Stevie Ray Vaughan synthesized many influences, from Albert King to T-Bone Walker, to get his unique guitar style. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Take Five: By Artist Get to know jazz by artist.
Special Series
Take Five: By Artist
Ella Fitzgerald. William P. Gottlieb/Library of Congress via flickr.com hide caption
From solo piano to languid big band, straight-up disco to full-on bananas "disco," Sun Ra had a wide 1970s output. House of Traps/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Coleman Hawkins in 1946. William Gottlieb/The Library Of Congress hide caption
The band led by drummer Art Blakey (center) groomed more than 150 alumni members, including saxophonist Wayne Shorter and trumpeter Lee Morgan. Robert Abbott Sengstacke/Getty Images hide caption
Bud Powell. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption
Ahmad Jamal at the grand piano during the Blue Moon sessions. Jacques Beneich hide caption
Jack DeJohnette. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Legendary bassist Ron Carter turns 75 today. Beti Niemeyer hide caption
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg. Courtesy of the Yip Harburg estate hide caption
Stan Kenton. William P. Gottlieb/Library of Congress via Flickr hide caption
David Baker helped make formal jazz education a growing part of the music's history and evolution. Courtesy of Indiana University hide caption
Max Roach in 1947. William Gottlieb/Library of Congress via Flickr hide caption
Willie "The Lion" Smith in his New York City apartment in 1947, smoking a signature stogie. William Gottlieb/Library of Congress via Flickr hide caption
Cootie Williams of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. William Gottlieb/Library of Congress via Flickr hide caption
Tadd Dameron composed a body of work that helped define and expand the parameters of bebop. William Gottlieb/Library of Congress via Flickr hide caption
Roy Eldridge. William Gottlieb/The Library of Congress via Flickr hide caption
James Moody. Brad Barket/Getty Images Entertainment hide caption
Wadada Leo Smith. Scott Groller hide caption
Phil Woods. David W. Coulter hide caption
Dizzy Gillespie wasn't content to stick with music people could dance to. William Gottlieb/Library of Congress via Flickr hide caption
Sonny Rollins is still a saxophone monster at 80. Valery Hache/AFP hide caption