swap_horiz King Oliver Alternatives

1

Louis Armstrong

The trumpet solos and unmistakable singing voice of Louis Armstrong helped change the direction of American jazz. Emergi...

Classic Swing Vocals New Orleans

9.92 Brilliant

2

Miles Davis

A restrained trumpet tone and a willingness to change musical direction made Miles Davis a central figure in modern jazz...

Classic Fusion Cool Modal

9.91 Brilliant

3

John Coltrane

Intense melodic development and a searching approach to sound distinguish John Coltrane's saxophone playing. The America...

Classic Avant Garde Spiritual Modal

9.88 Brilliant

4

Charlie Parker

Fast-moving melodic lines and intricate harmonic thinking distinguish Charlie Parker's alto saxophone playing. The Ameri...

Virtuoso Modern Classic Bebop

9.86 Brilliant

5

Bill Evans

Lyrical phrasing and finely shaded piano harmonies place Bill Evans at the center of a distinctive strand of post-war ja...

Classic Lyrical Piano Modal

9.73 Brilliant

6

Thelonious Monk

Unexpected accents and sharply defined silences give Thelonious Monk's piano playing its distinctive character. An Ameri...

Composer Modern Classic Piano

9.72 Brilliant

7

Charles Mingus

For Charles Mingus, the double bass was both a powerful ensemble foundation and an expressive voice. The American bassis...

Bass Composer Classic Avant Garde

9.71 Brilliant

8

Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie was a highly influential American jazz musician renowned for his virtuosic trumpet playing and significa...

Classic Bebop Trumpet Bandleader

9.60 Brilliant

9

Art Blakey

Art Blakey was a pivotal figure in jazz music as a drummer and bandleader. His work with the Jazz Messengers established...

Classic Hard Bop Drums Bandleader

9.44 Excellent

10

Jelly Roll Morton

Jelly Roll Morton was a pioneering New Orleans musician recognized for his significant contributions to early jazz. He d...

Classic Piano New Orleans Ragtime

8.98 Great

11

Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman was a prominent American jazz musician best known for his virtuosic clarinet playing and leadership of one...

Classic Swing Big Band Clarinet

8.95 Great

12

Sidney Bechet

Sidney Bechet was a pivotal figure in early jazz music. Born in New Orleans, he established himself as a distinctive cla...

Classic New Orleans Clarinet Early Jazz

8.86 Great

13

Bix Beiderbecke

Bix Beiderbecke was an American jazz musician primarily known for his innovative cornet playing during the 1920s. His di...

Classic Chicago Cool Early Jazz

8.76 Great

14

Earl Hines

Earl Hines was an influential American jazz musician primarily known for his distinctive piano style. His powerful and d...

Classic Piano Swing Bandleader

8.72 Great

15

Ed Blackwell

Ed Blackwell was a pioneering American jazz drummer known for his intensely free improvisational approach. His work with...

Classic Free Jazz New Orleans Drums

8.36 Great

16

Lionel Hampton

Lionel Hampton was a highly influential figure in 20th-century jazz music. Primarily known as a vibraphone virtuoso and...

Classic Swing Big Band Vibraphone

8.35 Great

17

Terry Gibbs

Terry Gibbs is an American jazz vibraphonist, drummer, composer, arranger, and bandleader whose career spans swing, bebo...

Classic Swing Bebop Vibraphone

7.86 Good

18

Nicholas Payton

Nicholas Payton is an American trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist from New Orleans who is celebrated for his...

Modern Post Bop New Orleans Trumpet

7.74 Good

19

Rex Stewart

Rex Stewart was an American jazz cornetist best known for his tenure with Duke Ellington's orchestra, where he played fr...

Classic Brass Swing Duke Ellington

7.45 Good

20

Wycliffe Gordon

Wycliffe Gordon is an American jazz trombonist, composer, and educator who gained prominence as a member of Wynton Marsa...

Modern Trombone Swing New Orleans

7.43 Good