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

ConfirmationCharlie Parker

Charlie Parker – “Confirmation”

Charlie Parker, who died young at the age of 34, was a leading figure of the bebop style—considered the prototype of modern jazz—and a legendary alto saxophonist who also made his mark as a composer and arranger.

His performances, woven from intuitively inspired improvisations that transcended theory, were truly worthy of the term “genius,” and he was an innovative player whose contributions to the development of jazz are immeasurable.

He also created pieces like “Confirmation” and “Now’s the Time,” which went on to become beloved standards, showcasing his talent for songwriting.

For a look into Parker’s life, be sure to watch Bird (1988), a masterful film directed by Clint Eastwood, himself an ardent jazz fan.

Waltz For DebbyBill Evans

Bill Evans – Waltz For Debby

Born in 1929 in the state of New Jersey, Bill Evans is the most important and renowned white pianist in the history of modern jazz.

Influenced by classical music, his rigorously delicate and elegant style earned him the title “the poet of jazz piano,” and he continues to inspire artists across a wide range of genres, not just jazz musicians.

By employing interplay-driven ensemble work, he expanded the possibilities of the piano trio, and with the ambitious project Conversations with Myself—constructed through multi-tracked solo piano—he won a Grammy Award.

He can rightly be regarded as a truly genius-level player who secured his place in history.

Although his life was by no means smooth sailing, the body of work through which Evans expressed the beauty of jazz with his whole being will never fade.

In A Sentimental MoodJohn Coltrane

John Coltrane – In A Sentimental Mood

As a saxophonist who epitomizes modern jazz, he is almost a godlike figure to tenor sax players.

He devised the distinctive chord progression known as the “Coltrane Changes,” explored modal jazz from the 1960s, and later pursued expression through free jazz.

His 1964 album A Love Supreme, created as an expression of the entire group rather than the individual, has been cherished by later generations as something different from so-called standard jazz.

Kind of blueMiles Davis

Miles Davis & John Coltrane – Kind of blue

Miles Davis, a jazz trumpeter whose contributions are said to be so great that the history of jazz cannot be told without him.

Unlike the flashy high notes and showy technique often associated with trumpet players, his performances made extensive use of the mute and were contemplative, with each note seeming to carry a soul.

He never rested on the older music he had established; instead, he continually pursued new musical approaches, serving as a driving force in the evolution of jazz.

Moanin’Art Blakey

Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers – Moanin’

Art Blakey, a jazz drummer famed for his “Niagara Roll,” a technique evoking the power of Niagara Falls, formed and led the band the Jazz Messengers, which nurtured one star soloist after another and became a leading group of the hard bop era.

Many jazz fans remain captivated—even after his passing—by the band’s distinctive arrangements rich in punchy figures and harmonies that frequently employed Afro-Cuban rhythms, and the music continues to be loved to this day.

St. ThomasSonny Rollins

Sonny Rollins – St. Thomas

Sonny Rollins, the tenor sax giant born in New York.

Immersed in music from an early age, Rollins first took up the alto saxophone at 11, then switched to tenor sax in high school.

By around 20, he had launched his career as a professional musician.

In 1950, he had a fateful encounter with the great Miles Davis, participating in Miles’s leader sessions while also releasing a series of his own leader albums.

He left behind numerous landmark recordings and performances that have gone down in jazz history.

Rollins’s ascetic, rigorously disciplined approach as a player was extreme at times; though he repeatedly retired or stepped away from performing, his relentless pursuit of musical truth and undiminished creative drive exerted a profound influence not only on musicians but even on the field of literature.

My Funny ValentineChet Baker

Chet Baker – My Funny Valentine – Torino 1959

Chet Baker was a giant of the jazz world, a versatile talent who, while being a trumpeter emblematic of 1950s West Coast jazz, also made his mark as a singer.

Countless jazz fans have been captivated by his refined features and cool demeanor, his restrained, economical playing, and his androgynous singing voice.

As was the case with many jazz musicians of his era, Chet led a self-destructive life, but the many masterful performances he left behind continue to be loved today.

Start by listening to the classic 1954 jazz vocal album “Chet Baker Sings,” and savor both his charm as a singer and his prowess as a trumpeter!