Downbeat Hall of Fame

• Muhal Richard Abrams (2010-C)
• Cannonball Adderley (1975-R)
• Gene Ammons (2012-V)
• Louis Armstrong (1952-R)
• Albert Ayler (1983-C)
• Mildred Bailey (2020-V)
• Chet Baker (1989-C)
• Eubie Blake (2017-V)
• Count Basie (1958-R)
• Sidney Bechet (1968-C)
• Bix Beiderbecke (1962-C)
• Tony Bennett (2015-R)
• George Benson (2020-R)
• Ed Blackwell (1993-C)
• Art Blakey (1981-R)
• Jimmy Blanton (2008-V)
• Carla Bley (2021-C)
• Lester Bowie (2000-C)
• Michael Brecker (2007-R)
• Clifford Brown (1972-C)
• Ray Brown (2003-R)
• Dave Brubeck (1994-R)
• Hoagy Carmichael (2016-V)
• Harry Carney (2008-V)
• Benny Carter (1977-C)
• Betty Carter (1999-C)
• John Carter (1991-C)
• Ron Carter (2002-R)
• Paul Chambers (2011-V)
• Ray Charles (2018-R)
• Don Cherry (2017-C)
• Charlie Christian (1966-C)
• Kenny Clarke (1988-C)
• Nat "King" Cole (1997-R)
• Ornette Coleman (1969-R)
• John Coltrane (1965-R)
• Chick Corea (2010-R)
• Bing Crosby (2014-V)
• Tadd Dameron (2009-V)
• Miles Davis (1962-R)
• Paul Desmond (1977-R)
• Baby Dodds (2010-V)
• Johnny Dodds (1987-C)
• Eric Dolphy (1964-R)
• Billy Eckstine (2010-V)
• Roy Eldridge (1971-C)
• Duke Ellington (1956-R)
• Bill Evans (1981-C)
• Gil Evans (1986-C)
• Maynard Ferguson (1992-R)
• Ella Fitzgerald (1979-R)
• Erroll Garner (2008-V)
• George Gershwin (2017-V)
• Stan Getz (1986-R)
• Dizzy Gillespie (1960-R)
• Benny Goodman (1957-R)
• Benny Golson (2018-C)
• Dexter Gordon (1980-R)
• Stephane Grappelli (1983-R)
• Charlie Haden (2013-C)
• Jim Hall (2014-C)
• Lionel Hampton (1987-R)
• Herbie Hancock (2005-R)
• Roy Hargrove (2021-R)
• Coleman Hawkins (1961-C)
• Roy Haynes (2004-C)
• Jimmy Heath (2020-C)
• Julius Hemphill (1995-C)
• Fletcher Henderson (1973-C)
• Joe Henderson (2001-R)
• Jimi Hendrix (1970-R)
• Woody Herman (1976-R)
• Andrew Hill (2007-C)
• Earl Hines (1965-C)
• Milt Hinton (2001-C)
• Johnny Hodges (1970-C)
• Billie Holiday (1961-R)
• Freddie Hubbard (2009-R)
• Milt Jackson (1999-R)
• Ahmad Jamal (2011-R)
• Keith Jarrett (2008-R)
• Antonio Carlos Jobim (2002-R)
