The best jazz singers in the history of the genre. Foreign jazz

A few days ago, my friends and I tried to remember as many people as possible who, in our opinion, changed the course of history. Well, if we expand this topic, we can identify 10 key aspects in different areas of human activity that have influenced the life, worldview, or simply the taste of all humanity. Today I would like to highlight10 jazz standards, which, in my opinion, are the basispopular jazz music. Jazz standards- These are jazz melodies or themes that were once written by someone and are so memorable that all jazz musicians and almost all people know them. Quite good musicians, as Wikipedia writes, for example, knows a couple of hundred of them, which, by the way, I very much doubt.

Most likely, many people know the collections I have collected. jazz compositions, but each standard has its own history, which not everyone knows.

So number one:

1. Autumnleaves

Originally, in 1945, it was a French song" Les Feuilles mortes" (literally "Dead Leaves") with music Joseph Kosma and the poet's poems Jacques Prevert). Yves Montand (with Irene Joachim) introduced "Les Feuilles mortes" in 1946 in the film Les Portes-de-la-Nuit. In 1947 American composer Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics of this song, and Joe Stafford was one of the first to perform a new version of the composition. Autumn Leaves has become a jazz and pop standard in both languages, as well as in an instrumental version.

The video below features an improvisational version of this theme by one of the best jazz improvisers and composers (and one of my favorites) of our time Keith Jarrett. Notice how he funny howls and dances during his solo. His playing has a special charm and is immediately distinguishable and identifiable by ear thanks to the microphone support of his peculiar “moo”.

2. Let it snow!Let it snow!Let it snow!

The song is also known as "Let It Snow". Authorship belongs to the lyricist Sammy Cahn and the composer Julie Styne in 1945. Interestingly, it was written in July 1945 in Hollywood during one of the hottest days of the summer.

What’s even more interesting is that, I think, almost everyone on our blue ball plowing the Universe knows it, even those who have lived in the desert all their lives. Personally, I always sing this song when it snows or rains ( Let it rain! You can still Let it fog!)

3. I've got you under my skin

Not everyone knows this composition, which has been covered by all jazz vocalists, if not on stage, then certainly in the shower. Copyright belongs to Cole Porter and it was written in 1936. In the presented video (as well as in the previous one) it is performed by my favorite musician Jamie CullamCulllum). After this song there will be a small bonus - another song performed by Jamie - High and Dry (Radiohead). This is one of my favorite songs.

4. Fly me to the moon

And this theme is one of those to which it is most convenient to swing, even for me, a person far from swinging. Wrote a masterpiece Bart Howard in 1954.

5. Take five

If a musician wants to test his musical flair on a non-standard rhythm, Takefive - this is the best jazz composition to experiment with. The 5-quarter time signature clearly shows that the song deserves attention. By the way, there are a lot of songs that begin as a famous standard, but I came up with it “the first time” Paul Desmond, and was first presented by the quartet of the great Dave Brubeck Quartet in album "Time Out" in 1959

6. The entertainer

Well, everyone knows that. The composition was written by the founder of the ragtime style. Scott Joplin more than 110 years ago (in 1902). Is a ragtime classic. This jazz composition regained its international fame during « Ragtime Revival" in the 1970s, when it was used as the theme song for the film " "The Sting", which won an Oscar.

7. Singingintherain

"Singing in the Rain" - song with verses Arthur Freed and music Nacio Herb Brown, written in 1929, gained fame after the film of the same name. After watching the video I always start to rejoice!

8. Summertime

When people talk about jazz, then they often mean exactly “ Summertime" Work written George Gershwin in 1935 for the opera "Porgy and Bess". Authors of the text: DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin(brother of George). Saying what is the basis for writing an aria Gershwin took a Ukrainian lullaby "Oh go sleep around the corner", which he heard in New York performed by the Ukrainian National Choir under the direction of Alexandra Koshitsa. We're bringing the heat there too!

9. Feelinggood

"Feeling Good" (also known as " Feelin' Good") is a song written by English singer-songwriters Anthony Newley And Leslie Bricusse in 1965. Since then, the composition has been recorded by many artists, including the outstanding Nina Simone.

