In addition to what has already been commented, his music also reached the more classically-oriented people who found jazz to be too esoteric and incomprehensib

In addition to what has already been commented, his music also reached the more classically-oriented people who found jazz to be too esoteric and incomprehensible. Basically, he created jazz music that a wide spectrum of people were able to appreciate and enjoy, while at the same time advancing the state of the art.