• James P Johnson (1992-C)
• JJ Johnson (1995-R)
• Robert Johnson (2013-V)
• Elvin Jones (1998-C)
• Hank Jones (2008-C)
• Jo Jones (2008-V)
• Philly Joe Jones (2010-V)
• Thad Jones (1987-C)
• Stan Kenton (1954-R)
• B.B. King (2014-R)
• Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1978-C)
• Lee Konitz (2015-C)
• Gene Krupa (1972-R)
• Steve Lacy (2005-C)
• Scott LaFaro (2019-V)
• Yusef Lateef (2021-V)
• John Lewis (2002-C)
• Abbey Lincoln (2011-C)
• Booker Little (2021-V)
• Jimmie Lunceford (2008-V)
• Wynton Marsalis (2017-R)
• Jackie McLean (2006-C)
• Marian McPartland (2018-V)
• Carmen McRae (2020-V)
• Pat Metheny (2013-R)
• Glenn Miller (1953-R)
• Charles Mingus (1971-R)
• Hank Mobley (2019-R)
• Thelonious Monk (1963-R)
• Wes Montgomery (1968-R)
• Lee Morgan (1991-R)
• Jelly Roll Morton (1963-C)
• Paul Motian (2012-C)
• Gerry Mulligan (1993-R)
• Fats Navarro (1982-C)
• Herbie Nichols (2017-V)
• King Oliver (1976-C)
• Charlie Parker (1955-R)
• Jaco Pastorius (1988-R)
• Art Pepper (1982-R)
• Oscar Peterson (1984-R)
• Oscar Pettiford (2009-V)
• Bud Powell (1966-R)
• Sun Ra (1984-C)
• Django Reinhardt (1971-C)
• Buddy Rich (1974-R)
• Max Roach (1980-C)
• Red Rodney (1990-R)
• Sonny Rollins (1973-R)
• Pee Wee Russell (1969-C)
• Artie Shaw (1996-C)
• Woody Shaw (1989-R)
• Wayne Shorter (2003-C)
• Horace Silver (1996-R)
• Nina Simone (2019-C)
• Zoot Sims (1985-C)
• Frank Sinatra (1998-R)
• Bessie Smith (1967-C)
• Jimmy Smith (2006-R)
• Sonny Stitt (2012-V)
• Billy Strayhorn (1967-R)
• Art Tatum (1964-C)
• Cecil Taylor (1975-C)
• Jack Teagarden (1969-C)
• Clark Terry (2000-R)
• Lennie Tristano (1979-C)
• McCoy Tyner (2004-R)
• Sarah Vaughan (1985-R)
• Joe Venuti (1978-R)
• Fats Waller (1968-C)
• Dinah Washington (2014-V)
• Muddy Waters (2015-V)
• Chick Webb (2010-V)
• Ben Webster (1974-C)
• Randy Weston (2016-C)
• Joe Williams (2019-V)
• Mary Lou Williams (1990-C)
• Tony Williams (1997-C)
• Teddy Wilson (1987-C)
• Phil Woods (2016-R)
• Lester Young (1959-R)
• Frank Zappa (1994-C)
• Joe Zawinul (2008-C)

