Favorite Jazz Musicians Besides Guitarists

**frisellfan19** · 10-06-2008, 02:43 AM

Everybody seems to talk about guitarists a lot on here and with good reason because this is a jazz guitar site, but I find myself listening to pianists and horn players more than guitarists. I'm actually more influenced by pianists and horn players than I am guitarists.

Here are some of my favorite jazz musicians:

Pianists:

Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Tommy Flanagan, Michel Petrucciani, Fred Hersch, Renee Rosnes, Marian McPartland, John Hicks, Mulgrew Miller, Herbie Hancock, Eliane Elias, Geoff Keezer, Sonny Clark, Amina Figarova, Hampton Hawes, Bud Powell

Saxophonists:

Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, Buddy Collette, Jan Garbarek, Coleman Hawkins, Benny Golson, Sonny Rollins, Gigi Gryce, Charlie Rouse, Harold Land, Jerry Dodgion, Cannonball Adderley, Yusef Lateef, David "Fathead" Newman, Charles Lloyd, Lee Konitz

Trumpeters:

Freddie Hubbard, Tomasz Stanko, Marvin Stamm, Lee Morgan, Woody Shaw, Nicholas Payton, Miles Davis, Terrell Stafford, Conte Candoli, Tim Hagans, Kenny Wheeler, Art Farmer, Thad Jones, Donald Byrd, Paolo Fresu

Vibraphonists:

Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Locke, Milt Jackson, Stefon Harris, Steve Nelson, Bryan Carrott, Lionel Hampton

All of these musicians have influenced me with their amazing approach to jazz music.

Now who are some yours?

**Stackabones** · 10-06-2008, 10:41 AM

I love Paul Desmond, the player and the wit.

**Jake Hanlon** · 10-06-2008, 10:49 AM

Here are some of mine

Favorite Sax players
Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Chris Potter, Kenny Garrett, Mark Turner, Joshua Redman, Phil Woods, Mike Murley, John Coltrane, Mike Brecker, Lee Konitz, Bobby Selvagio, Eric Dolphy

Favorite Brass
Kenny Wheeler, Tom Harrell, Woody Shaw, Timn Hagans, JJ Johnson, Robin Eubanks, Conrad Herwig, Dave Douglas and Miles Davis

Favorite Pianists
Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Oscar Pettersen, Stefan Karlsson, McCoy Tyner, Makoto Ozone, Mulgrew Miller and Kenny Kirkland

Favorite Bassists
Dave Holland, Marc Johnson, Larry Grenadier, Scott Colley, Joe Martin, Scott Lafaro, Eddie Gomez and Charlie Haden

Favorite Drummers
Bill Stewart, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Lewis Nash, Brian Blade, Eric Harland.

**oleo20** · 10-06-2008, 11:03 AM

michael brecker is one of my all time favourite jazzers

**JohnW400** · 10-06-2008, 11:13 AM

Horns:

Phil Woods, Eric Alexander, Coltrane, Davis, Charlie Rouse, Paul Desmond, Wayne Shorter, Arturo Sandoval

Key's:

Chick Correa, Herbie Hancock, Monk, Evans, Horace Silver

Bass:

Ron Carter, Dave Holland, Charlie Hayden, Lafaro , Gomez

Drum's:

Kenwood Denard, Elvin Jones, Bill Stewart, Bill Goodwin, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham

**mr. beaumont** · 10-06-2008, 01:52 PM

actually, most of my favorite jazz musicians aren't guitarists...

winds: paul desmond, zoot sims, hank mobley, johnny griffin, jerome richardson, eric dolphy, pepper adams, booker ervin, scott hamilton, ted brown, wayne shorter, and ike quebec

trumpet: miles, art farmer, lee morgan, freddie hubbard, enrico rava, tomasz stanko, sweets edison, clifford brown, tom harrell

'bone: frank rosalino, and of course jj

bass: richard davis, scott lafaro, eddie gomez, don thompson, esperanza spalding

drums: motian, blakey, joe chambers, tony williams, max roach, jerry fuller, idris muhammad

keys: bill evans, mulgew miller, danny grissett, horace silver, red garland, brad mehldau, marcin wasielewski, hancock, bobo stenson

vocals: dinah washington, nancy wilson, johnny hartman

we should put together our "supergroups" living or dead...

