Jazz Listening List

It’s important that all young musicians spend time listening to world class level performers. This is a list of  influential and talented jazz musicians from whom we can all learn something.

 

Flute:

Roland Kirk, Yusef Lateef, Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann, James Moody, Frank Wess, Lew Tabackin

 

Clarinet:

Buddy Defranco, Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet), Benny Goodman, Jimmy Guiffre, Woody Herman, Pee Wee Russell, Artie Shaw, Johnny Dodds, Eddie Daniels

 

Saxophone, Soprano:

Michael Brecker, Joe Farrell, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Dave Liebman

 

Saxophone, Alto:

Cannonball Adderly, Ornette Coleman, Paul Desmond, Eric Dolphy, Lee Konitz, Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, Charlie Parker, Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Sonny Stitt, Phil Woods, Steve Coleman

 

Saxophone, Tenor:

Michael Brecker, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Coleman Hawkins, Joe Henderson, Dave Liebman, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Zoot Sims, Ben Webster, Lester Young

 

Saxophone, Baritone:

Pepper Adams, Harry Carney, Serbe Chaloff, Gerry Mulligan

 

Trumpet:

Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Bix Beiderbecke, Randy Brecker, Clifford Brown, Kenny Dorham, Miles Davis, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis, Blue Mitchell, Fats Navarro, Woody Shaw, Clark Terry, Lee Morgan, Harry “Sweets’ Edison, Nicholas Payton, Arturo Sandoval

 

Trombone:

Jimmy Cleaveland, Carl Fontana, Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton, Bill Harris, J.J. Johnson, Frank Rosolino, Kid Ory, Jack Teagarden, Bill Watrous, Phil Wilson, Kai Winding, “Tricky Sam” Nanton, Urbie Green, Albert Mangelsdorff

 

Guitar:

George Benson, Kenny Burrell, Charlie Christian, Larry Coryell, Harb Ellis, Jim Hall, Barney Kessel, Pat Martino, John McLaughlin, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Freddie Green, George Benson, Pat Methany, Jimi Hendrix

 

Piano:

Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Count Basie, Red Garland, Erroll Garner, Herbie Hancock, Ahmad Jamal, Keith Jarrett, John Lewis, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, Horace Silver, Art Tatum, Lennie Tritano, McCoy Tyner, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Joe Zawinul, Earl Hines

 

Bass:

Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, Stanley Clarke, Richard Davis, Jimmy Garrison, Slam Stewart, Charlie Mingus, Charlie Haden, Oscar Pettiford, Rufus Reid, Steve Swallow, Dave Holland, Walter Page, Jaco Pastorius, John Patitucci, Christian McBride

 

Drums:

Louis Bellson, Art Blakely, Kenny Clarke, Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Sam Woodyard, Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Grady Tate, Tony Williams, Mel Lewis, Herold Jones, Paul Motian, Dave Weckl

 

Vibes:

Ron Ayers, Gary Burton, Dave Friedman, Terry Gibbs, Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, Red Norvo, Cal Tjader, Bobby Hutcherson

 

Vocalists:

Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, June Christy, Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Bobby McFerrin, Betty Carter, Lou Rawls, Frank Sinatra, Grady Tate, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams

 

Jazz Ensembles:

Gordon Goodwin, Count Basie, Louis Bellson, Francie Bolan, Duke Ellington, Don Ellis, Gil Evans, Fletcher Henderson, Woody Herman, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis, Stan Kenton, Rob McConnell, Bob Mintzer, Buddy Rich, Bill Watrous, Claude Thornhill, Maynard Ferguson