Douglas Browning: Rankings: Jazz

The following represents my view of the jazz musicians who have done the best recorded work 2000 and after. They are not ranked.

 

TRUMPET
Dave Douglas
Claudio Roditi
Tom Harrell
Wallace Roney
Brian Lynch
FLUGELHORN

Claudio Roditi

Tom Harrell

TROMBONE

Ray Anderson
Steve Turre
Josh Roseman
Robin Eubanks
Conrad Herwig  
PIANO
Mulgrew Miller
Myra Melford
Danilo Perez
Geri Allen
Brad Mehldau
Edward Simon
Hilton Ruiz
Edsel Gómez
Luis Perdomo  
ORGAN
Barbara Dennerlein 
GUITAR
John Abercrombie
Brandon Ross
Nguyên Lê
Bill Frisell  
VIBES
Steve Nelson
BASS
Dave Holland
Charlie Haden
Andy Gonzalez  
 
CELLO
Erik Friedlander  
VIOLIN
Mark Feldman
Regina Carter  
DRUMS
Joey Baron
Jack DeJohnette
Dafnis Prieto
Ralph Peterson
Duduka Da Fonseca
Han Bennink
Horacio "El Negro" Hernández  
CONGAS
Giovanni Hidalgo                                              
Richie Flores  
TIMBALES
Ralph Irizarry 
PERCUSSION
Trilok Gurtu  
TENOR SAX
Joe Lovano
David Sanchez
Chris Potter  
ALTO SAX
Kenny Garrett
John Zorn
Steve Coleman
 
SOPRANO SAX
John Surman
Dave Liebman
 
BARITONE SAX
John Surman
Ray Brignola
Ronnie Cuber
 
CLARINET
Paquito D'Rivera
 
BASS CLARINET
John Surman
Marty Ehrlich
 
FLUTE
Dave Valentin
 
ARRANGER (Big band)
Eddie Palmieri
Hilton Ruiz
Steve Turre
 
COMPOSER
Henry Threadgill
John Zorn
Dave Douglas
 
VOCAL, FEMALE
 
 
 
Shirley Horn
Cassandra Wilson
Luciana Souza
Claudia Villela
Patricia Barber
Tierney Sutton

Joyce

Sophie Milman

 
I include no male vocal, synthesizer, tuba, french horn, accordian, harmonium, harmonica, oboe, whistle, shells, or oud, since I am only sporadically impressed with anyone doing jazz with those instruments since 2000.  Also, I am uneasy about my percussionists because there are so many great percussionists (especially if one includes congas, bongos, and timbales) today that I can hardly keep them straight.
 
 

Update by DB: July 2010

 

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