In these trying times, we plan to continue entertaining, enriching, and expanding the global community for jazz through online education and our social platforms. Please consider supporting Jazz at Lincoln Center, at whatever level you can.
April is Jazz Appreciation Month, so we thought we'd celebrate by delving into the careers of a handful of underappreciated jazz artists.
(This survey represents just a small handful of the hundreds of artists who deserve more recognition, so stay tuned to the blog for upcoming posts on more artists worth investigating.)
Now, in no particular order:
1. Johnny Griffin
This hard-blowing tenor saxophonist from Chicago was hardly unknown to his fellow musicians—he played in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and served a couple stints in Thelonious Monk's ensembles—but he never attained as much fame as peers like John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. Griffin cut his first album for Blue Note when he was just 28 and went on to release several dozen albums as a leader. His bold, rounded tone belied his 5'5" height, which earned him the nickname "Little Giant." Griffin spent the latter part of his career living in France and then the Netherlands, an absence that perhaps contributed to his relatively lower profile in the U.S.
Start with: His fiery 1957 Blue Note release, Introducing Johnny Griffin.
2. Shirley Scott
Scott's soulful Hammond chops earned her the moniker "Queen of the Organ" and, as the Jazz Night in America video above attests, she regally presided over Philadelphia's jazz scene from her emergence in the 1950s until her death in 2002. She is famed for her own recordings as a leader and her long-running collaborations with tenor saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Stanley Turrentine, whom she married in 1960. In her later years, she played more piano than organ and spent a significant amount of her energy on jazz education initiatives in Pennsylvania.
Start with: Her 1996 Candid album A Walkin' Thing finds a late-career Scott in full swing alongside Philly musicians whom she'd mentored.
3. Woody Shaw
Shaw ranks among the music's underappreciated trumpeters and is one of its most tragic figures. Mentored early on by saxophonist Eric Dolphy, Shaw was a technically gifted player and a harmonic visionary who redefined what was possible on the trumpet. As a 21-year-old, he appeared on and contributed three compositions to Larry Young's Blue Note classic Unity, and he led a prolific two-decade recording career as a leader. We should have gotten much more from Shaw: he died when he was just 44 due to complications from injuries sustained during a subway accident.
Start with: Rosewood, Shaw's 1977 major label debut, showcases both his writing and arranging talents as well as his heady playing.
4. Abbey Lincoln
Endowed with a honeyed voice and the capacity to wring every last emotion out of a tune, vocalist Lincoln made a career not only out of delivering deeply felt renditions of standards but writing and singing her own material as well. Her earliest albums found her tackling the American songbook, but as she matured, she developed her own voice and created her own songs. She sang on We Insist!, an epochal album of jazz-activism from Max Roach (to whom she was married for seven years) and campaigned for civil rights throughout the 1960s.
Start with: Abbey Sings Abbey (2007) finds Lincoln at the top of her game performing her own songs.
5. Blossom Dearie
Few jazz musicians have been blessed with a name as apropos as Blossom Dearie's. Her airy, unadorned vocals and light touch on the piano complemented each other perfectly and helped her sweetly sing through much of the American songbook. With Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and Jo Jones on drums, her self-titled album is an all-time classic. A self-styled "songwriters' singer," she favored witty, offbeat tunes from (also underappreciated) composers like Dave Frishberg and Bob Dorough.
Start with: Her 1957 Verve release Blossom Dearie.
6. Earl Hines
Earl "Fatha" Hines isn't exactly an obscure figure, but it may be impossible to overly appreciate his impact on jazz. The piano player helped singer and bandleader Lois Deppe create some of the first recorded jazz in 1922 before moving to Chicago, where he connected with Louis Armstrong. The two became friends and shared a highly successful musical partnership that would result in some of the art form’s most beloved and influential records. Hines ultimately set out on his own, eventually starting a big band that would help launch the careers of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Hines's powerful rhythmic playing and keen ear for melody hastened jazz piano's evolution from stride to swing and laid the stage for bebop. Hines reunited with Armstrong in the 1950s but the latter's star always shone a bit brighter; still, his crucial role in jazz's progression is hard to overstate. Hines toured and recorded consistently until his death in 1983.
Start with: Live at the New School (1973), recorded when Hines was 69 and enjoying a career renaissance.
New to jazz and don't know where to start? With many artists and extensive catalogues of music, a new jazz listener can feel intimidated. We're here to help! Check out our list of 10 albums to get you started on your jazz journey and introduce yourself to some of jazz's great artists.
