5 Most Important Jazz Musicians of All Time

[@abelton20]

As a guitarist: Django Reinhardt Wes Montgomery Joe Pass Charlie Parker Miles Davis Honorable mention: Pat Metheny

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Yeah as far as guitar players those are up there!

[@pjlk00]

Pat Metheny > Charlie Christian

[@chrisbatson3402]

Don't forget : Pat Martino

[@dylanmorgan2752]

Rain Song73 Im not an expert on jazz so cant speak for the others. But I do know Charlie Parker practised sax for 15 hours straight for 4 years when he was young not to mention all the other years later. I doubt any of the people on these lists didn’t practise to beyond mastery. So my point is you can argue they we’re all one with their instrument.

[@Cr8Tron]

​@@pjlk00Bad comment!! Sorry, but I'm sure Pat would agree.

[@rillloudmother]

8:12 Your favorite Miles tune is actually a Bill Evans tune.

[@alexpianoplayer15]

Oscar Peterson is definitely from the top 5, and for me right now just number 1 as I'm playing his wonderful melodic minuets, exercises and pieces

[@tgbedini]

Certainly, the five mentioned are giants, all of whom influenced not just Jazz, but American music, none more so than Louis, who embodied an era. I think one musician who would have been a much bigger influence had he not died so young was Charlie Christian, who not only codified the electric guitar in jazz, but who also wrote tunes and invented licks that are still foundational to the style. Had he spent another 30 years with us, who knows what might have happened. Incidentally, I started listening to the Ella and Louis albums 40 years ago, and they still knock me out.

[@creatice8629]

My top 5 are: 1. John Coltrane 2. Billie Holiday 3. Miles Davis 4. Oscar Peterson 5. Louis Armstrong

[@dorianvaughn1915]

My top 5 are: John Coltrane Charlie Parker Miles Davis Dizzy Gillespie Dexter Gordon

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Nice!

[@georgemcclinton1684]

Can't get better a line up than this.

[@MingdAnvers]

I like your list. I think Lester Young is the bridge between Louis Armstrong and Bird, a lot of early bebop players started out learning his solos (Bird, Dexter Gordon, Miles, Lee Konitz, etc.)

[@Learnjazzstandards]

That's true, Lester was really important!

[@robinbalean958]

I agree with your list. These guys shaped jazz and have influenced many more jazz musicians across all instruments. You certainly couldn't leave any of them off the list. That said, there are definitely a lot of close runners up. There are also many players that were also brilliant but more individual, or even inimitable in their style and so were less influential. Guys like Monk probably fit in here - definitely very important in jazz history (and co-inventor of bebop), but his style was almost too unique to copy. Then there were others who were hugely influential in a particular style or for a particular instrument, but did not have such a broad influence on jazz as a whole. Clifford Brown is in this category for trumpet players, and Wes Montgomery for guitarists for example.

[@theverybigg]

John Coltrane Dizzy Gillespie Charlie Parker Miles Davis (you didn’t talk about the transformation to fusion!🤨) Louis Armstrong But you can’t do a list of the 5 most important jazz musicians! It’s like doing a list of the 5 best people on earth! What about: Dave Brubeck Charles Mingus Thelonious Monk Herbie Hancock Duke Ellington They deserve a place on the list too!

[@alessandroarrighi]

My top 10: Charlie Parker Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis John Coltrane Lee Morgan Charles Mingus Thelonius Monk Duke Ellington Chick Cores Art Blakey

[@MrJammingjerry]

Gosh so tough I love the list. ButI am a drummer and no drummers so...😜 Chick Webb Art Blakley (all the musicians he brought up ) Max Roach Elven Jones Tony Williams

[@vickiignaszak5041]

Posting this before I finish the video so I'm sure I'm repeating at least some of the musicians you listed: 1. Duke Ellington 2. Charlie Parker 3. Louis Armstrong 4. Count Basie (and included in that Freddie Green is a part of that because he set the standard for big band rhythm guitar, I'm not including him in this list but as a guitar player I'm incapable of mentioning Count Basie without bringing up Freddie Green) 5. Miles Davis Those are my personal picks for most important jazz musicians. I'm realizing multiple of them were big band leaders, and that's likely because I consider the compositions they're accredited for as some of the most popular and recognizable jazz standards. Duke Ellington is in my #1 spot because I consider him like "the Mozart of jazz" in that he is responsible for such a an extensive repertoire of jazz classics. Stuff like "take the A train", "It dont mean a thing", and "mood indigo" have remained some of the most played and recognizable charts to this day. I'm throwing out an honorable mention to Glen Miller because once again he was such an influential band leader and composer that produced many well know jazz standards. Obviously there's many other important jazz musicians, but these are the ones I would point people towards if they generally just want to start listening to Jazz and learning about Jazz. If we're gonna focus primarily on specific instruments then my list would be completely different, but just in the category of important jazz musicians, that's my list. If I was going to list my biggest influences it'd be a vastly different list that includes grant green, Charlie parker, and Jaco Pastorius...but that's not the list we're making here. On an unrelated note, hey we play the same model of guitar! Hell yeah. It's a great instrument and pretty affordable. I saved up for mine when I was 14 and it's still my go to instrument 9 years later. Lastly, random question: what type of pick are you using? I like the precision and clarity you're getting with it. Some sort of jazz iii?