10. HelloDolly

Well, where would we be without Armstrong! But what’s interesting is that the author of the music and lyrics of the famous song is not Armstrong- the man who set foot on Mars first, - and Jerry Herman (Jerry Herman). The song was very popular in 1964, when it was played on the radio as often as it is played today Lady Gaga. But it is our beloved one Louis Armstrong made it what we know it today.

Soon I will prepare 25 of the best jazz compositions, including jazz standards in the original and their modern adaptations.

Jazz performers invented a special musical language, which was based on improvisation, complex rhythmic figures (swing) and unique harmonic patterns.

Jazz arose in the late 19th and early 20th years in the United States of America and represented a unique social phenomenon, namely, a fusion of African and American cultures. The further development and stratification of jazz into various styles and sub-styles is due to the fact that jazz performers and composers continuously continued to complicate their music, look for new sounds and master new harmonies and rhythms.

Thus, a huge jazz heritage has accumulated, in which the following main schools and styles can be distinguished: New Orleans (traditional) jazz, bebop, hard bop, swing, cool jazz, progressive jazz, free jazz, modal jazz, fusion, etc. d. This article contains ten outstanding jazz performers, after reading which you will get the most complete picture of the era of free people and energetic music.

Miles Davis

Miles Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in Alton (USA). Known as an iconic American trumpeter whose music had a profound influence on the 20th century jazz and music scene as a whole. He experimented a lot and boldly with styles, and perhaps that is why Davis is at the origins of such styles as cool jazz, fusion and modal jazz. Miles began his musical career as a member of the Charlie Parker Quintet, but later managed to find and develop his own musical sound. Miles Davis's most important and seminal albums include Birth of the Cool (1949), Kind of Blue (1959), Bitches Brew (1969), and In a Silent Way (1969). The main characteristic of Miles Davis was that he was constantly in creative search and showed the world new ideas, and that is why the history of modern jazz music owes so much to his exceptional talent.

Louis Armstrong (Louis Armstrong)

Louis Armstrong, the man whose name comes to mind for most people when they hear the word “jazz,” was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans (USA). Armstrong had a dazzling talent on the trumpet and did much to develop and popularize jazz music throughout the world. In addition, he also captivated the audience with his hoarse bass vocals. The path that Armstrong had to go from a tramp to the title of King of Jazz was thorny. And it began in a colony for black teenagers, where Louis ended up for an innocent prank - shooting a pistol on New Year's Eve. By the way, he stole a pistol from a policeman, a client of his mother, who was a representative of the oldest profession in the world. Thanks to this not very favorable set of circumstances, Louis Armstrong received his first musical experience in a camp brass band. There he mastered the cornet, tambourine and alto horn. In a word, Armstrong went from marching in the colonies and then occasional performances in clubs to a musician of world significance, whose talent and contribution to jazz is difficult to overestimate. The influence of his landmark albums Ella and Louis (1956), Porgy and Bess (1957), and American Freedom (1961) can still be heard in the playing of contemporary artists of various styles.

Duke Ellington

Duke Ellinton was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington. Pianist, orchestra leader, arranger and composer, whose music became a real innovation in the world of jazz. His works were played on all radio stations, and his recordings are rightfully included in the “gold fund of jazz.” Ellinton was recognized throughout the world, received numerous awards, and wrote a huge number of brilliant works, including the standard “Caravan”, which went around the globe. His most famous releases include Ellington At Newport (1956), Ellington Uptown (1953), Far East Suite (1967) and Masterpieces By Ellington (1951).

Herbie Hancock (Herbie Hancock)

Herbie Hancock was born on April 12, 1940, in Chicago (USA). Hancock is known as a pianist and composer, as well as the winner of 14 Grammy awards, which he received for his work in the jazz field. His music is interesting because it combines elements of rock, funk and soul, along with free jazz. You can also find elements of modern classical music and blues motifs in his compositions. In general, almost every sophisticated listener will be able to find something for themselves in Hancock’s music. If we talk about innovative creative solutions, Herbie Hancock is considered one of the first jazz performers to combine synthesizer and funk in the same way, the musician is at the origins of the newest jazz style - post-bebop. Despite the specificity of the music of some stages of Herbie's work, most of his songs are melodic compositions that are loved by the general public.

