As a musical direction, jazz was formed in the United States at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, representing a synthesis of cultures: African and European. Since then, it has evolved a lot and has become the impetus for the development of many other musical styles. At the beginning of the last century, jazz bands, musical ensembles, which included wind and percussion instruments, as well as piano and double bass, gained popularity. The brightest jazz performers were forever inscribed in the history of music.
Iconic Jazzmen
Perhaps the most famous jazz musician in the world is Louis Armstrong. This name is known not only to fans of this musical style, for a wide audience it is so closely associated with jazz that it has become its personification. Armstrong is a representative of the traditional, New Orleans jazz, thanks to him this style was developed and became popular in the world, and its influence on the music of the last century can hardly be overestimated. He is also called the "Maestro of Jazz" or the "King of Jazz". Louis Armstrong's main instrument was the trumpet, but he was also an excellent vocalist and leader of a jazz band.
And Frank Sinatra was a legendary jazz vocalist with an incredible voice. In addition, he was also an excellent actor and showman, a standard of musical taste and style. During his musical career, he received 9 top music awards - Grammy, and also won an Oscar for his acting skills.
The most famous jazz artists
Ray Charles is a real genius of jazz, marked by the main musical award of America as much as 17 times! He is ranked 10th out of 100 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the greatest artists. In addition to jazz, Charles also performed soul and blues compositions. This great artist went blind as a child, but this did not stop him from achieving world fame and making a huge contribution to the history of the music industry.
Miles Davis, the most talented jazz trumpeter, gave rise to new varieties of this musical style, such as fusion, cool jazz and modal jazz. He never limited himself to one direction - traditional jazz, this made his music multifaceted and unusual. He was the one who, one might say, founded modern jazz. Performers of this style today are often his followers.
great women
The best jazz performers are not necessarily men. Ella Fitzgerald is the greatest singer with a unique voice spanning three octaves. This magnificent vocalist was a master of vocal improvisation, having received many awards during her long career, including 13 Grammys. 50 years of the singer's work is a whole era in music, during which this jazz diva has released more than 90 albums.
Billie Holiday's career was much shorter, but no less colorful. Her singing style was unique, and therefore the legendary vocalist is considered the founder of jazz vocals. Unfortunately, the unhealthy lifestyle of the singer led to her death at the age of 44, and in 1987 she was awarded the Grammy posthumously. These great singers are far from the only female jazz performers. But they are definitely one of the brightest.
Other artists
There are, of course, other well-known jazz performers of the past. Sarah Vaughan is "the greatest voice of the 20th century", her voice was indeed unique, mannered and refined, becoming deeper and deeper over the years. Throughout her career, the singer has honed her skills. And Dizzy Gillespie was a virtuoso trumpeter, vocalist, composer and arranger. Dizzy founded modern improvisational jazz (bebop) with Charlie Parker, an amazing saxophonist who became such through hard practice and 15 hours of music lessons.
Living and popular jazzmen
Diversity and fusion of styles is what modern jazz is all about. Performers often go beyond one direction, combining jazz with soul, blues, rock or pop music. To date, the most famous are: George Benson, a virtuoso of voice and guitar for about 50 years, a Grammy winner; Bob James is a smooth jazz pianist, one of the founders of the style and the founder of a band called the Bob James Trio, which features saxophone, drums and bass performed by David McMurray, Billy Kilson and Samuel Burgess. Another piano genius and composer is Chick Corea. A multiple Grammy winner and a very talented musician, in addition to keyboards, he also plays percussion instruments. Flora Purim is a Brazilian jazz performer with a rare voice with a range of 6 octaves, known for her joint performances with many jazz stars. Georgian Nino Katamadze is one of the most famous jazz singers of our time, she is also the composer of her own songs. He has a surprisingly deep, special voice. She has her own jazz band called Insight, with whom she records and performs. The ensemble consists of a guitar, bass guitar and drums, performed by Gocha Kacheishvili, Uchi Gugunava and David Abuladze, sound engineer - Gia Chelidze.
