Henry Franklin (born Oct. 1, 1940) is an American jazz double-bassist from Los Angeles who released two albums on Black Jazz Records between 1972 and 1974, followed by a third on Catalyst in 1977. As a backing player, he apprenticed with Hugh Masekela and the Three Sounds during the late 1960s and played on albums […]
Ornette Coleman (March 9, 1930 — June 11, 2015) was an American jazz saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter, and composer. He was a chief proponent of avant-garde free jazz, as heralded on his popular 1959 Atlantic release The Shape of Jazz to Come. On this and the 1960/61 albums Change of the Century and This Is Our […]
Cannonball Adderley (Sept. 15, 1928 — Aug. 8, 1975) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and producer. He was the older brother of cornetist/trumpeter Nat Adderley and the uncle of keyboardist Nat Adderley Jr. He was born Julian Edwin Adderley on September 15, 1928, in Tampla, Fla. Discography: Julian Cannonball Adderley (1955 • Julian […]
Thelonious Monk (Oct. 10, 1917 – Feb. 17. 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He was born Thelonious Sphere Monk on October 17, 1917, in Rocky Mount, NC. Discography: Thelonious (1953 • Thelonious Monk Trio) Thelonious Monk Quintet (1954 • Thelonious Monk Quintet) Thelonious Monk Quintet Blows for LP (1954 • Thelonious Monk […]
Art Blakey (Oct. 11, 1919 — Oct. 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader from Pittsburgh. For 35 years, he led the Jazz Messengers, a revolving door band with some of the leading names in post-bop. In assorted iterations, the Messengers recorded for Blue Note during the 1950s and assorted other labels (RCA, […]
Sonny Rollins (born Sept. 7, 1930) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Background He was born Theodore Walter Rollins on September 7, 1930, in New York City, the youngest of three children borne to migrants from the US Virgin Islands. He grew up in Harlem and Sugar Hill and first played saxophone at age seven. […]
Lee Morgan (July 10, 1938 — Feb. 19, 1972) was an American jazz trumpeter. He was born Edward Lee Morgan on July 10, 1938, in Philadelphia, the youngest of four children. As a child, he first took up vibraphone, then trumpet and alto saxophone. For his thirteenth birthday, his sister gave him a trumpet. His […]
Horace Silver (Sept. 2, 1928 — June 18, 2014) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader. He was born Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silver on September 2, 1928, in Norwalk, Conn. Horace Silver Quintet discography: New Faces – New Sounds (1953 • Horace Silver Trio) Horace Silver Trio, Vol. 2 / Art Blakey With […]
Eric Dolphy (June 20, 1928 – June 29, 1964) was an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist from Los Angeles. – Discography: Outward Bound (1960 • Eric Dolphy Quintet) At the Five Spot, Vol. 1 (1961) Newport Rebels (1961 • Charles Mingus / Max Roach / Eric Dolphy / Roy Eldridge / Jo Jones) Out […]
Charles Mingus (April 22, 1922 – Jan. 5, 1979) was an American jazz double-bassist, composer, and bandleader from Nogales, Ariz. – Discography: Strings and Keys (1953 • Charles Mingus & Spaulding Givens) The Moods of Mingus (1954) Jazz Collaborations Vol. 1 (1955 • Charles Mingus & Thad Jones) Jazzical Moods, Vol. 1 (1955 • Charles […]
Roy Haynes (born March 13, 1925) is an American jazz drummer and bandleader from Roxbury, Mass. Discography: Busman’s Holiday (1954) We Three (1959 • Roy Haynes, Phineas Newborn, Paul Chambers) Just Us (1961 • The Roy Haynes Trio) Out of the Afternoon (1962 • Roy Haynes Quartet) Cracklin’ (1963 • Roy Haynes With Booker Ervin) […]
Yusef Lateef — aka William Emanuel Huddleston (Oct. 9, 1920 — Dec. 23, 2013) — was an American woodwindist and composer from Chattanooga, Tenn. Discography: Jazz Mood (1957) Jazz for the Thinker (1957 • Yusef Lateef and His Men) Prayer to the East (1958) Before Dawn: The Music of Yusef Lateef (1958) Jazz and the […]
Sonny Fortune (May 19, 1939 — Oct. 25 2018) was an American jazz saxophonist who rose to prominence via 1972/73 backing stints with Roy Ayers, Leon Spencer, and McCoy Tyner. In 1974, he played in the Miles Davis band, appearing on Get Up With It and three live albums. As a bandleader, Fortune debuted with […]
