1 Curtis Fuller, hugely influential for decades. On John Coltrane classic Blue Train, simply consider he contributed significantly to a life changing album. Snap up, too, the Detroiter’s solo records particular from the late-1950s.

2 Slide Hampton
Hero to horn players such as saxophonist David Sánchez.

3 Fred Wesley
Written into music history via the Godfather of Soul as a pillar of the JBs – still cutting the mustard.  

4 Robin Eubanks
Pivotal within the Dave Holland sound in the 1990s and beyond. As a leader ideas always swirl and connect.

5 Annie Whitehead
Check out Annie’s superb work with Robert Wyatt first off. Excels too drawing on Township.

6 Ku-umba Frank Lacy
Erstwhile Mingusian. Ku-umba does cool frontman stuff as a vocalist as well.


7 Steve Turré
Magic maker whether on trombone or, even, conch shells – I kid you not.

8 Wycliffe Gordon
Crucial listen when he was with Wynton. Already walking tall as a Gulliver in even the most Swiftly dashed off jazz history books.

9 Conrad Herwig 
His latin-jazz treatment of the Herbie songbook blew me away when it came out. Formidable interpreting Wayne Shorter into the bargain. 

10 Jonas Gwangwa
South African jazz icon. Amandla.

11 Chris Barber
Trad for dads and all the family. ‘Ice cream’ often provided.

12 Trombone Shorty
New Orleans trombone reinvented for the Treme generation.

13 Grachan Moncur III 
Very collectable from his Blue Note days. Later an avant garde lion. 

14 Winston Rollins
Jools Holland’s preferred trombone player for many years who has also led his own big band at the Proms in an informal battle of the bands contest.

15 Julian Priester
Avant by reputation often but can do it all.

16 Dennis Rollins
Brother of Winston. Pride of Doncaster. On the road with Maceo.

17 Steve Davis
Superb mainstream player.

18 Ryan Keberle
Today's finest jazz trombonist innovator.

19 Ray Anderson
Joyous jazz club favourite.

20 Nils Wogram
Possessor of a dazzling technique that harnesses a mastery of range and form.