Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians (2024)

Entertainment

Music

Old In Years But Still Young At Heart

Music

Jazz
- Basics
Rock Music
Pop Music
Alternative Music
Classical Music
Country Music
Folk Music
World Music
Punk Music
Heavy Metal
Latin Music
Oldies

Learn More

Michael Verity

Michael Verity is a jazz musician, writer, and photographer and a regular contributor many music industry niche sites.

Learn about ourEditorial Process

Updated on 05/24/19

Well, now the proverbial jazz cat is out of the proverbial jazz bag.

Less than aweek since first posting this list of the Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians, I've received dozens ofemails with lists and lists of people I've missed. Clark Terry now drops to #3behind 102-year old Lionel Ferbos and 95-year old Gerald Wilson and our original #2, Jimmy Heath, has plummeted to #18(a drop similar to Tony Bennett, who cascaded from #3 to #20).

Jon Hendricks, Toots Thielmans, Eugene Wright, Sammy Nestico andTerry Gibbsare all now in the Top 10. For obvious humanitarian reasons, not to mention my own editorial sanity, I hope no one passes away until at least next week.

of 19

Irv Williams

96 Years Old (Born August 9, 1919)

Saxophonist
Known for his focus on the Great American Songbook (and his ability to play in any key)
Former public school teacher
Played with Ella Fitzgerald, Mary Lou Williams and Billy Eckstine
Still plays a weekly gig at the Dakota in Minneapolis

of 19

Jon Hendricks

93 Years Old (Born September 16, 1921)

Cornerstone of jazz singing for over 50 years
Originator of "vocalese" style
Creator of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross
Called by Timemagazine the "James Joyce of Jive"

of 19

Toots Thielemans

93 Years Old (Born April 29, 1922)

One of the great harmonica players of all time.
NEA Jazz Master
Recorded with everyone from Bill Evans to Billy Joel
Was also the guy who did the whistle in the Old Spice commercials
Retired this past March

of 19

Eugene Wright

92 Years Old (Born May 29, 1923)

Also known as "The Senator"
Best known as the bassist on Dave Brubeck'sTime Outalbum
Also worked with Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday and many others
Only living member of the classic Brubeck quartet

of 19

Bob Dorough

91 Years Old (Born December 12, 1923)

Bop pianist
Worked with Miles Davis andBlossom Dearie
Influenced by Mose Allison
Composer of numerous tunes from the TV showSchoolhouse Rock
Arkansas Jazz Hall Of Fame inductee

of 19

Sammy Nestico

91 Years Old (Born February 6, 1924)

Composer and arranger
Best known for his work withCount Basie
Also worked with Bing Crosby, Sarah Vaughan, Toni Tenille and Barbra Streisand
Recorded a Basie inspired album withQuincy Jones
Scored music for 70s TV shows (Charlie's Angels, Mannix, Mission:Impossible) and wrote jingles for Ford, Mattel and Dodge

of 19

Marshall Allen

91 Years Old (Born May 25, 1924)

Saxophonist
Student of James Moody
Occasional recording artist
Longtime associate of Sun Ra and, now, the leader of his orchestra.

of 19

Terry Gibbs

90 Years Old (Born November 13, 1924)

Born Julius Gubenko
Played with Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich and
Also made frequent appearances on TV, including The Steve Allen Show during the 1950s
Published autobiography,Good Vibes: A Life In Jazz,in 2003

Click Next For Our "Bonus Old Guys (And A Gal)" Section and "Old Jazz Guy Honorable Mention"

of 19

Barbara Carroll

90 Years Old (Born January 25, 1925)

Classically trained; attended New England Conservatory
Dubbed "first girl to play bebop piano" in 1947 by Leonard Feather
Once toured with Rita CoolidgeandKris Kristofferson
Later became a cabaret player

of 19

Roy Haynes

Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians (10)

89 Years Old (Born March 13, 1925)

One of the loosest jazz drummers ever
Has played everything from swing to bop to fusion
33 albums as a leader
Recorded with Miles Davis, Sarah Vaughan, Thelonious Monk, Eric Dolphy and Kenny Burrell, to name just a few.

of 19

Bucky Pizzarelli

Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians (11)

89 Years Old (Born January 9, 1926)

Guitarist
Influenced by Django Reinhardt and Freddie Green
One time member of Dick Cavett's Band
30 albums dating back to 1960

of 19

Randy Weston

Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians (12)