Among his albums, the following can be highlighted: “Head Hunters” (1971), “Future Shock” (1983), “Maiden Voyage” (1966) and “Takin' Off” (1962).

John Coltrane (John Coltrane)

John Coltrane, an outstanding jazz innovator and virtuoso, was born on September 23, 1926. Coltrane was a talented saxophonist and composer, band leader and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Coltrane is rightfully considered a significant figure in the history of jazz, who inspired and influenced modern performers, as well as the school of improvisation as a whole. Until 1955, John Coltrane remained relatively unknown until he joined Miles Davis' band. A few years later, Coltrane left the quintet and began to work closely on his own work. During these years, he recorded albums that formed the most important part of the jazz heritage.

These are Giant Steps (1959), Coltrane Jazz (1960) and A Love Supreme (1965), records that have become icons of jazz improvisation.

Charlie Parker (Charlie Parker)

Charlie Parker was born on August 29, 1920 in Kansas City (USA). His love for music awoke in him quite early: he began to master the saxophone at the age of 11. In the 1930s, Parker began to master the principles of improvisation and developed some techniques in his technique that preceded bebop. He later became one of the founders of this style (along with Dizzy Gillespie) and, in general, had a very strong influence on jazz music. However, while still a teenager, the musician became addicted to morphine, and later the problem of heroin addiction arose between Parker and music. Unfortunately, even after treatment at the clinic and recovery, Charlie Parker could not work as actively and write new music. Ultimately, heroin derailed his life and career and caused his death.

The most significant albums for jazz by Charlie Parker are “Bird and Diz” (1952), “Birth of the Bebop: Bird on Tenor” (1943), and “Charlie Parker with strings” (1950).

Thelonious Monk Quartet

Thelonious Monk was born on October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount (USA). He is best known as a jazz composer and pianist, as well as one of the founders of bebop. His original “ragged” style of playing incorporated various styles - from avant-garde to primitivism. Such experiments made the sound of his music not entirely characteristic of jazz, which, however, did not prevent many of his works from becoming classics of this style of music. Being a very unusual person who, since childhood, did everything possible just not to be “normal” and like everyone else, Monk became famous not only for his musical decisions, but also for his extremely complex character. His name is associated with many anecdotal stories about how he was late for his own concerts, and once completely refused to play in a Detroit club because his wife did not show up for the performance. And so Monk sat on a chair with his hands folded until his wife was finally brought into the hall - in slippers and a robe. In front of her husband's eyes, the poor woman was urgently transported by plane, just so that the concert would take place.

Some of Monk's most notable albums include Monk's Dream (1963), Monk (1954), Straight No Chaser (1967), and Misterioso (1959).

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday, a famous American jazz vocalist, was born on April 7, 1917 in Philadelphia. Like many jazz musicians, Holiday began her musical career in nightclubs. Over time, she was lucky enough to meet producer Benny Goodman, who organized her first recordings in the studio. Fame came to the singer after participating in the big bands of such jazz masters as Count Basie and Artie Shaw (1937-1938). Lady Day (as her fans called her) had a unique performance style, thanks to which she seemed to reinvent a fresh and unique sound for the simplest compositions. She was especially good at romantic, slow songs (such as “Don’t Explain” and “Lover Man”). Billie Holiday's career was bright and brilliant, but it did not last long, because after thirty years she became addicted to drink and drugs, which negatively affected her health. The angelic voice lost its former strength and flexibility, and Holiday was rapidly losing the favor of the public.

Billie Holiday enriched the art of jazz with such outstanding albums as Lady Sings the Blues (1956), Body and Soul (1957), and Lady in Satin (1958).

Bill Evans

Bill Evans, legendary American jazz pianist and composer, was born on August 16, 1929 in New Jersey, USA. Evans is one of the most influential jazz performers of the 20th century. His musical works are so sophisticated and unusual that few pianists are able to inherit and borrow his ideas. He could masterfully swing and improvise like no one else, at the same time, melody and simplicity were far from alien to him - his interpretations of famous ballads gained popularity even among non-jazz audiences. Evans was trained as an academic pianist, and after serving in the army he began appearing in public with various little-known musicians as a jazz performer. Success came to him in 1958, when Evans began playing in the Miles Davis sextet, along with Cannonball Auderly and John Coltrane. Evans is considered the creator of the chamber genre of the jazz trio, which is characterized by a leading improvising piano, as well as solo drums and double bass. His musical style brought a variety of colors to jazz music - from inventive graceful improvisations to lyrically colored tones.

