Survey of Jazz Performers

• This is a presentation of important jazz figures, both past and present.

Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)• One of the greatest trumpet players of all time.• One of the first to play improvised solos.• Revolutionized American singing, “invented” scat singing.• Performed regularly until his death in 1971.• His “Hot 5” and “Hot 7” recordings are regarded as some of

the best recorded examples of early jazz.

‘Dinah’

Duke Ellington (1899-1971)• Popularized the “Big Band” instrumentation.• Kept his big band together for over 50 years, playing only

his compositions.• One of the most important composers of American music.• Teamed with Billy Strayhorn to write some of the most

enduring jazz standards.

‘Take the ‘A’ Train’

Count Basie (1904-1984)• Piano Player and Big Band Leader• Popularized the blues (fast, groovin, slow, etc)• Big band did not use arrangements, just head charts and riffs.• Like Ellington, kept his band together for over 50 years.

“1:00 Jump”

Coleman Hawkins (1904-1969)• Popularized the use of the saxophone in mainstream jazz.• Nickname “Bean”• Loved cutting contests – especially against Lester Young.• His recording of “Body and Soul” rarely states the melody, yet

sold over 500,000 copies and forshadowed the be-bop era.

‘Body and Soul’

Charlie Parker (1920-1955)• Alto Sax player and prolific composer, nickname “Bird.”• Revolutionized jazz – bringing in the be-bop era.• Played really fast, make any line work over any chord.• Wrote many tunes, using existing chord progressions.• Died very young (35).

‘Hot House’

Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993)• Real name – John Birks Gillespie• One of the greatest trumpeters of all time.• Along with Charlie Parker, helped promote be-bop.• Incorporated Cuban influences in his music.• One of the greatest jazz teachers.

‘Manteca’

Miles Davis (1926-1991)• One of the most influential jazz musicians of all time.• Played trumpet, one of the greatest melodic improvisers.• Pioneered many styles: cool, modal and fusion.• Always surrounded himself with great musicians.

‘So What’

Thelonious Monk (1917-1982)• Influential pianist and composer.• Prolific composer, many of his tunes are used today.• Unique percussive piano style, very logical.• Strange personality, be-bop champion.

‘Round Midnight’

John Coltrane (1926-1967)• Influential Jazz Tenor saxophonist.• Gained fame playing in Miles’ first great quintet.• Championed the Avant-Guard movement of the 60’s• Totally uncompromising solos with endless “sheets of sound”

‘On Green DolphinStreet’

Art Blakey (1919-1990)• Jazz Drummer and bandleader.• Formed the Jazz Messengers in the 1950’s and kept the

group fresh with new talent until his death in 1990.• The Messengers popularized the style “hard-bop” which is

still widely played by jazz musicians today.• A list of jazz messengers reads like a who’s who of jazz,

including Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Jackie McLean, Wynton & Branford Marsalis, etc.

‘Drum Solo’

Sonny Rollins (1930- )• Considered one of the all time great tenor saxophonists.• Dropped out of music from time to time – to practice!• Made a series of records for Riverside, Blue Note and Prestige

in the 50’s that established him is as a true jazz giant.• Made “Tenor Madness” with friendly rival John Coltrane.

‘St. Thomas’

Clifford Brown (1930-1956)• Great trumpet player, died very young (25) in a car accident.• Lived clean, no drinking, smoking or drugs.• Formed a group with drummer Max Roach that made some

brilliant recordings in the 1950’s.• Spectacular lines and phrases.

‘Oh Lady Be Good’

Charlie Christian (1916-1942)• First important electric guitarist.• Played with Benny Goodman’s influential quintet.• Played fluent be-bop lines on the guitar.• Jammed at Minton’s Playhouse, holding his own

with Monk, Gillespie & Parker.

‘Swing to Bop’

Julian “Cannonball” Adderley(1928-1975)

• Brilliant blusey Alto Saxophonist.• Part of Miles Davis 1st great quintet (along with John Coltrane)• Contributed blusey lines with Coltrane’s weirdness.• Made many influential recordings for Riverside with his own quintet.

‘Work Song’

Ornette Coleman (1930- )• Championed the Avant-guard movement of the 1960’s.• Made an influential recording in 1960 called “Free Jazz” consisting

of two quintets improvising with no pre-arranged melody or chord progressions.

• Made several more recordings like this, never compromising.• Leonard Bernstein proclaimed Ornette a “genius”

‘Free Jazz’

Herbie Hancock (1940- )• One of the most revered jazz pianists.• Gained fame in Miles Davis 2nd great quintet of the 60’s.• Played in many styles, including fusion, free, r & b, disco, etc.• Continuously experimenting with electronic keyboards.

‘Maiden Voyage’

Bill Evans (1929-1980)• Highly influential and introspective jazz pianist.• Mixed impressionism with jazz.• Played with Miles Davis on the “Kind of Blue” session,

adding elegance to the session.• Formed a famous trio with Scott LaFaro and Paul

Motian.

‘Waltz for Debby’

Joe Henderson (1937-2001)• Unique Tenor Saxophonist.• Old fashioned sound, very modern ideas.• Made a “comeback” in the 1990’s (he actually never left) with a

series of recordings for Verve.• Made the original recording of “Blue Bossa”

‘Lush Life’

Wes Montgomery (1925-1968)• Widely acclaimed and imitated jazz guitarist.• Played octaves, using his thumb, to be quiet while

practicing.• Recorded for Riverside, Verve & A&M, making some of

the greatest jazz guitar recordings of all time.

