery Chet Baker - 3 Piano Chick Corea - 3 Oscar Peterson Dave Brubeck Ahmad Jamal Bass Paul Chambers Scott LaFaro Drums Gene Krupa Buddy Rich

 

Date:	21-Feb-2000 13:00:08
From:	Don Voltmer
	Sorry about the way the above message turned out. My votes are to the right of the counts.

 

Date:	06-Mar-2000 17:59:34
From:	Hal
	Thanks Don. The musicians and their votes are to the left and then the different instrumental categories are going down the list to the right. There are two lists.

 

Date:	07-Mar-2000 20:56:39
From:	Edward A. Pearson (TerrapinSt@aol.com)
	1) Duke Ellington 2) Miles Davis 3) John Coltrane 4) Wes Montgomery 5) Thelonious Monk 6) Art Blakey 7) Charles Mingus 8) Ella Fitzgerald 9) Charlie Christian 10) Louis Armstrong

 

Date:	21-Mar-2000 17:55:10
From:	Simone (simone@francais.com)
	Don, thank you for some very interesting reading!!

 

Date:	27-Apr-2000 19:14:06
From:	Wilbur
	Considering who played in the different Woody Herman Bands (Getz, Sims, Cohn, Chuck Wayne, Billy Bauer, Flip Philips, Serge Chaloff), I'm surprised he isn't mentioned more often. Also all the arrangers - Hefti, Giuffre, Ralph Burns, Nat Pierce, etc. etc. You know, in general, folks like Gil Evans, Earl Hines, Count Basie, Dizzy, Mulligan etc. have to be considered not only for their abilities as musicians but also composers/arrangers/band leaders etc. etc. In general, I think big band leaders have not been well served on this thread.

 

Date:	05-May-2000 02:22:52
From:	Joel Pitcoff (jpitcoff@hotmail.com)
	Perhaps I missed it, but there seems to be nary a mention of Jimmy Blanton. In a meteoric two year career with Duke Ellington (including small group recordings led by several Ellington sidemen), he profoundly influenced every subsequent jazz bassist, either directly or indirectly. As Duke put it in "Music Is My Mistress", his autobiographical memoir: "Jimmy Blanton revolutionized bass playing, and it has not been the same since." All the more remarkable, the bass pioneer was forced to quit performing when merely 22 years old, due to failing health (TB). He died the following year.

 

Date:	03-Jun-2000 18:03:20
From:	John Wilson (jgwnw3@hotmail.com)
	Right, for sheer influence Armstrong, Parker and Ellington stand out above all the other great performers (inc Louis A's vocal style -even on Billie H), but don't forget Coleman Hawkins invented jazz saxophone.

 

Date:	05-Jun-2000 21:59:55
From:	luv dat jazz
	I haven't seen anyone mention George or Ira Girshwin yet! They wrote "Slap That Bass",one of my personal fav's. and Davey Yearborough is awesome! I was pleased to see that someone said Frank Zappa! He roc

 

Date:	04-Jul-2000 01:35:54
From:	Bepo
	Parker died in the 1950s and Miles Davis died artistically in the 1960s, Ellington died in the early 1970s. By my count that leaves about 30-40 years until the end of the century. Who are the great jazz contributors of the latter part of the 20th century? If Armstrong, Ellington, Parker, and Davis are the big four for the first half of the century then who since? I say Bill Evans, Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, and Julius Hemphill.

 

Date:	08-Jul-2000 11:26:12
From:	Ned
	Bepo: I'd add Count Basie & Gillespie to the first half, and Monk & John Coltrane to the second. So: Armstrong Basie Ellington Davis Gillespie Parker Coltrane Monk Evans Dolphy Coleman Hemphill

 

Date:	26-Jul-2000 10:26:31
From:	Chris Johnstone (Dizanddex@aol.com)
	I would have to add Charlie Christian,Tal Farlow and Wes Montgomery to the list for their contributions to the Electric Jazz Guitar. I'm sure that their playing has influenced many people throughout the years.

 

Date:	01-Aug-2000 15:56:04
From:	John Wilson (jgwnw3@hotmail.com)
	For the major influences after the first generation boppers died, surely Sonny Rollins stands out. One of the absolute top tenors since 'saxophone colussus' in 1958, alone at the top since Coltrane died. Not such an innovator as Parker, perhaps, but I think more than anyone else it's Rollins who's kept jazz on the right track and prevented it from splitting into a lot of silly sub-genres. I believe Wynton Marsalis is now also performing that function. Rollins has also demonstrated that jazz is the definitive western music of the late c20. For someone who's brought something new into jazz in the last quarter of c20 without corrupting it, how about Abdullah Ibrahim? Maybe it's too soon to evaluate his lasting influence, but I think the South African school of jazz will turn out to be the only worthwhile new branch.

 

Date:	14-Aug-2000 13:55:05
From:	Jeff
	I don't think anybody has mentioned the Keith Jarrett trio with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette. I think this group has pushed the piano trio the highest level of anybody.

 

Date:	11-Jan-2001 21:51:27
From:	Dave (pineorchard@hotmail.com)
	Big Sid Catlett gets my vote as best drummer non-pareil. One has to do only two things to appreciate his gifts: listen (especially) to his drumming on "Satchmo at Symphony Hall" and, read what Whitney Balliett (The New Yorker magazine jazz critic) has to say about him in one of his books. To my mind Buddy R. was a bang-crasher and Gene was quite limited in imagination. Sonny Greer, George Wettling and Jo Jones are three others who were natural, gifted drummers too. Big Sid also was - and remains - the ONLY jazz drummer who successfully moved with the times and the changes in styles... all this and more accomplished in approx. only 25 years of drumming: he was 41 when he died, and began jazz drumming at about age 14-15. There will likely never be another Big Sid - like Louis, he had combined within him the natural-born talents, abilities, skills and devotion so rarely seen in a musician.

 

Date:	15-Mar-2001 11:13:03
From:	Tim
	George Girshwin! Dude! That guy rules!

 

Date:	27-Mar-2001 16:40:11
From:	Joel Glassman
	Some names not mentioned: Lester Young Bix Sarah Vaughn Albert Ayler Jimmy Blanton Tony Williams

 

Date:	17-Apr-2001 22:50:45
From:	Emily
	James Booker - more obscure but definetly worth the search

 

Date:	23-Apr-2001 06:51:35
From:	rob
	Lee Morgan Clifford Brown

 

Date:	16-May-2001 12:02:31
From:	mark hughes
	George Gershwin Jerome Kern Cole Porter They wrote the songs

 

Date:	14-Oct-2001 20:23:09
From:	R Ellison
	Armstrong Ellington Herman Kenton Basie Tatum Granz & Feather Not musicians but how can you keep them out?