Downbeat Hall of Fame

• Muhal Richard Abrams (2010-C)
• Cannonball Adderley (1975-R)
• Geri Allen (2022-C)
• Gene Ammons (2012-V)
• Louis Armstrong (1952-R)
• Albert Ayler (1983-C)
• Mildred Bailey (2020-V)
• Chet Baker (1989-C)
• Kenny Barron (2022-R)
• 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 Pullen (1944-95): piano
9. Illinois Jacquet (1922-2004): tenor sax
10. Cab Calloway (1907-94): vocals
11. Tommy Flanagan (1930-2001): piano
12. Bud Freeman (1906-91): tenor sax
13. Buck Clayton (1911-91): trumpet
14. Jimmy Giuffre (1921-2008): clarinet, tenor sax
15. Ruby Braff (1927-2003): cornet, trumpet
16. Harry "Sweets" Edison (1915-99): trumpet
17. George Lewis (1900-68): clarinet
18. Don Byas (1912-72): tenor sax
19. Chu Berry (1910-41): tenor sax
20. Rex Stewart (1907-67): cornet
21. Budd Johnson (1910-84): tenor sax
22. Nat Adderley (1931-2000): cornet, trumpet
23. Vic Dickenson (1906-84): trombone
24. Charlie Rouse (1924-88): tenor sax
25. Wynton Kelly (1931-71): piano
26. Willie "The Lion" Smith (1895-1973): piano, vocals
27. Eddie Lang (1904-33): guitar
28. Leroy Jenkins (1932-2007): violin
29. Red Norvo (1908-99): xylophone, vibes
30. Grant Green (1931-79): guitar
31. Doc Cheatham (1905-97): trumpet, vocals
32. Frankie Trumbauer (1901-56): C melody sax
33. Horace Tapscott (1934-99): piano
34. Luis Russell (1902-63): piano
35. Stuff Smith (1909-67): violin, vocals
36. Red Garland (1923-84): piano
37. Johnny Griffin (1928-2008): tenor sax
38. Cozy Cole (1909-81): drums
39. Dicky Wells (1907-85): trombone
40. Anita O'Day (1919-2006): vocals
41. Arnett Cobb (1918-89): tenor sax
42. Lucky Thompson (1924-2005): tenor sax
43. Tommy Dorsey (1905-56): trombone, trumpet
44. John Hicks (1941-2006): piano
45. Lars Gullin (1928-76): baritone sax
46. Larry Young (1940-79): organ
47. Stanley Turrentine (1934-2000): tenor sax
48. Sid Catlett (1910-51): drums
49. Sonny Clark (1931-63): piano
50. Rashied Ali (1935-2009): drums
51. Sonny Sharrock (1940-94): guitar
52. Ralph Sutton (1922-2001): piano
53. Chano Pozo (1915-48): percussion
54. Al Haig (1924-82): piano
55. Louis Prima (1911-78): trumpet, vocals
56. June Christy (1926-90): vocals
57. Paul Gonsalves (1920-74): tenor sax
58. Barney Wilen (1937-96): soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax
59. Warne Marsh (1927-87): tenor sax
60. Serge Chaloff (1923-57): baritone sax
61. Oliver Nelson (1932-75): alto sax
62. Bud Shank (1926-2009): alto sax
63. Jimmy Dorsey (1904-56): alto sax
64. Kenny Clarke (1914-85): drums
65. Joe Pass (1929-94): guitar
66. Ray Barretto (1929-2006): conga, percussion
67. Edmond Hall (1901-67): clarinet
68. Booker Ervin (1930-70): tenor sax
69. Clifford Jordan (1931-93): tenor sax
70. Muggsy Spanier (1906-67): cornet
71. Michel Petrucciani (1962-99): piano
72. Bunk Johnson (1889-1949): trumpet
73. Slim Gaillard (1916-90): piano, guitar, vocals
74. Ethel Waters (1896-1977): vocals
75. Jimmy Raney (1927-95): guitar
76. Al Cohn (1925-88): tenor sax
77. Clarence Williams (1893-1965): piano
78. Albert Mangelsdorff (1928-2005): trombone
79. Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002): vocals
80. Sam Rivers (1923-2011): tenor sax
81. Fred Anderson (1929-2010): tenor sax
82. Billy Bang (1947-2011): violin
83. Marion Brown (1931-2010): alto sax
84. Herb Geller (1928-2013): alto sax
85. Frank Wess (1922-2013): tenor sax, flute
86. Cedar Walton (1934-2013): piano
87. David S. Ware (1949-2012): tenor sax
88. Borah Bergman (1933-2012): piano
89. Peter Kowald (1944-2002): bass
90. Kenny Wheeler (1930-2014): trumpet, flugelhorn
91. 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. Joe McPhee (1939): tenor sax, alto sax, trumpet
11. Evan Parker (1944): soprano sax, tenor sax
12. Jan Garbarek (1947): tenor sax, soprano sax
13. Pharoah Sanders (1940): tenor sax
14. Hamiet Bluiett (1940): baritone sax
15. Bobby Hutcherson (1941): vibes
16. Wadada Leo Smith (1941): trumpet
17. Marilyn Crispell (1947): piano
18. Alex Von Schlippenbach (1938): piano
19. Warren Vaché (1951): cornet
20. Han Bennink (1942): drums, percussion
21. Vinny Golia (1946): clarinet, sax, flute
22. James Blood Ulmer (1942); guitar, vocals
23. Dianne Krall (1964): vocals, piano
24. Ray Anderson (1952): trombone, vocals
25. Bobby Watson (1953): alto sax, soprano sax
26. Irène Schweizer (1941): piano
27. Henry Threadgill (1944): alto sax
28. Louis Sclavis (1953): clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax
29. Steve Turre (1948): trombone, conch shells
30. Chucho Valdés (1941): piano
31. Tomasz Stanko (1942): trumpet
32. Randy Sandke (1949): trumpet
33. 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