Possible Candidates

Obviously, the rankings are more/less arbitrary.

Final Judgments

Dead musicians. Maybe something will show up in the archives, but for all intents and purposes we can evaluate their complete careers.

1. Jimmy Rushing (1903-72): vocals
2. Art Farmer (1928-99): flugelhorn, trumpet
3. George Russell (1923-2009): piano
4. Mal Waldron (1926-2002): piano
5. Henry "Red" Allen (1908-67): trumpet, vocals
6. Don Redman (1900-64): alto sax
7. Louis Jordan (1908-75): alto sax, vocals
8. Don Cherry (1936-95): pocket trumpet
9. Don Pullen (1944-95): piano
10. Illinois Jacquet (1922-2004): tenor sax
11. Cab Calloway (1907-94): vocals
12. Tommy Flanagan (1930-2001): piano
13. Bud Freeman (1906-91): tenor sax
14. Buck Clayton (1911-91): trumpet
15. Jimmy Giuffre (1921-2008): clarinet, tenor sax
16. Ruby Braff (1927-2003): cornet, trumpet
17. Harry "Sweets" Edison (1915-99): trumpet
18. George Lewis (1900-68): clarinet
19. Don Byas (1912-72): tenor sax
20. Chu Berry (1910-41): tenor sax
21. Rex Stewart (1907-67): cornet
22. Budd Johnson (1910-84): tenor sax
23. Nat Adderley (1931-2000): cornet, trumpet
24. Vic Dickenson (1906-84): trombone
25. Charlie Rouse (1924-88): tenor sax
26. Wynton Kelly (1931-71): piano
27. Willie "The Lion" Smith (1895-1973): piano, vocals
28. Eddie Lang (1904-33): guitar
29. Leroy Jenkins (1932-2007): violin
30. Red Norvo (1908-99): xylophone, vibes
31. Grant Green (1931-79): guitar
32. Doc Cheatham (1905-97): trumpet, vocals
33. Frankie Trumbauer (1901-56): C melody sax
34. Horace Tapscott (1934-99): piano
35. Luis Russell (1902-63): piano
36. Stuff Smith (1909-67): violin, vocals
37. Red Garland (1923-84): piano
38. Johnny Griffin (1928-2008): tenor sax
39. Cozy Cole (1909-81): drums
40. Dicky Wells (1907-85): trombone
41. Anita O'Day (1919-2006): vocals
42. Arnett Cobb (1918-89): tenor sax
43. Hank Mobley (1930-86): tenor sax
44. Lucky Thompson (1924-2005): tenor sax
45. Tommy Dorsey (1905-56): trombone, trumpet
46. John Hicks (1941-2006): piano
47. Lars Gullin (1928-76): baritone sax
48. Larry Young (1940-79): organ
49. Stanley Turrentine (1934-2000): tenor sax
50. Sid Catlett (1910-51): drums
51. Sonny Clark (1931-63): piano
52. Rashied Ali (1935-2009): drums
53. Sonny Sharrock (1940-94): guitar
54. Ralph Sutton (1922-2001): piano
55. Chano Pozo (1915-48): percussion
56. Al Haig (1924-82): piano
57. Louis Prima (1911-78): trumpet, vocals
58. June Christy (1926-90): vocals
59. Paul Gonsalves (1920-74): tenor sax
60. Barney Wilen (1937-96): soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax
61. Warne Marsh (1927-87): tenor sax
62. Serge Chaloff (1923-57): baritone sax
63. Oliver Nelson (1932-75): alto sax
64. Bud Shank (1926-2009): alto sax
65. Jimmy Dorsey (1904-56): alto sax
66. Kenny Clarke (1914-85): drums
67. Joe Pass (1929-94): guitar
68. Ray Barretto (1929-2006): conga, percussion
69. Edmond Hall (1901-67): clarinet
70. Booker Ervin (1930-70): tenor sax
71. Clifford Jordan (1931-93): tenor sax
72. Muggsy Spanier (1906-67): cornet
73. Michel Petrucciani (1962-99): piano
74. Bunk Johnson (1889-1949): trumpet
75. Slim Gaillard (1916-90): piano, guitar, vocals
76. Ethel Waters (1896-1977): vocals
77. Jimmy Raney (1927-95): guitar
78. Al Cohn (1925-88): tenor sax
79. Clarence Williams (1893-1965): piano
80. Albert Mangelsdorff (1928-2005): trombone
81. Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002): vocals
82. Sam Rivers (1923-2011): tenor sax
83. Fred Anderson (1929-2010): tenor sax
84. Billy Bang (1947-2011): violin
85. Marion Brown (1931-2010): alto sax
86. Marian McPartland (1920-2013): piano
87. Herb Geller (1928-2013): alto sax
88. Frank Wess (1922-2013): tenor sax, flute
89. Cedar Walton (1934-2013): piano
90. David S. Ware (1949-2012): tenor sax
91. Borah Bergman (1933-2012): piano
92. Peter Kowald (1944-2002): bass
93. Kenny Wheeler (1930-2014): trumpet, flugelhorn
94. Roy Campbell (1952-2014): trumpet, flugelhorn

Living Legends

Living players who basically have nothing more to prove, which is not to say that they won't add some things.

