Unsung Heroes of Jazz

When it comes to jazz musicians names like Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and John Coltrane are quick to roll off the tongue, and for good reason. But not to have their contributions to the world of jazz diminished in any way, here are three lesser-known musicians who are undeniable legends in the world of jazz.

Charles Mingus. The second most prolific jazz composer behind Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus was a musical genius but never quite became a household name, perhaps in part due to his unconventional style of composing. Often referred to as “The Angry Man of Jazz” and known for, among other things, his ravenous sexual appetites, the world of jazz owes much to Mingus, not just for his compositions but for his virtuosic bass playing.

Thelonious Monk. Though not as widely known as other piano players like Oscar Peterson or Dave Brubeck, Monk was nonetheless a pioneer of his time. Monk revolutionized the use of space in his playing, giving every bit as much importance to the space between notes as to the notes themselves, and was a prolific composer in his own right.

Grant Green. Ask the average person to name you a jazz guitar player and names like Wes Montgomery or even Django Reinhardt may come to mind, but Grant Green was arguably not just one of the most notable guitar players of his time, he was one of the most important musicians of the bebop and hard bop era.

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