Younger generation
Modern popular jazz performers are often young talents, among which girls stand out in particular. A real breakthrough was the talented Norah Jones, author and performer of her own songs, singer and pianist. Thanks to the range and timbre of her voice, many compare her to Billie Holiday. During her 10-year career, she managed to release 10 albums, as well as earn a Grammy and many other prestigious awards. Another young jazz singer is multi-instrumentalist Esperanza Spaulding, the first performer of this direction, who received the Grammy in the Best New Artist of the Year nomination in 2011, and also won in other nominations of this music award. He plays many instruments and speaks several languages.
Above are the brightest and most prominent jazz performers. And although there are a lot of excellent musicians in this direction, it is enough to listen to the best ones to get a basic understanding of such a concept as jazz.
10 of the best jazzcompositions, in jazz standard.
jazz standards- musical works that are an important part of the jazz musical repertoire. These are songs and instrumental compositions that almost all jazzmen know.
In The Mood
Glenn Miller - American trombonist, arranger, leader of one of the best swing orchestras (late 1930s - early 1940s) - the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Oh Lady Be Good
George and Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin was born December 6, 1896, in New York, USA - American songwriter, brother of the famous composer George Gershwin. In collaboration with his brother, he created many popular Broadway productions.
summer time
Lullaby from the opera "Porgy and Bess".
George Gershwin
My Funny Valentine
Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart, 1937
Stella by Starlight
Victor Young, 1946
My One and Only Love
Guy Wood and Robert Mellin, 1953
Satin Doll
Duke Ellington
Besame Mucho
Consuelo Velasquez
feeling good
Anthony Newley and Leslie Brikus
Performer Nina Simone
Nina Simone - Nina Simone, born February 21, 1933 - American singer, pianist, composer, arranger. She adhered to the jazz tradition, but used a variety of performed material.
I've Got You Under My Skin
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert Sinatra (Eng. Francis Albert Sinatra: December 12, 1915, Hoboken, New Jersey - May 14, 1998, Los Angeles) is an American actor, singer (crooner) and showman. Nine times he became the winner of the Grammy Award. He was famous for the romantic style of singing songs and the "velvet" timbre of his voice.
Jazz is music filled with passion and ingenuity, music that knows no boundaries and limits. Compiling such a list is incredibly difficult. This list was written, rewritten, and then rewritten again. Ten is too limiting a number for a musical genre like jazz. However, regardless of the amount, this music is able to breathe life and energy, awaken from hibernation. What could be better than bold, tireless, warming jazz!
1. Louis Armstrong
1901 - 1971
Trumpeter Louis Armstrong is revered for his lively style, ingenuity, virtuosity, musical expression and dynamic spectacle. Known for his raspy voice and a career spanning over five decades. Armstrong's influence on music is invaluable. Generally, Louis Armstrong is considered the greatest jazz musician of all time.
Louis Armstrong with Velma Middleton & His All Stars - Saint Louis Blues
2. Duke Ellington
1899 - 1974
Duke Ellington is a pianist and composer who has been a jazz bandleader for almost 50 years. Ellington used his band as a musical laboratory for his experiments, in which he demonstrated the talents of the band members, many of whom stayed with him for a long time. Ellington is an incredibly gifted and prolific musician. During his fifty-year career, he has written thousands of compositions, including film and musical scores, as well as many well-known standards such as "Cotton Tail" and "It Don't Mean a Thing".
Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
3. Miles Davis
1926 - 1991
Miles Davis is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Along with his bands, Davis has been a central figure in jazz music since the mid-1940s, including be-bop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and jazz fusion. Davis has relentlessly pushed the boundaries of artistic expression, which is why he is often identified as one of the most innovative and respected performers in the history of music.
Miles Davis Quintet
4. Charlie Parker
1920 - 1955
Saxophonist virtuoso Charlie Parker was an influential jazz soloist and a leading figure in the development of be-bop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique, and improvisation. In his complex melodic lines, Parker combines jazz with other musical genres, including blues, Latin and classical music. Parker was an iconic figure in the beat subculture, but he transcended his generation to become the epitome of an uncompromising, intellectual musician.