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Hey Vicki great choices and arguments for them all around! Indeed, it really gets the job done. Picks are Dava Jazz Grips

[@robstevens9590]

I like your list! The evolutions of Miles' & Coltrane's music is especially fascinating. I saw Miles live around the time of "Bitches Brew" -- incredible energy! Listening to some of Coltrane's later recordings (post "A Love Supreme" & "Crescent" but pre -"Ascension", "Expression", "Om" etc.) inspired me to start playing sax.

[@necrogon22]

Noting down my top 5 before i actually watch the video to see if I can guess what he'll choose: Louis Armstrong John Coltrane Miles Davis Charlie Parker Bill Evans

[@ethansteen8880]

id personally add Chet Baker to that

[@davidbates6151]

You really should have made it six and included Thelonious Monk! However I did heed your comment at the beginning of the video and I'm not upset :-)

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Ha, thanks David! Monk is definitely an important bebop musician

[@rillloudmother]

Favorite Coltrane tune: Naima

[@MrRational59]

Your selection was excellent.

[@jlmoses16]

I really don't know how anyone could argue with that list.

[@wendellharrelson2815]

Difficult to limit to five. Mine would include Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Stan Getz, Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck.

[@Cr8Tron]

1. Louis Armstrong 2. Duke Ellington 3. Miles Davis 4. John Coltrane 5. Charlie Parker *This is what came to mind before watching the video!

[@Trombonology]

1. Louis Armstrong 2. Duke Ellington 3. Charlie Parker 4. Charlie Christian 5. Thelonious Monk

[@billlacey4737]

Lists like this are always tough because (1) you're going to leave out someone's favorite and (2) compiling your own list has to involve compromises (e.g., you added Dizzy Gillespie to your Charlie Parker pick). Anyway, they are always fun and it sparks a good discussion. Mine are: Bill Evans Miles Davis John Coltrane Chet Baker Lester Young However, with a good argument and a couple of drinks and I could be persuaded to substitute Art Blakey, Bud Powell, Sarah Vaughn, Clifford Brown, Bill Basie, Hank Mobley, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Oliver Nelson, Sam Rivers, Theolonius Monk or Wayne Shorter for one or more of the above. Fun stuff!

[@tylerchaffins5486]

Great list by the way

[@chandlertaylor3881]

Ornette Coleman and Eric Dolphy if we are talking about jazz history innovations.

[@OneMoreCubebyMrSvart]

my top (as a pianist) : 5 - Art tatum 4 - Well, Arthur Jr Tatum 3 - Art Junior Tatum 2 - Tatum Art 1 - Arthur Junior Tatum

[@rillloudmother]

what about bud powell though?

[@horstneubauer5578]

a d monk?

[@rillloudmother]

@@horstneubauer5578 i think my #5 wouldbe monk in terms of chronological jazz progenitors.

[@rillloudmother]

@@Charlee_Murphee sure

[@artompkins7958]

Isn’t Oscar in there somewhere? Who combined such technique with such joy?

[@tbpfcgs]

you should direct people to Louis Armstrong's 1951 recording of A Kiss to Build A Dream on. Specifically, his solo that starts at about 1:30 in the recording. The Hot Fives and Sevens are great, but the recording technology could not capture his range when they were made

[@shivan30]

I have my top 5 clarinet players, since it's my instrument: - Benny Goodman - Artie Shaw - Buddy DeFranco - Eric Dolphy - Eddie Daniels

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Yes rock solid!

[@pickinstone]

Brent, did you have to learn Armstrong's "Hotter Than That" solo when you studied at CCNY? I remember thinking, why the heck are we learning this solo. How naive was I... Man... Louis Armstrong was DEEP! Just studying the way he used syncopation to make his line leap out of the recording--there's a masterclass right there!

