Top Recognized Jazz Artists

[TheJazzMan]

I have a bet going on with a friend....

Who do you think are the top ten artists in the jazz world, living or dead (in terms of name recognition)?

[bostontricky]

Hm...name recognition? Let's see where this goes...

Louis
Django
Duke
Bird
Diz
Ella
Miles
Trane
Stan Getz
Dave Brubeck

[Dan G]

Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
Benny Goodman
Count Basie
Frank Sinatra
Cab Calloway
Glenn Miller
Miles Davis
Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday

Sure, some may be on the fringe of jazz (sinatra, miller), but if you are asking about name recognition in general, and not just among jazz fans, you have to take into account that many people don't know what is and isn't jazz.

Also, lots of people may be able to name them, but wouldn't have clue what they actually sound like.

[Pete C]

In terms of current name recognition, Wynton Marsalis makes the list without a doubt, and I'm sure he has a higher recognition factor than either Bird or Django.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

We're talking simply name recognition here? And by "Jazz" we mean a section in a brick and mortar store, or a category within an e-merchant? Then I'd say

Norah Jones
Diane Krall


Exercising the utmost restraint in not mentioning the dreaded Mr. Gorelick by his stage name while shamelessly ripping off Larry's signature tag,

SqD

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

Diane Krall

I assume she's recognized by her real name.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by Pete C

I assume she's recognized by her real name.

By her fans, yes. The rest of us are prone to mixing up Diane and Diana.

[crawjo]

Top ten, in terms of name recognition, no particular order:

Wynton Marsalis
Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Charlie Parker
Dizzy Gillespie
Benny Goodman
Glenn Miller
Billie Holliday

[scotpgot]

DEFINITELY
Diana Krall
Norah Jones
Don't forget Connick Jr.!

DEFINTELY NOT
Charlie Parker

I've been talking jazz incessantly for 10 years and most of my relatives STILL don't know Bird.

Louis Armstrong
Glenn Miller (probably)
Miles Davis (maybe)
Nancy Wilson (maybe)

If you mean recognition of jazzers by the jazz world, per se, I'd say[in no particular order]:

Louis Armstrong
Bird
Dizzy
Miles
Trane
Brubeck
Basie
Ellington
Maynard Ferguson
Keith Jarrett
Wynton Marsalis
Pat Metheny

Help! I can't stop........

[hornplayer]

Originally Posted by TheJazzMan

Who do you think are the top ten artists in the jazz world, living or dead (in terms of name recognition)?

Recognized by whom? I think you can see from the responses so far that the list would differ considerably depending upon whom you are considering as the *recognizers.*

[Lois Gilbert]

Those who think they are jazz affectionados

Diana Krall
George Benson
The Girl From Ipanema guy (I don't think they would know Stan Getz's name)
Dave Brubeck
Miles Davis
Thelonious Monk (maybe - he did make the cover of Time Magazine) (substitute Norah Jones maybe - but I don't think the general public calls her jazz)
Kenny G
Louis Armstrong
Ella Fitzgerald
John Coltrane
Grover Washington?
Wynton
Count Basie

[stonemonkts]

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

Those who think they are jazz affectionados

Diana Krall
George Benson
The Girl From Ipanema guy (I don't think they would know Stan Getz's name)
Dave Brubeck
Miles Davis
Thelonious Monk (maybe - he did make the cover of Time Magazine) (substitute Norah Jones maybe - but I don't think the general public calls her jazz)
Kenny G
Louis Armstrong
Ella Fitzgerald
John Coltrane
Grover Washington?
Wynton
Count Basie

Substitute Grover with Duke Ellington, and Ipanema guy (Gilberto) with Benny Goodman and I think your list nails it.

[Gordon B]

Which jazz musician would you be most likely to recognize standing next to you ordering a Subway?

For me it's the round man, Joe Maneri.

[stonemonkts]

Originally Posted by Gordon B

Which jazz musician would you be most likely to recognize standing next to you ordering a Subway?

For me it's the round man, Joe Maneri.

Andrew Cyrille, since he is the person I've seen up close the most times.

I also think a guy such as David S. Ware would stand out.

Ellery Eskelin would be hard to miss too (unless he was standing behind a very large person).

[stonecrest]

Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Norah Jones
Kenny G
Ella Fitzgerald
Frank Sinatra
Nat King Cole
Benny Goodman
Louis Armstrong
Diana Krall

[scotpgot]

I almost RAN INTO Joe Lovano on the street once in Cleveland, damn straight I'd recognize him now . . .

I'd recognize on the street . . .
Sonny Rollins
Wynton
James Moody
Bred Mehldau (but I'd probably think he was Quentin Tarantino)

[Jazz-in-Aust]

I'm surpirsed that Chet Baker hasn't made anyone's list. Really popular throughout the 50's

It is a very subjective subject, but I would've thought he'd be there somewhere.

Such an underated artist, such a shame.

[jazzharbinger07]

1. Duke Ellington
2. John Coltrane
3 Charlie Parker
4. Miles Davis
5. Dizzy Gillespie
6. Billy Holiday
7. Thelonious Monk
8. Nat King Cole
9. Charles Mingus
10. Wes Montgomery

[JazzJunkie]

Herb Alpert has to be way up there, as well as "that Peanuts guy", VG!

[ninasthebest]

tough question... thought i'd post one for new & one for legends ...
(not in any particular order)

legends
nina simone
miles davis
gene krupa
nat king cole
dave brubeck
louis armstrong
billie holiday
frank sinatra
thelonious monk
wayne shorter

new
jamie cullum
diana krall
chris botti
james carter
michael buble'
renee olstead
carleen anderson
ben castle
napua davoy
peter cincotti

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

Those who think they are jazz affectionados

Diana Krall
George Benson
The Girl From Ipanema guy (I don't think they would know Stan Getz's name)
Dave Brubeck
Miles Davis
Thelonious Monk (maybe - he did make the cover of Time Magazine) (substitute Norah Jones maybe - but I don't think the general public calls her jazz)
Kenny G
Louis Armstrong
Ella Fitzgerald
John Coltrane
Grover Washington?
Wynton
Count Basie

Lois, no Wes Montgomery? I'm hurt (again).