Recommend Me Some Jazz

[smiller]

I've got playlists sorted out on me iPod for classical and trance, but want to start a new playlist for Jazz. I briefly went through a Jazz phase about 8 years ago, but have forgotten most of what I enjoyed.

I did like "Take Five" and "Round Midnight", but I'm lost after that.

I know I don't like trad or bebop, but more lounge-lizard, late night, smoky bar type stuff.

Advice appreciated!

[deadslow]

Try a few hours listening to these guys and you're bound to hear some stuff you like:

http://www.jazzfm.com/

[Evil Jack]

Hi, here's how to get into jazz:


Start by buying this: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

This: Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out

This: Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else

And this: Dexter Gordon - Go


Listen to all these over a couple of months. Take your time, then take note of who else is playing on the records you really like (for instance pianists Bill Evans or Wynton Kelly on 'Kind of Blue' (they both have a different style), or sax player Paul Desmond on 'Time Out') and look for their records.

The whole point of jazz is that your not listening to 'the tune' but each musicians interpretation of the tune and their skills in improvisation.


Oh and don't listen to anyone who recommends 'Bitches Brew' or 'A Love Supreme'. You won't like them yet....but you might later.


HTH

[andy400]

Evil Jack said:

Start by buying this: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

Seconded

[Bunglist]

Depends what type of jazz you are after.

Try Courduroy for some Acid Jazz.

Try The Charlie Biddle Trio for some normal type jazz.

And Portico Quartet for soem classical jazz.

[exboxster]

Try and get hold of some Liane Carol. She plays at Ronny's & the 606 now and again- phenomenal pianist.

[Bungleaio]

Herbie Hanckock and Soulive are my favourites. Do'in Something is a particular favourite by Soulive

[wasted years]

If you like guitar jazz then Stanley Jordan is the man.

Plenty of vids on youtube.

[ATG]

Bungleaio said:

Herbie Hancock ...

e.g. Empyrean Isles

edited to add copyright infringing link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqwmDNPegnM

Edited by ATG on Monday 15th October 14:46

[anonymous-user]

One of my favourite albums is this one, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jazz-Paris-Piano/dp/B00004... by Michel Legrand, some superb improvisation.

[Markh]

deadslow said:

Try a few hours listening to these guys and you're bound to hear some stuff you like:

http://www.jazzfm.com/

This a good one as well

http://www.wwoz.org/

[Funk]

Evil Jack said:

Hi, here's how to get into jazz:


Start by buying this: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

This: Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out

This: Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else

And this: Dexter Gordon - Go


Listen to all these over a couple of months. Take your time, then take note of who else is playing on the records you really like (for instance pianists Bill Evans or Wynton Kelly on 'Kind of Blue' (they both have a different style), or sax player Paul Desmond on 'Time Out') and look for their records.

The whole point of jazz is that your not listening to 'the tune' but each musicians interpretation of the tune and their skills in improvisation.


Oh and don't listen to anyone who recommends 'Bitches Brew' or 'A Love Supreme'. You won't like them yet....but you might later.


HTH

Exactly what he said. That's where I started.

[Funk]

exboxster said:

Try and get hold of some Liane Carol. She plays at Ronny's & the 606 now and again- phenomenal pianist.

I have some Liane Carroll on CD, absolutely amazing. She played in Worthing at the Hare and Hounds and I was gobsmacked at just how talented she is.

[timbob]

A little bit of a thread resurrection here, but I've a couple more suggestions for first time jazz albums:

- Oscar Peterson Trio: Plus One - Clark Terry

- Micheal Brecker: Time is of the Essence

- Dave O'Higgins: The Grinder's Monkey

They're not old 60s classics by any stretch of the imagination, but they're 3 of my personal favourites, and those that I put on the CD player when an interested-non-jazzer is around. All fairly easy going, not too far out there albums with some good displays of virtuosity, and occasional glimpses into slightly off the wall type stuff that might whet your appetite for something a little more in the "acquired taste" category!

