Jazz for Beginners

masteen · Post by **masteen** » May 8, 2003, 1:08 pm

If you had to pick 5 jazz albums to begin a collection for someone who kinda likes jazz, but doesn't know much about it, what would they be?

I'm soliciting Truant here, as I remember him being big into it, but anyone who has an opinion is welcome to reply.

miir · Post by **miir** » May 8, 2003, 1:23 pm

That's a damn near impossible question to answer.

For someone just getting into jazz, you're best just to buy some compilations and decide from there what style, instruments and artists you like. It's such a diverse field of music that recommending specific albums to someone else without knowing their personal perferences is a complete crap shoot.

I could throw out the names of 5 random albums and have as much luck as going through my own personal favorites and listing them in order of preference.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » May 9, 2003, 5:53 pm

My problem is that aside of some blues guitarists, I don't know much about this kinda music. I don't know which compilations are worth picking up.

Spangaloid_PE · Post by **Spangaloid_PE** » May 9, 2003, 5:57 pm

Bella Fleck and the Flacktones

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » May 9, 2003, 7:59 pm

I honestly have no Jazz CD's. The only Jazz I ever listen to are jam sessions in the club district (6th Street) here in Austin. I think the spontaneity of a jam session is true Jazz...but that is about all I have ever been exposed to. My mom's ex used to listen to a lot of Jazz and Blues, but at the time I was so young that I didn't pay attention to where the line between the two was.

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » May 10, 2003, 8:19 am

Dexter Gordon: Go!
Miles Davis & John Coltrane: Live in Stockholm 1960
Herbie Hancock: Maiden Voyage
Billie Holiday: Body and Soul
Thelonious Monk: Monk's Moods
Ornette Coleman: The Shape of Jazz to Come
Dexter Gordon: Our Man In Paris
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
Cannonball Adderley: Somethin' Else
Count Basie: The Complete Decca Recordings
Duke Ellington: The Far East Suite
Ella Fitzgerald: The Gershwin Songbook
Charles Mingus: Tijuana Moods
Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane: Monk and Trane
Frank Sinatra & Count Basie: Sinatra-Basie
Sarah Vaughn: With Clifford Brown

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » May 11, 2003, 7:13 pm

Drol has a great list there. I wil add some:

John Coltrane - Blue Train

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

Herbie Hancock - Headhunters

Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers - Night in Tunisia

AND if you are feeling adventurous for soul...

Lou Donaldson - Everything I Play is Funky
Grant Green - Visions
Melvin Sparks - Akila(sp)

masteen · Post by **masteen** » May 13, 2003, 11:48 am

Thanks for the lists you two.

Spangaloid_PE · Post by **Spangaloid_PE** » May 13, 2003, 4:12 pm

i'm tellin' ya, Bella Fleck and teh Flacktnes, seriously...he plays an electric banjo but you'd never know by just listening to the music. if anything download a handful of MP3's, you won't be dissapointed

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » May 13, 2003, 7:22 pm

Bela Fleck is very good.

NPR's Basic Jazz Record Library

It is pretty extensive and has audio clips and commentary. so not a "starting 5" by any means, but a place to kind of kick around and find some cool stuff.

Skunki · Post by **Skunki** » May 15, 2003, 10:18 pm

here are some good artists and bands(big) that i like and was brought up on being my dad played with OMGIAMRETARDEDCAUSEALOTISTWOWORDS of these dudes.

Stan Kenton's Neophonic Orchestra
Tom Kubis
Frank Rossalino
The Woody Herman Orchestra
Chick Corea
Maynard Ferguson
Jack Sheldon
Buddy Rich
Louie Belson
Mel Torme
Chuck Mangione
Andy Martin
Bill Watrous
Carl Fontana
Arturo Sandoval

the list could go on forever. these were just some off the top of my head in no particular order or rank. Some of them are trombone heavy too since that is what i am adept at.

its important to not view jazz as ill just go pick up a few albums and get an idea of what jazz is .

Pick artists and listen to them see what you like and what you dont. Also imo some of the best jazz comes from artists that you have never heard of.

But dont be fooled there are many subcultures of jazz and they are very different and diverse.

now lets name some tunes!

Night in Tunisia!
Birdland
Feels so good
summertime