From the earliest days of New Orleans jazz to the modern era, most jazz music is built around a rhythm. This is usually provided by a rhythm section consisting of a drummer and a bass player. Modern jazz combos may utilize either a standup acoustic bass or an electric bass, both of which offer differences in sound and tone but anchor the band by laying down the deep “bottom” sound. A typical drum kit will include a bass drum – played with a foot pedal — as well as a snare drum, at least one tom-tom drum (which has no snare) and cymbals, including a high-hat cymbal played with a foot pedal.
In the early days of jazz, guitars weren’t as common in jazz ensembles as they are in modern times. The invention of the electric guitar, however, essentially created a new sound that could be added to a jazz band. From early jazz-guitar pioneers such as Django Reinhardt to modern guitarists such as Pat Metheny and John McLaughlin, the guitar is now an essential instrument in jazz and has redefined the musical boundaries of this musical form.
Brass instruments such as the trumpet, trombone and saxophone have long held an integral place in jazz, as have woodwinds such as the clarinet. The so-called “big bands” popular in the 1930s and 1940s had several brass and woodwind instruments playing together, although these bands usually centered around an exceptionally talented soloist, such as clarinetist Benny Goodman or pianist Duke Ellington. Perhaps the most common instrument found in modern jazz is the trumpet. Over the years, celebrated trumpet players such as Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis have made their respective marks on jazz history.
For many jazz fans, the idea of a jazz band without a piano is unthinkable. Jazz pianists such as Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk and Oscar Peterson had different styles, but all demonstrated an innovative mastery of the instrument. The advent of instruments such as the Hammond organ and electronic synthesizer have pushed the role of the jazz keyboardist into bold musical directions, as typified by the musical exploration of keyboard players such as Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea.