Top 10 Trumpet Players of All Time (My Inspirations)

[@chasefreak]

It's always interesting to see everybody's influences...none of my heroes are even on your list but that's what makes us all different.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Agreed!

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Was listening to Lee Morgan on the Blue Album yesterday and would swear he’s the GOAT (but what do I know I’m a guitarist).

[@blow-by-blow-trumpet]

He's pretty close to the top of my list too.

[@fabriziorollo2176]

as guitarist I can agree :D

[@DeanCassady]

Wynton Marsalis is most important trumpetist in contemporary jazz history, also Erik Truffaz and Chris Botti

[@johngomez7314]

What was Lee Morgan, chopped liver? And what about Woody Shaw? Never heard of some of these guys too

[@billbryant1288]

Clifford Brown, Doc Severinsen, Bernie Glow, Lee Morgan, Al Porcino, Maurice Andre, Bud Herseth, Conrad Gozzo, Bill Chase, Maynard Ferguson, Don Thomas, Timofei Dokshizer

[@edena2058]

you forgot Chet Baker...

[@billbryant1288]

@@edena2058 I got acquainted with Chet Baker at least a decade later than I should have. My list is players who actually inspired me, not those who should have.

[@mysticakhenaton1701]

one thing about being a musician, one can be 5 or 95. and still be playing. NO other profession can make that claim. NICE list.

[@JVFBryant]

HARRY JAMES! Harry had perfect tone like no other. You can have your jazz players, screamers, jam session guys. But no one sounded as clean & as pure as Harry James!

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Such a sweet trumpet player!

[@SoulMarriage]

Beautiful video, and very well narrated. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Thank you so much 😀

[@jazzbully1751]

That's a great list, thank you. For myself, it started with Louis, followed by Rafael Mendez and Maurice Andre. When I came to the States and became interested in jazz and commercial playing, it was Miles followed by Clifford and then Freddie, whom I got to study and play with a bit. Then Lee Morgan, Blue Mitchell, Woody Shaw, and Tom Harrell. Finally, a shout out to my late friend Claudio Roditi. Someone I got to play with a lot and who taught me so much. His breathing, control, and articulation were superb. Fundamentally, just a brilliant trumpet player, artist, and human being.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Wow that sounds incredible! Meeting and playing with such legends

[@richtraube2241]

Love Claudio Roditi's recordings. A very playful musician. You must have had a blast with him.

[@leonardodominguez3491]

Rafael Méndez, one of my favorites.

[@AmineSahed]

I was surprised by your # 1 but I couldn't agree more. Ibrahim is really something. Everyone in the list is a phenomenon, and there are so much more. You could've added : dizzy gillespie, Lee Morgan for instance or more modern trumpet players like Aadam Rapa and Rashawn Ross.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

You're absolutely right!

[@josesanchez-os7zr]

15 Jazz Trumpeters in my opinion. L. Armstrong, R. Eldridge, C. Terry, D. Gillespie, F. Navarro, K. Dorham, M. Davis, C. Brown, C. Candoli, A. Farmer, F. Hubbard, C. Baker, L. Morgan, D. Bolton and W. Shaw.

[@Kelly-di9sc]

Thank you, great jazz players .... let's also not forget the great classical players, Haaken Hardenberger - his sound is magnificent. And Tyne Thing Hilseth, I have never watched anyone play so beautifully and it looks like she is doing absolutely nothing, effortless. Such amazing players, and many more ...

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Can't argue with that, magnificent players

[@IndianOutlaw1870]

Adolph Herseth 20th century.

[@williamfagan7835]

I appreciate that your list is personal and I like a lot of the trumpet players here, but Louis Armstrong stands head and shoulders above all of them, as not only did he influence them, yes even Ibrahim Maalouf, but he also influenced players of every other instrument in jazz and popular music and created what might be termed 'modern singing'. He was the single most influential musician of the 20th Century and his influence is still felt almost a quarter of the way into the 21st Century. Was it Miles or Dizzy who said about him " No him, no me"? I agree about the absence of a major film on his life. Ray Charles and James Brown have had biopics and their music would have been unthinkable if Louis had not existed before them. We are coming up on the centenary of some of his greatest musical achievements and it is not too late to do something significant on film to celebrate him and his achievements.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Amen! Well-put, couldn't agree more

[@garyshoemaker2703]

