The Greatest Swing Jazz Musicians of All Time

Considered one of the giants of jazz, Count Basie played for swing dancers all over the country in the 1930s and 1940s, blowing away some of the most experienced dancers in the Savoy Ballroom. He was also involved in one of the greatest Battle of the Bands in history against Chick Webb at the Savoy Ballroom in 1938.

Louis Armstrong, known for his big personality and raspy voice, was a pioneer of trumpet and cornet playing in the early 1920s, during the birth of jazz. His career began when he played with Fate Marable, which toured on a steamboat traveling on the Mississippi River. 

Although better known for his darker, moodier, and more nuanced compositions, Duke Ellington often played swing at the Cotton Club in New York City, performing alongside vaudeville dancers. He hated referring to his music as "jazz," as he considered it restrictive and low brow.

Known as the "King of Swing," Goodman's career began when he purchased all of Fletcher Henderson's songs. Goodman had one of the first well known integrated bands and performed one of the most successful and popular concerts in history, the famous 1938 Carnegie Hall concert, making swing music become "respectable."

This arrangement of "Sing, Sing, Sing" is probably one of the most recognizable and well known swing songs today.

Artie Shaw was an innovator of Big Band music and a proponent of third stream. He played for troops in the Pacific during WWII later in his career, ending his own career in the 1950s, stating that trying to perfect the clarinet would ultimately end him, and that he couldn't take the instrument any further. 

One time Fats Waller was kidnapped and taken to a hotel, gun pushed to his back as he was sat down in front of a piano and ordered to play. It turned out to be Al Capone's party. Waller left three days later, incredibly drunk, exhausted, and loaded with thousands of dollars. Talk about living for your career.

Django Reinhardt is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, becoming a pioneer in making jazz music mainstream in Europe. Because his third and fourth fingers were permanently damaged, he only played with his thumb and forefinger, creating an entirely new technique of playing called "hot" jazz guitar. His arrangements and playing technique has created an entirely different sub genre of jazz, known as Gypsy Jazz or Gypsy Swing. 

Teddy Wilson became one of the first Black musicians to play in an integrated band when he joined Benny Goodman's trio in the early 1930s. He led his own big band for a short while in the early '40s, then began teaching music at Julliard School.

Fletcher Henderson is known to be one of the most prolific jazz musicians and band leaders of his time. He contributed to the development of big band jazz and swing music. Beginning as just a dance music musician, Henderson's music was influenced by ragtime, which can be heard in many of his early recordings of the 1910s and 1920s, until he formed his own band in 1992, which became the house band of the Roseland Ballroom. It soon become known as the greatest African American band in the world. Later, Benny Goodman would go on to buy all of Henderson's compositions. 

Jazz singer and band leader Cab Calloway regularly performed at the Cotton Club in Harlem, one of the most premier jazz clubs of its time. His most famous song, "Minnie the Moocher," was recorded in 1931, with dozens of covers being created ever since. He was known for his high energy on stage and his sharp suits.

Best known as one of the first vibraphone players during the jazz era, Lionel Hampton played with greats such as Louis Armstrong, Gene Krupa, and Benny Goodman. In the 1940s, Hampton left Goodman's band to become a bandleader of his own orchestra. 

Trumpeter Roy Eldridge is considered to be one of the most influential musicians swing era, distinguishing himself greatly from his predecessor, Louis Armstrong, but helping pave the way for Dizzy Gillespie, who is considered by some to be the greatest trumpeter in history. 

Jimmie Lunceford's Orchestra was known for its good sense of humor and tight musicianship. They got their big break at the Cotton Club in Harlem in 1934, but because of WWII and the fact that Lunceford didn't pay his sidemen, his band declined. He career came to an abrupt end when he collapsed and passed during an autograph session in 1947. It's believed that he had been poisoned by the restaurant he had eaten at a few hours before for being forced to serve people of color. His band members also became ill within a few hours of eating there.

One of the most influential pianists of his day and of jazz, Earl Hines was based out of Chicago, unlike many other jazz musicians who played in New York City. Hines played at The Grand Terrace, which was controlled by Al Capone, making Hines Capone's "Mr. Piano Man." His band was broadcast on open mics seven days a week on the radio, making his band the most broadcast band in America at that time. 

A musician who pioneered jazz, Jelly Roll Morton influences came from stride and ragtime piano. His career began at 14 years old, playing piano inside a brothel. It is argued that he wrote the very first jazz composition in 1915, "Jelly Roll Blues."

A musician who can be heard on recordings with Billie Holiday, Django Reinhardt, and Colman Hawkins, Benny Carter was often referred to as King by his colleagues, and greatly influenced the jazz era with his highly coveted arrangements by the biggest musicians of the time. 

A trouble-making clarinet/soprano sax player who played for the Revue Nègre alongside dancer Josephine Baker, Bechet was more successful with his career in Europe than in the US. He was deported a few times after going to prison in London and Paris. 

A close harmony singing group, The Boswell Sisters often used Glenn Miller arrangements, and performed with musicians such as The Dorsey Brothers and Benny Goodman. They are best known for their single, "The Object of My Affection," from 1935.