Who was the greatest trumpet player ever? Here is my list:

Luouis Armstrong
Dizzy Gillespie
Wynton Marsalis
Miles Davis


I am not certain about the rankings of Davis and Marsalis. Dizzy might have been technically superior to Armstrong but then no one else sounds like Mr. Jazz and there is simply no explanation to that.

Strange post, since Armstrong is viewed as the greatest ever-ever...
I would add Clifford Brown here, too.
Than, i would open Winamp and just listen to music...

That's what I am also saying portokal. Everyone of those trumpet players on my list is important from a certain point of view. For example, Armstrong was truely the best trumpet player in his verve years but his trumpet playing skill degraded gradually as he aged. Dizzy was also a phonemonal virtuoso and a long time performer with a glittering career. Wynton Marsalis can be safely claimed to be the best living jazz trumpet player. He also has a special weight in the Jazz scene as he has been instrumental in preserving the Jazz legacy by fighting against corruption it might otherwise have to go through. This alone is a very important contribution to the Jazz trumpet tradition. He is also a very diversified musician playing classical solo trumpet. He is a sought-after Baroque trumpet player although he put an end to that career of his as far as I know.

Miles Davis had also an exceptionally long and fruitful career. His strength was his innovative approach to Jazz trumpet playing. While not nearly as skilled as a player as some of the other big names, his strength was his diversity as a musician. He was very good at improvising and studied other genres incorporating elements from them into Jazz music. One such album by him was Sketches of Spain.

I have on CD several MP3 files each belonging to a famous trumpet player who interpretes Summertime by Gershwin. Each version is good from a certain point of view. While it is difficult to describe sound by writing, I would say Armstrong's version is the one closest to being magical.

one of my favorite albums, Wynton Marsalis, Magesty of the Blues...

Bring it along next time Keith. We can listen to it on my stereo.

done!!

Here is an instant list the full version of which you can find at http://www.waer.org/30trumpets.html complete with the reviews.

1. Louis Armstrong
2. Miles Davis
3. Dizzy Gillespie
4. Clifford Brown
5. Lee Morgan
6. Clark Terry
7. King Oliver
8. Kenny Dorham
9. Harry "Sweets" Edison
10. Freddie Hubbard
11. Chet Baker
12. Roy Eldridge
13. Donald Byrd
14. Wynton Marsalis
15. Ruby Braff
16. Bix Beiderbecke
17. Arturo Sandoval
18. Cootie Williams
19. Fats Navarro
20. Woody Shaw
21. Maynard Ferguson


Both Marsalis and Davis rankings are surprizing. I listened to Maynard Ferguson and he is damn good too. Searching for music by anyone of those trumpet players above would be worthwhile.

As for me, Armstrong is the greatest player ever-ever.
But my favourite is Miles Davis.
I like his clear sound. I am thrilled to find his sound in such a variety of styles. He fusions jazz with electronical, rock, even hip-hop and rap, having a major contribution in succesfully bringing jazz sound in different music styles.

I like that he successfully quits drog addiction.

I love to discover his sound in the sound track of Elevator to the Scaffold, i like his album with Marcus Miller, Siesta, i like Doo-Bop, him playing with Parker, John Coltrane, Hancock and so on.

I think as for the complexity of his musician career -his 'fruitful career' as Vineyards said- and his contributions in jazz, Davis is 'the best'.
And i also think he is a very good improviser.

Surprised nobody has mentioned Eddie Calvert

Eddie Calvert