I just listed my favorite players that I listen to frequently. Although I love them all I gotta go with Parker. I probably forgot a few! (like Albert Ayler, Dewey Redman, Pharoah Sanders, aaah shit . . . .)

this isn't very fair. this is a matter of style really, or taste i should say.

this is like the bonham vs. moon debate cubed.

with that said, i'd pick coltrane.

Coltrane is the Kareem of his world.

Others hit higher peaks, but he just kept winning.

Sonny Rollins would be the Michael Jordan in that case.

All are excellent in their own way but Ornette Coleman makes me happy most often. If you haven't heard it, his solo in "Richard Pryor Addresses a Tearful Nation" on Joe Henry's "Scar" is the best thing there is.

Coletrane's "Giant Steps" gotta be second though...

Cotrane and Coleman. Can't choose.

Coltrane's it for me -- his range is ridiculous. Pharoah Sanders would be a close second.

Coltrane for me too. Honorable mention to Evan Parker and Jimmy Giuffre.

I voted for Coltrane - but in retrospect I'd say that perhaps Charlie Parker was more 'important' to the development of the style that Coltrane later built on and went way the fuck out west on.

This isn't about importance though - so not crap.....I mean, Coltrane.

Okay, I went Charlie Parker for sheer technical brilliance and innovation. He was at the center of one of the most revolutionary moments in american music and head and shoulders better than everyone else around him.