There could be a cast of thousands. What a hiatus there would be in that band.
Where are the altos of Johnny Hodges, Art Pepper, Benny Carter, Earl Bostic et al?
The tenors of Lucky Thompson, Stanley Turrentine, Hank Mobley etc.
Then there are the guys that are special to us because we saw them at arms length.
They may not have been 'influential' but mean a lot to us.
At the top of that list I name Dick Morrissey. Always swinging.
A great player, and possibly passed over because of his 'funk' connection, but in my book a great player.
His playing touched everyone who heard him.