1. Abdullah Ibrahim (1934): piano
2. Sheila Jordan (1928): vocals
3. Paul Bley (1932): piano
4. Archie Shepp (1937): tenor sax
5. Chris Barber (1930): trombone, vocals
6. Roswell Rudd (1935): trombone
7. Bob Wilber (1928): soprano sax, alto sax
8. Charles Lloyd (1938): tenor sax, flute
9. Martial Solal (1927): piano
10. Houston Person (1934): tenor sax
11. Gerald Wilson (1918): trumpet
12. Mose Allison (1927): piano, vocals
13. Phil Woods (1931): alto sax
14. Eddie Palmieri (1936): piano
15. Gary Peacock (1935): bass
16. Bill Holman (1927): arranger
17. Toots Thielemans (1922): harmonica

Tracking

Younger musicians who are consistently doing the sorts of things that get one into the Hall of Fame. Many would enter tomorrow if they died today.

1. Anthony Braxton (1945): alto sax
2. David Murray (1955): tenor sax, bass clarinet
3. Joe Lovano (1952): tenor sax
4. Jack DeJohnette (1942): drums
5. William Parker (1952): bass
6. John McLaughlin (1942): guitar
7. Dave Holland (1946): bass
8. Peter Brötzmann (1941): tenor saxophones, clarinets
9. Scott Hamilton (1954): tenor sax
10. Kenny Barron (1943): piano
11. Joe McPhee (1939): tenor sax, alto sax, trumpet
12. Evan Parker (1944): soprano sax, tenor sax
13. Jan Garbarek (1947): tenor sax, soprano sax
14. Pharoah Sanders (1940): tenor sax
15. Hamiet Bluiett (1940): baritone sax
16. Bobby Hutcherson (1941): vibes
17. Wadada Leo Smith (1941): trumpet
18. Marilyn Crispell (1947): piano
19. Alex Von Schlippenbach (1938): piano
20. Warren Vaché (1951): cornet
21. Han Bennink (1942): drums, percussion
22. Vinny Golia (1946): clarinet, sax, flute
23. James Blood Ulmer (1942); guitar, vocals
24. Dianne Krall (1964): vocals, piano
25. Ray Anderson (1952): trombone, vocals
26. Bobby Watson (1953): alto sax, soprano sax
27. Irène Schweizer (1941): piano
28. Henry Threadgill (1944): alto sax
29. Louis Sclavis (1953): clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax
30. Steve Turre (1948): trombone, conch shells
31. Chucho Valdés (1941): piano
32. Tomasz Stanko (1942): trumpet
33. Randy Sandke (1949): trumpet
34. Misha Mengelberg (1935): piano

Prospects

Younger musicians who have done some things of Hall of Fame caliber, but will probably need to do more to make it.

1. Dave Douglas (1964): trumpet
2. Matthew Shipp (1960): piano
3. Ken Vandermark (1964): tenor sax, baritone sax, clarinet
4. James Carter (1969): tenor sax, baritone sax
5. Don Byron (1958): clarinet
6. Hamid Drake (1955): drums
7. Tim Berne (1954): alto sax
8. Steven Bernstein (1961): trumpet, slide trumpet
9. Ben Allison (1966): bass
10. Vijay Iyer (1971): piano
11. Uri Caine (1956): piano
12. Chris Potter (1971): tenor sax, soprano sax
13. Michael Moore (1954): clarinet, alto sax
14. Satoko Fujii (1958): piano
15. Wynton Marsalis (1961): trumpet
16. Harry Allen (1966): tenor sax
17. Jason Moran (1975): piano
18. Myra Melford (1957): piano, harmonium
19. Ellery Eskelin (1959): tenor sax
20. Joshua Redman (1969): tenor sax, soprano sax
21. Dennis Gonzalez (1954): trumpet
22. Tommy Smith (1967): tenor sax
23. Branford Marsalis (1960): tenor sax, soprano sax
24. Wolfgang Muthspiel (1965): guitar
25. Nils Petter Molvaer (1960): trumpet
26. Brad Mehldau (1970): piano
27. Terrence Blanchard (1962): trumpet
28. Nik Bärtsch (1971): piano
29. Rudresh Mahanthappa (1971): alto sax
30. John Hollenbeck (1968); drums