The greats of the swing/bop/hardbop era are: Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Lester Young, Ben Webster, John Coltrane, and Ornette Coleman. And also Eric Dolphy. The last 3 were big innovators from the getgo, so a lot of their stuff is not very accessible. This is SICK:
Sonny Rollins, belongs in the possession of anyone with even the passing interest in the American art form of jazz.