Famous jazz musicians. Players who have graced the history of jazz.

Round MidnightWes Montgomery

Wes Montgomery – Round Midnight

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.

In The MoodGlenn Miller

In the Mood

One of the figures best known as a representative of so-called swing jazz and big band music is trombonist, composer, and arranger Glenn Miller.

During World War II, Miller continued to give morale-boosting performances, but he disappeared in an unforeseen accident.

Nevertheless, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the band he formed in 1937, has remained active all the way into the 2020s.

Miller’s active years as a musician may not have been very long, but there are many songs that became hits through his band’s performances—starting with Moonlight Serenade, the band’s theme song which Miller himself composed, and including In the Mood by Joe Garland, among others.

Even if you don’t know Miller’s name, you’ve almost certainly heard at least one of these tunes.

Don’t Be That WayBenny Goodman

Benny Goodman “Don’t Be That Way”

Swing jazz, one of the subgenres of prewar jazz, was popular from the 1930s to the 1940s.

Characterized by large-ensemble performances built on a swinging rhythm, the genre’s leading figure was Benny Goodman.

A clarinetist who made his performing debut at the age of 11 and played with many bands, Goodman formed his own orchestra in 1932.

It became a nationwide sensation, and he came to be known as the “King of Swing.” Many people have probably performed the band’s signature numbers like “Sing, Sing, Sing” in wind ensemble or concert band settings.

If you’re interested, be sure to check out The Benny Goodman Story, a film focusing on the first half of Goodman’s life.

ChameleonHerbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock – Chameleon (Official Audio)

From acoustic to electric, Herbie Hancock effortlessly handles it all, continually creating cutting-edge sounds filtered through his own unique lens without being confined to jazz.

Not only is he renowned as a jazz pianist, but he is also highly acclaimed as a composer and arranger, and he has continued to release numerous landmark albums and classic tracks that have left their mark on history.

He has actively embraced crossover sounds with other genres such as funk and hip-hop, and his controversial 1973 release Head Hunters even drew criticism from traditional jazz fans.

True to the title of one of his signature tunes, he continues to operate like a “Chameleon,” a musician whose protean activity places him in a singular position that few can rival.

Bright Size LifePat Metheny

Bright Size Life (Live)

Looking over the career of Pat Metheny, one of the foremost contemporary guitarists, it’s astonishing to be reminded of his precocious talent: he started teaching himself guitar at 13, was recognized at 18 by renowned vibraphonist Gary Burton, and even served as an instructor at Berklee College of Music.

At 21, he produced his leader debut Bright Size Life, an impressive achievement made even more remarkable by the collaboration of his musical peer—bassist Jaco Pastorius—who would later become a legend.

While Metheny’s music is rooted in jazz, he draws on the essence of musical traditions from around the world.

Beyond his exceptional technique as a guitarist, his constant drive to explore new sounds with each release has influenced not only the jazz world but guitarists across the globe.

Got A Match?Chick Corea

Got A Match?

As musicians become veterans, they tend to release fewer works, or the gaps between releases grow longer.

However, that rule doesn’t apply to Chick Corea—one of the foremost pianists in the jazz world and a composer lauded for his genius melodic sense.

From the late 1960s through his long career, he continually amazed us with a steady stream of works born from undiminished creative drive, along with an energetic schedule of live performances under many different names and bands.

While rooted in jazz, his nimble, genre-defying approach—spanning classical, bossa nova, and even rock—is part of his appeal.

Start by listening to masterpieces like Spain, a song that has gone down in music history, and experience Chick’s remarkable melodic sensibility for yourself!

Spike’s SongFrank Gambale

Spike’s Song

Frank Gambale, a guitarist from Australia, is a wizard of the guitar world known for his innovative “Gambale Sweep Picking” technique.

Praised by Chick Corea as someone who “turns everything he touches into gold,” his talent has been proven through his work with the Chick Corea Elektric Band and Return to Forever IV.

One moment he unleashes a storm of razor-sharp speed picking; the next, he spins out melodies brimming with songful expression, instantly captivating listeners.

His dramatic sound—where staggering virtuosity fuses with rich musicality—is nothing short of breathtaking.

Experience his groundbreaking guitar playing, and you’re guaranteed to step through the door into a new world of jazz fusion.