Encyclopedia subject

20th-century jazz musicians

256 published records, arranged alphabetically. Each entry is published only where a named source supports it.

Aaron CoplandPerson · Music memorabiliaAaron Copland (November 14, 1900December 2, 1990) was an American composer, critic, writer, teacher, pianist, and conductor of his own and other American music.
Achinoam "Noa" NiniPerson · Music memorabiliaAchinoam Nini (Aẖinóʿam Nini; born 1969 6 23), known professionally as Noa (נועה), is an Israeli singer-songwriter, percussionist, poet, composer, and human rights activist working…
Adam Ben EzraPerson · Music memorabiliaAdam Ben Ezra (4=Adam, son of Ezra; born December 18, 1982, in Tel Aviv, Israel) is an Israeli self-taught multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator, known for his double bass…
Airto MoreiraPerson · Music memorabiliaAirto Guimorvan Moreira (born August 5, 1941) is a Brazilian jazz drummer, composer and percussionist.
Al FosterPerson · Music memorabiliaAloysius Tyrone Foster (January 18, 1943 – May 28, 2025) was an American jazz drummer.
Al JarreauPerson · Music memorabiliaAlwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer. His 1981 album Breakin' Away spent two years on the Billboard 200 and is considered one of the finest…
Alan RubinPerson · Music memorabiliaAlan Rubin (February 11, 1943 – June 8, 2011) was an American musician. He played trumpet, flugelhorn, and piccolo trumpet.
Albert AylerPerson · Music memorabiliaAlbert Ayler (July 13, 1936 – November 25, 1970) was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist and composer.
Alexander von SchlippenbachPerson · Music memorabiliaAlexander von Schlippenbach (born 7 April 1938) is a German jazz pianist and composer.
Alice BabsPerson · Music memorabiliaHildur Alice Nilson (26 January 1924 – 11 February 2014), known by her stage name Alice Babs, was a Swedish singer.
Ambrose AkinmusirePerson · Music memorabiliaAmbrose Olusiji Akinmusire (born May 1, 1982) is an American avant-garde jazz trumpeter and composer.[3][4]
Amy WinehousePerson · Music memorabiliaAmy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was a British singer-songwriter, musician, and businesswoman.
Ana CaramPerson · Music memorabiliaAna Lucia Ribeiro Caram (born 1 October 1958) is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and flautist who sings jazz, samba, and bossa nova music.
Andrew HillPerson · Music memorabiliaAndrew Hill (June 30, 1931 – April 20, 2007) was an American jazz pianist and composer.
Anna Mjöll ÓlafsdóttirPerson · Music memorabiliaAnna Mjöll Ólafsdóttir is an Icelandic jazz singer and songwriter.
Ante GrginPerson · Music memorabiliaAnte Grgin (born 1945) is a Croatian clarinetist and composer.
Anthony BrankerPerson · Music memorabiliaIllustration — Composer Anthony Branker in Brooklyn, New York (2012)
Antonio SánchezPerson · Music memorabiliaAntonio Sánchez (born November 1, 1971) is a Mexican-American jazz drummer. He is best known for his work with jazz guitarist Pat Metheny and as a composer of the film score for the 2014…
Arturo SandovalPerson · Music memorabiliaArturo Sandoval (born November 6, 1949) is a Cuban-American jazz trumpeter, pianist, timbalero, and composer.
Ashley KozakPerson · Music memorabiliaAshley Kozak (c.1930 – 2008) was a British jazz bassist, record producer and artists' manager, best known as having been Donovan's manager alongside Grahame Corbyn.
Attila LászlóPerson · Music memorabiliaAttila László (born 10 July 1953) is a Hungarian jazz guitarist and composer. László is one of the leaders of Hungary's second generation of jazz musicians, which includes Lakatos, Dés,…
Avishai CohenPerson · Music memorabiliaAvishai Cohen (born April 20, 1970) is an Israeli jazz double bassist, composer, singer, and arranger.
Ayumi TanakaPerson · Music memorabiliaAyumi Tanaka (born 1986) is a Japanese pianist and composer, known for numerous albums with Norwegian and international jazz musicians.
