* Determinations of historical significance are made after consulting respected jazz & pop history books, journals and industry publications, historians, teachers, critics and respected musicians.
These artists are listed in (semi) score order, then chronologically by birth. Enjoy the music and history of these artists and ensembles.
PLEASE send me your comments, artist suggestions & corrections.
Brad Sharp, Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A. bradsharp2@gmail.com
Last update: 21 June 2023
Miles Davis (1926-1991), during a 1982 TV interview where he called jazz (along with other forms of music)
"social music", said "You take out what you want and leave what you don't like."
TRUMPET / CORNET / FLUGEL
Natty (Anatie) Dominique (1896-1982)
Lucius "Lu" Watters (1911-1989)
MISC:
Erskine Tate, violin (1885-1978)
A. J. Piron, violin (1888-1943)
Stephane Grappelli, violin (1908-1997)
Stuff Smith, violin (1909-1967)
Joe Mooney, accordion (1911-1975)
Art Van Damme, accordion (1920-2010)
Toots Thielemans, harmonica (1922-2016)
Dorothy Ashby, harp (1932-1986)
Howard Johnson, tuba (1941-2021)
PIANO / ORGAN / COMP / ARR
Willie “The Lion” Smith (1893-1973)
Bennie Moten (piano) (1894-1935)
Lil Hardin Armstrong (1889-1971)
“Jelly Roll” Morton (1890-1941)
Fletcher Henderson (1897-1952)
Earl “Fatha” Hines (1903-1983)
Gerald Wilson (1918-2014) Big Band
Toshiko Akiyoshi (1929-) Jazz Orchestra
Muhal Richard Abrams (1930-2017)
Richard "Groove" Holmes (1931-1991)
Maria Schneider (1960-) Orchestra
GUITAR
ENSEMBLES
Bela Fleck (1958-) and the Flecktones
Bob Florence (1932-2008) (and the Limited Edition)
Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra
Doc Cook (1891-1958) and His Dreamland Orchestra
Ernie Fields (1904-1997) Orchestra
Gerald Wilson (1918-2014) Orchestra
Glen Grey (1900-1963) & The Casa Loma Orchestra
Gordon Goodwin (1954-) Big Phat Band
Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five
Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven
Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers
Paul Whiteman (1890-1967) Orchestra
Rob McConnell (1935-2010) and the Boss Brass
Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Big Band