Definition of "sideman" [sideman]

• A member of a jazz band who is not the leader or a featured soloist. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "At 40, Mr. Potter is probably still better known as a sideman most famously with bassist Dave Holland, but there's no doubt that he's assembled a group and a musical concept that's worthy of his formidable technique."
• "Pianist Aaron Goldberg is better known as a sideman than a leader; he's put in lots of time with masters of the modern mainstream like"
• "The sideman is a working musician of various levels of recognition that backs up name artists, records in the studio, plays on TV shows, travels in every imaginable touring situation, plays bars, and yes, weddings and corporate events."