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)
• Mario Bauzá (2023-V)
• 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)
• Alice Coltrane (2023-C)
• 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)
• Red Norvo (2023-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)
• Pharoah Sanders (2023-R)
• 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. Grant Green (1931-79): guitar
30. Doc Cheatham (1905-97): trumpet, vocals
31. Frankie Trumbauer (1901-56): C melody sax
32. Horace Tapscott (1934-99): piano
33. Luis Russell (1902-63): piano
34. Stuff Smith (1909-67): violin, vocals
35. Red Garland (1923-84): piano
36. Johnny Griffin (1928-2008): tenor sax
37. Cozy Cole (1909-81): drums
38. Dicky Wells (1907-85): trombone
39. Anita O'Day (1919-2006): vocals
40. Arnett Cobb (1918-89): tenor sax
41. Lucky Thompson (1924-2005): tenor sax
42. Tommy Dorsey (1905-56): trombone, trumpet
43. John Hicks (1941-2006): piano
44. Lars Gullin (1928-76): baritone sax
45. Larry Young (1940-79): organ
46. Stanley Turrentine (1934-2000): tenor sax
47. Sid Catlett (1910-51): drums
48. Sonny Clark (1931-63): piano
49. Rashied Ali (1935-2009): drums
50. Sonny Sharrock (1940-94): guitar
51. Ralph Sutton (1922-2001): piano
52. Chano Pozo (1915-48): percussion
53. Al Haig (1924-82): piano
54. Louis Prima (1911-78): trumpet, vocals
55. June Christy (1926-90): vocals
56. Paul Gonsalves (1920-74): tenor sax
57. Barney Wilen (1937-96): soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax
58. Warne Marsh (1927-87): tenor sax
59. Serge Chaloff (1923-57): baritone sax
60. Oliver Nelson (1932-75): alto sax
61. Bud Shank (1926-2009): alto sax
62. Jimmy Dorsey (1904-56): alto sax
63. Kenny Clarke (1914-85): drums
64. Joe Pass (1929-94): guitar
65. Ray Barretto (1929-2006): conga, percussion
66. Edmond Hall (1901-67): clarinet
67. Booker Ervin (1930-70): tenor sax
68. Clifford Jordan (1931-93): tenor sax
69. Muggsy Spanier (1906-67): cornet
70. Michel Petrucciani (1962-99): piano
71. Bunk Johnson (1889-1949): trumpet
72. Slim Gaillard (1916-90): piano, guitar, vocals
73. Ethel Waters (1896-1977): vocals
74. Jimmy Raney (1927-95): guitar
75. Al Cohn (1925-88): tenor sax
76. Clarence Williams (1893-1965): piano
77. Albert Mangelsdorff (1928-2005): trombone
78. Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002): vocals
79. Sam Rivers (1923-2011): tenor sax
80. Fred Anderson (1929-2010): tenor sax
81. Billy Bang (1947-2011): violin
82. Marion Brown (1931-2010): alto sax
83. Herb Geller (1928-2013): alto sax
84. Frank Wess (1922-2013): tenor sax, flute
85. Cedar Walton (1934-2013): piano
86. David S. Ware (1949-2012): tenor sax
87. Borah Bergman (1933-2012): piano
88. Peter Kowald (1944-2002): bass
89. Kenny Wheeler (1930-2014): trumpet, flugelhorn
90. 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. Hamiet Bluiett (1940): baritone sax
14. Bobby Hutcherson (1941): vibes
15. Wadada Leo Smith (1941): trumpet
16. Marilyn Crispell (1947): piano
17. Alex Von Schlippenbach (1938): piano
18. Warren Vaché (1951): cornet
19. Han Bennink (1942): drums, percussion
20. Vinny Golia (1946): clarinet, sax, flute
21. James Blood Ulmer (1942); guitar, vocals
22. Dianne Krall (1964): vocals, piano
23. Ray Anderson (1952): trombone, vocals
24. Bobby Watson (1953): alto sax, soprano sax
25. Irène Schweizer (1941): piano
26. Henry Threadgill (1944): alto sax
27. Louis Sclavis (1953): clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax
28. Steve Turre (1948): trombone, conch shells
29. Chucho Valdés (1941): piano
30. Tomasz Stanko (1942): trumpet
31. Randy Sandke (1949): trumpet
32. 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