Charlie Parker
5. Nat King Cole
1919 - 1965
Known for his silky baritone voice, Nat King Cole brought the emotionality of jazz to popular American music. Cole was one of the first African Americans to host a television program that was attended by jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Eartha Kitt. A phenomenal pianist and prominent improviser, Cole was one of the first jazz artists to become a pop icon.
Nat King Cole
6. John Coltrane
1926 - 1967
Despite a relatively short career (first accompanying at the age of 29 in 1955, officially starting a solo career at 33 in 1960, and dying at the age of 40 in 1967), saxophonist John Coltrane is the most important and controversial figure in jazz. Despite his short career, thanks to his fame, Coltrane had the opportunity to record in abundance and many of his recordings were published posthumously. Coltrane has radically changed his style over the course of his career, yet he retains a cult following of both his early, traditional sound and his more experimental sound. And no one, almost with a religious commitment, doubts his significance in the history of music.
John Coltrane
7 Thelonious Monk
1917 - 1982
Thelonious Monk is a musician with a unique improvisational style, the second most recognizable jazz performer after Duke Ellington. His style was characterized by energetic, percussive lines interspersed with harsh, dramatic silences. During his performances, while the rest of the musicians played, Thelonious got up from the keyboard and danced for several minutes. After creating the classic jazz compositions "Round Midnight", "Straight, No Chaser," Monk ended his days in relative obscurity, but his influence on modern jazz is noticeable to this day.
Thelonious Monk - Round Midnight
8. Oscar Peterson
1925 - 2007
Oscar Peterson is an innovative musician who has performed everything from Bach's classical ode to one of the first jazz ballets. Peterson opened one of the first jazz schools in Canada. His "Hymn to Freedom" became the anthem of the civil rights movement. Oscar Peterson was one of the most talented and important jazz pianists of his generation.
Oscar Peterson - C Jam Blues
9. Billie Holiday
1915 - 1959
Billie Holiday is one of the most important figures in jazz, although she never wrote her own music. Holiday turned "Embraceable You", "I'll Be Seeing You" and "I Cover the Waterfront" into famous jazz standards, and her performance of "Strange Fruit" is considered one of the best in American music history. Although her life was full of tragedy, Holiday's improvisational genius, combined with her fragile, somewhat raspy voice, demonstrated an unprecedented depth of emotion unparalleled by other jazz singers.
Billie Holiday
10. Dizzy Gillespie
1917 - 1993
Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie is a bebop innovator and master of improvisation, as well as a pioneer of Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz. Gillespie has collaborated with various South American and Caribbean musicians. With a deep passion, he treated the traditional music of African countries. All this allowed him to bring unprecedented innovations to modern jazz interpretations. Throughout his long career, Gillespie toured relentlessly and captivated audiences with his beret, horn-rimmed glasses, puffy cheeks, lightheartedness and his incredible music.
Dizzy Gillespie feat. Charlie Parker
11. Dave Brubeck
1920 – 2012
Dave Brubeck is a composer and pianist, jazz promoter, civil rights activist, and music researcher. An iconoclastic performer recognizable from a single chord, a restless composer who pushes the boundaries of the genre and builds a bridge between the past and the future of music. Brubeck collaborated with Louis Armstrong and many other famous jazz musicians, and also influenced avant-garde pianist Cecil Taylor and saxophonist Anthony Braxton.
Dave Brubeck
12. Benny Goodman
1909 – 1986
Benny Goodman is a jazz musician better known as the "King of Swing". He became a popularizer of jazz among white youth. His appearance marked the beginning of an era. Goodman was a controversial personality. He relentlessly strived for perfection and this was reflected in his approach to music. Goodman was not just a virtuoso player - he was a creative clarinetist and innovator of the pre-bebop jazz era.
Benny Goodman
13. Charles Mingus
1922 – 1979
Charles Mingus is an influential jazz double bassist, composer and jazz bandleader. Mingus' music is a mixture of hot and soulful hard bop, gospel, classical music and free jazz. His ambitious music and formidable temperament earned Mingus the nickname "angry man of jazz". If he were just a string player, few people would know his name today. He was most likely the greatest double bass player ever, one who always kept his fingers on the pulse of jazz's ferocious expressive power.