Barbara ThompsonPerson · Music memorabiliaBarbara Gracey Thompson MBE (27 July 1944 – 9 July 2022) was an English jazz saxophonist, flautist and composer.
Barre PhillipsPerson · Music memorabiliaBarre Phillips (October 27, 1934 – December 28, 2024) was an American jazz bassist. A professional musician since 1960, he moved to New York City in 1962, then to Europe in 1967.
Bennie MaupinPerson · Music memorabiliaBennie Maupin (born August 29, 1940) is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who performs on various saxophones, flute, and bass clarinet.
Bert LownPerson · Music memorabiliaBert Lown (born Albert Charles Lown; June 6, 1903 – November 20, 1962) was an American violinist, orchestra leader, and songwriter.
Bill EvansPerson · Music memorabiliaBill Evans is established in Library of Congress under n92019613. Est
Bill HolmanPerson · Music memorabiliaWillis Leonard Holman (May 21, 1927 – May 6, 2024) was an American composer, arranger, conductor, saxophonist, and songwriter working in jazz and traditional pop.
Bill Le SagePerson · Music memorabiliaWilliam A. Le Sage (20 January 1927 – 31 October 2001) was a British pianist, vibraphonist, arranger, composer and bandleader.
Bill LeePerson · Music memorabiliaWilliam James Edwards Lee III (July 23, 1928 – May 24, 2023) was an American jazz bassist and composer, known for his collaborations with Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin, his compositions for…
Billie HolidayPerson · Music memorabiliaBillie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer.
Billy HartPerson · Music memorabiliaBilly Hart (born November 29, 1940) is an American jazz drummer and educator. He is known internationally for his contributions with Herbie Hancock's "Mwandishi" band in the early 1970s, as…
Bing CrosbyPerson · Music memorabiliaHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer and actor.
Bob BergPerson · Music memorabiliaRobert Berg (April 7, 1951 – December 5, 2002) was an American jazz saxophonist.
Bob HammerPerson · Music memorabiliaHoward Robert Hammer (March 3, 1930 – December 26, 2021) was an American jazz pianist, composer and arranger.
Bobby TimmonsPerson · Music memorabiliaRobert Henry Timmons (December 19, 1935 – March 1, 1974) was an American jazz pianist and composer.
Bobby TroupPerson · Music memorabiliaRobert William Troup Jr. (October 18, 1918 – February 7, 1999) was an American actor, jazz pianist, singer, and songwriter.
Børge-Are HalvorsenPerson · Music memorabiliaBørge-Are Halvorsen (born 12 October 1978 in Lillehammer, Norway) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone and c- and alto flute).
Branford MarsalisPerson · Music memorabiliaBranford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader.
Burton GreenePerson · Music memorabiliaBurton Greene (June 14, 1937 – June 28, 2021) was an American free jazz pianist born in Chicago, Illinois, though most known for his work in New York City.
Carla KihlstedtPerson · Music memorabiliaCarla Kihlstedt (born 1971) is an American composer, violinist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and currently working from a home studio on Cape…
Carlos GarnettPerson · Music memorabiliaCarlos Garnett (December 1, 1938 – March 3, 2023) was a Panamanian-American jazz saxophonist.
Carlos SchvartzmanPerson · Music memorabiliaCarlos Schvartzman (November 4, 1947 – June 28, 2025) was a Paraguayan pianist, guitarist, composer, arranger and orchestrator of jazz and contemporary music.
Charlie ParkerPerson · Music memorabiliaCharles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer.
Chase MastersonPerson · Film memorabiliaChase Masterson (born Christianne Carafano on February 26, 1963) is an American actress, singer and producer best known for her role as Leeta on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Chet AtkinsPerson · Music memorabiliaChester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), nicknamed "Mister Guitar" and "the Country Gentleman", was a fingerpicking guitar player, arranger and producer who, along with Owen…
Chico BuarquePerson · Music memorabiliaFrancisco Buarque de Hollanda OMCComIH (born 19 June 1944), popularly known as Chico Buarque (ˈʃikʊ buˈahki), is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer, playwright, writer, and…
China ForbesPerson · Music memorabiliaChina Forbes (born April 29, 1970) is an American singer and songwriter who has been the lead singer of the band Pink Martini since 1995.
