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Pianist and composer Andrew Hill (born June 30, 1931) never really received the widespread recognition and acceptance his talents warranted. Jazz critic John Fordham described Hill as a "uniquely gifted composer, pianist and educator" although "his status remained largely inside knowledge in the jazz world for most of his career."   His dozen albums as a leader for Blue Note records featured some of the outstanding musicians of the time, and his original compositions are fiercely original and cutting edge. His work as a sideman on numerous Joe Henderson outings is vital to the success of those dates.

Pianist, Composer/Arranger Billy Strayhorn (born Nov 29, 1915) is often more or less dismissed as Duke Ellington’s alter ego, but he was so much no more than that. He was a true musical genius in his own right. Jazz pianist Fred Hersch wrote of Strayhorn, "He was a quadruple threat: a great composer of jazz tunes, a first-rate jazz pianist, a remarkable songwriter (music and lyrics), and one of the all-time great arrangers for jazz orchestra." His compositions are uniquely Strayhorn, harmonically, melodically, and lyrically.

This week we feature the music of two of the most important bassists in jazz: Ron Carter (born May 4, 1937) and Oscar Pettiford (born Sept 30, 1922). Both musicians advanced the technical possibilities of their instrument in jazz and contributed to its acceptance as a solo voice in the music. While Ron Carter is often remembered as the bassist in the second great Miles Davis quintet, he is one of the most recorded bassists of all time, and continues to play, compose, and record prolifically in his eighties.   While Pettiford had a much briefer life, his contributions to the music far outweigh his comparatively brief lifespan. Jazz bassist Christian McBride called Pettiford "probably the most important bass player of that bebop generation in terms of creating new language for the bass." A number of his tunes have become jazz standards as well.

Guitarist John Scofield (born December 26, 1951) first rose to prominence as a member of Miles Davis’ band, but he had a number of good credits prior to the three and a half years he spent with Davis, including stints with Chet Baker, Hal Galper, Charles Mingus, Billy Cobham, and George Duke. His own groups have featured luminaries such as Steve Swallow, Adam Nussbaum, Bill Stewart, Joe Lovano, and Charlie Haden. He has been nominated for nine Grammy awards and won three. Help support the Jazz Legends podcast

Guitarist/composer Jim Hall (born December 4, 1940) is one of the most influential exponents of his instrument. His recordings with Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins, Paul Desmond, and many others, in addition to his recordings as a leader, have influenced whole generations of guitarists. His tasteful, spare style has been emulated but never duplicated. He recorded 39 studio albums and 10 live albums as a leader. Help sponsor St. Michael's Jazz Fest Donate to the Jazz Legends podcast Contact us at [email protected]

Saxophonist/composer Gerry Mulligan (born April 6, 1927) is perhaps the best-known baritone saxophonist in jazz. His mastery of this cumbersome instrument is legendary, but he also has recorded as a pianist, on clarinet, and on soprano and tenor saxophone. He is a prolific composer and arranger as well. His Concert Jazz Band in New York City featured many of the city’s finest jazz musicians in a fresh setting. His piano-less quartet featured Chet Baker, and his participation in the Miles Davis “Birth of the Cool” set the pace for countless West Coast jazz musicians. Help sponsor St. Michael's Jazz Fest Donate to the Jazz Legends podcast Contact us at [email protected]

Trumpeter/composer Tom Harrell (born June 16, 1946) has overcome daunting physical and mental obstacles to become one of the most important musicians of his generation. Heavily medicated to deal with his bipolar disorder, he still maintains a busy performing, recording, and composing schedule. Early in his career he toured with Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Horace Silver, and Phil Woods. He appears on over 85 recordings, 40 as a leader, and his compositions offer fresh slants on the jazz tradition.

