Jazz Nicknames

Jazz: a realm where creativity flows as freely as the notes from an instrument. It's a world where not just the music but its maestros stand out with their catchy, often whimsical nicknames. This piece is your gateway into the interesting universe of jazz greats, each marked by a nickname that's as rhythmic and resonant as their music.

These nicknames are not mere labels; they're stories, etched into the annals of jazz, reflecting the essence of each artist. Journey with us from the dimly lit corners of jazz clubs to the grandiose stages of concert halls, where each nickname reverberates, celebrating the distinctiveness of these musical geniuses.

The art of bestowing nicknames may have waned since the golden era of the 20th century, yet its charm remains undiminished, a fascinating subject worth exploring. Let's start with the term 'Nickname' itself, a name that has evolved over centuries, much like the genre of jazz.

The word "nickname" was formed as "ekename," deriving from the Old English phrase "eac" (also), related to "eacian" (to increase). The term "ekename" literally meant "an additional name." The original phrase "an ekename" was misinterpreted as "a nekename." By the 15th century, the phrase was being split incorrectly, resulting in the modern form "nickname" we use today.

Even "Nickname" has nicknames: Sobriquet, pseudonym, stage name, mononym, nom de guerre, moniker, appellation.

Check this out for starters! Collectively jazz musicians were known as "Cats".

Why? The term emerged because cats, like jazz musicians, tend to go out at night, are resourceful and "always land on their feet," and remain slightly separate from the rest of society.

Mononymous means "known by just one name", rather than a first name and surname.

Jazz certainly has lots of "One namer's" but to illustrate the concept here some Non-Jazz One Namers.

Some of these come from their real name and some are nicknames or self-applied monikers.

Cher, Liberace, Sting, Donavan, Flea, Prince, Madonna, Beyonce, Eminem, Adele, Seal, Rihanna, Shakira, Moby, Pink, Sade, Enya, Drake, Björk, Beck, Usher, Kesha, Dido, Morrissey, Bono, Jewel, Meatloaf, Nelly, Sia, Gotye, Yanni, and others that we know their full name, yet we immediately know them by one name only: Elvis, Kanye, and the list goes on and on.

Here are some jazz names that are distinctive enough to be used by themselves.

Miles Davis is simply Miles.

Herbie Hancock: Herbie

Jaco Pastorious: Jaco

Elvin Jones: Elvin

Chick Corea: Chick

Airto: Airto Moreira

Wes: Wes Montgomery

Ella: Ella Fitzgerald

Duke: Duke Ellington

Likewise, many are referred to by their last name only.

Thelonious Monk is just Monk.

Charles Mingus = Mingus

John Coltrane is shortened to Trane.

Some nicknames come from shortened or versions derived from their real name:

Mezz, Hamp, Trane, Hawk, Book, J. J., Gigi, Brownie

Then there are others that are common abstractions from the original name.

"Jay" McShann from James

"Jack" Teargarden from John

"Chet" Baker from Chesney

"Wes" Montgomery from Leslie

An interesting category is names that are totally different than their birth name:

Eddie Lang

Mezz Mezzrow

Roland Kirk

Red Norvo

Red Rodney

Willie The Lion Smith

Adolph Johannes Brand

Paul Desmond

Sonny Stitt

Jack McDuff

You'll see those details in the listing below.

In the world of jazz nicknames, Buds, Reds, Sonnys, Pee Wees and Littles are as common as dirt.

Some depict youth, others describe physical characteristics.

Red was a nickname commonly applied to light skinned African Americans. It was also applied to people with red hair.

Fats, Shortys, Littles and Pee Wees are self-explanatory.

In the jazz world, very rarely was the nickname Junior applied because they were actually named after their father.

And of course there are the ostentatious titles depicting "royalty": King, Duke, Count, Baron, Sir, etc.

There are those who changed their name because of a religious, ethnic or spiritual affiliation.

Many Jewish and Italian people in the world of entertainment have "Americanized" their names away from their original Hebrew or Italian pronunciation or spelling.

In this list, Milton Mesirow became Mezz Mezzrow. As an interesting aside, he became a principal supplier of Mexican marijuana to Harlem in the 1930s. His own name entered the local vernacular; a "mezzrole" was the type of joint he rolled, and "mezz" became a general term for anything of high quality.

There are many jazz musicians who converted to Islam and became known by their Arabic name instead.

Others had an African or Indian spiritual affiliation and applied Swahili or Hindu names.

And in a rather bold move, there are musicians who nicknamed themselves:

Sun Ra

"Rahsaan" Roland Kirk

"Dollar" Brand

and others.

I stuck with the most well-known artists for the main detailed list and included the lesser known musicians and alternate names as the less detailed list that skips the full birth name, instrument and origin story and just presents the name and nickname.

I left out the nicknames that used longer phrases such as "Old Blue Eyes, King Of Swing, Prince of Darkness" (Sinatra, Goodman, Miles), etc.

Discover how these names mirror the musicians' styles, physical attributes, or personal anecdotes. Some artists are recognized solely by their nicknames, a testament to their larger-than-life personas.

In this compilation, we unravel the origin stories behind these famed nicknames. You'll find the rich tapestry of jazz history woven with names that resonate with one and all, from Miles to Monk, from Bird to Trane. Each name, a symbol of the musician's legacy, their distinct sound, and their indelible mark on the world of music.

Dive into this list, where you'll encounter multiple musicians sharing similar nicknames, each adding their unique flavor to it. Discover the tales behind these names, some steeped in humor, others in reverence, but all in the spirit of jazz.

So, sit back, let the rhythm take over, and immerse yourself in the enchanting world of jazz nicknames, a realm where each name is a melody, each story a song.

The old page presents the nickname research as a detailed table of well-known jazz musicians, their instruments, and the origin stories behind their names.

Here is a second list of lesser known artists or well known artists with lesser known nicknames.