Famous jazz musicians. Players who have graced the history of jazz.
The music genre known as “jazz” boasts a history of well over 100 years.
Absorbing the spirit of each era, it has evolved by embracing innovative techniques and experimenting with various approaches, continuously exerting a major influence on other genres.
From rock and heavy metal to club music, there are many artists who incorporate the essence of jazz to craft their own distinctive sounds.
In this article, we introduce the great musicians who have left a precious legacy in the history of jazz—artists whose talent and contributions to the genre have earned them the honorable title of “Jazz Giants.”
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Famous jazz musicians. Players who adorn the history of jazz (1–10)
Donna LeeJaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius—known affectionately as “Jaco”—stunned bassists around the world with a series of innovative performances that can only be described as genius.
He expanded the possibilities of the electric bass, refusing to treat it as merely a rhythm instrument.
Instead, he drew fully on the unique tone of the fretless bass to craft numerous remarkable phrases that shone with a lead role within the ensemble.
In addition to his many legendary performances with Weather Report, his 1976 solo album “Jaco Pastorius” is truly a work that could be called a sacred text for bassists.
Pastorius possessed abundant talent not only as a player but also as a composer, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that he spent such an unfortunate final chapter of his life.
My WayFrank Sinatra
One figure who cannot be overlooked as one of the world’s most famous male jazz vocalists is Frank Sinatra.
His singing captivated countless women, and there was even a time when he was akin to what we would now call an idol singer.
A consummate entertainer, he also flourished as a film actor from the 1940s onward, winning the Best Supporting Actor award at the 26th Academy Awards.
In addition, a recording tape of him singing “Fly Me to the Moon” was loaded onto Apollo 10 and Apollo 11, making it the first song humanity brought to the Moon.
Cleopatra’s DreamBud Powell
This piece, composed by Bud Powell and recorded in 1959, is said to be overwhelmingly popular among Japanese fans and one of the most requested tunes in jazz clubs.
Born into a musical family, Powell is regarded as a leading figure of the bebop style on piano.
He had a close relationship with fellow pianist Thelonious Monk, who was considered a maverick of their generation.
Compared to Monk, often seen as a bundle of idiosyncrasy, Powell’s playing carries the image of a more orthodox, straight-ahead approach.
Famous jazz musicians: Players who shaped the history of jazz (11–20)
Cry Me A RiverElla Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald, hailed as one of the three great jazz singers alongside Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan, was known for her bright, breezy delivery and her mastery of scat singing.
Discovered by Chick Webb’s band, she scored a hit with “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” a nursery rhyme arranged as jazz, and went on to release many hit albums up until the 1970s, when her battle with diabetes began.
On Green Dolphin StreetKeith Jarrett
Known for his semi-crouched posture and distinctive groans while playing, Keith Jarrett is a celebrated, prodigiously gifted jazz pianist.
His career extends far beyond jazz into classical and other genres, and he is also a talented composer and multi-instrumentalist.
Jarrett’s relationship with Japan is a special one: he has frequently visited both as a solo artist and with bands, and in 1978 he even gave a successful solo concert at the Nippon Budokan.
Despite battling a serious illness in the late 1990s, he made a miraculous comeback.
To experience Jarrett’s allure, you might start with The Köln Concert, the double live album released in 1975 that is often cited as the best-selling solo jazz album of all time.
Round MidnightWes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery, from Indianapolis, Indiana, is remembered in music history not only for his role in the history of jazz but also as an unparalleled player who influenced countless guitarists.
His use of the “octave technique,” in which the same pitch is played an octave apart on two strings—a hallmark often synonymous with his name—famously expanded the possibilities of jazz guitar.
Montgomery was also known for his fondness for Gibson’s L-5 CES guitar.
Sadly, he passed away at the young age of 45, but we’re truly fortunate to be able to enjoy his vast body of recordings, through which we can experience the many brilliant techniques he taught himself.
C Jam BluesOscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson, known as the “Emperor of the Keyboard,” stands at the pinnacle of jazz pianists, famed for his outstanding technique and original improvisation.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Peterson left a shining legacy in jazz that cannot be fully captured in a short passage.
Beyond his extraordinary, near-flawless technique, his buoyant, songful, and brisk performances never fail to bring a smile to listeners’ faces.
Unlike many forward-leaning jazz musicians, he was rarely surrounded by troubles or bad rumors, and even after a stroke left his left hand impaired, he fulfilled his life as an active performer.
His work is arguably an ideal first step into the vast world of jazz.