Roy Ayers (born Sept. 10, 1940) is an American vibraphonist, composer, and producer from Los Angeles. Ayers was born on September 10, 1940, in Los Angeles to a trombonist father and pianist mother. The family lived in the musically thriving South Park area, where young Roy received his first pair of mallets at age five […]
Rahsaan Roland Kirk — aka Ronald Theodore Kirk (Aug. 7, 1935 — Dec. 5, 1977) — was an American woodwind player from Columbus, Ohio. Discography: Triple Threat (1957 • Roland Kirk) Introducing Roland Kirk (1960 • Roland Kirk) Kirk’s Work (1961 • Roland Kirk With Jack McDuff) We Free Kings (1962 • Roland Kirk) Domino […]
Miles Davis (May 26, 1926 — Sept. 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter with a recording career that spanned nearly five decades. Davis was born Miles Dewey Davis III on May 26, 1926, in Alton, Ill. He was the middle child of Miles Dewey Davis Jr., an affluent dentist, and Cleota Mae Henry, a […]
Kenny Barron (born June 9, 1943) is an American jazz pianist from Philadelphia. Discography: You Had Better Listen (1968 • The Jimmy Owens – Kenny Barron Quintet) Sunset to Dawn (1973) Peruvian Blue (1974) Lucifer (1975) Innocence (1978) Europa Jazz (1981 • Sal Nistico, Kenny Barron, Anthony Jackson & Buddy Rich) At The Piano (1982) […]
Joe Henderson (April 24, 1937 — June 30, 2001) was an American tenor saxophonist from Lima, Ohio. Discography: Page One (1963) Our Thing (1964) In ‘n Out (1965) Inner Urge (1966) Mode for Joe (1966) The Kicker (1968 • Joe Henderson Sextet) Tetragon (1969) Power to the People (1970) In Pursuit of Blackness (1971) Black […]
Herbie Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz keyboardist who has been musically active since the late 1950s. Hancock was born in Chicago on April 12, 1940, the middle child of government meat inspector Wayman Edward Hancock and secretary Winnie Belle. Herbie was named after singer and actor Herb Jeffries. At age seven, […]
Freddie Hubbard (April 7, 1938 — Dec. 27, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter from Indianapolis. Freddie was born Frederick Dwayne Hubbard on April 7, 1938, in Indianapolis. He first performed mellophone and trumpet in his high school band and later attended the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music, where he studied under trumpeter Max Woodbury […]
Donald Byrd (Dec. 9, 1932 — Feb. 4, 2013) was an American trumpeter who emerged as an early member of The Jazz Messengers during the mid-1950s. He was born Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II on December 9, 1932, in Detroit. Byrd first performed behind jazz percussionist and bandleader Lionel Hampton while still a student at […]
Chick Corea (June 12, 1941 – Feb. 9, 2021) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader with a six-decade career that spanned the early 1960s to the late 2010s. He emerged as a backing player for Mongo Santamaria, Sonny Stitt, Blue Mitchell, Herbie Mann, Hubert Laws, and Cal Tjader. As a solo artist, Corea […]
George Benson (March 22, 1943) is an American jazz-funk guitarist and singer from Pittsburgh. Discography: The New Boss Guitar of George Benson With The Brother Jack McDuff Quartet (1964) It’s Uptown (1966 • The George Benson Quartet) The George Benson Cookbook (1967 • The George Benson Quartet) Giblet Gravy (1968) Shape of Things to Come […]
Mike Santiago & Entity were an American jazz-rock band that released the album White Trees in 1977. Members: – Discography: White Trees (1977)
Mike Mainieri (born July 4, 1938) is an American vibraphonist from N.Y.C. Discography: Blues on the Other Side (1962 • The Mike Mainieri Quartet) Insight (1968 • The Mike Mainieri Quartet) Journey Thru an Electric Tube (1969) Love Play (1977) Free Smiles (1978 • Mike Mainieri & Warren Bernhardt) Wanderlust (1981)
Hubert Laws (born Nov. 10, 1939) is an American flutist from Houston. He is the eldest of kin in the musical Laws family, which also includes saxophonist Ronnie Laws and vocalists Eloise and Debra Laws. Discography: The Laws of Jazz (1965) Flute By-Laws (1966) Laws’ Cause (1969) Afro-Classic (1970) Crying Song (1970) The Rite of […]