Evans' best albums include his solo recording "Alone" (1968), made in man-orchestra mode, "Waltz for Debby" (1961), "New Jazz Conceptions" (1956) and "Explorations" (1961).

Dizzy Gillespie (Dizzy Gillespie)

Dizzy Gillespie was born on October 21, 1917 in Cheraw, USA. Dizzy has many merits in the history of the development of jazz music: he is known as a trumpeter, vocalist, arranger, composer and orchestra leader. Gillespie also founded improvisational jazz with Charlie Parker. Like many jazz musicians, Gillespie started out performing in clubs. Then he moved to live in New York and successfully joined the local orchestra. He was known for his original, if not buffoonish, behavior, which successfully turned the people who worked with him against him. From the first orchestra, in which the very talented but peculiar trumpeter Dizz went on tour in England and France, he was almost kicked out. The musicians of his second orchestra also did not react entirely cordially to Gillespie’s ridicule of their playing. In addition, few people understood his musical experiments - some called his music “Chinese”. Collaboration with the second orchestra ended in a fight between Cab Calloway (his leader) and Dizzy during one of the concerts, after which Gillespie was miserably kicked out of the band. After Gillespie creates his own band, in which he and other musicians work to diversify the traditional jazz language. Thus, the style known as bebop was born, the style of which Dizzy actively worked on.

The best albums of the brilliant trumpeter include “Sonny Side Up” (1957), “Afro” (1954), “Birk’s Works” (1957), “World Statesman” (1956) and “Dizzy and Strings” (1954).

For many decades, the music of freedom performed by breathtaking jazz virtuosos has been a huge part of the music scene and simply human life. The names of the musicians that you can see above are immortalized in the memory of many generations and, most likely, the same number of generations will inspire and amaze with their skill. Perhaps the secret is that the inventors of trumpets, saxophones, double basses, pianos and drums knew that some things could not be done on these instruments, but forgot to tell jazz musicians about it.

Nowadays, good jazz music has won sincere fans all over the world. For example, the names of such performers as Louis Armstrong or Frank Sinatra are known even to those who are far from this genre. Despite differences in culture and mentality, age and type of activity, people from different countries love to listen to jazz compositions online. Moreover, our compatriots strive to download foreign jazz for free and even learn songs in a foreign language. All this confirms the strength, quality and semantic content of the compositions.

Historical reference

The best jazz singers

Frank Sinatra (1915-1998)

A talented person is talented in everything - this is how one can describe. He succeeded in any activity that 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 gave them the strongest energy

It’s not for nothing that in his youth the singer had the nickname “The 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 “crooning”.

Little-known facts about the great singer in the film

Probably Frank Sinatra, “Mr. Blue Eyes,” is the only singer who was not only able to maintain his popularity, but also repeat the success of his youth. The song New York, New York, performed by him, was so loved by the residents of the city that to this day it is its unspoken anthem.

Perry Como (1919-2001)

Actor and singer Pierino Ronald Como. A voice with an unsurpassed baritone. Starting his career path even 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, daring and fearless in his own way. He loved irony and sarcasm, and was not afraid to use all this in his work. Perry Como was not like others and that’s why he fascinated.

Nat King Cole (1919-1965)

A king who cannot be forgotten - . He is known as the “golden hands” of the piano. He performed simple melodies and complex works equally skillfully. But that’s not why they called him the King. And not even for his undoubtedly wonderful, low baritone. He became the first dark-skinned jazz musician to be able to openly express himself creatively.

Nat King Cole – “golden hands” of the piano

Music on topics close to his black listeners, a TV show with his participation - all this was achieved with great difficulty. But it was worth it, because it opened a good path 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 comment on Cole's clarity of diction.

