Blakey for sure. I had him on an earlier list 2 days ago that I deleted. Should be there for influencing and managing an entire generation of hard bop musicians and for his own drumming.

MJQ is a good addition, and that takes care of Milt Jackson and John Lewis. Influences chamber jazz.

Mingus will have to compete with such a host of bassists, including Oscar Pettiford and Jimmy Blanton that I could not decide. I considered him for his power and soul.

Stan Getz was another I considered.

If we made a film list, it would be directors, wouldn't it? And we'd have to go to the silent era to begin. And would it be less well-defined?