You might think that musicians don’t care how they look, just how they sound. But that’s far from the truth. All types of musicians over the years have followed some type of fashion code true to their genre. Grunge rockers? Okay you might expect, and get, a disheveled look; call it anti-fashion. That’s appropriate for their gig.
Famous jazz musicians have typically believed that it is important to dress well when performing. According to Wynton Marsalis, a sharp, clean look is a sign of respect for the music as an art form. And Wynton isn’t the first jazz musician to insist on looking sharp when playing. Jazz musicians for generations have expressed the same sentiment about their attire, a professional look being appropriate for the highly complex and intelligent form of music that jazz is.
Dressing up for playing jazz goes way back. Think of those movies featuring Duke Ellington’s orchestra; everybody in a suit. The bandleader Cab Calloway was a fashion icon who started a trend with his oversized pants and broad-shouldered suits—and often, a white bow tie. Billie Holiday attired herself in rhinestone-trimmed dresses, and her special touch, a fresh white gardenia in her hair. Mid-20th century bebop icons like Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie wore dark suits and berets, and added definition to their look with dark sunglasses. Thelonious Monk was also known for voicing his uncompromising attention to his attire through memorable sayings like “a dose of class in a hat” in reference to his signature headwear, including his favorite, the fedora.
Play to kill, and dress to match.