Charles Mingus
14. Herbie Hancock
1940 –
Herbie Hancock will always be one of the most revered and controversial musicians in jazz - as will his employer/mentor Miles Davis. Unlike Davis, who steadily moved forward and never looked back, Hancock zigzags between almost electronic and acoustic jazz and even r "n" b. Despite his electronic experimentation, Hancock's love of the piano has not waned, and his piano style continues to evolve into ever more rigorous and complex forms.
Herbie Hancock
15. Wynton Marsalis
1961 –
The most famous jazz musician since 1980. In the early 80s, Wynton Marsalis became a revelation as a young and very talented musician decided to make a living playing acoustic jazz rather than funk or R"n"B. Since the 1970s, there has been a huge shortage of new trumpeters in jazz, but the unexpected fame of Marsalis inspired a new interest in jazz music.
Wynton Marsalis - Rustiques (E. Bozza)
Top Jazz Singers
Frank Sinatra (1915-1998)
A talented person is talented in everything - that's how you can describe it. He excelled in any activity, whatever it was in his hands. Whether it was acting and filming, writing music or participating in television shows, Frankie showed class everywhere.
Who doesn't know songs like Let It Snow or strangers in the Night? Sinatra rewarded them with the strongest energy
No wonder in his youth the singer had the nickname "Voice". No one else on the planet has such a rich and soft voice, like velvet. He became a classic example in the conversation about pop performance and swing. More than one generation was brought up in his manner of singing "krooning".
Little known facts about the great singer in the movie
Probably, Frank Sinatra, "Mr. Blue Eyes", is the only singer who not only managed not to lose popularity, but also repeat the success of his young years. The song New York, New York, performed by him, was so loved by the residents of the city that to this day it is his unspoken anthem.
Perry Como (1919-2001)
The owner of the velvet voice of Perry Como Actor and singer Pierino Ronald Como. A voice with an unsurpassed baritone. Starting his career before the war, he went through many barriers, reaching the very stars. No one else had such an approach to business as Como.
He was bright, bold and fearless in his own way. He loved irony and sarcasm, was not afraid to apply all this in his work. Perry Como was not like the others and this fascinated.
Nat King Cole (1919-1965)
A king that cannot be forgotten. He is known as the "golden hands" of the piano. He equally skillfully performed simple melodies and complex works. But that's not why they called him the King. And not even for his, certainly beautiful, low baritone. He became the first representative of jazzmen with dark skin who was able to express himself openly in his work.
Nat King Cole - "golden hands" piano
Music on topics close to his dark-skinned listeners, a TV show with his participation - all this came to him with the greatest difficulty. But it was worth it, because it opened a good road for other performers. Nat had an amazing charm, which, along with a well-delivered and rich speech, simply captivated listeners and everyone who only once communicated with him. Many actors still note the clarity of Cole's diction.
Dean Martin (1917-1995)
Dino Paul Crocetti, better known as, is a real representative. People liked his music so much that it still occupies a worthy place in the repertoires of other singers, and is also used as soundtracks for films.
Dean Martin's singing style was called authentic
Martin was one of the members of the group of entertainers and actors Rat Pack, which included Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis. His voice was firm, flexible and a little cool, just like its owner. However, it was this “little piece of ice” that attracted his listeners. Everyone found their own in Dean's work: someone bright and cheerful notes of Italy's Mamba, someone - soulful cool jazz.
Sam Cook (1931-1964)
Sam Cooke in 1964, a few months before his death If you understand jazz, then the name of Sam Cooke is not an empty phrase for you. In about 10 years, his charming tenor became so close to the audience that the sudden death of a musician at the hands of a well-aimed shooter led the country into a deep depression.
As a young man, Sam Cooke did not seek recognition from the aesthetes of high jazz, did not try to play too serious, but appealed to a young audience. He was the one who considered his audience fresh minds - youth.
Despite the calm melodies in his repertoire, they had a special inner energy, thanks to which they not only pacified the soul, but also cheered up.
Sammy Davis Jr. (1917-1995)
The man with the disarming smile, Sammy Davis Jr., is an actor and singer. He had a fine sense of musical style. His voice sounded light and airy, as if Sammy was not walking on the same ground as us, but was floating in the air. It's amazing how a person with such a difficult fate has such a gentle voice, from which goosebumps.
