5 Jazz Music Musicians You Need to Know

There are countless jazz musicians out there making incredible music. But who are the ones you really need to know? Here are 5 jazz musicians who are essential listening.

Miles Davis

Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musical styles throughout his career that encompassed elements of bebop, blues, hard bop, modal jazz, and electronic music. His 1958 composition “Kind of Blue” remains one of the most popular jazz recordings of all time.

Born and raised in Illinois, Davis left his studies at the Juilliard School in New York City after only two weeks to join sonny Rollins’s band. He made his professional debut as a member of keyboardist john lewis’s big band in 1945 before recording with Dizzy Gillespie the following year. One of the first great quintets featuring Davis on trumpet was formed in 1947 with pianist lewis; tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards; bassist Percy Heath; and drummer Kenny Clarke. Several years later, he recorded for Blue note Records with saxophonists Horace silver, Hank mobley, eric dolphy—and many other musicians who would join him throughout his career—before forming another quintet with clarinetist charles lloyd over a four-year period beginning in 1966 which included saxophonists Wayne shorter and gil Evans amongst its members.

John Coltrane

John Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer who was born in North Carolina in 1926. He started playing professionally while in the Navy in 1945 and began touring with various bands soon after his discharge. In 1955, he joined the Miles Davis Quintet and recorded the album “Round About Midnight.” His solo on the tune “My Favorite Things” became one of the most influential solos in jazz history. After leaving Davis’ group, Coltrane formed his own quartet and began exploring different directions in his music. He recorded several highly acclaimed albums, including “A Love Supreme” (1965), before his death from liver cancer at the age of 40.

Billie Holiday

One of the most influential jazz singers of all time, Billie Holiday had a versatile, emotive voice that could convey both happiness and pain. Her vocal style – which was often compared to an instrument – was matched by her innovative use of phrasing and timing, making her one of the most distinctive vocalists of her era. Holiday’s lyrics were also groundbreaking, tackling difficult subjects like racism and prostitution with a frankness that was unprecedented in popular music. Though she faced many challenges in her life, including poverty, addiction, and discrimination, Billie Holiday left a lasting legacy as one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time.

Charlie Parker

One of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, Charlie Parker was a saxophonist known as “Yardbird” and “Bird.” He is credited with helping to develop bebop, a style of jazz characterized by fast tempos, improvisation, and complex harmonic structures. Born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1920, Parker began playing the saxophone at the age of 11. He soon developed a unique style that incorporated elements of the blues and Swing with more complex harmonies. In the mid-1940s, he moved to New York City, where he helped pioneer the bebop movement. Parker died of complications from heroin addiction in 1955 at the age of 34.

Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his unique improvisational style. He is one of the most influential figures in jazz history, and his innovative approach to the piano influenced countless other musicians. Monk was born in North Carolina in 1917 and began playing the piano at an early age. He soon developed a unique style that incorporated elements of blues, gospel, and bebop. Monk relocated to New York City in the 1940s, where he quickly became a fixture on the city’s vibrant jazz scene. He recorded a number of landmark albums, including his best-known release, ‘Round Midnight (1956). Monk continued to perform and record until his death in 1982.