Charles Sullivan — aka Kamau Muata Adilifu (born Nov. 8, 1944) — is an American jazz trumpeter from N.Y.C. Discography: Genesis (1974) Re-Entry (1976)
Charles Tolliver (born March 6, 1942) is an American trumpeter, composer, and bandleader from Jacksonville, Fla. Discography: Paper Man (1968) The Ringer (1970) Music Inc. (1971 • Music Inc.) Impact: Recorded Live at the Domicile (1972 • Music Inc / Charles Tolliver) Live at Slugs’, Volume 1 (1972 • Music Inc.) Live at Slugs’, Volume […]
Woody Shaw (Dec. 24, 1944 — May 10, 1989) was an American trumpeter and composer from Laurinburg, N.C. Discography: Jazz Patterns (1970 • Joe Henderson and Woody Shaw) Blackstone Legacy (1971) Song of Songs (1972) The Moontrane (1975) Love Dance (1976) Concert Ensemble at the Berliner Jazztage (1977) Stepping Stones: Live at the Village Vanguard […]
Billy Harper (born Jan. 17, 1943) is an American free-jazz saxophonist from Houston. Discography: Capra Black (1973) Jon & Billy (1974 • Billy Harper & Jon Faddis) Black Saint (1975) Love on the Sudan (1977 • Billy Harper Quintet) Soran-Bushi B.H. (1978) In Europe (1979) Knowledge of Self (1979) Trying to Make Heaven My Home […]
Sam Rivers (Sept. 25, 1923 — Dec. 26, 2011) was an American avant-jazz multi-reedist and pianist from El Reno, Okla., who released three albums as a bandleader on Blue Note between 1964 and 1967, followed by titles on Impulse!, Red Record, and other labels during the 1970s. Discography: Fuchsia Swing Song (1965) Contours (1967) A […]
Hal Galper (born April 18, 1938) is an American post-bop pianist from Salem, Mass., who released three albums on Mainstream Records in 1972/73, followed by albums on SteepleChase and enja during the second half of the decade. His playing is heard on ’60s/’70s-era albums by Chet Baker, Sam Rivers, Randy Brecker, Pete Yellin, Nat Adderley, […]
Grant Green (June 6, 1935 — Jan. 31, 1979) was an American jazz guitarist and composer from St. Louis, Mo., who released more than 20 albums on Blue Note between 1961 and his death in 1979 at age 43. Discography: Grant’s First Stand (1961) Green Street (1961) Grantstand (1962) Sunday Mornin’ (1962) The Latin Bit […]
John Coltrane (Sept. 23, 1926 — July 17, 1967) was an American post-bop/jazz saxophonist and composer from Hamlet, NC, who rose to prominence in the Miles Davis Quintet during the mid-1950s. As a headliner, Coltrane released more than 50 studio and live albums in solo and collaborative form on Prestige, Atlantic, and Impluse! between 1957 […]
Don Pullen (Dec. 25, 1941 — April 22, 1995) was an American avant-garde jazz pianist and organist from Roanoke, Va., who co-featured with drummer Milford Graves on a pair of live releases on SRP Records in 1966/67. After backing Charles Williams, Charles Mingus, and George Adams on a slew of recordings, Pullen issued a string […]
Frank Lowe (June 24, 1943 — Sept. 19, 2003) was an American free-jazz saxophonist and composer from Memphis who released the album Black Beings on ESP Disk in 1973, followed by titles on assorted labels in solo and collaborative form between 1975 and 1985. Discography: Black Beings (1973) Duo Exchange (1973 • Rashied Ali & […]
Herbie Mann — aka Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 — July 1, 2003) — was an American jazz multi-reedist from Brooklyn who was musically active for half a century. He released several albums apiece on Bethlehem, Prestige, Riverside, Savoy, and Verve during the 1950s before signing to Atlantic for a prolific run of titles […]
The V.S.O.P. Quintet were an American post-pop/jazz supergroup featuring the seasoned talents of keyboardist Herbie Hancock, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams. The band released two live double-LPs in 1977 and a third in 1979, followed by a studio album, all on CBS/Sony. Members: Herbie Hancock (keyboards), Freddie […]
