Jazz Legends
Louis Armstrong
|  Louis Armstrong - Born 8/4/01 in New Orleans, Louisiana, died 7/6/71 in New York City. Virtuoso trumpeter/vocalist and good-will ambassador was one of the most popular, and single most influential...
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Sun Ra
Keyboardist, composer and bandleader Sun Ra, was one of Jazz' most colorful, entertaining and innovative musicians.
Billie Holiday
Given the name "Lady Day" by Lester Young, Billie Holiday was the undisputed Empress of Jazz vocal stylization who revolutionized Jazz and American pop vocal styles.
Lee Morgan
Lee Morgan helped establish Blue Note’s funky hard bop style - a brilliant trumpeter cut down in his prime at the age of 33.
George Russell
One of the most important composers in Jazz and a theorist whose influence on musical theory and philosophy extends well beyond the Jazz milieu.
Benny Goodman
Called "The King of Swing," Benny Goodman was a great clarinetist and soloist with a distinctive sound who led one of the most popular big bands of the Swing era.
Ella Fitzgerald
The First Lady of Song
Count Basie
Popular pianist and bandleader who led an orchestra for over 50 years and was one of the most important bandleaders of the Swing era.
Art Blakey
A powerful, hard-driving drummer, Art Blakey was a master and major proponent of hard bop. For over 40 years his Jazz Messengers groups nurtured and featured some of Jazz’ greatest musicians.
Ornette Coleman
Alto saxophonist/violinist/trumpeter/composer who was considered the progenitor of the '60s avant-garde movement in Jazz and has remained consistently challenging, evolutionary and confrontational.
John Coltrane
Considered by many to be the most revolutionary and inspirational creator in Jazz history, a virtuoso saxophonist who constantly explored new sounds and ways of interpreting a melody.
Miles Davis
Immensely influential trumpeter/composer/bandleader whose career lasted over 50 years - he was at the forefront of almost every important innovation and musical development in Jazz during that time.
Duke Ellington
Marvelous pianist and bandleader considered by many as the greatest American composer. He incorporated the personal sounds of his brilliant musicians into his compositional approach.
Coleman Hawkins
Considred the first important tenor saxophonist in Jazz, Coleman Hawkins continued to keep up with the times during his lengthy career.
Thelonious Monk
One of Jazz’ most important and original pianists and composers - his unique sense of timing, inspired by stride and Jazz, produced a singularly distinct sound and style.
Charlie Parker
One of the founders of bebop and a virtuoso alto player - considered by many as one of the greatest saxophonists of all time and a direct influence on every horn player of the last 50 years.
Art Tatum
A peerless virtuoso pianist with a flawless sense of rhythm and dynamics. Tremendously influential and harmonically ahead of his time.
Lester 'Prez' Young
Along with Coleman Hawkins and John Coltrane, Lester 'Prez' Young, with his smooth, linear and fluid sound, was considered one of the most influential tenor saxophonists in Jazz.
Clifford Brown
Golden-toned trumpeter who died much too young - his music had matured well beyond his age and he has influenced every Jazz trumpet player since.
Charles Mingus
A brilliant composer and bassist with a huge tone and pulsating sense of rhythm whose music was an extraordinary combination of adventurous innovation and rollocking church-based rhythms.
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