Interesting list, but narrow based on styles. Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Doc Severinsen. Screech: Maynard Ferguson, Cai Anderson, Leo Shepherd. Classical: Rafael Mendez, Alison Balsom, and, the one and only, Maurice Andre.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Yep... The trumpet is an extremely versatile instrument

[@scottdobry3859]

Great list. I know this is your list but not sure how Dizzy doesn't make every top 10. Also, didn't know there were so many left-handed trumpet players. ;-) lol. Cheers.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Yes I can see how you (and clearly some others) feel about Dizzy's place here, him being such an innovator, educator, leader and super trumpet player... I will definitely make a special video dedicated to him sometime soon

[@brbr8691]

J'utilise vos vidéos pour travailler mon son. Bravo et merci pour ce que vous faites. Pouvez-vous faire des vidéos sur l'improvisation ?Encore merci.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Merci beaucoup! J'essaierai certainement de faire des vidéos d'improvisation à l'avenir

[@AntilopeDisecado]

Wynton was more experimental when he was coming up. Black Codes from the Underground or Live at Blues Alley are very crazy!

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

That’s a fair point

[@lwskiner]

Wynton's early sextet was the best jazz group around. Then he took a left turn and devoted most of his playing to Ellington-style big band music. I personally think that was a mistake and took his innovation away. A very gifted musician though.

[@jorgetoro5645]

Great list !" I like also Roy Eldridge and Clark Terry,Donald Byrd and Booker Little, those sounds are also great ! F me num 1 is Chet Baker

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Great additions, Chet is such a sweet musician

[@jorgetoro5645]

Check Teranga album by Jon Faddis,with Clark Terry guest

[@blow-by-blow-trumpet]

Chet is top of my list too. Technical gymnastics, lightening 16th note passages and extreme range I can take or leave but pure melodic playing like Chet's is straight from the Gods. If it were that easy then more people would do it.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

That's a great point there

[@selpingos]

I think they did have one about Louis Armstrong in the 70s

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Really? I will try to find it

[@elirachlinmusic]

Freddie on top bro 🙏

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Freddie is fire!

[@janedubourg4837]

Nice content. What mouthpiece and trumpet have you got?

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Thanks! I currently play a Bach 37 and a 3C Bach mouthpiece to match

[@nirn5111]

אני במקצוע שלי לא ג'אזיסט ;) אבל רשימה מרשימה ושמח שכללת בה גם את אבישי. בהצלחה עם הערוץ וכמובן שעוד תוכן ידידותי גם לסתם חובבים יהיה מבורך

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

תודה רבה!

[@Mike49if]

Great job on Sandu! I love them all but Chet is my favorite. Check out "Generique" by Miles, the quintessential MD track. Thanks!

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

"Generique" is such a beautiful piece of music, thanks for sharing!

[@SoulMarriage]

Here are some of my favorite ones in addition to some of yours, and many of these ones are grossly underrated: Roy Eldridge, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, Nat Adderly, Benny Bailey, Kenny Dorham, Maynard Ferguson, Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, Charlie Shavers, Harry James, Donald Byrd, Woody Shaw…

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

All incredible players!

[@VincentSmith-fg3ri]

Freddy Hubbard #1for me 👈 also Dizzy, Lois Armstrong ,Arturo Sandoval, woody Shaw, Donald Byrd, Terrance Blanchard, Tom Brown and of course Miles!😎

[@OBJish]

Great post!!!

[@robinbalean958]

Thanks for the list - I didn't know about Cohen or Maalouf. For me Lee Morgan would have to be on the list, as well as Chet Baker and Fats Navarro.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Fats and Chet are absolutely amazing

[@jorgetoro5645]

Tomas Stanko is 🔥

[@da11king]

Great list , but this top 10 could have been redone 100 times over! So many great influential trumpet players throughout the years until today. 🤓🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎶✨️.....

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Hmm... Perhaps something to ponder for future content :)) 🎺

[@OBJish]

Of course hands down Wynton!!!

[@paultjader8699]

Clifford Brown

[@richardtomasek]

Rafael Mendez was likely the greatest trumpet player ever. It took him 5 years to perfect this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIqtfoqId9aSntk There are 4 splices in this recording, but he could perform it while circular breathing. His sons said it would completely exhaust him and although it was a rare occasion, he did perform it in concert. The only players close to his technique are Vizzutti, Marsalis, and Nakariakov. In the 30s, Mendez led his own big band and the recordings are simply amazing. Before his horrible lip injury, his range was extraordinary, He and Harry James were good friends and admired each others playing.

