Artist Profiles - Classic Jazz Artists

Julian "Cannonball" Adderley went from being a high school band teacher to becoming a world famous jazz musician after an impromptu gig in New York City.

An artist profile of jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, a member of Miles Davis' 1960s quintet who went on to become one of the most prolific musicians of all time.

An artist profile of saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter.

A brief artist profile of saxophonist Sam Rivers.

An artist profile of drummer Paul Motian, who lent his spare and imaginative style to top musicians from the 1950s through 2011.

Albert Ayler thought of himself and his music as part of a spiritual lineage revolving around avant-garde jazz.

A biography of jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, who gave voice to the sounds of bebop, and recorded popular song and jazz with equal flair.

A biography of saxophonist Sidney Bechet, one of the first early jazz musicians to develop a distinct and virtuosic style of improvisation.

A profile of jazz singer Jon Hendricks, who moved to New York to become a jazz singer at the bequest of Charlie Parker, and who popularized the jazz vocal technique known as "vocalese."

A short bio of jazz pianist Fats Waller, who helped develop the art of stride piano.

A profile of the jazz composer and arranger Gil Evans.

A profile of Scott Joplin, the premiere ragtime pianist and composer whose style paved the way for early jazz.

A biography of the trumpeter Clifford Brown, whose career was cut tragically short at age 25.

A profile of jazz singer Lena Horne.

An artist profile of tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins.

Biography of jazz pianist Randy Weston.

Artist profile of jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins.

Artist profile of saxophonist Lester Young.

Biography of jazz pianist Bill Evans.

Artist profile of jazz drummer Roy Haynes.

Artist profile of saxophonist Ornette Coleman.

Artist profile of jazz vocalist Frank Sinatra.

Artist profile of jazz and stride pianist James P. Johnson.

Artist profile of jazz singer Johnny Hartman.

Profile of jazz singer Billie Holiday.

Profile of jazz bassist Charles Mingus.

Profile of saxophonist and flautist Bud Shank.

Profile of alto saxophonist Lee Konitz.

Profile of jazz drummer Art Blakey.

Profile of Bandleader and Arranger Fletcher Henderson

Profile of Jazz Drummer Max Roach.

Profile of Saxophonist David Fathead Newman

Profile of Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard

Profile of pianist Hank Jones

Artist Profile of Jazz Vocalist Ella Fitzgerald

Profile of Cornetist Bix Beiderbecke.

Profile of pianist Thelonious Monk.

Profile of pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington.

Read about the life and career of bebop pioneer Charlie Parker.

Artist profile of trumpeter Miles Davis. Read a brief story of his life and career.

Read a profile of the life and career of tenor saxophonist John Coltrane. Biography of a jazz icon.

Artist Profile of Dizzy Gillespie. Read about the life and career of jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie.

Read about the life and career of Louis Armstrong, jazz trumpeter, singer, and bandleader.

A biography of the great jazz vocalist Abbey Lincoln.

A profile of swing drummer Chick Webb.

A biography of the composer, arranger, pianist Billy Strayhorn, who played a significant role in the the prestigious Duke Ellington Big Band.

A biography of James Moody, jazz saxophonist and flutist.

A biography of tenor saxophonist Stan Getz.

Of the big three tenors of the swing era, Ben Webster.