“He knew how to administer to the needs of a beginner, and had the skill set and patience to teach somebody young,” says saxophonist Greg Osby of his first music teacher, Fred Irby III.

“I don’t think there’s anything better than seeing kids grow as human beings,” Gaesser said.

“I mortgaged my house a couple of times, but it was worth it,” Muscarella says of working to establish Jazzschool and California Jazz Conservatory.

McCann’s deep roots in gospel and the blues gave his music a gritty, earthy quality and a large supply of soulful licks.

“I really respect people who could learn this vocabulary and find a way to express it in a way that is so unique,” Nduduzo Makhathini said of the late pianist Don Pullen during his live Blindfold Test.

“No matter what you produce or do in your life, the thing you’ll be remembered for is rescuing all that Blue Note material,” Woody Shaw once said of Michael Cuscuna, and Cuscuna is fine with that.

Calligram founders Geof Bradfield (left) and Chad McCullough are dedicated to putting out physical product.

Pops at home in Corona, Queens.

Davis says, “I wouldn’t call myself a jazz musician; my music is more about crossing boundaries.” Her band Alula, from left: Chris Tordini, Davis, Tyshawn Sorey and Val Jeanty.

​“They were so in tune with each other, every note just works,” O’Connell said of Bill Evans and Jim Hall’s duo take on “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You.”