J. J. Johnson (Jan. 22, 1924 — Feb. 4, 2001) was an American jazz-funk trombonist, composer, and arranger from Indianapolis. Discography: Modern Jazz Trombones (1951 • Kai Winding and His All Stars / Jay Jay Johnson and His All Stars) Jay Jay Johnson With Clifford Brown (1953 • Jay Jay Johnson Sextet) The Eminent Jay […]
Jimmy Owens (born Dec. 9, 1943) is an American jazz-funk trumpeter, composer, and arranger from NYC. Discography: You Had Better Listen (1968 • The Jimmy Owens – Kenny Barron Quintet) No Escaping It!!! (1970) Jimmy Owens (1976) Headin’ Home (1978) Monk Project (2012)
Joe Chambers (born June 25, 1942) is an American jazz-funk drummer, pianist, vibraphonist, and composer from Stoneacre, Va. Discography: The Almoravid (1974) New World (1976) Double Exposure (1978) Live at Sweet Basil (1989 • Uli Lenz, Cecil McBee, Joe Chambers) Phantom of the City (1992) Mirrors (1998) Urban Grooves (2003) The Outlaw (2006) Horace to […]
Houston Person (born Nov. 10, 1934) is an American post-bop/jazz-funk tenor saxophonist and record producer from Florence, SC. Discography: Underground Soul (1966) Chocomotive (1967) Blue Odyssey (1968) Trust in Me (1968) Goodness! (1969) Soul Dance! (1969) Person to Person! (1970) Truth! (1970) Houston Express (1971) Broken Windows, Empty Hallways (1972) Sweet Buns & Barbeque (1973) […]
Horacee Arnold (born Sept. 25, 1937) is an American jazz-funk drummer from Wayland, Ken. Discography: Tribe (1973) Tales of the Exonerated Flea (1974)
Ted Curson — aka Theodore Curson (June 3, 1935 — Nov. 4, 2012) — was an American post-bop/jazz-funk trumpeter from Philadelphia. Discography: Plenty of Horn (1961) Plays Fire Down Below (1963) Tears for Dolphy (1964 • Ted Curson Quartet) The New Thing and the Blue Thing (1965) Urge (1966) Ode to Booker Ervin (1970) Pop […]
Janet Lawson (born Nov. 13, 1940) is an American jazz vocalist from Baltimore who released two albums with her namesake post-bop group on Inner City and Omnisound between 1981 and 1984. Discography: “Dindi” / “Two Little Rooms” (1970) The Janet Lawson Quintet (1981 • The Janet Lawson Quintet) Dreams Can Be (1984 • The Janet […]
The Detroit Jazz Composers Ltd. were an American post-bop ensemble that released the album Hastings Street Jazz Experience on Midnite Records in 1976. Members: – Discography: Hastings Street Jazz Experience (1976)
McCoy Tyner (Dec. 11, 1938 — March 6, 2020) was an American jazz pianist with a musical career that spanned more than six decades. After a series of apprenticeships with Art Farmer, Curtis Fuller, and Freddie Hubbard, he made his band-leading debut with Inception in 1962. Up through 1970, he maintained a biannual release schedule […]
Hadley Caliman (Jan. 12, 1932 — Sept. 8, 2010) was an American post-bop jazz saxophonist from Idabel, Okla. Discography: Hadley Caliman (1971) Iapetus (1972) Projecting (1976) Celebration (1977)
Nathaniel Adderley (Nov. 25, 1931 — Jan. 2, 2000) was an American jazz-funk trumpeter from Tampa. Discography: Introducing Nat Adderley (1955) That’s Nat Adderley (1955) To the Ivy League From Nat (1957) Branching Out (1958) Much Brass (1959 • Nat Adderley Sextet) That’s Right! Nat Adderley and the Big Sax Section (1960) Work Song (1960) […]
Leroy Vinnegar (July 13, 1928 — Aug. 3, 1999) was an American post-bop/jazz standup bassist from Indianapolis. Discography: Modern Jazz Performances of Songs From Li’l Abner (1957 • Shelly Manne & His Friends (André Previn, and Leroy Vinnegar) Leroy Walks! (1958 • The Leroy Vinnegar Sextet) Leroy Walks Again (1962 • Leroy Vinnegar Quintet) Jazz’s […]
Oliver Nelson (June 4, 1932 — Oct. 28, 1975) was an American post-bop/jazz-funk saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader from St. Louis. Discography: Meet Oliver Nelson (1959) Taking Care of Business (1960) Screamin’ the Blues (1961 • Oliver Nelson Sextet) Straight Ahead (1961 • Oliver Nelson with Eric Dolphy) Nocturne (1961) The Blues and the […]
Stanley Turrentine (April 5, 1934 — Sept. 12, 2000) was an American post-bop/jazz-funk tenor saxophonist from Pittsburgh. Discography: Look Out! (1960) Blue Hour (1961 • Stanley Turrentine With The 3 Sounds) Stan “The Man” Turrentine (1962) Dearly Beloved (1962) That’s Where It’s At (1962) Never Let Me Go (1963) Soul Shoutin’ (1964 • Shirley Scott […]