[@angelar.2088]

I came here on a whim and I like . Got another family member 🎼 Just call me Gee ma😁 My Top 5 too 💖 I luv Billie Lady day Holiday 🤩

[@bedeckedfrog794]

5 is not enough. Here are my top 10. 10. Django Reinhardt 9. Count Basie 8. Benny Goodman 7. George Gershwin (idk if he counts) 6. Dizzy Gillespie 5. John Coltrane 4. Louis Armstrong 3. Duke Ellington 2. Charlie Parker 1. Miles Davis

[@ErixSamson]

Miles Davis / John Coltrane / Kenny Garret / Wayne Shorter / Jaco Pastorius

[@ricardofranciszayas]

I think your videos and dedication to the music are very important for students and teachers. Excellent work. Yes you definitely mentioned the 5 that are among the 100 most innovative musicians in the music. I think it would be impossible for me to come up with the 10 most important musicians. I feel that all students of the music should study some of the great drummers who are great innovators and helped to shape the music’s Rhythmic and Linear vocabulary. Here are 20 which come to mind, each an innovator: 1. Baby Dodds 2. Sid Catlett 3. Sonny Greer 4. Jo Jones 5. Kenny Clarke 6. Max Roach 7. Philly Joe Jones 8. Tony Williams 9. Elvin Jones 10. Billy Higgins 11. Airto Moreira 12. Art Blakey 13. Steve Gadd 14. Roy Haynes 15. Billy Cobham 16. Jack DeJohnette 17. Bobby Sanábria 18. Marlon Simon 19. Ed Thigpen 20. Peter Erskine Make that 21... Buddy Rich I’m not a drummer. I’m a keyboard player. But I think anybody serious about the music should think like a drummer. These are the people who steered the ships. Music is the best. Thanks again for your excellent work.

[@duffypratt]

No argument from me. Before watching, I wrote down my top five, and had the same except I was on the fence between Ellington and Lester Young.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Nice!

[@baguette3000-V2]

Louis Armstrong/Duke C Parker-M Davis- T Monk D Gillepsie/Django R/ Wes Montgomery/ A. C. Jobim/ Geschwin/ Cole Porter/ Chet baker

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Great list!

[@kennyt613]

Hard to argue with this list.

[@artompkins7958]

I think it’s a great list - so hard to boil something this big to something so compressed as a list of 5, but, if banned to a desert island for life, you would be well-served by these artists. Parker is to jazz what Mozart is to classical. The output of that short life is nothing if not epic.

[@ilangumush6911]

1. Charlie Parker 2. John Coltrane 3. Louis Armstrong 4. Dexter Gordon 5. Miles Davis

[@irwanshahabdullah9663]

My top five: 1. Charlie Parker; 2. Miles Davis; 3. John Coltrane; 4. Monk; 5. Pat Metheny

[@jarrilaurila]

Great list. I would have to say Django, but hard to drop anyone from that top five.

[@jamespalermo6079]

Jean Luc Ponty, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Luis Salinas. etc...

[@jdiggsmusic]

5. Miles Davis 4. John Coltrane 3. Nat King Cole 2. Duke Ellington 1. Charlie Parker

[@roeyy12benjamin85]

Ella Evans Parker Coltrane Louis

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Nice choices!

[@OceanViewMusic2000]

Dave Brubeck John Coltrane Stan Getz Miles Davis McCoy Tyner

[@colinmunro3158]

I'm surprised that none of the artists mentioned were pianists. There are so many great ones to choose from. For example, Professor Longhair showed the world why pianos are truly percussion instruments. Meanwhile, the likes of Oscar Peterson, and Fats Waller refined jazz piano to a polished sheen. However, hands down the best jazz pianist of all time was Art Tatum, whose style of playing is yet to be competently played by anyone else and who never played a piece the same way twice.

[@giomarino7566]

Great video. Why don't you make over some history of jazz, or life of the best jazz musician?

[@ggauche3465]

Yep, agree with all of these. But what would jazz be like if Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli hadn't existed. They introduced a much need European influence that was a shot in the arm for American jazz. Likewise Gilberto and Jobim and Getz bringing in Bossa Nova. Major!

[@Learnjazzstandards]

All great points!

[@vegetathe4th376]

Where is Bill Evans? Who Influenced many pianists ,bands ,and musicians.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

vegeta the4th Bill Evans is definitely important!

[@ralfgroh5967]

Coltrane, Monk, Mingus-- for starters!

[@africansoapsupplies9565]

KeithJarret

[@jan-paulvanderhoeven1639]

That is also my top 5...

[@africansoapsupplies9565]

my family name vdh

[@dusanbanjac4071]

my favorite is louis armstrong!

[@nakim55]

I believe tads dameron wrote hot house (not dizzy).

[@artompkins7958]

Also, I think we can all be thankful we lived in the period of humanity after these giants of jazz re-defined what music could be. Doesn’t if feel like, for a variety of reasons, there will never be a Renaissance of music like this ever again? Truly great pure musicianship? Where real technical and compositional power were what music was all about, and please leave the age of electronics and digital technology out of it?!

