I was over on Facebook this evening and ran across the following question from my old NYJO chum Mark Armstrong:

To all jazz musicians, especially jazz trumpet players: can you list your five favourite improvised jazz trumpet solos of all time? Can you list what you think are the five most important jazz trumpet solos of all time as well…?

I gave it a little thought and came up with a couple of lists. I’m sure I’ll read this back later and disagree with myself, but I thought it worth posting; if only to add some info about the albums the solos are from which I didn’t have space for on the Facebook answer.

Most Important

  1. Louis Armstrong – “West End Blues”
  2. Bobby Hackett – “String of Pearls”
  3. Dizzy Gillespie – “Hot House”
  4. Clifford Brown – “Cherokee”
  5. Maynard Ferguson – “All The Things You Are” (w. Charlie Barnet as banned by Jerome Kern!!)

Favourites

  1. Clifford Brown – “Cherokee” (from “Study In Brown” w. Max Roach Quintet – Emarcy)
  2. Jon Faddis – “Here’s That Rainy Day” (from “Dizzy Gillespie Jam – Montreux ‘77″ – Pablo)
  3. Wynton Marsalis – “After You’ve Gone” (from “Standard Time Vol. 5″ – Columbia)
  4. Eddie Henderson – “Surrey With A Fringe on Top” (from “Inspiration”)
  5. Brian Lynch – “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You” (from “Keep Your Circle Small” – Sharp Nine)