Dean Martin (1917-1995)

Dino Paul Crocetti, better known as , is a true representative of . 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 Rat Pack, a group of entertainers and actors that included Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis. His voice was firm, flexible and a little cool, just like its owner. However, it was precisely this “little piece of ice” that attracted his listeners. Everyone found something different in Dean’s work: some found the bright and cheerful notes of the Mamba of Italy, others found soulful cool jazz.

Sam Cooke (1931-1964)

If you understand jazz, then the name Sam Cooke is not an empty phrase for you. In about 10 years, his charming tenor became so close to listeners that the sudden death of the musician at the hands of a sharp shooter plunged the country into deep depression.

As a young man, Sam Cooke did not seek recognition from the aesthetes of high jazz, did not try to be feignedly serious, but appealed to a young audience. He was someone who considered his audience to be fresh minds - young people.

Despite the calm nature of the melodies in his repertoire, they had a special internal energy, thanks to which they not only pacified the soul, but also lifted the mood.

Sammy Davis Jr. (1917-1995)

The man with the disarming smile is Sammy Davis Jr., an actor and singer. He had a subtle sense of musical style. His voice seemed 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 still has such a gentle voice that gives you goosebumps.

You will probably recognize him after hearing the famous song Candyman. 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 you could dance at least one dance with Sammy Davis.

Bing Crosby (1903-1977)

Successful and attractive Bing Crosby was favored by women and respected by other jazzmen. He was one of the first to sing in the crooner style and had an unrivaled sense of swing. It is not surprising that his albums include collaborations with Louis Armstrong.

To this day, Crosby's hits are in swing styles and are known, if not performed by him, then as re-covers of other groups. His Christmas songs, particularly White Christmas, are loved even decades later.

Chet Baker (1929-1988)

Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)

The musician’s name has become synonymous with jazz; he is the first person everyone remembers when talking about this music. And although, first of all, he was an excellent trumpeter, his voice captivated listeners no less. The musician himself was very embarrassed about his hoarseness, which was a consequence of the operation.

Armstrong took up music seriously in a correctional institution (he was arrested for shooting in the air on New Year's Day). There Louis learned to play the altohorn, bugle, and then the cornet. He did not know how to read music, but had excellent hearing and sang in the choir since childhood.

The undisputed hits of Armstrong's late work are the song Hello, Dolly! From the musical with. Latest hit "What a Wonderful World" topped the UK charts.

Jazz performers invented a special musical language, which was based on improvisation, complex rhythmic figures (swing) and unique harmonic patterns.

Jazz arose in the late 19th and early 20th years in the United States of America and represented a unique social phenomenon, namely, a fusion of African and American cultures. The further development and stratification of jazz into various styles and sub-styles is due to the fact that jazz performers and composers continuously continued to complicate their music, look for new sounds and master new harmonies and rhythms.

Thus, a huge jazz heritage has accumulated, in which the following main schools and styles can be distinguished: New Orleans (traditional) jazz, bebop, hard bop, swing, cool jazz, progressive jazz, free jazz, modal jazz, fusion, etc. d. This article contains ten outstanding jazz performers, after reading which you will get the most complete picture of the era of free people and energetic music.

Miles Davis

Miles Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in Alton (USA). Known as an iconic American trumpeter whose music had a profound influence on the 20th century jazz and music scene as a whole. He experimented a lot and boldly with styles, and perhaps that is why Davis is at the origins of such styles as cool jazz, fusion and modal jazz. Miles began his musical career as a member of the Charlie Parker Quintet, but later managed to find and develop his own musical sound. Miles Davis's most important and seminal albums include Birth of the Cool (1949), Kind of Blue (1959), Bitches Brew (1969), and In a Silent Way (1969). The main characteristic of Miles Davis was that he was constantly in creative search and showed the world new ideas, and that is why the history of modern jazz music owes so much to his exceptional talent.

