A jazz musician is someone who plays jazz music. Jazz musicians must be good improvisers and have a thorough knowledge of musical scales.

Table of contents
1 Some of the most famous jazz musicians
2 Noted jazz figures by period
3 Noted jazz figures by instrument

Some of the most famous jazz musicians

Noted jazz figures by period

Early jazz musicians

Middle period

Modern innovators

Noted jazz figures by instrument

Bass

See also: Jazz Bassists

Cello

Clarinet

See
Jazz Clarinetists

Drums

See
Jazz Drummers

Guitar

See
Jazz Guitarists

Piano

See also:
Jazz pianists

Saxophone

Trombone

See
Jazz Trombonists

Trumpet

Vibraphone

Violin

Vocal

Multi-instrumentalists

  • Sidney Bechet, (1897-1959), (clarinet, soprano sax, trumpet, bass, drums)
  • Eric Dolphy, (1928-1964), (bass clarinet, clarinet, flute, alto sax)
  • Yusef Lateef (tenor sax, flute, oboe, many other woodwinds)
  • Jaki Byard (alto sax, piano)
  • Ray Nance (trumpet, violin)
  • Mark Ledford
  • Benny Carter, (1907-2003), (alto sax, trumpet)
  • Ira Sullivan (various reeds and brass)
  • David Moss (vocals, drums, electronics)
  • Sun Ra, (died 1993)
  • John Surman (saxes, clarinets, piano, synthesizer)
  • Hans Jürgen Buchner also known as 'Haindling' (saxes, trombone, trumpet, fluegelhorn)

Organ-Players