[@ferdinandfrenchhorn6442]

You missed: Gunther Beetz And Horst Fischer

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

I haven't heard these guys before, they're amazing! Thanks for sharing

[@martncam]

Dizzy, Maynard, and Blue Mitchell. I agree with your as to no level of ability order. Let's face it; t,here are and were great trumpeters. An excellent instrument - associated with the voice of God, the announcement of royal births, nations anthems, and honors for those laid to rest. Always a trumpeter.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Well said!

[@kittyodowd6816]

Oh, also meant to add Jon Faddis.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Agreed, Faddis is a phenomenon. If you haven't seen it yet check out his duel with Wynton, playing Dizzy's "Things to Come" with the JLCO

[@ronald220964]

Where is lee Morgan why is he not in top 10????????

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

If there was a number 11 on this list it would've definitely been Lee Morgan!

[@ronald220964]

@@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet nooooooohhhhh not 11th place have you even listen to this trumpetist in blue train with John Coltrane the sidewinder record etcetera always looking to modern players Don't discard the oldies.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Yeah... I understand how you feel :) I love 'Blue Train' and learned some of Lee's solos from that album. I will definitely make a video about Lee soon

[@trumpet_gabo]

I hate and love these subjective lists! I hate, because a lot of great trumpeters are made permanent in the jazz history. I love, because I recognize I need to listen forgot players. Special thanks for Ibrahim! He is a pioneer and traditionalist at the same time. I would like to recommend his album with the mali rapper, Oxmo Puccino. The title is: Au pays d'Alice. The genre is hip-hop and jazz, but I think it is more deeper, some kind of program music. Anyway, I split this question to the former and the actual players. For example this is my top10 former and active trumpeters: Former: Miles Davis, Roy Hargrove, Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Bill Chase, Lee Morgan, Blue Mitchell, Louis Armstrong, Dizzie Gillespie, Woody Shaw Active: Wynton Marsalis, Terrence Blanchard, Arturo Sandoval, Nicholas Payton, Fabrizio Bosso, Lukas Oravec, Randy Brecker, Ibrahim Maalouf, Tom Harrell, James Morrison Many thanks for the topic! Of course I put the subscribe button :)

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Thanks for this great comment! I very much liked your split between active and past player

[@richtraube2241]

For classical Dokshizer is a real sleeper, underrated. I like hard bop and would include Woody Shaw. Oh! No Diz??!!!

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

My first teacher was originally from Russia and a big Dokshizer fan, but sadly during those days I didn't have access to quality recordings of him, just a few cassettes.... And as for Dizzy, I love him and his playing very much, but he wasn't that big of an influence on me personally. I do think about making a video dedicated to him soon.

[@victorumrikhin9954]

not of this was inspire me to play trumpet...Sorry!..Timofey Dokshizer was my inspiration...

[@BigOnBebop]

Nice list. But you can't have Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard and not have Fats Navarro. It's your list, I get it.But you can't get any better than Fats. He smokes for sure 7 on that list.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Fats was fire! Awesome player

[@Αναστάσιος-σ8υ]

We play the same instrument but apparently our taste in music is different 😂

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

And that's OK!

[@melvynwade6951]

Dizzy Gillespie. Lee Morgan and Booker Little for starters.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Yep, all three are top 10 material for sure

[@kittyodowd6816]

You are missing Doc Severinsen and Maynard Ferguson, both of home would blow away many on your listing. But, that just my opinion.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Doc and Maynard are amazing!

[@paultjader8699]

Love Benny Bailey, Donald Bryd ,

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Super trumpet players!

[@trygvehiorth5902]

Joey Pero is the best and coolest. The rest is only suit boys.

[@patoni860]

If you had any respect for Louis Armstrong you would know, he don't like to be called Louie

[@247hdjazz]

not Miles.....maybe #10........hmm?

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

To each his own, I guess :)

[@esotericist]

Chet Baker. Lee Morgan.

[@edena2058]

Where is Chet Baker ??? please remove Ibrahim and pur Baker instead :-)

[@roberttalavers120]

You have terrific names on your list, no doubt.But leaving out Tom harrell, Sean Jones, Byron stripling just to name a few. Arturo is not worthy of being in that list. He's improvisation does not impress me one bit. Very cocky and egotistical. Thanks for your video....