89 Years Old (Born April 6, 1926)

Pianist
Influenced by Duke Ellington and Thelonius Monk
First album: Cole Porter In A Modern Mood(Riverside, 1954)
Most recent Album:The Stroyteller(Motema, 2009)
Also record with Mingus

of 19

Lou Donaldson

Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians (13)

88 Years Old (Born November 1, 1926)

Saxophonist
Heavily influenced by Charlie Parker
Has record nearly 50 albums
First recording:Quartet/Quintet/Sextet(Blue Note. 1954)

of 19

Jimmy Heath

Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians (14)

88 Years Old (Born October 25, 1926)

Switch from alto to tenor sax because of Charlie Parker
Played with his brothers, bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath
Wrote most of Chet Baker and Art Pepper'sPlayboysalbum
Teaches at Queens College in NY
His debut album was calledThe Thumper

of 19

Dick Hyman

Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians (15)

88 Years Old (Born March 8, 1927)

Pianist
Has recorded over 100 albums
Has worked on a number of films as pianist, composer, conductor and/or music director, including more than 10 Woody Allen films
Has also composed for ballet and theater

of 19

Old Jazz Guy Honorable Mention

Tony Bennett - 89 (Singer)
Kelan Phil Cohran - 88 (Trumpet)
Lee Konitz - 87 (Saxophone)
Mose Allison - 87 (Piano)
Ernie Andrews - 87 (Singer)
Doc Severinson - 88 (Trumpet)
Freddie Redd - 87 (Piano)
Sheila Jordan - 86 (Singer)
Jimmy Cobb - 86 (Drummer)
Benny Golson - 86 (Saxophone)
Cecil Taylor - 86 (Piano)
Barry Harris - 85 (Piano)
Marty Grosz - 85 (Guitar)
Ornette Coleman - 85 (Saxophone)
Sonny Rollins - 84 (Saxophone)
Ahmad Jamal - 85 (Piano)
Ira Sullivan - 84 (Trumpet)
Plas Johnson - 84 (Bass)
Charles Davis - 82 (Saxophone)
Quincy Jones - 82 (Trumpet, Producer)
Wayne Shorter - 81 (Sax)
Warren Smith - 81 (Drummer)
Curtis Fuller - 80 (Trombone)
Tootie Heath - 80 (Drums)
Harold Mabern - 79 (Piano)
Ron Carter - 78 (Bass)
Louis Hayes - 78 (Drums)
Allen Toussaint - 77 (Piano)
Marvin Stamm - 76 (Trumpet)
McCoy Tyner - 76 (Piano)
Herbie Hanco*ck -75 (Piano)
John McLaughlin- 73 (Guitar)
Chick Corea - 72 (Piano)
Keith Jarrett - 70 (Piano)
Anthony Braxton - 69(Sax)

of 19

Gunther Schuller

Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians (16)

90 Years Old (November 22, 1925 - June 21, 2015)

Son of a New York Philharmonic violinist
Played horn with the American Ballet Theater at 15 years old
Appointed to Cincinnati Symphony at age 20
Founded Modern Jazz Society with John Lewis in 1955
Invented "third stream" music, a combination of classical and jazz

of 19

Those Dearly Departed

Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians (17)

Clark Terry

94 Years Old (December 20, 1920 - February 21, 2015 )

Swing and bebop trumpeter
Flugelhorn innovator
Educator
NEA Jazz Master
Played withCharlie Barnet,,Duke EllingtonandQuincy Jones, among others.
Recorded over 85 albums
Still looks cool in shades

Gerald Wilson

96Years Old (September 4, 1918 - September 8, 2014)

Trumpeter
Big band arranger
Started career with Jimmy Lunceford
Wrote arrangements for Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton and pretty much everyone else who mattered.

Joe Sample

75 Years Old (February 1, 1939 - September 12, 2014)

"Little" Jimmy Scott

88 Years Old (July 17,1925 - June 12, 2014)

Singer
Sufferedfrom Kallman's Syndrome, which causes him to have a pre-pubescent voice.
Debuted on Savoy in 1955 (Very Truly Yours)
Has appeared in several films includingPassion Play, a 2001 drama that included Bill Murray and Mickey Rourke.

of 19

Lionel Ferbos

Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians (18)

103 Years Old (July 17, 1911 - July 19, 2014)

Trumpeter
Has performed at every New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since its beginning
Still plays every Saturday night at the Palm Court Jazz Cafe in New Orleans
recently recorded with Irvin Mayfield