Help with finding jazz....

[Ronidler]

My suggestion would be to start with some bluesy Blue Note albums where the jump from more popular instrumental music isn't too great.   Guitarist Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue is a great starting point.  If you would like some vocals as well then look at John Coltrane with Johnny Hartman on the Impulse lable.  Samples of both are easily found on YouTube.

[eman]

1 hour ago, Ronidler said:

My suggestion would be to start with some bluesy Blue Note albums where the jump from more popular instrumental music isn't too great.   Guitarist Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue is a great starting point.  If you would like some vocals as well then look at John Coltrane with Johnny Hartman on the Impulse lable.  Samples of both are easily found on YouTube.

Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue is the top selling Blue Note label album and has been for years. (Jazz heads can quote their figures in contradiction here).

It was the only 'Jazz' album I had in my collection for years ......30? yrs.  I bought that when I was into wild 60s AcidPunk,

It's just so c o o l.

Recently I've been getting into some 'jazz' that is sure to make hate in some people: Soul Jazz.  It's not hardcore or hard to access.  It's relaxed but interesting, much like the Mingus clip posted; which I followed from the Pentangle version.

 

I'm much like OP in my access to new music.  There's no TV, community radio, digital streaming service or whatever else here.  I'm just learning that there is just about everything on youtube for auditioning.

 

Don't stress it, just let it come, like any other music. 

[Guest Eggcup The Daft]

On 07/04/2017 at 7:36 AM, ex brickie said:

I'm about to commit heresy but here goes........

I'm in my 50s and never really been a jazz fan. However, I've been in hifi demo rooms and heard bits of jazz in the background and found it pleasant enough. Then last week I stumbled across an outdoor youth jazz orchestra and liked what I heard (I couldn't hear what songs they claimed to be playing so that doesn't help!)

Here's the heresy. I bought a copy of Miles Davis Kind of Blue and really couldn't listen for long. There's a difference between admitting skill and enjoying the music. I didn't  enjoy it.

So, where do I start to get some snippets of the many types of jazz to see what I might like? I think I prefer jazz orchestras (if that's the term) to mainly single instruments. I already have music that is more like female jazz singing so I don't need that. I also have more modern stuff like Chick Corea (which is Ok) so I'm covered there

Any tips? I know that the sub genres of jazz are potentially vast so I realise I'm not helping much! I could try some compilation CDs but some pointers would be good

Sorry for offending the many Miles fans here! 

You kind of fit in with a few people I know in this regard. Big band music is a fairly disciplined form of jazz, and at its best subordinates the solos to the musical structure - most small group jazz is about creating space for soloists to explore. You've liked a big band, so start exploring that before branching out.

My recommendation is to hit Tidal or Spotify, and look up a few of the bands of the "big band era". My mum (who was into the dance and big bands) would point you towards the Glenn Miller and Ted Heath bands as having the tightest arrangements and soloists who work within the music and don't try to dominate it.

 

As far as styles go, you may find that you prefer particular musicians and groups rather than styles, so don't write off a style of jazz because of one recording or group, no matter how famous.

[Wimbo]

Anthony Branxton had a couple of albums out in the 80's that were very good re Jazz roots. Seven Standards 1 and 2. They were on the Windham Hill Label.

[CraigC]

Try these from you tube

[Soundscape]

You can't go past Ella and Louis. Universally loved i would imagine.

[BLAH BLAH]

23 minutes ago, Dave O))) said:

You can't go past Ella and Louis. Universally loved i would imagine.

Agree...

[SPR08Y]

Check out Louis' socks on that album cover! Rolled down white socks, love it! May have been fashionable then, not that Ella and Louis needed to concern themselves with fashion! (Superb album: Foggy Day my fav.)

[loki65]

Dave's True Story

 

Worth a listen if you've not heard of them.

[robc]

Hi Nick,

 

For an excellent compilation of various easy listening female vocals have a listen to:

 

  Women of Jazz - Putumayo World Music

  http://www.putumayo.com.au/shop/women-of-jazz

 

The link has song samples to you can have a listen for yourself.

 

Cheers!

Rob

Edited April 18, 2017 by robc
changed link to the Australian version

[k-k-k-kenny]

Nick

I started a similar journey a few years ago, and got sound guidance from a number of folk here, particularly Mick.  It's easy enough I spose for any of us to tell you our favourite albums, but that isn't necessarily helpful to your exploration. Particularly given the cost of postage from the States these days ...