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

All the names you've mentioned are legendary players. Personally i've always admired Sean Jones, a player that inspires you to practice but also to quite the trumpet at the same time...

[@roberttalavers120]

@@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet Here's my top 7 in no specific ordee: 1. Tom Harrell 2. Freddie Hubbard 3. Wynton M. 4. Miles Davis 5. Sean Jones 6. Clifford Brown. 7. Kenny Dorham

[@bilbobaggins4403]

Jack Sheldon Dizzy Gillespie John Faddis Arturo Sandoval

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Thanks for sharing... I didn't know Jack and just now checked him out, such a beautiful trumpet player!

[@bilbobaggins4403]

@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet there's a doc about him. He and Chetty were friends

[@paultjader8699]

Lee Morgan, suerb

[@victorstein204]

This is a ridiciulous list. Of course, Louis Armstrong, Clifford Brown, Miles, Roy, Wynton, and Freddie Hubbard belong. Other than that, he seems to be including mostly some friends and relatives nobody ever heard of.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

:))) I promise I'm not related to Arturo Sandoval (Though I would defiantly be happy to be his friend!) But seriously, as I said in the video, it's just the guys who inspired me throughout the years, so obviously you might find some names there that aren't that familiar to you, and that's OK.

[@intrepidpooch]

Wait, the only name he mentioned that isn’t a well known musician is Ibrahim, and maybe I’m just ignorant of his music. These are his personal favorites which are his to choose.

[@davidyucht6432]

The man said they were HIS influences.

[@johnbarrett4523]

I know it's personal and they are all great but Hahahahahaha!

[@alanyoungjazz]

My personal top 5: 5 Freddie Hubbard (soulful) 4 Wynton Marsalis (masterful) 3 Lee Morgan (funky) 2 Miles Davis (cool) 1 Clifford Brown (swingin'!)

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

Yes that's great 👌

[@arby163]

No Maynard, no list.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

I can completely understand how you feel :)

[@universecreep]

LOL. Talks about the best trumpters then doesn't play any of their music. lol

[@ishaq24722]

No Lee Morgan, bad list! Sorry.

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

That's a point a lot of folks will agree with you about, I guess!

[@ishaq24722]

@@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet At least you had Hubbard

[@tonymario8118]

Maynard Ferguson who started the RAGE OF EVERY TRUMPET PLAYER AND WAS ONE OF THE ONLY BAND LEADER WHO WAS ABLE TO OUT PLAY ANY MUSICIAN IN HIS BAND AND ON ANY INSTRUMENT 🎷 MAYNARD PLAYED EVERY INSTRUMENT ! MAYNARD PLAYED,VIOLIN,TUBA BARI SAX ,ALTO SAX PIANO, SOPRANO SAX , CLARINET HE WAS A GREAT ARRANGER, AND COMPOSER AND WAS A GREAT CLASSICAL PLAYER AND PLAYED WITH THE PARAMOUNT STUDIO ORCHESTRA PLAYING FOR BACKGROUND MUSIC OF ANY JANDRA AND KEPT BIG BAND MUSIC ALIVE AND FRESH AND WILDLY PLAYED LIKE "****THE MAN WITH A HORN 📯 WHO PLAYED LOUDER ,FASTER, GREATER, AND BEAUTIFUL BALLADS AND PLAYED WITH THE GREATEST BIG BAND,THE STAN KENTON ORCHESTRA ITS A DISGRACE NOT TO INCLUDE MAYNARD FERGUSON WHO COULD OUTPLAY ANY OF THAT TEN BEST 🎺 PLATERS ON THAT LIST ! AND IF THATGUY HAD A TOP TWENTY LIST, IAM SURE HE WOULD NOT INCLUDE "**** THE EXCITING MAYNARD FERGUSON THE MAN WITH A HORN****" HIGH ON A WINDY HILL AND MAYNARD WENT TO HEAVEN JOINED THE ANGEL GABRIEL AND MAYNARD FERGUSON BIG BAND WITH BUDDY RICH ON THE DRUM, AND VOCALIST ,FRANK SINATRA,MEL TORME,CHRIS CONNERS, AND PIANIST OSCAR PETERSON

[@Eat.Sleep.Trumpet]

I love Maynard Too!

[@julioramos5383]

There's hardly any of them they didn't play there music