Important figures & what they played-
Louis Armstrong-trumpet
Charlie "Bird" Parker-alto sax
Dizzy Gillispie-trumpet
Duke Ellington-piano/composer/Big Band leader
Jimmy Blanton-bass
Charles Mingus-bass/composer
Charlie Christian-guitar
Kenny Clarke-drums
Max Roach-drums
Bud Powell-piano
Art Tatum-piano
Ray Brown-bass
Miles Davis-trumpet/band leader
Thelonius Monk-piano/composer
Herbie Nichols-piano/composer
Andrew Hill-piano/composer
Ornette Coleman-alto sax/composer
John Coltrane-tenor, soprano sax/composer
Elvin Jones-drums
Tony Williams-drums
Wayne Shorter-tenor, soprano sax/composer
Herbie Hancock-piano/composer
Chick Corea-piano/composer
etc
...and I didn't even touch on the vocalists(Billie Holiday, Ella, Sarah, Joe Williams, etc) or Latin Jazz or the European cats.
Why not check out/buy Mark Gridley's Jazz Styles...a very good intro, IMO.
Famous songs, eh?
Duke Ellington-"Don't Mean A Thing(If It Ain't Got That Swing"), "Take The 'A' Train", etc
Charlie Parker-"Donna Lee", etc
Dizzy Gillispie-"A Night In Tunisia", etc
Charles Mingus-"Haitian Fight Song", "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", etc
Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond-"Take Five"
Miles Davis-"Milestones", "So What", etc
Wayne Shorter-"Footprints", etc
John Coltrane-"Giant Steps", "A Love Supreme", "My Favourite Things", etc
Herbie Hancock-"Watermelon Man", Canteloupe Island", etc
Chick Corea-"Spain", "Captain Marvel", etc
Etc...