If it's big band/jazz orchestra stuff that's attracted you, then at some point you'll have to come to terms with Duke Ellington, whose inventiveness over a very long career is probably unique.  I don't pretend to being expert on him by any means, but The Essential Duke Ellington on Columbia Legacy is a reasonable place to start.  Like anything recorded pre-50s, the sound quality may leave you wanting.  If you can't hear through it, you'll be disappointed.  In which case, you can always get hold of "Jazz At The Pawnshop" - some of the most exquisitely recorded and dullest music ever preserved.

Otherwise, the way in may be through the music that floats your boat already.  In my case, that was blues, soul, New Orleans R&B and classical piano.  So, I gravitated to stuff that was blues based - ye so-called hard bop from pianists like Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Carl Perkins, Hampton Hawes - or with really strong rhythm - Erroll Garner's Concert By The Sea, a bunch of New Orleans players, and over into more latin stuff like The Bahama Soul Club - or with soul tinges - Cannonball Adderley's 'Mercy Mercy Mercy' or 'Country Preacher' - or some quiet combination that worms its way into your head like Modern Jazz Quartet or Ahmad Jamal's 'Poinciana'.

Go to!

[allthumbs]

Gordon Goodwin's PHAT BAND is an easy introduction to Jazz via the modern Jazz orchestra idiom. A wide variety of music, lots of guest artists including vocal groups, sharp playing, brilliant arrangements, humorous as well as passionate, I have never come across anybody who didn't like  them.

 

 

[zenikoy]

2 hours ago, k-k-k-kenny said:

......you can always get hold of "Jazz At The Pawnshop" - some of the most exquisitely recorded and dullest music ever preserved.

 

Ha ha, but so true 

 

Haven't read the whole thread but one thing that has propelled my own Jazz Odyssey, is that most jazz albums credit the players/sidemen boldly on the cover. If you like the album you remember those names and take notice when you see other things they play on or are the leader of.

 

As mentioned before in thread, take a style of music or instrument that you like and then work back to a root in jazz. Very limited biased examples: Guitars - Kenny Burrell "Midnight Blue", Piano - Herbie Hancock "Maiden Voyage", Drums - Art Blakey "Moanin", Swingin Up-Tempo - Lee Morgan "The Sidewinder", Cool & Moody - Cannonball Adderley -"Something Else" etc etc.

 

 

[Ian McP]

https://www.dustygroove.com/category/jazz

 

extensive range, good prices!

 

regards Ian

[Powerglide]

Hi Nick, I'm not a huge fan of compilation albums, but for a good grounding of all sub genres of jazz seek out 

 

https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Best-Blue-Note-Album-In-The-WorldEver/release/749646

 

may work for you as it doesn't hang too long in that same groove as some jazz albums can, she may not sound too appetising but some "greasy granny" on a sunny afternoon hits the spot 

Edited April 21, 2017 by Powerglide

[jazzdog@groovemasters]

Good advice from the posters above. Some artists to consider are:

Count Basie many, but try Farmer's market barbecue  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go2o1NBEevQ&list=PL4ZFa-mThx3Jj0Jxk9day_VNAHYP_z9NM&index=1 

 

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers, Vol. 2 - Mission Eternal

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmLF_FDa81g8olFdgdSVmymp-RgVlsS7z

 

John Coltrane The Ultimate Blue Train https://www.discogs.com/John-Coltrane-The-Ultimate-Blue-Train/release/401058

 

 Yusef Lateef Lost In Sound https://www.discogs.com/Yusef-Lateef-Lost-In-Sound/release/4427238

 

Chico Hamilton Man From Two Worlds https://www.discogs.com/Chico-Hamilton-Man-From-Two-Worlds/release/1196591

 

The Modern Jazz Quartet The Last Concert https://www.discogs.com/The-Modern-Jazz-Quartet-The-Last-Concert/master/154857 

 

Jimmy Witherspoon & Ben Webster Previously Unreleased Recordings https://www.discogs.com/Jimmy-Witherspoon-Ben-Webster-Previously-Unreleased-Recordings/master/1078920

 

The Ben Webster Quintet  Soulville https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR0sqSbpl7A

 

The Oscar Peterson Trio Night Train https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YJP5HjG7Xo

 

John Sangster scroll to bottom at this link https://soundcloud.com/blank-recording-company

 

happy hunting!

