International Jazz day is celebrated annually on April 30 to highlight the significance of the art form and it’s impact on the past, present and future. Enjoy our growing illustration collection of classic and modern jazz musicians we love! 
The Talented Trombonist
Melba Liston was a renowned trombonist, arranger, composer, and conductor of popular jazz bands from the late 40s to 60s. She went on to develop the Afro-American Division at the Jamaica School of Music, then settled in New York to form her own band, Melba Liston & Co.
Source: JSTOR, Woman News vol. 3 issue 6
January 13, 1926 - April 23, 1999
Source: JSTOR, Woman News vol. 3 issue 6
Copy by Brianna Fox-Priest
The Virtuoso Vibraphonist
Lionel Hampton achieved many firsts during his career, one of which was at the age of 17 he put the vibraphone on the map for Jazz music during a recording with Louis Armstrong.
He was also the first Black musician to play at a presidential inauguration in 1949 for president Truman.
April 20, 1908 - August 31, 2002
Source: The Kennedy Center
Copy by Brianna Fox-Priest
The Smooth Saxophonist
Fred Ho, born Fred Wei-han Houn on August 10th 1957, was a Chinese-American composer, instrumentalist, and activist.
He self-taught himself how to play the baritone saxophone and was known for blending Asian melodies and big band jazz. He used music as a platform to share his political ideas, over his career he created 12 jazz operas and recorded several albums. In his pieces, he wanted to show how jazz could be reworked to inspire new works, in 1982 he formed the first of his Afro Asian Music Ensembles.
August 10, 1957 - April 12, 2014
Source: National Public Radio
Diary of a Radical Cancer Warrior: Fighting Cancer and Capitalism at the Cellular Level by Fred Ho
Copy by Brianna Fox-Priest
Enjoy Our Playlist
ZFA Studios’ favorite jazz songs curated into one track list. Now available to listen on Spotify 🎶