PART 1: THE GREATEST JAZZ MUSICIANS TO WALK THIS EARTH

The title of this post 'THE GREATEST JAZZ MUSICIANS TO WALK THIS EARTH' is a bit pretentious to say the least - there are thousands of amazing jazz artists who have significantly contributed to this twentieth century art form - and of course continuing into this current century…

Readers will no doubt respond vigorously with comments like "why haven't you included Bud Powell or Harry James or Artie Shaw or Don Cherry or Cannonball Adderley or Gil Evans or Wynton Marsalis or Ray Brown or Herb Ellis or Tal Farlow or Jelly Roll Morton or Eddie Lockjaw Davis or Dexter Gordon or …..' the answer is simply because there isn't enough room and secondly I have chosen those artists that have been a massive influence on me personally and of course to the world of jazz (however we will have a Part 2 and maybe a Part 3 so possibly we will have room to include many of the above)

Yes, there are major artists that have been missed including those mentioned above - I don't suppose any list can adequately satisfy everyone and their tastes but hopefully few of you will find fault with those that I have chosen.

Jazz has been the mainstay of my life for at least 45 years both as a jazz drummer, a record collector and concert producer - of course other music genre have also been major influences - classical, chamber, opera, ballet, pop, rock, folk, musicals, some country music and so forth - singer songwriters like Elton John, Tom Waits, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Webb, Carole King and many others have given me much joy - as have pop stars from Queen to Shakira, Beyonce - the list is long - however, when the night is long and the curtains are closed it is to the great jazz artists that I turn to - the purring sounds of Art Pepper or the sultry tone of Stan Getz - the intense drive of Charles Mingus or the Count Basie Orchestra - the romance and passion of Chet Baker or Charlie Haden - Cootie Williams snarling or Cat Anderson wailing above the wonderful Duke Ellington Orchestra - maybe its Bill Evans at the Village Vanguard or a Love Supreme with John Coltrane - Miles Davis sublime notes  - music for all moods and feelings.

I have celebrated the great Jazz drummers in two blogs, therefore there are no drummers or percussionists in this list but who can forget the power and influence of Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Joe Morello, Louie Bellson, Baby Dodds, Zutty Singleton, Elvin Jones, Shelly Manne - ah the list is endless….. the jazz power house - the engine room - but for now its the front line, other members of the rhythm section,  band leaders and the composers that get the glory this time

I hope you enjoy my list of those giants (in no particular order) that strode this earth and gave us the wonder of JAZZ:

Billie Holiday and Coleman Hawkins - Billie for me was the greatest jazz singer of all time (please listen to her album "Lady in Satin" and Coleman Hawkins (Bean) was one of the most important tenor sax players of all time - his "Body and Soul' is a classic

Charlie Parker (known as 'Bird') was a massive influence and was one of the great pioneers of Be-Bop - here he is playing alongside a young Miles Davis

Two of the greatest band leaders of all time Count Basie and Duke Ellington - it is difficult to choose their best recordings but The Atomic Mr Basie is a classic as is Ellington Uptown - but there is so much more for you to discover

The sublime Queen of the American Song Book Ella Fitzgerald talking to the gorgeous Marilyn Monroe who helped Ella to get exposure in the whites only night clubs in Los Angeles (the race/colour bar was in full force - a terrible disgrace for Americans at that time and anyone who thinks they are better than anyone else) - there are many great Ella recordings but those made with Ellis Larkins early in her career are magnificent as are the song book series on Verve Records

Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker have given jazz lovers so much pleasure over the decades - their own quartet and their own recordings are worth your deep investigation

The ground breaking Benny Goodman Quartet - Benny Goodman (clarinet) Lionel Hampton (vibraphone) Teddy Wilson (piano) and Gene Krupa (drums) as a group and as individuals gave so much to Jazz - listen to the Benny Goodman 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert album - one of the great jazz recordings

Ben Webster one the major tenor sax players - listen to the Ben Webster/Sweets Edison recordings and Ben Webster with Strings

Charles Mingus compositions, groups and driving bass are a must for any lover of jazz - Mingus Ah-Um is my favourite album

Bill Evans is for me one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time - go listen to the Bill Evans at the Village Vanguard recordings - sublime

I have always loved the playing of Art Pepper - for me the foremost alto player ever (but I also love Johnny Hodges, Sonny Stitt, and Arnie Lawrence) - go buy Winter Moon a wonderful album

Clifford Brown whose life was tragically ended too soon - the Clifford Brown/Max Roach recording and those with Sarah Vaughan are wonderful

The glorious Anita O'Day - Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Anita O'Day and you have the finest female singers you could ever want - yes there are many more marvellous singers such as Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Sheila Jordan, Julie London, Abbey Lincoln, Diana Krall, Irene Krall Tierny Sutton, Karin Allyson, Jo Stafford, Patti Page, Blossom Dearie, Rosemary Clooney, Chris Connor, June Christy….etc etc) but we have to draw the line somewhere !!

Dizzy Gillespie the King of Be Bop and the natural trumpet successor to Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge - so many recordings to chose from

Fats Waller - well why not? (OK we could have included Willie the Lion Smith, James P Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton to name a few) but listen to Handful of Keys - the exuberance and fun Fats gave to his music - never to be forgotten

The influence of Louis Armstrong cannot be overestimated - his recordings with Joe King Oliver and with the Hot Fives and Hot Sevens are some of the most important recordings of the early 20th century. Louis Satchmo Armstrong influenced generations of trumpet players and of all instruments - a true king of jazz - What a Wonderful World - even late in life Louis was still wowing the fans

John Coltrane another giant of the tenor and soprano saxophone who strode the jazz stage - his quartet with Elvin Jones (drums) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) made some extraordinary albums - a Love Supreme, Crescent, Ballads plus his albums with singer Johnny Hartman and the earlier Blue Train - all classics

Lester Young (tenor sax) pictured here with the great Billie Holiday was the forerunner of the cool style of jazz - his recordings with Billie are giant musical statements and a must for any jazz lover

No list of great jazz artists can  afford to miss the great Miles Davis - his recordings of Birth of the Cool, Walkin'. Relaxin', Workin', Porgy and Bess, Kind of Blue, Four and More, Round about Midnight, Sketches of Spain, Miles in the Sky, Bitches Brew etc etc must all be listened to. Kind of Blue I believe is the highest selling jazz album of all time

Duke Ellington needs his own slot in this list - his compositions are legendary - Take the "A" Train, Caravan, The Mooche, It Don't mean a Thing, Mood Indigo, In a Sentimental Mood, Solitude, Sophisticated Lady, Perdido, In a Mellow Tone, Satin Doll, I'm beginning to see the Light…
His orchestra featured the greatest jazz musicians of all time - Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney,  Paul Gonsalves, Sonny Greer, Louie Bellson, Sam Woodyard, Jimmy Hamilton, Jimmy Blanton, Lawrence Brown, Russell Procope, Willie Smith, Clark Terry, Juan Tizol, Ben Webster, Billy Strayhorn, Buster Cooper, Ernie Royal, Wendell Marshall….. to name a few

 RUN OUT OF SPACE - PART 2 to FOLLOW