[suthol]

The Pedlars. Three in a cell
Jaques Lousier Trio ( sp )
Django Reinhardt
Stephane Grapelli
James Morrison

Plus a lot of them in other posts above, and then maybe Bitches Brew if the ears and mind have kept up.

[Eric Mc]

What about "Swing" and "Big Band" - all variants of jazz?

[HiRich]

Evil Jack said:

Hi, here's how to get into jazz...

Pretty much what he said, and particularly as you seem to like the sax-led sound.

I'd recommend two directions. First, browse the compilations section in a good store for tenor sax compilations (normally called Bedroom Sax, Late Night Sax, etc. - just over a fiver for a double). Look for Davis, Coltrane, Turrnetine, Rollins and so on). You might pick up some sounds to follow.
Otherwise, don't buy compilations of artists. A waste of money, and better to work through the original albums.

The other route is to get Miles Davis "A Kind Of Blue". Not least, it's one of those albums you must have (along with Pet Sounds, Never Mind The..., Sign o' The Times, etc.). There's a stunning book on AKOB that explains how it's the perfect starting point for jazz.
- If you like the general sound, buy the rest of the Miles Davis "Quintet" (the Coltrane, Chambers, Cobb, Adderley & Kelly line up) - Milestones, Some Day My Prince Will Come, and Adderley's Somethin' Else (a very similar sound). Don't be afraid to pick up the live albums for Davis & Coltrane, which are often as remarkable as the studio albums.
- If you like the Miles Davis horn, work slowly backwards and forwards up to about the mid-sixties. Stop before 1969's "In A Silent Way" for now. Also, skip the orchestral albums with Gil Evans, for now.
- If you like Coltrane. work forwards through the Coltrane Quartet. Giant Steps, Favourite Things, Ballands and so on. Skip "A Love Supreme" for now, and don't buy anything after 1964 - it all gets a bit weird.

Once your comfortable, fill in the gaps. A Love Supreme is a huge album, but quite difficult to get into at first (BTW the book of the album by Asley Kahn (same as the AKOB book) really helped me understand the album. In A Silent Way, then Bitches Brew are a change of direction for Miles Davis - again it's worth getting comfortable before you move onto the new sound. And the orchestral albums fall into a similar vein (Sketches of Spain is very good, but not very "jazzy&quot.

Out of this you'll find other bits. The early Herbie Hancock albums (on Blue Note) are very "Davis-style". Maiden Voyage is good, and Empyrean Isles has the very recognisable Canteloupe Island on it. Early Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins (e.g. the soundtrack for Alfie), Dave Brubeck, and the other artists mentioned at the top.

As well as avoiding the compilations, look out for the remastered editions of all the above. As well as better sound, there are often additional takes. Pretty much all the major albums have had remastered versions, and both may be on sale - it's worth paying for the full version. Look out for Rudy van Gelder editions - the legendary producer from Hackensack, New Jersey, who has put as much attention into remastering as he did for the original productions.

Also, if in doubt, look closely at the album sleeve and liner notes. For some reason the classic jazz albums almost all give location and specific recording dates, which can prove very helpful in learning a 'timeline' (so says someone with three Davis/Coltrane concerts from the same week in 1960!)

[navier_stokes]

I'd personally recommend Grant Green - absolutely awesome Jazz guitarist.

Davis and Coltrane are the obvious places to start.

To put a few more names into the hat try Art Blakely (awesome drummer), Lee Morgan, Kenny Burrell and Sonny Rollins

[ettore]

Eric Mc said:

What about "Swing" and "Big Band" - all variants of jazz?

Well, Count Basie if that`s your thing!

[ettore]

navier_stokes said:

I'd personally recommend Grant Green - absolutely awesome Jazz guitarist.

Davis and Coltrane are the obvious places to start.

To put a few more names into the hat try Art Blakely (awesome drummer), Lee Morgan, Kenny Burrell and Sonny Rollins

....and Stan Getz..and Herbie Hancock if you want to see the link between jazz and funk. Also,if you like jazz singers best to start with Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone for easy access(so to speak).