Saxophonist Sonny Rollins (born Sept 7, 1930) is universally considered one of the most creative musicians the music has produced. Throughout his long recording career he produced over 60 albums as a leader, was awarded a lifetime Grammy award and the Kennedy Center award in 2011. A number of his compositions have become jazz standards, including Oleo, St Thomas, Airegin, and Doxy. Help sponsor St. Michael's Jazz Fest Donate to the Jazz Legends podcast Contact us at [email protected]

Neither Rube Bloom (born April 24, 1902) or Isham Jones (born January 31, 1894) are what we would today consider well-known songwriters, but their contributions to the great American songbook are still loved and performed regularly. These early twentieth century contemporaries are responsible for such tunes as "Day In, Day Out", "It Had to Be You", "I’ll See You in my Dreams", "There is No Greater Love", "Don’t Worry Bout Me", "Fools Rush In", "Give Me the Simple Life" and many other chestnuts that are still regularly performed to this day. Help sponsor St. Michael's Jazz Fest Donate to the Jazz Legends podcast Contact us at [email protected]

Saxophonist Lee Konitz (born Oct 13, 1927) is perhaps the best known of the Lennie Tristano disciples. He and Warne Marsh continued to follow Tristano’s musical path, essentially eschewing most of the innovations of bebop to follow a more abstract and more cerebral approach to the music. First gaining recognition recording with Tristano, he played with Claude Thornhill and the Thornhill/Gil Evans-influenced Birth of the Cool band with Miles Davis. He was a true improviser, refusing to fall back on preconceived licks when inspiration flagged. Help sponsor St. Michael's Jazz Fest Donate to the Jazz Legends podcast Contact us at [email protected]

John Coltrane (born Sept 23, 1926) is easily one of a handful of the most important and influential musicians that jazz has produced. His harmonic and rhythmic innovations have influenced every generation of jazz musicians since he first rose to prominence with the bands of Miles Davis and Thelonius Monk. His own groups stretched the boundaries of modern jazz into free, extended improvisations.    Help sponsor St. Michael's Jazz Fest Donate to the Jazz Legends podcast Contact us at [email protected]

Saxophonist / multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy (born June 20, 1928) and trumpeter Booker Little (born April 2, 1938) were frequent collaborators near the end of their all too brief careers. After establishing himself with the Chico Hamilton group, he went on to perform with John Coltrane and Charles Mingus, as well as his own groups and recordings with Oliver Nelson and George Russell. While often considered a member of the jazz avant-garde, he was just stretching the conventions of tonality and rhythm established by the beboppers in novel and unexpected ways. Trumpeter Little played with Max Roach, replacing the great Clifford Brown in that band. He passed away at the age of 23 of uremia, and Dolphy at 36 of complications of undiagnosed diabetes. Help sponsor St. Michael's Jazz Fest Donate to the Jazz Legends podcast Contact us at [email protected]

Saxophonist Charlie Parker (nicknamed Yardbird or Bird) (born Aug 29, 1920) and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie (nicknamed Diz) (born Oct 21, 1917) are two of the most innovative musical minds of the twentieth century. Dizzy was often quoted that he and Parker were two halves of the same heart. Together they were architects of the bebop style that swept jazz in the 1940s and they influenced literally every jazz musician since. Help sponsor St. Michael's Jazz Fest Donate to the Jazz Legends podcast Contact us at [email protected]

Saxophonist/composer Wayne Shorter (born Aug 25, 1933) is one of the most influential and prolific performers and composer in jazz. His time with the bands of Art Blakey and Mikes Davis firmly established him as one of the most original voices on his instrument, and provided a platform for his incredible original compositions. He is also featured on his myriad recordings as a leader in his own right. He was one of the cofounders of the supergroup Weather Report in the 70s. Help sponsor St. Michael's Jazz Fest Donate to the Jazz Legends podcast Contact us at [email protected]

Pianist/composer Kenny Werner (born Nov 19, 1951) has been leading his own trios since 1981. He played with the Mel Lewis Orchestra in the early 1980s and was encouraged by Lewis and Bob Brookmeyer to compose for the band, which led to him composing for many European radio bands. He played duo with Toots Thielmans for 14 years and was awarded a Guggenheim fellowship in composition. His book Effortless Mastery, about the psychological aspects of music performance is widely read and he teaches a course based on it at the Berklee School in Boston. Help keep the music and this show alive! Donate here.