Jazz musicians that inspire you /not guitarists/

[TF]

Sonny Rollins! Especially in trio format.

[ChazFromCali]

Louis Prima. Had a long, looong career and knew how to keep re-inventing himself. Hell of an entertainer.

[maxsmith]

Paul Desmond - the greatest melodic improviser in jazz history.

[Vihar]

Ai Kuwabara

[JazzPadd]

Lotsa good suggestions so far!

Partial to drummers, so let me add Art Blakey and Max Roach.

Not really jazz but Gus Helmeke had the touch in Sousa’s band.

For horns, perhaps Ornette Coleman and Sam Rivers.

Betty Carter kills me!

[kofblz]

Lee Morgan
Lester Young
Stephane Grapelli
Art Blakey

[rpjazzguitar]

Paul Desmond
Ralph Sharon (Tony Bennett's pianist for decades, and one of the great compers of all time IMO).
Johnny Hodges (alto)

[Vihar]

Taku Yabuki

[wolflen]

Miles Davis
Bill Evans
John Coltrane
Jimmy Smith
Dave Holland
Ray Brown
Billy Cobham
Herbie Hancock
James Brown
Marvin Gaye
Aretha Franklin
Nina Simone

[JohnoL]

Jerry Bergonzi

[Bobby Timmons]

Dale Turner :P

[InsufferableRhythm]

Mick Jenkins

Kendrick Lamar

JID

[Vihar]

Brian Finnegan

[Encinitastubes]

Thelonious. Sonny Rollins.

[stylo]

Come to think of it it's much easier to name jazz non-guitarists that inspire me than it is guitarists.

[stylo]

JID

Not straight ahead but definitely #BlackAmericanMusic as Nicholas Payton would say. I liked this Tiny Desk concert

[jumpnblues]

Milt Jackson