The Greatest: Trumpet Edition

[Bright Moments]

I thought that I would list my top 10 trumpet players (YMMV. They are (in the order of greatness):

1 - Louis Armstrong

2 - Dizzy Gillespie

3 - Rafael Mendez

4 - Miles Davis

5 - Lee Morgan

6 - Chet Baker

7 - Dusko Goykovic

8 - Kenny Dorham

9 - Don Cherry

10 - Jack Sheldon

[Free For All]

Any top trumpet list of mine would definitely include Clifford Brown.

Since your list includes Mendez, we're not just talking jazz players, so I might also have to include Phillip Smith and Bud Herseth. And lead players like Conrad Gozzo.

Although Miles is one of my favorite jazz trumpet players (as is Chet), I'm not sure I'd put them in the top ten best TRUMPET players.

[lipi]

Seems like this should have gone in the Artists forum, no? (Does a kind mod want to move it?)

Anyway: Louis Armstrong, Red Allen, and Muggsy Spanier, for me. Oh, and Maurice André, please.

I have a hard time rounding out a top ten. Jabbo Smith, Bunny Berigan, Tommy Ladnier, Wild Bill Davison...maybe Harry James and Bix.

[JSngry]

Pops Poopadeaux.

[brownie]

Rafael Mendez?!? Am I am missing something???

No Bix? No Eldridge? No Henry Allen? No Clifford Brown? No Fats Navarro? No ...?

[Bright Moments]

DANG! how could i forget clifford brown?!! :blush2: oh well put him in at number 7 - that knocks out Jack Sheldon.

now "I Remember Clifford!"

[Brownian Motion]

My 10 best underrated trumpet players of the pre-bop era

1 Bill Coleman

2 Jabbo Smith

3 Guy Kelly

4 Jimmy McPartland

5 Bobby Stark

6 Arthur Briggs

7 Louis Bacon

8 Shad Collins

9 Frankie Newton

10 Emmett Berry

[BillF]

Some favorites:

1 Dizzy

2 Fats

3 Lee

4 Freddie

5 Roy

6 Miles

7 Clifford

8 Conte

9 Satch

10 Claudio

Edited November 21, 2010 by BillF

[papsrus]

My 10 best underrated trumpet players of the pre-bop era

1 Bill Coleman

2 Jabbo Smith

3 Guy Kelly

4 Jimmy McPartland

5 Bobby Stark

6 Arthur Briggs

7 Louis Bacon

8 Shad Collins

9 Frankie Newton

10 Emmett Berry

Thanks for that list. I'm directly familiar with several, of course -- Coleman, Smith, Newton -- and indirectly with players like Kelly, with Celestin. Listening to Coleman's 1936 - 38 Chrono Classic this morning. Sweet player.

Will investigate some of the others on your list.

[Lazaro Vega]

Yes, Fats Navarro is a knock out for a top ten -- great lead trumpeter and beautiful improvisor.

Don Cherry's deep. After him came another diverse, broad ranged trumpeter, Lester Bowie. Lester was uncanny in his ability to play low, and his sound was completely personal.

For what it's worth, though he wasn't as spectacular, which is almost a pre-requisite for trumpeters in jazz, Buck Clayton was a solid melodic trumpeter. He probably won't rate in a list of movers, shakers and bakers but he had a beautiful sound.

Joe Oliver, Bubber Miley or Cootie Williams deserve a spot in the top on that instrument for the variety of colors they brought to the music through it.

[BERIGAN]

Bunny Berigan...then some other dudes!

Ok

1) Berigan

1A) Armstrong

3)Roy Eldridge

4) Bix

5)Harry James

6)Jabbo Smith

7)Dizzy

8)Jack Purvis

9)Ziggy Elman

10)Frankie Newton

Yeah, I know, I need to listen to more post war guys...someday when I am rich...

[Bright Moments]

honorable mention: art farmer; roy eldridge