The Five Most Underrated Jazz Artists of All Time

Booker Ervin
A self-taught tenor saxophonist, Ervin was best known for working with Charles Mingus. The Texan had an earthy style sometimes compared to John Coltrane, but it was definitely a distinct sound all his own. He released 16 albums before passing away at age 39.

Harold Land
With one of the most recognizable tenor sax sounds in jazz, Land became known playing with Max Roach and Clifford Brown. He went on to establish himself as a band leader while also continuing to work with many jazz greats. He also became a music professor at UCLA.

Steve Kuhn
Kuhn was the original pianist in John Coltrane’s Quartet and has played with Art Farmer and Stan Getz. He has led an acoustic trio since the mid-1980s.

Fats Navarro
Many trumpet players will cite Navarro as an influence but most fans have no idea who he was. He was a pioneer in improvisational bebop in the 1940s and played with everyone from Coleman Hawkins to Lionel Hampton.

John Clayton
A bassist who is also an excellent composer and arranger, Clayton was a proteg of Ray Brown and gained early experience playing with Count Basie’s Orchestra. Clayton is a master at bowed solos.Still bored? Click to continue: A Collection of Jazz Masterpieces. Old and new classics…a Tribute