You will surely recognize him when you hear the famous Candyman song. We also advise you to include When I look in Your Eyes in your repertoire. You will literally fall in love with his singing and wish to dance at least one dance with Sammy Davis.
Bing Crosby (1903-1977)
Successful and attractive Bing Crosby was favored by women, he was respected by other jazzmen. He was one of the first to sing in the crooner style and had an unsurpassed sense of swing. Not surprisingly, his albums feature collaborations with Louis Armstrong.
Until now, Crosby's hits are in swing styles and are known, if not in his performance, then as rehashings of other groups. His Christmas songs, in particular White Christmas, are loved even decades later.
Chet Baker (1929-1988)
Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)
The name of the musician has become synonymous with jazz, he is the first one that everyone will remember when talking about this music. And although, first of all, he was an excellent trumpeter, his voice captivated the listeners no less. The musician himself was very shy about his hoarseness, which was a consequence of the operation.
Armstrong took up music seriously in a reformatory (he was arrested for shooting in the air on New Year's Day). There, Louis learned to play the alto horn, the bugle, and then the cornet. He did not know musical notation, but had an excellent ear and sang in the choir since childhood.
The undisputed hits of Armstrong's late work is the song Hello, Dolly! From the musical with The latest hit, What a Wonderful World, topped the UK charts.
A new musical direction, called jazz, was born at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries as a result of the merging of European musical culture with African. He is characterized by improvisation, expressiveness and a special type of rhythm.
At the very beginning of the twentieth century, new musical ensembles began to be created, called. They included wind instruments (trumpet, clarinet, trombone), double bass, piano and percussion instruments.
Famous jazz players, thanks to their talent for improvisation and the ability to feel music subtly, gave impetus to the formation of many musical directions. Jazz has become the origin of many modern genres.
So, whose performance of jazz compositions made the listener's heart skip a beat in ecstasy?
Louis Armstrong
For many connoisseurs of music, it is his name that is associated with jazz. The dazzling talent of the musician fascinated from the first minutes of the performance. Merging with a musical instrument - a trumpet - he plunged his listeners into euphoria. Louis Armstrong has come a long way from a nimble little boy from a poor family to the famous King of Jazz.
Duke Ellington
Unstoppable creative personality. A composer whose music played with many styles and experiments. The talented pianist, arranger, composer, orchestra leader never tired of surprising with his innovation and originality.
His unique works were tested with great enthusiasm by the most famous orchestras of that time. It was Duke who came up with the idea of using the human voice as an instrument. More than a thousand of his works, called by connoisseurs of the "golden fund of jazz", were recorded on 620 discs!
Ella Fitzgerald
The "First Lady of Jazz" had a unique voice, the widest range of three octaves. Honorary awards of a talented American are hard to count. Ella's 90 albums have scattered around the world in incredible numbers. It is hard to imagine! For 50 years of creativity, about 40 million albums in her performance have been sold. Masterfully mastering the talent of improvisation, she easily worked together in a duet with other famous jazz performers.
Ray Charles
One of the most famous musicians, called "a real genius of jazz." 70 music albums have been distributed around the world in numerous editions. He has 13 Grammy awards to his credit. His compositions have been recorded in the US Library of Congress. The popular magazine Rolling Stone ranked Ray Charles number 10 of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time on the "List of Immortals".
Miles Davis
An American trumpeter who has been compared to the painter Picasso. His music had a great influence on shaping the music of the 20th century. Davis is the versatility of styles in jazz, the breadth of interests and accessibility for an audience of different ages.
Frank Sinatra
The famous jazz player comes from a poor family, short in stature and did not differ in any way. But he captivated the audience with his velvety baritone. The talented vocalist starred in musicals and drama films. Received numerous awards and special awards. Won an Oscar for The House I Live In
Billie Holiday
A whole era in the development of jazz. The songs performed by the American singer acquired individuality and radiance, played with overflows of freshness and novelty. The life and work of "Lady Day" was short, but bright and unique.
Famous jazz musicians have enriched the art of music with sensual and soulful rhythms, expressiveness and freedom of improvisation.