Chris PolandPerson · Music memorabiliaChris Poland (born December 1, 1957) is an American guitarist, best known as the former guitarist of the thrash metal band Megadeth.
Christian WallumrødPerson · Music memorabiliaChristian Wallumrød (born 26 April 1971 in Kongsberg, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (piano, organ and electronic keyboards) and composer, and is considered one of the most prominent…
Clark TerryPerson · Music memorabiliaClark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator.
Claudio FasoliPerson · Music memorabiliaIllustration — Claudio Fasoli
Conrad JanisPerson · Film memorabiliaConrad Janis (February 11, 1928 – March 1, 2022) was an American jazz trombonist and actor who starred in film and television during the Golden Age Era in the 1950s and 1960s, and continued…
Cooper-MoorePerson · Music memorabiliaCooper-Moore (born Gene Y. Ashton; August 31, 1946) is an American jazz pianist, composer and instrument builder/designer based in New York City.
Corin CurschellasPerson · Music memorabiliaIllustration — Corin Curschellas together with Albin Brun, Patricia Draeger and Claudio Strebel Spring 2012 («La Grischa»).
Corinne DreweryDesigner · FashionCorinne Drewery (born 21 September 1959) is an English singer-songwriter and fashion designer, best known for being the lead vocalist of the band Swing Out Sister.
Count BasiePerson · Music memorabiliaWilliam James "Count" Basie (August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer.
Cường VũPerson · Music memorabiliaCuong Vu (Vietnamese: Cường Vũ; born 19 September 1969) is a Vietnamese-American jazz trumpeter. In addition to his own work as a bandleader, Vu was a member of the Pat Metheny Group.
Dag ArnesenPerson · Music memorabiliaDag Syver Arnesen (born 3 May 1950) is a Norwegian jazz pianist with a series of album releases.
Dan PintoPerson · Music memorabiliaDan Pinto (born December 8, 1960) is a BMI composer/keyboardist/drummer-percussionist who writes and performs music in the styles of jazz-fusion and orchestral film score and soundtrack.
Dan RadlauerPerson · Music memorabiliaDan Radlauer (born April 26, 1957 in Los Angeles) is an American film and television composer, who was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the eastern suburb of Los Angeles County, La Habra…
Daniel TintePerson · Music memorabiliaDaniel Tinte (born 6 December 1969) is a pianist from Argentina.
Dave McKeanArtist · Comics and comic art
David AmramPerson · Music memorabiliaDavid Werner Amram III (born November 17, 1930) is an American composer, arranger, and conductor of orchestral, chamber, and choral works, many with jazz flavorings.
David BenoitPerson · Music memorabilia
David KnopflerAuthor · BooksDavid Knopfler (born 27 December 1952) is a British musician. Together with his older brother Mark Knopfler, John Illsley, and Pick Withers, he founded the rock band Dire Straits in 1977,…
David ToopAuthor · BooksDavid Toop (born 5 May 1949) is an English musician, author, curator, sound artist, and academic, widely known for his work on improvisation, sound culture, and listening practices.
Dee Dee BridgewaterPerson · Music memorabiliaDee Dee Bridgewater (born Denise Eileen Garrett, May 27, 1950) is an American jazz singer and actress.
Dick PowellPerson · Film memorabilia
Didier LockwoodPerson · Music memorabiliaDidier Lockwood (11 February 1956 – 18 February 2018) was a French violinist. He played in the French rock band Magma in the 1970s, and was known for his use of electric amplification and…
Django ReinhardtPerson · Music memorabiliaJean Reinhardt (23 January 1910 – 16 May 1953), known by his Romani nickname Django (lang or), was a French jazz guitarist and composer.[1][2][3] He was one of the first major jazz talents…
Dmitri ShostakovichPerson · Music memorabiliaDmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich (25 September 19069 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his First Symphony in…
Don CherryPerson · Music memorabiliaDonald Eugene Cherry (November 18, 1936 – October 19, 1995) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist.
