sideman

noun

side·​man ˈsīd-ˌman 

: a member of a band or orchestra and especially of a jazz or swing orchestra

Examples of sideman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lee recorded alone in his modest home studio, the longtime sideman stepping into his own faint spotlight. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026

The vocalist’s wide-ranging gifts and moods benefit from the versatile skill set of the sometime-sideman for Erykah Badu and Madlib. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026

The Hawks’ veteran guard CJ McCollum, always excellent but usually a sideman to a brighter star, dribbled and sidestepped through and around the Knicks defense, suddenly looking like one of the best offensive players in the league. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 June 2026

Still, a budding jazz guitarist (Torn was mentored by pioneering trumpeter Don Cherry) joining forces with a rock icon’s sidemen for his recording debut shows a strong independent streak and no small amount of ambition. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sideman

• businessman
• canavan
• caravan
• constantan
• dragoman
• fisherman
• handyman
• harmattan
• journeyman
• marianne
• middleman
• minivan