**frisellfan19** · 10-06-2008, 05:51 PM

Jazz supergroups? Hmmm...but to make it more interesting all band members must be living. Here's mine:

The New Jazztet:

Roy Hargrove - trumpet
Benny Golson - tenor saxophone
Renee Rosnes - piano
Scott Colley - bass
Clarence Penn - drums

I think this group would SMOKE!

**mr. beaumont** · 10-06-2008, 07:23 PM

okay, living supergroup...

sax: shorter
trumpet: tom harrell
keys: danny grissett
drums: paul motian
bass and vocals: esperanza spalding
guitar: me (not because i'm that good, just because this is my dream group and dammit, i get to play with them) when i need to sit a break, jacob young can sit in...

**frisellfan19** · 10-06-2008, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

okay, living supergroup...

sax: shorter
trumpet: tom harrell
keys: danny grissett
drums: paul motian
bass and vocals: esperanza spalding
guitar: me (not because i'm that good, just because this is my dream group and dammit, i get to play with them) when i need to sit a break, jacob young can sit in...

Esperanza Spalding? You have got to be kidding me.

Anyway, I think my group smokes your group. Mine is the New Jazztet.

**mr. beaumont** · 10-06-2008, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by frisellfan19

Esperanza Spalding? You have got to be kidding me.

I think my group smokes your group. Mine is the New Jazztet.

i know what you're thinking, but have you heard her first record? she's the real deal, not just the crossover stuff she's doing now...which i also like, honestly. but seriously, the records called "junjo" and it's excellent. very challenging jazz with a slight latin bent.

I'm going to call my group the jazz instant messengers. and we're going to kick your group's ass.

**frisellfan19** · 10-06-2008, 08:24 PM

Here's a new group I just thought of:

Bob Brookmeyer's New Sounds Octet-

Paolo Fresu - trumpet, flugelhorn
Bob Brookmeyer - trombone, composer/arranger
Rick Margitza - tenor saxophone
Geoff Keezer - piano, keyboards
Joe Locke - vibraphone, marimba
Adam Rogers - acoustic and electric guitars
Marc Johnson - bass
Peter Erskine - drums, percussion

**frisellfan19** · 10-06-2008, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

i know what you're thinking, but have you heard her first record? she's the real deal, not just the crossover stuff she's doing now...which i also like, honestly. but seriously, the records called "junjo" and it's excellent. very challenging jazz with a slight latin bent.

I'm going to call my group the jazz instant messengers. and we're going to kick your group's ass.

The Jazz Instant Messengers? Hahahahaha...that's a good one. I'm still lukewarm about Spaulding she still hasn't proven herself yet.

Checkout my new group I just listed. It'll kick the crap out your Instant Messengers.

**bojan** · 10-07-2008, 07:40 AM

wanted supergroup - living or otherwise ...
rhythm section:
Danny Richmond dr.
Nana Vasconselos perc.
Eddie Gomez b.
Bryan Carrott vib./mar.
Hank Jones p.
Mick Goodrick g.
reeds:
Sam Rivers ten.
Pharoah Sanders ten.
Anthony Braxton alto
Henry Threadgill alto/flute
John Surman bar.
Louis Sclavis cl. bass cl.
Don Byron cl.
horns:
Tom Harrel tr.
Nicholas Payton tr.
Paolo Fresu flueg.
Ross Anderson tromb.
Curtis Fowlkes tromb.
Robin Eubanks tromb.
Marcus Rojas b. tuba/tuba
Sharon Freeman fr. horn
voice:
Rickie Lee Jones, Joni Mitchel, Milton Nascimento
arranger:
Maria Schneider
conductor ... ME!!

**Fripod** · 10-12-2008, 05:11 AM

Well, I'm amazed that noone has mentioned him so far, but my favourite by far, even though it might be a little cliched...

Charlie Parker, how can you go past him.

**mangotango** · 10-30-2008, 09:22 AM

Because I started out as a bass player -

Jaco
Mingus
Stanley

Because I've put (and held) bands together

Duke
Miles

Because my first real exposure to jazz was his show on the BBC when I was a kid (thank you) before I heard Miles or anyone else.....