[@yunyu6201]

Jim hall

[@rillloudmother]

word

[@DoomerDad]

Louis Armstrong Charlie Parker Billie Holiday Ella Fitzgerald Sarah Vaughn

[@bernardocosta5281]

Thelonious Monk. A giant.

[@georgettepittman704]

Yes

[@cjklz]

Leaving out Thelonious is unacceptable.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

You must have missed the beginning of the video where I said not to get upset

[@AleksPlaysMc]

@@Learnjazzstandards You missed the part where he was right lol

[@dylanmorgan2752]

SavageArfad Im no expert on jazz but this sounds like one of those where you can subjectively argue a fair few but some people get upset if another great gets put before theirs.

[@varungupta8423]

What about Hancock and evans

[@gmh8547]

All the important innovators were done about a half-century ago and little point to listening to anyone who started playing after 1970 or so?

[@rik-keymusic160]

is it normal that i feel very frightened when i listen to these guy's?... It seems almost impossible to achieve such craftsmanship....

[@Learnjazzstandards]

I suppose it's normal, but I also wouldn't compare yourself to them. Rather take inspiration from them. Think of it as something to shoot for, and certainly you'll land somewhere higher than what you thought.

[@Cody-wj2zh]

Top 5: Charlie Parker Miles Davis John Coltrane Louis Armstrong Thad Jones Honorable Mention: Duke Ellington

[@Alexlinnk]

my man, Chet is cool and all, but hard to say he did something new.

[@sequoyahcisneros8719]

@@Alexlinnk He didn't say Chet(?)

[@xaviercoll]

Difficult to take five ^^ in jazz history from George Gershwin to Brad Melhdau ... Your list is a perfect one ... But with Thelonius Monk ! and what about Cole Porter ?

[@ShadyRealRap96]

Wes Montgomery and Django Reinhaaaaaaaardt

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Yes, as far as guitar goes they are up at the top!

[@tylerchaffins5486]

Miles Davis

[@LuisMartinez-gt8my]

No Thelonious Monk 😞

[@alvicarlos5273]

Little Walter=Best

[@MrJoelld]

Who Would Be Your Mount Rushmore of Jazz Musicians only naming 4?

[@africansoapsupplies9565]

Grapelli

[@dylankubilus1422]

Michael Brecker Charlie Parker Mike Brecker John Coltrane Brecker

[@z-twigrvsit618]

Miles Coltrane Mingus Dizzy Gillespie Grant Green

[@domesticcat1725]

Why aren't jazz musicians called jazzicians

[@stacibraunmusic]

Bill Evans Miles Davis Thelonious Monk Nat King Cole Antonio Carlos Jobim

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Nice ones Staci!

[@seanp3302]

1. paul whiteman

[@leonrickert4061]

im so angry!!!!!!!!!

[@lukegregg5944]

?

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Oh nooo!

[@africansoapsupplies9565]

Pat Metheny

[@amedeonicoletti2690]

WAY DONT YOU PLAY??

[@jeshdcruz]

Basically there is just one person... Africa... The Africans made jazz what it is today.. Africans are a gift of music and rhythm to the world.

[@bebopclownshow]

Jeshurun Dcruz not sure what happened

[@jeshdcruz]

@@bebopclownshow I'm saying all the jazz greats are African Americans.. Descendants of the slaves who were brought to America.. They made America great.. It's about time we acknowledge the impact of Africa in regards to music.

[@pianojonathan]

A mix of many influences made jazz possible. Western «classical music» being one of those as well as African roots.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Hey, Jeshurun jazz is African American music, definitely no arguments there!

[@xaviercoll]

African music is important but not enough ... jazz is more complex than that

[@gregorsamsa3166]

moreno Miles Wayne shorter Lee morgan Jim hall

[@Datanditto]

You make a list of the most important Jazz musicians and leave off Jelly Roll Morton of all people?! Tsk tsk You should NEVER be allowed to call yourself a Jazz musician until you spend some serious time studying the Jelly Roll Morton Complete Smithsonian Institute Recordings.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Lol. Relax

[@Datanditto]

Learn Jazz Standards yeah like take Miles off and put Jelly Roll #1 then Louis Armstrong #2. (Can you tell Im from New Orleans?) Jelly was a major transition from ragtime into jazz. Can not be forgotten. Great videos- thanks.

[@ahmedajabi2654]

Coleman Hawkins bill Evans sonny rollins count Basie Ed sheeran

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Nice Ahmed!

[@SimonMSvensson]

Kanye West Billie Eilish Avicii