‘Four on Six’

Wayne Shorter (1933- )• Influential Saxophonist & composer.• First gained fame with Art Blakey’s Jazz

Messengers, then with Miles’ Davis 2nd great quintet.• While with Davis, established himself as an influential

composer.• After leaving Davis, joined Weather Report,

performing on the initial recording of “Birdland”

‘Children of the Night’

McCoy Tyner (1938- )• Critically acclaimed jazz pianist.• Part of John Coltrane’s classic quartet of the 1960’s.• Managed to play piano during ‘Trane’s avant-guard

recordings.• His recordings for Blue Note and MCA are some of

the finest examples of modern bop.

‘Moments Notice’

Freddie Hubbard (1938- )• Great jazz trumpeter.• Gained fame playing with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.• Dabbled in free jazz, playing with Ornette Coleman & Eric Dolphy

(Free Jazz & Out to Lunch)• Formed a quintet with Joe Henderson playing a mix of jazz, rock

and r & b. Made the famous recording “Red Clay”• Influential jazz composer, writing many jazz classics.

‘Red Clay’

Chick Corea (1941- )• Jazz pianist and composer.• Gained fame playing with Miles Davis’ fusion movement.• Constantly experimenting with electronics.• Extremely versatile, playing jazz, latin, fusion and free; even

writing a piano concerto.• Led many famous groups including Return to Forever, Elektric

Band and Origin.

‘Armando’s Rhumba’

Pat Metheny (1954- )• One of the “Big 3” current jazz guitarists (along with Bill

Frissell and John Scofield).• Extremely versatile, playing in many styles including jazz,

fusion, latin, free, r&b and rock.• With Lyle Mays formed the Pat Metheny Group in the mid

70’s, a group that continues today.• Experiments with all types of guitars, including a 42-string

guitar.

‘Phase Dance’

Michael Brecker (1949-2007)• Highly acclaimed Tenor Saxophonist and EWI pioneer.• Formed the fusion band Brecker Brothers (with his

brother Randy).• A part of the group Steps Ahead, a fusion group that

experimented with electronics.• His recordings for MCA & Verve are among the best

recorded examples of modern jazz.

‘Delta City Blues’

Maynard Ferguson (1928-2006)• Famous trumpeter known for high notes and fierce

improvisations.• Made his debut with the Stan Kenton orchestra in 1950.• Kept a big band together for many years.• Champion of jazz education, playing with student groups all

his life.

‘Birdland’

Wynton Marsalis (1961- )• One of the most famous jazz trumpeters since 1980.• Began with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.• First musician to win a Grammy for Classical and Jazz

recording in the same year (1983).• His “Blood on the Fields” won the Pulitzer Prize – the

first of its kind.• Marsalis’ success sparked record companies to sign up

many new, young jazz players through the 80’s.

‘Plays the Blues’

Stanley Clarke (1951- )

• Influential jazz bass player.• Gained fame with Chick Corea’s Return to Forever

fusion band.• Recorded many solo projects, including “School

Days” – a standard for all bass players.• Popularized the “pop” technique used by most

funk bass players today.

‘Acoustic Bass Solo’

David Sanborn (1945- )• Critically acclaimed alto saxophonist.• Plays all styles, jazz, blues, r & b, etc.• “Straight to the Heart” is one of the best examples of r &

b/jazz recordings of the 80’s.• Has recorded many solo projects, including an orchestral

project with Michael Kamen.

‘Snakes’

Trumpet PlayersLee Morgan Roy Hargrove Terrance Blanchard

Randy Brecker Arturo Sandoval

Jon Faddis – ‘Into the Faddisphere

Piano PlayersBrad Mehldau Lyle Mays

Billy Childs Keith Jarrett

Bud Powell Teddy Wilson

Bud Powell – ‘Anthropology’

Alto Sax PlayersEric Marienthal Brandon Fields

Gerald Albright Phil Woods

Jackie McLean Art Pepper

Paul Desmond

Phil Woods & David Sanborn – ‘Senior Blues’

Trap Set/PercussionistsGene Krupa Jo Jones Elvin Jones Lewis Nash

Tony Williams Dave Weckl

Jack DeJonette – ‘Drum Solo’

Outness!Eric Dolphy John Zorn

Archie Shepp

Anthony Braxton

Sun Ra

Tenor Sax PlayersStan Getz Dexter Gordon Joshua Redman

Joe Farrell James Carter

Branford Marsalis

Bass PlayersJimmy Garrison Dave Holland Charlie Haden Charles Mingus

Ron Carter Jaco Pastorius

Brian Bromberg – ‘All Blues’

Trombone PlayersJ.J. Johnson Frank Rosolino Bill Watrous

Michael Nelson

Slide Hampton

Carl Fontana – ‘If I Only Had a Brain’

Guitar PlayersBill Frisell John Scofield Jim Hall

Al diMeola

John McLaughlin

Russell Malone

Lee Ritenour & Mike Stern – ‘Smoke n Mirrors’

Supergroups!Yellowjackets Return to Forever Weather Report

MahavishnuOrchestra

Elektric BandTower of Power

Yellowjackets – ‘Tortoise and the Hare’

Thank you very much!!

Have a great rest of theSchool year!

Mr.Brian Rhodes