“My short answer would be that there is no greatest jazz musician of the century. Jazz, like any valid art form, finds its greatness in its expression of the human spirit, and, to me, this can’t be reduced to a contest.” HumansArtWould BeFormSpiritAnswersCenturyGreatnessExpressionMusicianJazzContestsHuman SpiritJazz MusicJazz Musician Author:Bennie Wallace
“'Jazz Artist of the Century' would have to be a distinctive soloist and ensemble player, a composer, an arranger, a bandleader, and a driver; would have to span all the genres and periods of jazz; would have to have run her own label; [would] possess a deep spirituality, with grace and a sense of humor; and would have to have succeeded against all odds. Who else? Mary Lou Williams.” RunningArtistSpiritualityGracePlayerCenturyPeriodsJazzLabelsGenreDriversSense Of HumorComposerMaryOddsDistinctiveEnsembleAgainst All Odds Author:Dave Douglas
“Louis Armstrong was the primary contributor to jazz music in the 20th century. His improvisational skills served as the principal model for all who came after him, regardless of one's chosen instrument.” CenturySkillsModelsInstrumentsJazzChosenPrimariesPrincipal20th CenturyJazz MusicArmstrongContributors Author:Ellis Marsalis, Jr.
“Armstrong was the key creator of the mature working language of jazz. Three decades after his death and more than three-quarters of a century since his influence first began to spread, not a single musician who has mastered that language fails to make daily use, knowingly or unknowingly, of something that was invented by Louis Armstrong.” FirstsUseThreeLanguageFailingInfluenceCenturyKeysMusicianJazzCreatorSpreadDecadesMatureQuartersArmstrongQuarter Of A Century Author:Dan Morgenstern