Underrated jazz greats


I listen to all sorts of music, but mostly jazz. There are many musicians who, for whatever reason, don't attract the attention that their great gifts possibly deserve. I would be interested to know who others think are hidden gems in the jazz world, who have contributed substantially to the genre.

I will begin with two musicians who I believe are outstanding, and deserving of the highest recognition.

1) Lew Tabackin - an outstanding tenor player, and a phenomenal jazz flutist in my view.

2) Sir Roland Hanna - tremendous command of the keyboard, and he thought around the perimeter of pieces to make them both musically and intellectually satisfying.

Very interested in others' thoughts.
stewartr

Showing 3 responses by stewartr

I am totally intrigued by these responses. Let me be provocative, and state that i believe that Paul Desmond never got the recognition he deserved. So often, i see this erroneous reference that Dave Brubeck wrote "Take Five". Paul was an extremely thoughtful player, quoted phrases intelligently, and played with a wit and lyricism that is almost unequalled. He wrote some excellent music as well. He seemed to be under the thumb of Brubeck, contractually and otherwise, until he emerged as his own talent and recorded with some very superb and sympathetic musicians such as Jim Hall, Don Thompson, Ed Bickert, etc.
Viridian - well said vis-a-vis Rashaan. There was an expression of true dedication to the medium.
thanks to all for posting - I never suggested that Tabackin, Roland Hanna and Paul Desmond were not recognized in their genre, only observe that they get less attention as unique voices in jazz than they maybe deserve.