Booker Little
Apr 2, 1938 – Oct 5, 1961
Instrument | trumpet |
Birthplace | Memphis, TN |
Available Leadsheets

A tragic loss to the world of jazz at age 23! Hearing is certainly believing: in Booker's short life, he still was able to leave us with recordings and compositions that are guaranteed to astonish and captivate. His effortless-sounding virtuosity ranks him as one of the greatest trumpet players. He was also a gifted composer, who obviously took composing very seriously, as his recording output shows. Booker began on trumpet when he was 12 and played with Johnny Griffin and the MJT + 3 while attending the Chicago Conservatory. He worked with Max Roach (1958-1959) and then freelanced in New York. He recorded with Roach and Abbey Lincoln, was on John Coltrane's Africa/Brass album, and was well-documented during a July 1961 gig at the Five Spot with Eric Dolphy. Booker Little led four sessions before his tragic early death.
List of Composers
- Ronnie Ball
- Rob Bargad
- Bill Barron
- Bruce Barth
- Pamela Baskin-Watson
- Mickey Bass
- Mario Bauzá
- David Berkman
- Peter Bernstein
- Eddie Bert
- Denzil Best
- John Bishop
- Walter Bolden
- Walter Booker
- Ruby Braff
- Adam Brenner
- Bob Brookmeyer
- Harold "Tina" Brooks
- Clifford Brown
- Donald Brown
- Shelley Brown
- Ray Bryant
- Jon Burr
- Kenny Burrell
- Rahn Burton
- Willie Maiden
- Kitty Malone
- Cal Massey
- Ronnie Mathews
- Tina May
- Cecil McBee
- Verena McBee
- Gary McFarland
- Howard McGhee
- Tom McIntosh
- Jim McNeely
- Charles McPherson
- Fleurine Mehldau
- Sergio Mihanovich
- Doug Miller
- L. Aziza Miller
- Leon Mitchell
- Bill Mobley
- Hank Mobley
- Grachan Moncur III
- J.R. Monterose
- Buddy Montgomery
- Jack Montrose
- Ralph Moore
- Michael Philip Mossman
- George Mraz
- Mark Murphy