Important Jazz Figures

Duke Ellington

• Band Leader/Jazz Composer

• Tailored songs to specific players in his band

• Wrote longer tunes than the standard 3 minutes

• Wrote many jazz standards including “It Don’t Mean a Thing” (If You Ain’t Got That Swing)

Louis Armstrong

• Born into poverty

• Joined his mentor King Oliver in Chicago and eventually surpassed him

• Released a cover of a Fats Waller song, “Ain’t Misbehavin’” - Launched him into stardom

• Became known not only as a great trumpet player, but for his unique singing voice

John Coltrane

• Tenor Sax player

• Played with Miles Davis and Bill Evans on the hugely popular jazz album, “Kind of Blue”

• Recorded “Giant Steps,” an album full of original tunes

• Known for long solos (sometimes up to 20 minutes)

Bill Evans

• One of the most influential jazz pianists

• Combined classical influence and sound with improvisation

• Pushed the limits of emotion in jazz improvisation

• Formed the Bill Evans trio which changed the mold of the jazz trio