Four Hats, Four Jazz Legends. One Hat That Got Its Own Song. And the UnisonJazz Autumn Hat.
Do hats help musicians capture the music better, or simply protect the vibe? From our own experience, they certainly attract a lot of questions.
While taking a hat out for an autumn stroll, we found ourselves wondering why jazz has always had a thing for hats.
Do they help musicians capture the music better, or simply protect the vibe? From our own experience, they certainly attract a lot of questions.
Maybe that's the thing about hats: they're rather good at starting conversations, whether in words or music.
So, to get the conversation going, here are five jazz legends and their headwear, a hat with its own musical tribute, and our contribution to the autumn collection.
1. Thelonious Monk — The Hat Collection
If there was a hat worth wearing, Monk probably tried it. Berets, skullcaps, fur hats, and some creations that seemed to belong to an entirely different universe. Much like his music, his hats followed their own rules.
2. Dizzy Gillespie — The Bebop Beret
A beret, horn-rimmed glasses, and a goatee. Dizzy helped create the unmistakable look of bebop. The music was revolutionary. The dress code wasn't far behind.
3. Duke Ellington — The Top Hat
Elegance was practically Duke Ellington's middle name. And what better accessory for jazz royalty than a top hat? Some people dress for the occasion. Duke rather looked as though the occasion had been arranged for him.
4. Dr. Lonnie Smith — The Turban
The legendary Hammond B3 organist made the turban his unmistakable signature. Imagining him without it feels almost as difficult as imagining his music without the groove.
5. Lester Young — The Hat That Got Its Own Song
Perhaps the most famous hat in jazz history. Lester Young made the pork pie hat part of his identity. When he died in 1959, Charles Mingus wrote Goodbye Pork Pie Hat in his memory.
Not many hats get their own elegy. Though, to be fair, this one had an extraordinary man underneath it.
6. UnisonJazz — The Hat of the Week
And finally, our own contribution to jazz headwear.
A rather adventurous combination of moss green, brick red, and deep blue, spotted enjoying an autumn afternoon among falling leaves.
No recordings to its name. No elegy. Quite a few questions.
Would Monk have approved? We like to think so.
UnisonJazz — Listen deeper. And occasionally, dress louder.
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