Entertainment Music Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians Old In Years But Still Young At Heart Share PINTEREST Email Print Music Jazz Basics Rock Music Pop Music Alternative Music Classical Music Country Music Folk Music Rap & Hip Hop Rhythm & Blues World Music Punk Music Heavy Metal Latin Music Oldies Learn More By Michael Verity Michael Verity Michael Verity is a jazz musician, writer, and photographer and a regular contributor many music industry niche sites. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 05/24/19 Well, now the proverbial jazz cat is out of the proverbial jazz bag. Less than a week since first posting this list of the Top 10 Oldest Living Jazz Musicians, I've received dozens of emails with lists and lists of people I've missed. Clark Terry now drops to #3 behind 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 and Terry Gibbs are 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. 01 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 02 of 19 Jon Hendricks Jon Hendricks, 2014. Charles Norfleet/Getty Images 93 Years Old (Born September 16, 1921) Cornerstone of jazz singing for over 50 yearsOriginator of "vocalese" styleCreator of Lambert, Hendricks and RossCalled by Time magazine the "James Joyce of Jive" 03 of 19 Toots Thielemans Toots Thielemans, 2007. Photoshot/Hulton Archives/Getty Images 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 JoelWas also the guy who did the whistle in the Old Spice commercialsRetired this past March 04 of 19 Eugene Wright Eugene Wright with Sonny Clark, 1960. Michael Ochs/Getty Images 92 Years Old (Born May 29, 1923) Also known as "The Senator" Best known as the bassist on Dave Brubeck's Time Out album Also worked with Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday and many others Only living member of the classic Brubeck quartet 05 of 19 Bob Dorough Bob Dorough, 1950. Tom Copi/Michael Ochs/Getty Images 91 Years Old (Born December 12, 1923) Bop pianistWorked with Miles Davis and Blossom DearieInfluenced by Mose AllisonComposer of numerous tunes from the TV show Schoolhouse RockArkansas Jazz Hall Of Fame inductee 06 of 19 Sammy Nestico Sammy Nestico (R) with Frank Stallone, 2006. Kevin Winter/Getty Images 91 Years Old (Born February 6, 1924) Composer and arranger Best known for his work with Count Basie Also worked with Bing Crosby, Sarah Vaughan, Toni Tenille and Barbra Streisand Recorded a Basie inspired album with Quincy Jones Scored music for 70s TV shows (Charlie's Angels, Mannix, Mission:Impossible) and wrote jingles for Ford, Mattel and Dodge 07 of 19 Marshall Allen Marshall Allen. Seth Tisue/Creative Commons 91 Years Old (Born May 25, 1924) SaxophonistStudent of James MoodyOccasional recording artistLongtime associate of Sun Ra and, now, the leader of his orchestra. 08 of 19 Terry Gibbs Terry Gibbs, 1950. GAB/Redferns/Getty Images 90 Years Old (Born November 13, 1924) Born Julius GubenkoPlayed with Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich andAlso made frequent appearances on TV, including The Steve Allen Show during the 1950sPublished 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" 09 of 19 Barbara Carroll Barbara Carroll, 2012. Daniel-Zuchnik/Getty Images 90 Years Old (Born January 25, 1925) Classically trained; attended New England ConservatoryDubbed "first girl to play bebop piano" in 1947 by Leonard FeatherOnce toured with Rita Coolidge and Kris KristoffersonLater became a cabaret player 10 of 19 Roy Haynes Roy Haynes, 2010. Earl Gibson III/FilmMagic/Getty Images 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. 11 of 19 Bucky Pizzarelli Bucky Pizzarelli (R) with son, John Pizzarelli, 2011. Clayton Call/Getty Images 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 12 of 19 Randy Weston Randy Weston, 2006. Photoshot/Hulton Archives/Getty Images 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 13 of 19 Lou Donaldson Lou Donaldson, 2003. KMazur/WireImage/Getty Images 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) 14 of 19 Jimmy Heath Jimmy Heath, 2008. Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images 88 Years Old (Born October 25, 1926) Switch from alto to tenor sax because of Charlie ParkerPlayed with his brothers, bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert "Tootie" HeathWrote most of Chet Baker and Art Pepper's Playboys albumTeaches at Queens College in NYHis debut album was called The Thumper 15 of 19 Dick Hyman Dick Hyman, c. 1960. Gilles Petard/Redferns/Getty Images 88 Years Old (Born March 8, 1927) PianistHas recorded over 100 albumsHas worked on a number of films as pianist, composer, conductor and/or music director, including more than 10 Woody Allen filmsHas also composed for ballet and theater 16 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 Hancock - 75 (Piano) John McLaughlin- 73 (Guitar) Chick Corea - 72 (Piano) Keith Jarrett - 70 (Piano) Anthony Braxton - 69(Sax) 17 of 19 Gunther Schuller Gunther Schuller, 2007. Hiroyuki Ito/Hulton/Getty Images 90 Years Old (November 22, 1925 - June 21, 2015) Son of a New York Philharmonic violinistPlayed horn with the American Ballet Theater at 15 years oldAppointed to Cincinnati Symphony at age 20Founded Modern Jazz Society with John Lewis in 1955Invented "third stream" music, a combination of classical and jazz 18 of 19 Those Dearly Departed Clark Terry 2001. Frank Micelotta/Getty Images Clark Terry 94 Years Old (December 20, 1920 - February 21, 2015 ) Swing and bebop trumpeter Flugelhorn innovator Educator NEA Jazz Master Played with Charlie Barnet, , Duke Ellington and Quincy Jones, among others. Recorded over 85 albums Still looks cool in shades Gerald Wilson 96 Years 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) SingerSuffered from 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 including Passion Play, a 2001 drama that included Bill Murray and Mickey Rourke. 19 of 19 Lionel Ferbos Lionel Ferbos, 2012. Jeffery Ufberg/WireImage/Getty Images 103 Years Old (July 17, 1911 - July 19, 2014) TrumpeterHas performed at every New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since its beginningStill plays every Saturday night at the Palm Court Jazz Cafe in New Orleansrecently recorded with Irvin Mayfield