Jazz Composers

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Abrams, Muhal Richard (1930 – 2017)

Educator, composer, arranger and pianist

Muhal Richard Abrams

Armstrong, Lillian Hardin (1898 – 1971)

Jazz pianist, composer, and arranger

Lil Hardin Armstrong

Armstrong, Louis Daniel (1901 – 1971)

Trumpeter, singer and composer

Louis Armstrong

Baker Jr., David Nathaniel (1931 – 2016)

Composer, conductor and musician

David Baker

Barefield, Edward Emanuel (1909 – 1991)

Saxophonist, composer and arranger

Edward Barefield

Batiste, Jonathan Michael (b. 1986)

Musician, bandleader and composer

Jonathan Batiste

Blackwell, Alfonzo (b. 1971)

Jazz saxophonist, composer, and producer

Alfonzo Blackwell

Blake, James Hubert "Eubie" (1887 – 1983)

American pianist, lyricist, and composer

James "Eubie" Blake

Blanchard, Terence Oliver (b. 1962)

American trumpeter and composer

Terence Blanchard

Bowers, Kristopher (b. 1989)

Musician, composer, producer

Kristopher Bowers

Branker, Anthony (b.1958)

American musician and educator

Anthony Branker

Braxton, Anthony (b. 1945)

Experimental composer, improviser, saxophonist

Anthony Braxton

Brooks, Dudley (1913 – 1989)

Jazz pianist, arranger, and composer

Dudley Brooks

Calloway, Blanche (1902 – 1978)

Jazz singer, composer, and bandleader

Blanche Calloway

Charles, Ray (1930 – 2004)

American singer, songwriter, pianist, composer

Ray Charles

Coleman, Steve (b. 1956)

Saxophonist, composer, and bandleader

Steve Coleman

Coltrane, Alice (1937 – 2007)

Composer and American jazz pianist

Alice Coltrane

Coltrane, John (1926 – 1967)

Composer and saxophonist

John Coltrane

Dabney, Ford Thompson (1883 – 1958)

Pianist, composer, songwriter

Ford Dabney

Davis, Miles Dewey (1926 – 1991)

Trumpeter, bandleader, composer

Miles Davis

Doggett, William Ballard (1916 – 1996)

Pianist, organist and composer

Bill Doggett

Ellington, "Duke" (1899 – 1974)

Composer, pianist, bandleader

Duke Ellington

Ellington, Mercer Kennedy (1919 – 1996)

Musician, composer, arranger

Mercer Ellington

Ellis, Alfred "Pee Wee" (b.1941)

Saxophonist, composer, arranger

Pee Wee Ellis

Europe, James Reese (1881 – 1919)

Bandleader, composer and arranger

James Europe

Fisher, Frank R. (b.1926)

Trumpeter, composer, arranger

Frank Fisher

Gillespie, "Dizzy" (1917 – 1993)

Trumpeter, composer, bandleader

Dizzy Gillespie

Hall Jr., Ellis (b.1951)

Singer, songwriter, composer

Ellis Hall Jr.

Hancock, Herbert Jeffrey (b.1940)

Pianist, composer, bandleader

Herbie Hancock

Hawkins, Erskine Ramsay (1914 – 1993)

Trumpeter, bandleader, composer

Erskine Hawkins

Henderson, Fletcher (1897 – 1952)

Pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger

Fletcher Henderson

Henderson, Luther (1919 – 2003)

Arranger, composer, orchestrator, and pianist

Luther Henderson

Hicks Jr., John Josephus (1941 – 2006)

Composer, arranger and pianist

John Hicks

Irvine Jr., Weldon Jonathan (1943 – 2002)

Composer, poet and pianist

Weldon Irvine Jr.