Oscar Peterson

**Jake Hanlon** · 10-30-2008, 09:49 AM

heh if I was to put together a big band I'd probably go with a Kenton set up and go 5 5 5 4

Sax
Dick Otts (lead alto)
Bobby Salvagio (alto, soprano double lead)
Chris Potter
Mark Turner
John Surman

Trumpets
Wayne Bergeron (Lead)
Lew Solof (2nd)
Jay Saunders
Tom Harrell (Jazz)
Kenny Wheeler (Jazz)

Bones
Steve Weist (lead)
Robin Eubanks (Jazz)
Conrad Herwig
and I dunno about 2 bass trombones... have to do some research

Rhythm
Piano - Brad Mehldau
Guitar - Jonathan Kreisberg
Bass - Dave Holland
Drums - Peter Erskine

yeah, that would be kick ass

**hot ford coupe** · 10-30-2008, 12:57 PM

Hmmm. Favorite musicians other than guitarists.

Bass- Ray Brown, George Mras

Piano-Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, Diana Krall

Alto sax- Charlie Parker, Lou Donaldson, Paul Desmond

Tenor sax-Stan Getz, Lester Young

Bari Sax- Serge Chaloff

Trumpet-Dizzy, Clifford Brown, Chet Baker

Vibes- Hampton, Cal Tjader

Drums- Max Roach, Gene Krupa, Shelly Mann

**bojan** · 10-30-2008, 01:11 PM

Jake,
I get the impression that you would love writing for the big band you presented above ... am I right?
So ... what would you prefer as the sound of this ensemble? I think I can hear your cast list rockin' in the vein of Don Ellis ... quirky and yet, danceable.

**Jon** · 10-30-2008, 05:51 PM

Art Farmer (fl), Brad Mehldau (p), Don Thompson (b,p,vb), Jorge Rossy(d), Steve Swallow on on upright(b), Warne Marsh(ts), Sonny Rollins(ts), Scott Colley(b), Red Mitchell (b), Jim Black(d).

**skei** · 10-30-2008, 06:14 PM

Miles Davis, without a doubt, and possibly Charlie Parker.
Ulf Wakenius.

Peace
Skei

**mr. beaumont** · 10-30-2008, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Jon

Art Farmer (fl), Brad Mehldau (p), Don Thompson (b,p,vb), Jorge Rossy(d), Steve Swallow on on upright(b), Warne Marsh(ts), Sonny Rollins(ts), Scott Colley(b), Red Mitchell (b), Jim Black(d).

i'd go see that group, oh yeah.

**Jake Hanlon** · 11-04-2008, 12:39 AM

Big Band writing isn't really my thing Bojan. I've done it but find it to be sort of limiting despite the possibilities of orchestration.

It would be a fun band for. I'd probably just leave a lot of heat for people to play over. For Big Band writers I love Wheeler and Maria the most. I also really dig Brookmeyer's stuff and Bob Mintzer's big band. Dave Holland's band is also especially killing.

If they come to gether I'll mail parts out for some of the arrangements I've done

**frisellfan19** · 11-04-2008, 01:37 AM

I really like big band. What sparked my interest in big band was Miles Davis' "Miles Ahead" and "Porgy And Bess," then I heard some "New Orleans Suite" by Ellington. From there I got into Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Gerald Wilson, Bob Brookmeyer, and Maria Schneider. I've always liked big band. I like that really huge, orchestral sound for jazz. I love the ballads probably the best, because there's such a dynamic range of instruments. Wonderful music that not every jazz fan digs, but I love it.

**bojan** · 11-04-2008, 01:21 PM

Jake, frisselfan19 ...
I would kill (it's just a figure of speech really) for the opportunity to lurk over the shoulder of an arranger doing the score, or to hang with the conductor during the rehearsals. Of course, it takes a good teacher to make me understand what is actually happening. Also, I share the feeling that it is to do with a "wonderful music that not every jazz fan digs". For that matter, I would never kick out of bed (this too is a figure of speech) a well integrated string section - which is something that, regrettably, not every jazz fan is prepared to appreciate.

**Jhengsman** · 11-05-2008, 08:49 AM

Freedie Hubbard John Coltrane Michael Brecker McCoy Tyner Stanley Clarke Lionel Hampton Gene Krupa Tony Williams And maybe in the future since she came out so strong Hiromi.