Jazz for Beginners

Jackson Jambalaya ^ | July 15, 2007 | Kingfish

[prplhze2000]

Since then, I have had numerous people ask me about what they should buy if they wanted to sample some jazz but do not know where to begin. As I am not a critic but just an aficionado of that American treasure. I recommend the following albums. Feel free to offer your own recommendations as I am no expert by any means. As there is still much jazz I have not listened to, I apologize for any omissions of albums that belong on such a list....

[prplhze2000]

Thought I would give everyone a break from politics and the online war rooms. My personal favorite is Black Saint and Sinner Lady by Charlie Mingus. Probably one thing I think nat Hentoff doesn't get enough credit for is his jazz writing as he is truly a link with the storied past of jazz. I'm going to really miss him when he finally leaves us.

[caver]

How thoughtful of you. You signed up here just to give us a break from politics.

[dblshot]

I think I hear a dischordant note, but it could just be jazz that is over my head.

[ItsForTheChildren]

For big band jazz I would recommend anything by Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, The John LaBarbera Big Band, The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band.

[RGPII]

Al Hirt

[prplhze2000]

Funny. ;-) I’ve found myself listening to Mingus more and more. Got Symposium of Jazz and Poetry and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve never cared much for fusion jazz. Bitches Brew is as far as I go. got Live at the Fillmore by Miles Davis and just wasn’t my style although that was a kick-azz band he put together.

[ggekko60506]

Thanks. Good idea.

[shineon]

Miles Davis, Kinda Blue
John Coltrane Giant Steps
Cannonball Adderly ‘The Happy People’
Sonny Rollins Nucleaus
Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus
Anything Charlie Parker
Lester Young and the Kansas City Six
Anything Oscar Peterson
John Coltrane Quartet Ballads
John Coltrane & Duke Ellington
Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald w/Oscar Peterson on Piano
Maynard Furgison ‘Color Him Wild’
Jazz at Massey Hall (Bird, Bud, Mingus, Diz, and Max)
Brecker Brothers - Strap Hangin’
Miles Davis Milestones
Bill Evans - You must believe in Spring
Anything by Eldar Djangerov

[prplhze2000]

Got most of those. Only thing about Kinda Blue is for a someone under 30, a little too mellow for him. Only problem with the Massey is the sound quality. I’ve got the Trane & Duke cd and its VERY underrated. No longwinded solos by Trane and he doesn’t try to overpower you with his talent, just he and Duke playing off of each other at a very high level. I like the Monk and Trane at Carnegie Hall as well.

[mozarky2]

“...I have had numerous people ask me about what they should buy if they wanted to sample some jazz but do not know where to begin...”

If you want to hook somebody on jazz, there’s no better place to start than Holly Cole. Her version of “Get Outta Town” reached out and grabbed me.

[B-Chan]

I love Sonny Rollins.

[caver]

I do agree with you about fusion jazz. I don’t care much for it. It is too free form for me.

[shineon]

Crescent was always one of my favorite ‘trane LP’s. McCoy... Elvin, Jimmy... It will never be duplicated.

Stan Getz/ Astrud Gilberto - Getz au Go Go
Anything Jimmy Smith
McCoy Tyner - Inner Voices
Grover Washington Jr. - Mr. Magic
Chic Corea - Return to Forever - Light as a Feather

[shineon]

Billy Cobham - Stratus