Louis Armstrong (Louis Armstrong)

Louis Armstrong, the man whose name comes to mind for most people when they hear the word “jazz,” was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans (USA). Armstrong had a dazzling talent on the trumpet and did much to develop and popularize jazz music throughout the world. In addition, he also captivated the audience with his hoarse bass vocals. The path that Armstrong had to go from a tramp to the title of King of Jazz was thorny. And it began in a colony for black teenagers, where Louis ended up for an innocent prank - shooting a pistol on New Year's Eve. By the way, he stole a pistol from a policeman, a client of his mother, who was a representative of the oldest profession in the world. Thanks to this not very favorable set of circumstances, Louis Armstrong received his first musical experience in a camp brass band. There he mastered the cornet, tambourine and alto horn. In a word, Armstrong went from marching in the colonies and then occasional performances in clubs to a musician of world significance, whose talent and contribution to jazz is difficult to overestimate. The influence of his landmark albums Ella and Louis (1956), Porgy and Bess (1957), and American Freedom (1961) can still be heard in the playing of contemporary artists of various styles.

Duke Ellington

Duke Ellinton was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington. Pianist, orchestra leader, arranger and composer, whose music became a real innovation in the world of jazz. His works were played on all radio stations, and his recordings are rightfully included in the “gold fund of jazz.” Ellinton was recognized throughout the world, received numerous awards, and wrote a huge number of brilliant works, including the standard “Caravan”, which went around the globe. His most famous releases include Ellington At Newport (1956), Ellington Uptown (1953), Far East Suite (1967) and Masterpieces By Ellington (1951).

Herbie Hancock (Herbie Hancock)

Herbie Hancock was born on April 12, 1940, in Chicago (USA). Hancock is known as a pianist and composer, as well as the winner of 14 Grammy awards, which he received for his work in the jazz field. His music is interesting because it combines elements of rock, funk and soul, along with free jazz. You can also find elements of modern classical music and blues motifs in his compositions. In general, almost every sophisticated listener will be able to find something for themselves in Hancock’s music. If we talk about innovative creative solutions, Herbie Hancock is considered one of the first jazz performers to combine synthesizer and funk in the same way, the musician is at the origins of the newest jazz style - post-bebop. Despite the specificity of the music of some stages of Herbie’s work, most of his songs are melodic compositions that are loved by the general public.

Among his albums, the following can be highlighted: “Head Hunters” (1971), “Future Shock” (1983), “Maiden Voyage” (1966) and “Takin' Off” (1962).

John Coltrane (John Coltrane)

John Coltrane, an outstanding jazz innovator and virtuoso, was born on September 23, 1926. Coltrane was a talented saxophonist and composer, band leader and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Coltrane is rightfully considered a significant figure in the history of jazz, who inspired and influenced modern performers, as well as the school of improvisation as a whole. Until 1955, John Coltrane remained relatively unknown until he joined Miles Davis' band. A few years later, Coltrane left the quintet and began to work closely on his own work. During these years, he recorded albums that formed the most important part of the jazz heritage.

These are Giant Steps (1959), Coltrane Jazz (1960) and A Love Supreme (1965), records that have become icons of jazz improvisation.

Charlie Parker (Charlie Parker)

Charlie Parker was born on August 29, 1920 in Kansas City (USA). His love for music awoke in him quite early: he began to master the saxophone at the age of 11. In the 1930s, Parker began to master the principles of improvisation and developed some techniques in his technique that preceded bebop. He later became one of the founders of this style (along with Dizzy Gillespie) and, in general, had a very strong influence on jazz music. However, while still a teenager, the musician became addicted to morphine, and later the problem of heroin addiction arose between Parker and music. Unfortunately, even after treatment at the clinic and recovery, Charlie Parker could not work as actively and write new music. Ultimately, heroin derailed his life and career and caused his death.

The most significant albums for jazz by Charlie Parker are “Bird and Diz” (1952), “Birth of the Bebop: Bird on Tenor” (1943), and “Charlie Parker with strings” (1950).

Thelonious Monk Quartet

Thelonious Monk was born on October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount (USA). He is best known as a jazz composer and pianist, as well as one of the founders of bebop. His original “ragged” style of playing incorporated various styles - from avant-garde to primitivism. Such experiments made the sound of his music not entirely characteristic of jazz, which, however, did not prevent many of his works from becoming classics of this style of music. Being a very unusual person who, since childhood, did everything possible just not to be “normal” and like everyone else, Monk became famous not only for his musical decisions, but also for his extremely complex character. His name is associated with many anecdotal stories about how he was late for his own concerts, and once completely refused to play in a Detroit club because his wife did not show up for the performance. And so Monk sat on a chair with his hands folded until his wife was finally brought into the hall - in slippers and a robe. In front of her husband's eyes, the poor woman was urgently transported by plane, just so that the concert would take place.

