Famous multi-instrumentalists in jazz

I'm developing an idea for a review I'm working on, but I may just not be knowledgeable enough and end up saying something stupid. Also, I may actually know myself some names, in which case this will serve as a reminder.

Are there famous (legendary, even) multi-instrumentalists in jazz history? Two or more instruments.

This question should not be read as:

a. Are there famous jazz musicians who are (were) multi-instrumentalists? They have to be famous for the aptitude itself.
b. Are there jazz instrumentists who also mastered one or many other instruments? They have to be famous in both (or any) cases.
c. Which jazz multi-instrumentalists are your favourites / which jazz multi-instrumentalists do you love/appreciate/prefer? As much as possible, mention objectively musicians heralded as greats in this regard.

You could partially exclude close-related instruments, as well. Even more, saying one plays both alto and tenor saxophone would, of course, be missing the point.

Ricochet wrote: Hard to catch on their fame just by mentioning them, so plz to specify.

Edited by Abraxas - 16 Aug 2011 at 3:57pm

Matt wrote: Hermeto Pascoal, Henry Threadgill, Eric Dolphy ........................ and Dave Grohl

 

dionisio wrote: Ornette coleman, beside the sax, played the violin and trompet ! And damn, he is good.

I like him too on trumpet and violin.......I still say he is hack on the violin but I like it.......screeching away  very Avante

dionisio wrote: His sound on the violin is.. weird (weird not as a bad thing here), i really like it, bt i cannot think of anything else similar to that, and i know a lot of violin jazz players (from more traditional to avant garde ones), he plays the violin like somethin else.. it's clearly more about the sound than a melodic approach, i think and i feel that as a violin player, that he doesnt have some skills developed, so instead of a more conventional approach, he just.. grab the violin and make sound coming out of it, and damn, it sounds great, really great.

Yes I agree, love his Blue Note ones for that reason

I haven't read through this thread yet, but it should be known that a lot of sax players usually know how to play flute or clarinet-and visa versa. A lot of brass players (trumpet / trombone / tuba / french horn) know how to play them all (For trombone, you have to know the slide positions, but there are valve trombones. French horns are tuned differently). Also many guitarists can play bass, and visa versa.

I'm pretty sure most jazz musicians in general have a basic understanding of piano as well. Even drummers (many in music colleges must know some piano / take piano classes.)

Just wanted to throw them facts atcha


Edited by darkshade - 16 Aug 2011 at 6:05pm

Violin that Allan Holdsworth plays. Or, piano of playing of Ralph Towner. And, tenor sax of Ornette Coleman. These are unique.

However, I do not feel the drum that Jaco Pastorius plays as a too peculiar performance.

And, Gary Husband also performs on the piano.

How common is it for drummers who also play keys and vice versa e.g. Gary Husband, Jack De Johnette, Jan Hammer, Billy Cobham?