Which Jazz Artist’s Influenced your Musical Taste?
Many solo jazz artists have left an indelible mark on the genre, shaping tastes and inspiring countless listeners. Here are few of mine that I find deeply inspiring and connected,
Pianist: Bill Evans, Eddie Higgins, Thelonious Monk, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Claude Williamson, Oscar Peterson
Saxophonists: John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Ben Webster, Scott Hamilton, Archie Shepp, Dexter Gordon, Stanley Turrentine
Trumpet: Chet Baker, Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Chris Botti
Guitarists: Wes Montgomery, Fausto Mesolella, Andrea Castelfranato
Bassists: Charles Mingus, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown
Who has had the most impact on your musical journey?
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@lalitk that's a great list but a few additions for me:
Piano: Michel Petrucciani Saxophone: Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderly Trumpet: Lee Morgan Guitar: Jim Hall, Herb Ellis, Joe Pass Bass: Stanley Clark And let's not forget the Trombone! JJ Johnson, Kai Winding, Slide Hampton, Curtis Fuller Great idea for a thread! |
@soix Damn how did I freaking forget Charlie Parker!? Also lets add in for the piano Herbie Hancock and for drummers Art Blakey. |
@lalitk -I love lists like these with my morning coffee. Many thanks! Lots of great ones here who have influenced my jazz journey, from all contributors. Christian McBride, Niels Pederson, Ron Carter, Scotty LoFaro-bass Steven Bernstein, Kenny Dorham-Trumpet Phil Woods, Joe Henderson, Lee Konitz-Saxophone Herbie Hancock, Tete Montoliu, Emmet Cohen-Piano Stephane Wrembel, Django-Guitar Max Roach, Art Blakey, Tony Williams-Drums Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett-Vocals Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Duke Ellington-band leaders
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Some of favorites not mentioned...Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Woody Shaw, Billy Harper, John McLaughlin, Bobby Hutcherson, Jackie McClean, Elvin Jones, Art Pepper, Scott LaFaro, Kenny Garrett, Pat Martino, Larry Coryell, Tal Farlow, Ralph Towner, NHOP, Sarah Vaughan, JoAnne Brackeen, Johnny Griffin, Dave Holland, Larry Young, Charles Tolliver, George Cables, Stanley Cowell, Charlie Haden, Mal Waldron, Vincent Herring, Booker Ervin, Joe Lovano, Clifford Jordan, Tina May, Helen Merrill, John Scofield, Chico Freeman, Grant Green, Jimmy Heath, Jackie Ryan, Miroslav Vitous, Lew Tabackin, Kenny Wheeler.... |
What jazz artist change my life ? Very young Louis Armstrong whose dynamic made my heart and head swing happy... but i did not get jazz till more more decades later... Bill Evans listening in my car begun to give me a hint... It obsess me... i was ready and Chet Baker push me overboard 35 years ago... Since i learned slowly american but also world jazz... In these three artist the heart dominate the playing ...Virtuosity count for nothing... They sing and they speak,... My favorite music was choral one all my life... |
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Let's add Martial Solal who I just saw passed at age 97 considered the greatest European pianist and a great composer. And @toddnlg I used to love listening to Mariam McPartland's NPR show back in the day! |
@jond Me too. I was not fully into jazz yet. But, I did enjoy her show and range of performers she hosted. |
Back in the seventies, I was listening to Weather Report, Earl Kluge, David Sanborn some big band etc, but I listened mostly to Rock and a little Classical. A few years before I retired, I really started to lean more to Jazz trios, quartets, quintets. And as we all know there are many! Whether it Bill Evans or Art Farmer, Billy Cobham or Sonny Stitt, Art Blakey or Miles Davis, I pretty much enjoyed them all, but I can’t really say there was one person or even a few people who influenced my journey, but for now, I am happily exploring as many as I can. |
A buddy's dad was big into the swing stuff when I was 8 or 9 years old. Got me into Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Harry James, Lionel Hampton, Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. I didn't appreciate Frank Sinatra at the time (I do now), but did appreciate the talent of the Andrews sisters. From there, I got into many of those named above and especially the fusion artists. A solid foundation and an ever-expanding catalog to savor! |
Dec 9, 1965 as a 6 yr old watching Charlie Brown Christmas on TV and not knowing that the music was jazz. Vince Guaraldi's instrumental version of "Christmas Time is here" is the most perfect gateway song to jazz. It explains why I'm also a big fan of Bill Evans - I love the softer touch on the keys. |