Jackson, Ron (b. 1964)

Guitarist, composer, arranger

Ron Jackson

Jefferson, Tyrone (b.1953)

Trombonist, composer, arranger

Tyrone Jefferson

Jenkins, Leroy (1932 – 2007)

Composer and violinist

Leroy Jenkins

Johnson, Cee Pee (1910 – 1954)

Composer and bandleader

Cee Pee Johnson

Johnson, James Price (1894 – 1955)

Pianist and composer

James Price Johnson

Jones Jr. Quincy Delight (b.1933)

Producer, musician, songwriter, composer

Quincy Jones

Jordan, Joe (1882 – 1971)

Composer, pianist and music publisher

Joe Jordan

Kemp, Emme

Pianist, vocalist and composer

Emme Kemp

Kitchings, Irene (c. 1908-1975)

Pianist, bandleader, songwriter

Irene Kitchings

Lee III, William James Edwards (b.1928)

Musician and composer

Bill Lee

Lewis, Anderson Meade (1905 – 1964)

Pianist and composer

Meade Lewis

Lewis, John Aaron (1920 –2001)

Pianist, composer, and arranger

John Lewis

Marsalis, Wynton Learson (b.1961)

Trumpeter, composer, educator

Winton Marsalis

Matthews, Jr., Onzy Durrett (1930 – 1997)

Pianist, singer, arranger and composer

Onzy Durett Matthews

McMurray, Dave

Musician and composer

Dave McMurray

Monk, Thelonious Sphere (1917 – 1982)

Pianist and composer

Thelonious Monk

Morton, Jelly Roll (1890 – 1941)

Pianist, bandleader and composer

Jelly Roll Morton

Murray, Diedre

Cellist and composer

Diedre Murray

Nelson, John Lewis (1916 – 2001)

Musician and songwriter

John Lewis Nelson

Nelson, Oliver (1932 – 1975)

Composer, saxophonist, and clarinetist

Oliver Nelson

Oluo, Ahamefule J.

Trumpeter and composer

Ahamefule Oluo

Parker Jr., Charles (1920 – 1955)

Saxophonist, bandleader and composer

Charlie Parker

Patrick, Pat(1929 – 1991)

Saxophonist and composer

Pat Patrick

Purse, Bruce

Trumpeter, bandleader and composer

Bruce Purse

Redd, Freddie (1928 – 2021)

Pianist and composer

Freddie Redd

Redman, Donald Matthew (1900 – 1964)

Musician, arranger, composer and bandleader

Don Redman

Roberts, Charles Luckey (1887 – 1968)

Composer and pianist

Luckey Roberts

Roberts, Matana (b.1975)

Visual artist, composer and saxophonist

Matana Roberts

Rollins, Sunny (b.1930)

Composer and saxophonist

Sunny Rollins

Ruffins, Kermit (b. 1964)

Trumpeter and composer

Kermit Ruffins

Shelby, Marcus(b. 1966)

Bassist, composer and educator

Marcus Shelby

Simone, Nina(1933-2003)

Singer, songwriter, musician, arranger

Nina Simone

Sissle, Noble Lee (1889 – 1975)

Musician, composer and bandleader

Noble Sissle

Smith, Lonnie Liston(b.1940)

Musician and composer

Lonnie Smith

Smith, Nathaniel Clark (1877 – 1935)

Musician, composer and educator

Nathaniel Clark Smith

Smith, William (1893 – 1973)

Pianist and composer

William Smith

Spalding, Esperanza (b. 1984)

Bassist, singer and composer

Esperanza Spalding

Sweatman, Wilbur Coleman (1882 – 1961)

Composer, bandleader, clarinetist

Wilbur Sweatman

Strayhorn, Billy (1915 – 1967)

Composer and pianist

Billy Strayhorn

Taylor, Mark Thomas

Composer and performer

Mark Taylor

Tillis, Frederick Charles (1930 – 2020)

Composer, saxophonist, poet

Frederick Tillis

Wadud, Abdul (b.1947)

Cellist and composer

Abdul Wadud

Waller, "Fats" (1904 – 1943)

Pianist and composer

Fats Waller

Washington Jr., Grover (1943 – 1999)

Saxophonist and composer

Grover Washington

Weeks, Silas Seth (1868 – 1953)

Composer and violinist

Silas Weeks

White, Michael(b. 1954)

Clarinetist, composer and bandleader

Michael White

Williams, Clarence (1898 – 1965)

Pianist and composer

Clarence Williams

Wilson, Jack (1936 – 2007)

Pianist and composer

Jack Wilson