Mary Lou Williams;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Lou_Williams
Rok, I would like for you to focus on her early years; she taught herself to play piano, I don't know where we read this, but her mother would not allow professional lessons. There is a special reason that I mention this.
We did not discover her until a couple of years ago, that was 2016. I didn't bother with her music because she predated "Bird"; therefore she could not be hip. I most certainly was not into the musicians of her generation. All the assumptions I made about Mary Lou Williams were wrong; no matter how late a mistake is corrected, it's better late than never.
Now, I just can't get enough of her music; although I put her music down for awhile, I've picked it back up. Almost every artist I can think of is a little like some other artist, or uses a similar riff or something, but she's so unique as not to be like anyone, and the fact that her music is still "cool", is really amazing.
I think the fact that her mother forbade anyone else to teach her music, established this individuality.
Rok, why don't you peruse your collection, and post some favorites, and then I'll do likewise; besides, the jazz queen of Croatia wants to hear some of your music.