Dudley MoorePerson · Music memorabiliaDudley Stuart John Moore (19 April 193527 March 2002) was an English actor, comedian, musician and composer.
Earl BosticPerson · Music memorabiliaEugene Earl Bostic (April 25, 1913 – October 28, 1965) was an American alto saxophonist.
Eberhard WeberPerson · Music memorabiliaEberhard Weber is a German double bassist and composer. Weber's compositions blend chamber jazz, European classical music, minimalism and ambien
Édouard FerletPerson · Music memorabilia
Ellen BanksArtist · PaintingsEllen Banks (June 7, 1938 – May 18, 2017), also known as Ellen Banks Feld or Ellen Feld (married to Bernard Feld), was an American painter and musician.
Elton DeanPerson · Music memorabiliaElton Dean was a British saxophonist, songwriter, record producer and musician (1945–2006). He was born in Nottingham and died in London.
Enzo JannacciPerson · Music memorabiliaVincenzo "Enzo" Jannacci (vintʃˈɛntso janˈnattʃi; 3 June 1935 – 29 March 2013) was an Italian singer-songwriter, pianist, actor and comedian.
Erik MongrainPerson · Music memorabiliaErik Mongrain (born April 12, 1980) is a Canadian composer and guitarist.
Errol ParkerPerson · Music memorabiliaErrol Parker (né Raphaël Schecroun; 30 October 1925 – 2 July 1998) was a French-Algerian jazz pianist who played with Django Reinhardt, James Moody, Don Byas and Kenny Clarke, among others.
Erykah BaduPerson · Music memorabiliaErica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress.
Esperanza SpaldingPerson · Music memorabiliaEsperanza Emily Spalding[6] (born October 18, 1984), sometimes professionally known with the stylized name of esperanza spalding,[2] is an American bassist, singer, songwriter, and…
Federico UghiPerson · Music memorabiliaFederico Ughi (born 1972) is an Italian drummer and composer. He works primarily in the fields of free improvisation and jazz.
Fredrik NorénPerson · Music memorabiliaFredrik Norén (21 April 1941 – 13 May 2016) was a Swedish jazz drummer and band leader.
Gabriella CilmiPerson · Music memorabiliaGabriella Lucia Cilmi (CHIL-mee; Italian: [ˈtʃilmi]; born 10 October 1991) is an Australian pop singer and songwriter. A contralto, Cilmi is known for her distinctive raspy singing voice.
Gary BurghoffPerson · Film memorabiliaGary Rich Burghoff (born May 24, 1943) is an American actor who is known for first playing the role of Charlie Brown in the 1967 Off-Broadway musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and…
George BensonPerson · Music memorabilia
George DukePerson · Music memorabiliaGeorge Martin Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013) was an American keyboardist, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer.
George GruntzPerson · Music memorabiliaGeorge Gruntz (24 June 1932 – 10 January 2013) was a Swiss jazz pianist, organist, harpsichordist, keyboardist, and composer known for the George Gruntz Concert Big Band and his work with…
Georgiy FirtichPerson · Music memorabiliaIllustration — Firtich in 2016
Gerald WilsonPerson · Music memorabiliaGerald Stanley Wilson (September 4, 1918 – September 8, 2014) was an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator.
Gerry MulliganPerson · Music memorabiliaGerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, pianist, composer and arranger.
Gerry WeilPerson · Music memorabiliaGerhard Weilheim (11 August 1939 – 16 November 2024), better known as Gerry Weil, was an Austrian-born Venezuelan jazz musician.
Gil EvansPerson · Music memorabiliaIan Ernest Gilmore Evans (né Green; May 13, 1912 – March 20, 1988) was a Canadian–American jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader.
Giorgio GasliniPerson · Music memorabiliaGiorgio Gaslini (22 October 1929 – 29 July 2014) was an Italian jazz pianist, composer and conductor.
