Favorite Artists by Instrument

piano - thelonious monk

Nice listing!
My favourites quite match i think, although i think it's hard because the big differences between the musical styles. Ill give it a try:

Trumpet: Lee Morgan. His sound is one of a kind. Its just his sound, absolutely wonderfull. Trumpeters like Hubbard are also just fine, but dont play with such a consistency as Morgan.

Saxophone: John Coltrane. Idem. And I think he has the most intense sound too. Full of expression. My favourites amongs his albums are Giant Steps, My Favourite Things and his playing with Miles' Quintet/Sextet. Wayne Shorter is another favourite id like to name here.

Bass: Absolutely Mingus. And again, very much one of a kind. His compositions too are wonderfull. His music is highly emotional, I'd say i like almost anything he made. By the way, the later Mingus Big Band and Dynasty (both not featuring Mingus, who past away a long time ago) are almost as enjoyable too.

Piano: Wynton Kelly. His bluesy, confident style is wonderful. Both as a leader and sideman one of the best.

Trombone: Grachan Moncur III. His playing is original, emotional, always well balanced and his compositions are haunting and intense. The Blue Note avant-garde sound of the late sixties.

Drums: A hard one. Elvin Jones, Joe Chambers, Brian Blade, Tony Williams, they are all remarkable players. Just pick one up and U know it will be good.

Vibraphone: Bobby Hutcherson. One of the only players on this instrument I know well. But nevertheless, he plays wonderfull and really adds something to records as Destination Out and One Step Beyond (Both udner the leadership of Jackie McLean and featuring Grachan Moncur).

Guitar: Joe Pass and John McLaughlin. Joe Pass can play anything he wants i think and the same for McLaughlin, who actually has played anything (think of Mahaishnu, Miles'Bitches Brew, the Shakti sessions and more)!.

And about the flute, i dont like it :) . It makes a lot of music kind of soft and smooth. Just not my thing.

Trumpet - Lee Morgan, not for his 60's work, but for the stuff he did in his teens in the late 50's (Blue Train, A Blowin' Session, his first six albums he did as a leader: Indeed, Vol.2, Vol.3, City Lights, The Cooker, Candy). I find his playing in the 50's the best it ever was in his career and more impressive. He may have done more writing and explored more in the 60's, but I strongly believe the best he ever played was in the 50's (just listen to Blue Train or Johnny Griffin's A Blowin' Session.)

Saxophone - My favorite saxophonist has to be Hank Mobley, most underrated tenor player ever.

Flute - I myself am a jazz flute player, and I've heard most of the jazz flute players out there and I have to say I don't like any of them, I don't like the way they play. My main influence is Lee Morgan.

Piano - Wynton Kelly, followed closely by Sonny Clark and Bobby Timmons.

Organ - obviously Jimmy Smith

Vibes - Hutcherson

Guitar - Grant Green by far, Kenny Burrell and Wes are no doubt great, but Green deserves far more recognition than he has now, I think he's underrated.

Drums - Art Blakey for ever and ever.

Trumpet- Miles Davis, the hard bop era.

Saxophone- Hmm, I don't know.

Flute- The first flutist I've discovered and the one I prefer, James Clay (although he also plays the sax... and some sax players play the flute, but whatever)

Piano- Ugh... This one's the toughest for me, but ultimately it's Bill Evans.

Organ- Jimmy Smith! Yes. Really close behind Brother Jack McDuff.

Vibes- Bobby Hutcherson

Bass- Paul Chambers/Ron Carter

Guitar- Grant Green

Drums- ARt Blakey