Who are the top Recognizable artists in the jazz world, living or dead?

Well it depends on what do you mean by recognizable. Let`s say that you mean the jazz artists that made things move and advance.
Well, we have to mention Duke Ellington who exploited
the possibilities of a Big Band in an artistic manner. With him jazz music was no longer only a dance music for the ballroom; it was becoming an expression.
Charlie Parker is another that focked the whole thing up. He was a motherfocker on the saxophone and he totally changed the approach to jazz improvisation. He sure did a lot of his music only to get enough money to buy some dope, but he did it.
Well, i`m not if anyone will reply this message, people on jazz forum are lazy....so I don`t know if I should continue.
Ok, well let`s Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and maybe Louis Armstrong but I don`t really like what he did, just a quation of taste.
Reply and we`ll see it.

Most recognizable? Well... Louis Armstrong has to be number 1. NO ONE ELSE played trumpet (or sang) like he did. Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk (especially improvising) Duke Ellington (as far as compositions goes, anyway) Miles, and probably Paul Desmond too...

Sorry, but I don`t agree with Paul Desmond for being in the most recognizable jazz artist chart. Ok, he was an excellent saxophonist, but he did not innovate nor create a new sound. And sorry but his stuff with Dave Brubeck is way too square to be considered as one of the best jazz music ever. Cause if you put Desmond for his playing, than you have to put Cannonball Aderley, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins; and for all the instrument you would have to put the giants. If we choose the most recognizable jazz artist we have to consider the creativity, the playing, the taste, every aspect of a musician. To my opinion, it would be Charles Mingus. But anyway, what`s the point in trying to find who`s the best, there is so many styles. I give up.

Yeah, I have to agree with the fact that Desmond was not one of the best... He did however have a sound that -at least for me- you could recognize out of anybody else. But for talent and innovation, of course Rollins, Gordon, Adderley, and others go before him. I just put him out for his sound

Putting sound aside for the moment...
Most recognisable would have to be Satchmo!!
Any cover album, whatever age he was, his smile,grin..everybody knows it is him. Probably same for Ella Fitzg..you know who it is. Also MF he looks the same..just larger.

Names: Benny Goodman, The Duke, Basie, Kenton, Oldies true...but who does not recognise the single Name.

Sounds...a lot to choose from....MF from 60s

Satchmo has my vote. Name, looks (photo), sound and singing voice..you gotta know its him.

Maybe, for me,

Miles
Jan Garbarek
Palle Mikkelborg
Dizzy
John Cortrane
Herbie Hancock
Bobby Mcferrin
Nina Simone
Cassandra Wilson
Jon Hassel
Dave Douglas
Sachmo
Blossom Dearie
Arturo Sandoval

These gies I wouldn`t mistake after hearing them on the radio. Never.

I agree that Satchmo made a lot for jazz. In fact, he`s the first one who improvised based on chords progressions. Before him, improvisation used to be turning around the melody. But I don`t agree for the style. Putting him on the top of the list because of his grin is wrong. He used to grin like that only to be seen accepted by the white critics. White people of this time used to like seeing a black man smiling and doing the clown on the stage. Read the Miles Davis autobiography and you`ll know what I`m talking about. Well, anyway in jazz, style and physical appearance has to be put aside. Look at late midget pianist Michel Petrucciani, he was a monster, really he could have played in Braindead, but man what a pianist.
Anyway, nevermind the look, follow you`re hear.

By the way, Peter, who are talking about when you say MF?
Is that Maynard Fergusson?

MF is Maynard. Sorry, I`m an old man, and Maynard had a series of albums called MF Horn.

His Holton is MF, MF Firebird, MF Superbone.

MF is Maynard....

In most circles, when a person says Jazz, Louis Armstrong in the person that pops up in their mind. He is the icon of jazz... Personally though, and being a musician, and a student for several years, everyone knows their is certain people that help let bee-bop or swing to where it is today, or even a certain instrument. Their have been other greats who died at an early age, that if given that chance could have been better then some of hte most recognizeable names out there.

Gene Krupa for instance, is a legend in the world of drums, he made "Sing Sing Sing" what it was and is today

Charlie Parker famous for the sax and is considered by many to be the founder of bee-bop

Bix Biederbecke and Clifford brown were both excellent trumpet players, who died at 28 and 26 respectively. If given the chance, they would have been legends.

Kid Ory was around before bee-bop he was famour for his tail-gating style. Jay Jay Johnson, Kai Winding, Bennie Green, Glen Miller were all excellent trombonist who all brought the trombone into a better light as a solo instrument instead of backgrounds.

Its hard to put a finger down on just one artist...

as long as nobody goes so far to say that Kenny G is Jazz :P , aside from everyone already mentioned, cant add no one off the top of my head.

i would also add Erroll Garner and oscar peterson in that list