The most influential Jazz musicians of all time

vinylisfinal said:
Stan Getz
Duke Ellington
Dave Brubeck
Jimmy Smith
John Coltrane
Sonny Rollins
Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday
Dinah Washington
Errol Gardner
Oscar Peterson
Gerry Mulligan
Miles Davis
Cannonball Adderley
Louis Prima
Al Hibler
and many more
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This is a great list of talented musicians but as for most influential in the history of jazz I'd probably eliminate almost half. That is no disrespect to their talent. I'm setting a very high standard here.

cubdog
 
Let me clarify. I'm not sure even Miles Davis belongs on this list. Ok, he probably does but let's not confuse talent or even greatness with most influential. Totally different thing.

cubdog
 
yes, over Miles Davis. just as i put charles lloyd neck and neck with the likes of coltrane and Getz. Influence is a very "loose" topic. Duke Ellington was the grandfather of the modern "swing jazz" that evolved into the jazz scene of the 1950's-1970's
 
cubdog said:
Let me clarify. I'm not sure even Miles Davis belongs on this list. Ok, he probably does but let's not confuse talent or even greatness with most influential. Totally different thing.

cubdog
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Miles not influential? Talent or greatness? I don't understand.
 
reggaenaut said:
Louis Armstrong. He was the one who brought personal improvisation to jazz. In addition he was the face of jazz world wide....whatever Satch did in jazz, the jazz universe followed.
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Bigerik said:
Louis Armstrong. He made jazz popular, while staying true to his art. Not an easy thing to pull off.
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The greatest thing about Pops was his reach outside of jazz, and into modern music as a whole. For example, his vocal style and lyrical timing/patterning was so over the top soulful, and simply decades ahead of its time. You must compare Satch to some of the contemporary "pop" musicians of the day to really appreciate what he did.

I still say that Bird had the ultimate influence in jazz, because as much as players respect Satch, not alot were trying to imitate him. Of course, this was almost an impossibility in any case.
 
Cactus Bob said:
Miles not influential? Talent or greatness? I don't understand.
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Easy, Keith Jarrett is a great pianist, an immense talent. Bill Evans was more influential than Jarrett. In fact he was an infuence on Jarrett. The question is not about talent or greatness. Simply, who are the most infuential jazz musicians of all time. It sure as hell ain't Freddy Hubbard!

cubdog
 
cubdog said:
Let me clarify. I'm not sure even Miles Davis belongs on this list. Ok, he probably does but let's not confuse talent or even greatness with most influential. Totally different thing.

cubdog
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Sorry cubdog, but Miles would be my second choice behind Parker. His influence is scary huge, globally. Most modern players begin their paths sounding like him, and if they're lucky they will develop a sound of their own.
 
greats

I can't believe that Ahmad Jamal was mentioned at post 22. What gives?
He worked closely with Miles Davis and his mention deserves better.
As a matter of fact Clint Eastwood called him one of the top musicians of all time. His album is shown in the old Eastwood celebrity photo from way back.
His music has been featured on at least 2 Eastwood movies.
How about the Modern Jazz Quartet?
I didn't see them at all. Maybe I missed them.
They set the jazz standard way back in the 50's and 60's.
Count Basie? He was influential to many performers like Sinatra and others.
Duke Ellington was writing great stuff way back after WWII.

Paul
 
pdm4606 said:
I can't believe that Ahmad Jamal was mentioned at post 22. What gives?
He worked closely with Miles Davis and his mention deserves better.
As a matter of fact Clint Eastwood called him one of the top musicians of all time. His album is shown in the old Eastwood celebrity photo from way back.
His music has been featured on at least 2 Eastwood movies.
How about the Modern Jazz Quartet?
I didn't see them at all. Maybe I missed them.
They set the jazz standard way back in the 50's and 60's.
Count Basie? He was influential to many performers like Sinatra and others.
Duke Ellington was writing great stuff way back after WWII.

Paul
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i agree!!
 
poppachubby said:
Sorry cubdog, but Miles would be my second choice behind Parker. His influence is scary huge, globally. Most modern players begin their paths sounding like him, and if they're lucky they will develop a sound of their own.
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I agree, Poppa, see my OP. But hey I'm not inflexible we can consider more than one musician in each instrumental catagory. But please no Freddy Hubbards unless you can prove he was more influential than Louis, Miles, or even Bix.

cubdog
 
I'm suprised it took 33 posts for Bix Beiderbecke to be mentioned. While he didn't leave a large body of recordings behind, his influence is still heard in much that has come since his time. He was not only a great cornetist, but a good pianist as well.
 
truetone36 said:
I'm suprised it took 33 posts for Bix Beiderbecke to be mentioned. While he didn't leave a large body of recordings behind, his influence is still heard in much that has come since his time. He was not only a great cornetist, but a good pianist as well.
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I thought he was mentioned in the OP?

I'll ante up George Gershwin as the great-granpa of 'em all.
 
truetone36 said:
I'm suprised it took 33 posts for Bix Beiderbecke to be mentioned. While he didn't leave a large body of recordings behind, his influence is still heard in much that has come since his time. He was not only a great cornetist, but a good pianist as well.
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Did you read my original post?

cubdog
 
I would have to list:

Charlie Parker
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Duke Ellington

or are these the artists I like? Tough question!
 
Although he was considered a bit more big band, how about Louis Jordan?

-D

(oh yeah, and the dude who wrote 'Yakity Sax') :D
 
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