The April issue of DownBeat has an interesting article whereupon a team of experts have compiled an alphabetical listing of, in their collective opinion, the 90 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Of course, by their own admission, the list could have been longer but 90 was the figure chosen, this being their 90th anniversary year.
Like every other reader of that venerable magazine, I too have muttered sentences such as 'Why haven't they picked so and so?' or 'What are they doing there?' However my main gripe is that only one Brit makes the list - John McLaughlin.
So, dear readers, which, if any, British musicians do you think should have been included? Lance
3 comments :
These greatest lists are of course an exercise in futility and personal taste. But I have say this one made me think, as it echoes arguments about the primacy of the US of A in this thing some call jazz. While I strongly believe there are distinctive and "authentic" strands of jazz practiced outside the US (notably the UK, various other parts of Europe and Israel), I have to concede British individual jazz greats (as opposed to bands, or simply very fine players) are thin on the ground. I guess a lot of this is down to the small size of our country and jazz establishment and opportunities. My experience (as limited as it is) is mostly post 1970, and from that period I would certainly endorse McLaughlin, alongside of course his contemporary Dave Holland. I don't suppose we can claim Kenny Wheeler?!
George Shearing, John & Cleo made it big in the US, Tubby Hayes, Stan Tracey...
Although Kenny Wheeler was from 'the Colonies' (Canada) his most productive work was done in the UK and as, until 1977, Canadians had dual British nationality I think we can stake a claim.
By the same token a strong case can be made out for perhaps the greatest and most innovative of all our colonial imports - alto saxophonist Joe Harriott who was part of the Windrush Generation. He was commemorated by a plaque in 2018 in Southampton where the ships from the Caribbean docked.
If 'making it big in the US' is part of the criteria then look no further than Acker Bilk!
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