 

PS The Dave Brubeck Quartet  Time Out

https://www.discogs.com/The-Dave-Brubeck-Quartet-Time-Out/master/34081

The Dave Brubeck Quartet Featuring Gerry Mulligan, Alan Dawson, Jack Six ?The Last Set At Newport https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ0X1qZrbVQ

Oscar Peterson Trio + Clark Terry ?Oscar Peterson Trio + One 

https://www.discogs.com/Oscar-Peterson-Trio-Clark-Terry-Oscar-Peterson-Trio-One/release/1653616 

 

Edited April 22, 2017 by jazzdog@groovemasters

[Schnuck]

Stan Kenton is worth checking out as is Nelson Riddle for the big band stuff. If you don't like Kind Of Blue I'd start with pre 60's Jazz

Find a era which you like and listen to as much as you can. Lots of good revival bands over the years as well.

 

 

[BLAH BLAH]

Buy the CD...borrow it...listen to it on the internet radio...download a copy and if you like the music...

Buy the LP!

Repeat...

 

PS...Helps to read up on Jazz CDs/LPs on USA Amazon for their reviews...

PS...Jazz Forums on the Net.

Edited May 6, 2017 by BLAH BLAH

[ex brickie]

Hey guys - thanks so much for the suggestions. I don't have any streaming devices so I've listened either to,your links, other YouTube music or jazz radio.

 

i still haven't found anything that floats my boat - so maybe jazz just isn't for me. The stuff that was more appealing (relatively speaking) was larger bands and orchestras but even the Count Basie Orch stuff left me rather cold....

i havent given up (yet)......

[mickj1]

Well maybe try some of Quincy Jones' big band stuff - his arrangements are popular with military bands, show bands and school bands.

I'd recommend 'Hip Hits' or 'Gula Matari'

 

cheers

 

mick

Edited May 6, 2017 by mickj1
pics didn't post

[eman]

5 hours ago, ex brickie said:

Hey guys - thanks so much for the suggestions. I don't have any streaming devices so I've listened either to,your links, other YouTube music or jazz radio.

 

i still haven't found anything that floats my boat - so maybe jazz just isn't for me. The stuff that was more appealing (relatively speaking) was larger bands and orchestras but even the Count Basie Orch stuff left me rather cold....

i havent given up (yet)......

Maybe it's not for you; easy. At least you're open minded enough to think about it.  Now you still have money to buy what you do like.

My record shop was playing some early 1970s 'Space Jazz' (don't ask who, I didn't remember), recently which I thought was "OK".  Oh......not $70 worth of OK though for me.  Apparently that's the going rate for a US 1st press though.  Interesting enough that maybe there's a repress......or not....there's plenty of other tunes I don't have the money for.

[Psyberpunk]

My 2c - Some suggestions from this century  

 

Sal Valentine and the Babyshakes (NZ)

Theo Croker

Snarky Puppy 

[CraigC]

Try some Herbie  Hancock from the 70s.

 

I really like thrust

Edited May 30, 2017 by LockedoutofCraigC
spellchecked Herbie

[t_mike]

I second the idea of listening to ABC jazz on digital TV. They don't always announce the tracks they play, so using an app on your phone to identify can help. Shazzam is a good one. As for Miles Davis, he released the Jack Johnson album which was regarded as the creation of jazz rock (fusion). It was from here that his music became more challenging. Anything earlier will be easier to the ear in an introduction to jazz.

[eman]

24 minutes ago, t_mike said:

I second the idea of listening to ABC jazz on digital TV. They don't always announce the tracks they play, so using an app on your phone to identify can help. Shazzam is a good one. As for Miles Davis, he released the Jack Johnson album which was regarded as the creation of jazz rock (fusion). It was from here that his music became more challenging. Anything earlier will be easier to the ear in an introduction to jazz.

I just discovered his couple of  'Modal' albums.  Apparently a few other musos did some too.  Very easy on the ear.( Not Bop or Fusion).  So easy I have to wonder if it's worth buying, since I've got so many records backed up already, or maybe I should just easily snooze off without them.