Glenn MillerPerson · Music memorabiliaAlton Glen "Glenn" Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band conductor, arranger, composer, trombonist, and recording artist before and during World War II, when…
Gordon GoodwinPerson · Music memorabiliaGordon Louis Goodwin (December 30, 1954 – December 8, 2025) was an American pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor. He was the leader of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band.
Gunther SchullerPerson · Music memorabiliaGunther Alexander Schuller (November 22, 1925June 21, 2015) was an American composer, conductor, horn player, author, historian, educator, publisher, and jazz musician.
György SzabadosPerson · Music memorabiliaGyörgy Szabados (13 July 1939 – 10 June 2011) was a Hungarian jazz pianist, and is sometimes referred to as the "father" or "unofficial king" of the Hungarian free jazz movement since the…
Hank MarvinPerson · Music memorabiliaHank Brian Marvin (born Brian Robson Rankin; 28 October 1941) is an English musician and songwriter. He is known as the lead guitarist for the Shadows.
Hans MathisenPerson · Music memorabiliaHans Mathisen (born 27 July 1967 in Sandefjord, Norway) is a Norwegian Jazz guitarist, educated on the Jazzprogram at Trondheim musikkonservatorium (1988–90), well known for his Pat Metheny…
Harald LassenPerson · Music memorabiliaHarald Lassen (born March 13, 1987, in Kristiansand, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician, songwriter, and bandleader.
Harry JamesPerson · Film memorabiliaHarry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band to great commercial success from 1939 to…
Helen HumesPerson · Music memorabiliaHelen Humes (June 23, 1913 – September 13, 1981) was an American singer. She was a blues, R&B and classic popular singer.
Helge SchneiderIllustrator · IllustrationHelge Schneider (born 30 August 1955 in Mülheim an der Ruhr) is a German entertainer, comedian, musician, composer, author, film and theatre director, actor, and screenwriter.
Herb JeffriesPerson · Film memorabiliaHerb Jeffries (born Umberto Alexander Valentino; September 24, 1913 – May 25, 2014) was an American actor of film and television and popular music and jazz singer-songwriter, known for his…
Herbie HancockPerson · Music memorabiliaHerbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. He started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group.
Hildegunn ØisethPerson · Music memorabiliaHildegunn Øiseth (born 5 December 1966 in Kongsvinger, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (trumpet, flugelhorn and bukkehorn).
Horace SilverPerson · Music memorabiliaHorace Ward Martin Tavares Silver (September 2, 1928 – June 18, 2014) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, particularly in the hard bop style that he helped pioneer in the…
Humphrey CarpenterAuthor · BooksHumphrey William Bouverie Carpenter (29 April 1946 – 4 January 2005) was an English biographer, writer, and radio broadcaster. He is known especially for his biographies of J. R. R.
Humphrey LytteltonArtist · Comics and comic artHumphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton (23 May 1921 – 25 April 2008), also known as Humph, was an English jazz musician and broadcaster from the Lyttelton family.
Ian HamerPerson · Music memorabiliaIan Wilfred Hamer (11 September 1932 – 3 September 2006) was a British jazz trumpeter.
Ivan LinsPerson · Music memorabiliaIvan Guimarães Lins (born 16 June 1945) is a Latin Grammy-winning Brazilian musician.
Ivar AntonsenPerson · Music memorabiliaIvar Antonsen (born April 16, 1946, in Fauske Municipality, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer and had his debut at the Oslo jazz scene in 1967 together with Jan Garbarek,…
Iyeoka OkoawoPerson · Music memorabiliaIyeoka Okoawo (born April 28, 1975) is an American singer and poet (of Nigerian heritage), recording artist, singer, activist, educator and TEDGlobal Fellow.
J.Y. ParkPerson · Music memorabilia
Jack BrucePerson · Music memorabiliaJohn Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce (14 May 1943 – 25 October 2014) was a Scottish musician. He gained popularity as the primary lead vocalist and bassist of rock band Cream.

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Jazz Musicians247
American jazz musicians145
British jazz musicians20

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