Some of Monk's most notable albums include Monk's Dream (1963), Monk (1954), Straight No Chaser (1967), and Misterioso (1959).

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday, a famous American jazz vocalist, was born on April 7, 1917 in Philadelphia. Like many jazz musicians, Holiday began her musical career in nightclubs. Over time, she was lucky enough to meet producer Benny Goodman, who organized her first recordings in the studio. Fame came to the singer after participating in the big bands of such jazz masters as Count Basie and Artie Shaw (1937-1938). Lady Day (as her fans called her) had a unique performance style, thanks to which she seemed to reinvent a fresh and unique sound for the simplest compositions. She was especially good at romantic, slow songs (such as “Don’t Explain” and “Lover Man”). Billie Holiday's career was bright and brilliant, but it did not last long, because after thirty years she became addicted to drink and drugs, which negatively affected her health. The angelic voice lost its former strength and flexibility, and Holiday was rapidly losing the favor of the public.

Billie Holiday enriched the art of jazz with such outstanding albums as Lady Sings the Blues (1956), Body and Soul (1957), and Lady in Satin (1958).

Bill Evans

Bill Evans, legendary American jazz pianist and composer, was born on August 16, 1929 in New Jersey, USA. Evans is one of the most influential jazz performers of the 20th century. His musical works are so sophisticated and unusual that few pianists are able to inherit and borrow his ideas. He could masterfully swing and improvise like no one else, at the same time, melody and simplicity were far from alien to him - his interpretations of famous ballads gained popularity even among non-jazz audiences. Evans was trained as an academic pianist, and after serving in the army he began appearing in public with various little-known musicians as a jazz performer. Success came to him in 1958, when Evans began playing in the Miles Davis sextet, along with Cannonball Auderly and John Coltrane. Evans is considered the creator of the chamber genre of the jazz trio, which is characterized by a leading improvising piano, as well as solo drums and double bass. His musical style brought a variety of colors to jazz music - from inventive graceful improvisations to lyrically colored tones.

Evans' best albums include his solo recording "Alone" (1968), made in man-orchestra mode, "Waltz for Debby" (1961), "New Jazz Conceptions" (1956) and "Explorations" (1961).

Dizzy Gillespie (Dizzy Gillespie)

Dizzy Gillespie was born on October 21, 1917 in Cheraw, USA. Dizzy has many merits in the history of the development of jazz music: he is known as a trumpeter, vocalist, arranger, composer and orchestra leader. Gillespie also founded improvisational jazz with Charlie Parker. Like many jazz musicians, Gillespie started out performing in clubs. Then he moved to live in New York and successfully joined the local orchestra. He was known for his original, if not buffoonish, behavior, which successfully turned the people who worked with him against him. From the first orchestra, in which the very talented but peculiar trumpeter Dizz went on tour in England and France, he was almost kicked out. The musicians of his second orchestra also did not react entirely cordially to Gillespie’s ridicule of their playing. In addition, few people understood his musical experiments—some called his music “Chinese.” Collaboration with the second orchestra ended in a fight between Cab Calloway (his leader) and Dizzy during one of the concerts, after which Gillespie was miserably kicked out of the band. After Gillespie creates his own band, in which he and other musicians work to diversify the traditional jazz language. Thus, the style known as bebop was born, the style of which Dizzy actively worked on.

The best albums of the brilliant trumpeter include “Sonny Side Up” (1957), “Afro” (1954), “Birk’s Works” (1957), “World Statesman” (1956) and “Dizzy and Strings” (1954).

For many decades, the music of freedom performed by breathtaking jazz virtuosos has been a huge part of the music scene and simply human life. The names of the musicians that you can see above are immortalized in the memory of many generations and, most likely, the same number of generations will inspire and amaze with their skill. Perhaps the secret is that the inventors of trumpets, saxophones, double basses, pianos and drums knew that some things could not be done on these instruments, but forgot to tell jazz musicians about it.

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