The song was "Zodiac Suite" and I was staggered that she managed to straddle both jazz and classical music. She was one of the few jazz musicians to be accepted by the classical world, and even played in Carnegie Hall with an orchestra. She was a fantastic composer, pianist and mentor and the most important woman in jazz. Herbie Hancock 1940-Herbie Hancock is one of the few jazz pianists who progressed with the times. read more
Greatest lists tend to reflect personal tastes. But there are certain watershed players. Amazingly, the lists below tend to overlook Charlie Parker, who established the "vocabulary" of modern jazz. read more
15 Most Influential Jazz Artists^15 Most Influential Jazz Artists^As one of the most well respected American art forms, jazz has shaped the music industry spawning both the careers of various musical geniuses, and an abundance of elemental new music genres. read more