Let’s face it: jazz is a dense genre of music and sometimes it can be hard to find some of the genres hidden gems. So, what do you do when you’re ready to branch out and find something new? In our new series, we’ll recommend some of the greatest sidemen, bandleaders, and related artists.
Listen to the music of the President of Jazz: Lester "Pres" Young.
Jazz at Lincoln Center remembers the life and legacy of Chick Corea, a towering figure whose innovations spanned decades and genres.
Jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, and Essentially Ellington alum Isaiah J. Thompson shares moments in #BlackExcellence that inspire him.
Wynton Marsalis performs Amazing Grace at Federal Hall on September 30, 2020 #DebateDefends
Wynton Marsalis breaks down his top ten cultural moments with a monthly listicle. This month, Wynton shares his top ten heroic cultural moments from Walk Whitman to Marvin Gaye.
Explore the music and legacy of Nina Simone, which speaks to her duality as a gifted artist and civil rights activist invoking the spirit of protest in her works.
Introducing a new Jazz at Lincoln Center series titled "Wynton's Top Ten," a monthly listicle curated by Wynton Marsalis. This month, Wynton shares his “Top Ten” picks for "Compelling Works on the Subject of Freedom" and his annotations behind each selection.
NYC's breadth of unique venues across town include legendary landmark locations, contemporary elegant lounges & no-frills bebop joints that provide a diverse community of swinging experiences.
We celebrate the history of South African jazz with these essential records.
Nobody in the history of jazz expressed himself more freely; or with more variety, swing, and sophistication than Duke Ellington. Listen to our playlist of essential Ellington recordings and find out how he changed jazz forever.
Find out who the three 2018 inductees into the Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame are! All three made an indelible impact on America's music and influenced millions in the process.
Here's a list of 10 more must-have classics to round out your collection of jazz records.
Celebrate Thelonious Monk by getting to know the legend through his son’s memories.
Chick Corea is one of the most influential figures in jazz and one of the greatest living jazz pianists. Here are five essential albums from his discography.
Wynton Marsalis appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to perform with Jon Batiste, Stay Human, and acclaimed dancer Lil Buck. Check out video and behind-the-scenes content from their performance.
New to jazz and don't know where to start? With many artists and extensive catalogues of music, a new jazz listener can feel intimidated. We're here to help! Check out our list of 10 albums to get you started on your jazz journey and introduce yourself to some of jazz's great artists.
On December 7, 2014 the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra drove 8 hours on an off day to play for Clark Terry on his 94th birthday. Victor Goines, James Chirillo, Ted Nash, Vincent Gardner, and Walter Blanding recall the day and the impact that Clark had on jazz.
Listen to the music of the President of Jazz: Lester "Pres" Young.
Jazz at Lincoln Center remembers the life and legacy of Chick Corea, a towering figure whose innovations spanned decades and genres.
Jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, and Essentially Ellington alum Isaiah J. Thompson shares moments in #BlackExcellence that inspire him.
Wynton Marsalis breaks down his top ten cultural moments with a monthly listicle. This month, Wynton shares his top ten heroic cultural moments from Walk Whitman to Marvin Gaye.
Introducing a new Jazz at Lincoln Center series titled "Wynton's Top Ten," a monthly listicle curated by Wynton Marsalis. This month, Wynton shares his “Top Ten” picks for "Compelling Works on the Subject of Freedom" and his annotations behind each selection.
Our education programs have gone online! Find out how you can join for free and learn more about jazz from our experts and members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.
NYC's breadth of unique venues across town include legendary landmark locations, contemporary elegant lounges & no-frills bebop joints that provide a diverse community of swinging experiences.
We celebrate the history of South African jazz with these essential records.
We sat down with Gerald Cannon ahead of his Memorial Day Weekend performances at Dizzy's.
Discover how growing up in the Bronx shaped Will Calhoun’s appreciation for art and how Elvin Jones inspired him to define his individuality.
Ornette Coleman led a life as fascinating as his music. Read up on some interesting facts about this jazz legend!
Before his passing in May, Joe Temperley spent 29 unforgettable years as the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra's baritone saxophonist and its beloved elder statesman. Between performances on their recent mini-tour of Canada, several JLCO members shared their memories of Temperley, who left behind an indelible legacy and a whole lot of stories.
April is Jazz Appreciation Month, so we thought we'd celebrate by delving into the careers of a handful of underappreciated jazz artists. Explore the careers of six musicians who deserve more accolades and learn the best places to start with their discographies.