Jazz Starters tool box.

[kczar01]

Hello all,

 

Since the new system, I have moved away and fallen in love with Jazz.... Love the sound the the mood it sets.

 

I was wondering what you all could recommend to expand my collection.

 

So far i have the liking's from;

 

- Peyroux

- Dianna Krall

- Nina Simone

- Brubeck

- Norah Jones.

 

Any Input ans suggestions welcome.

 

Cheers

 

Kyle

[matt200sr]

get back to basics  - Kind of Blue Miles Davis

 

 

 

 

 

PS Enjoy!

Edited June 8, 2013 by matt200sr

[bebop]

Some others to try:

Sonny Rollins

John Coltrane

Stacey Kent

Sophie Milman

Oscar Peterson

And of course the great Ella Fitzgerald.

[soundfan]

Cassandra Wilson is definitely worth checking out.

As is the superb John Coltrane/Johnny Hartman album.

[Decky]

Guys  - "beginners toolbox" - that is what we are talking about here - ie easy listening jazz. The only Coltrane I would recommend to a beginner are the Ballades, but if you want to explore further his lights and darknesses (and one cannot go without another) you should try other stuff. If you start from Love Supreme you might black-list Coltrane for all the wrong reasons. 

 

Try some modern artists as well - Brad Mehldau Trio, Joshua Redman, Patricia Barber, Tord Gustavsem Trio, Manu Katche, Marcin Wasilewski . As you can see I am a big fan of jazz trios.

[tesla13BMW]

I'm a big Louise Armstrong fan and I don't think he has a bad album!

 

Wonderful World and Hello Dolly are great as is Ambasador Satch.

 

Ella and Louise and Ella and Louise Again are both excellent.

 

For early female you could try Billie Holiday - Lady in Satin is good.

[emesbee]

There are so many different aspects to jazz. I wouldn't claim to be any sort of authority on jazz (far from it), but I do seem to be opening my ears to it a lot more these days.

 

My first interest in music was early 70s rock (the era I grew up in), but that introduced me to some 70s jazz fusion, eg: John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea. I've also 'discovered' Herbie Hancock, Jacques Loussier Trio, Esbjorn Svensson Trio, and of course Dave Brubeck (his Time Out album is a must have). Also have some Ernest Ranglin albums, which are sort of jazz/reggae. That also led me to Monty Alexander.

 

I seem to be discovering jazz in fits and starts. There is much, much more I've yet to catch up on (including most of the jazz classics). One thing that has become obvious to me though, is how much jazz influence there is in other forms of music. That's the great thing with music, one discovery inevitably leads to another.

[mikey d]

I think I know what you want. Beautiful music, beautifully recorded. try this link to Birdland Records, the best jazz shop in Australia. I have no affiliation, other than spending $1000's on-line & in store over more than two decades. Their knowledge & service is world class & they fully support Australian jazz & even have their own label.

http://www.birdland.com.au/catalogue/category634/p46024

 

That link should take you to The catholics, "Gondola". Other highly recommended Aussie cds are,

 

The Java Quartet, "Deep Blue Sea"

Hamish Stuart, "Someone Else's Child"

Jonathan Zwartz, "The Sea"

Tina Harrod, "Work Songs" & "Temporary People"

The Necks, "Sex"

 

Just a short intro to brilliant local talent. Get on Birdland's emailing list & you won't miss anything. If you buy these & they don't knock you out, I will buy them off you & give them to friends. Damn, all my friends already have these discs

[Al Leece]

Yes, beginners' tool kit is the key phrase here. Plenty of unfriendly jazz out there that can give the wrong impression to the unwary. Plenty of folk here would deride Krall (not me, she produces well-recorded music and she is a good interpreter of standards - ideal stuff to lead to further investigation into the jazz field) and think that unless you are starting with Ornette or Miles' squeaks and squawks period then you are just not serious about jazz. 'Tis a wide field and plenty of room for them all...

 

Tord Gustavsen is well worth looking up; have a look at Kyle Eastwood, too, and Urban Parkland. Dexter Gordon's "The Panther" was one I found to be both accessible and deep, but then I am a sucker for sax. Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder" is another good album.

[djb]

So Decky Jan's sligoriverblues free firm European jazz we reserve as a postgraduate study?

[Bell Ringer]

To get a good perspective on contemporary Jazz I really recommend BBC Radio 3 Jazz On 3 program and Jerry Kosta on ABC Jazz up Late. Lots of good interesting new releases and usually some exclusive live content. I always hear something new that interests me that I might not otherwise find. The programs are usually up online for a week so you can have a repeat listen as well. 

 

BBC 3 has a few other great jazz shows that play things from the classic back catalogue as well. These would be a good place to start as you will quickly hear things you like and want to pursue. Late Junction is another program I listen to a lot, it has contemporary jazz, new electronica, world and classical. A complete mixed bag but always entertaining and I'm constantly hearing things that become firm favourites. ABC Jazz digital is usually pretty interesting as well.

 

The good thing is apart from your bandwith its all free! Until of course you start buying the CD's or downloading all the things you like. 

 

Also a +1 for Birdland. I don't go there as often as I used to but its a great shop and the guys who run it know their beans and have introduced me to some great artists.

[hired goon]

So far i have the liking's from;

 

- Peyroux

- Dianna Krall

- Nina Simone

- Brubeck

- Norah Jones.

 

Any Input ans suggestions welcome.

If the above floats yer boat, then try some of the following fore more of that "sultry femme with jazz backing band" goodness:

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Ella And Louis -- two of the great singers together

 

 

Shirley Horne - Here's To Life -- you can hear the influence on Diana Krall, for example.

 

 

Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley - Nancy Wilson / Cannonball Adderley

 

 

Peggy Lee & George Shearing - Beauty And The Beat

 

 

Julie London - Julie Is Her Name -- lovely recording, just Jules and a guitar, but I can't find any CD in print

 

And if yer don't mind listening to the fellas:

 

 

Nat King Cole - After Midnight and Love Is The Thing -- wonderful, wonderful recordings. After Midnight is the more jazzy affair, but I just had to mention Love Is The Thing as well.

 

 

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman - Coltrane/Hartman -- sublime recording, with Hatrman's deep soulful vocal over Coltrane's restrained backing.

 

That just for starters ...

 

--Geoff

[Monty]

Most of the stuff you mention is vocal, so this might miss the mark, but -

 

I found early 60s Blue Note stuff to be a good, accessible introduction. Stuff like Herbie Hancock 'Watermelon Man', Lee Morgan 'The Sidewinder' and Jimmy Smith 'Back At The Chicken Shack' has rhythm and melody that is immediately sensible to pop ears, while gently opening those ears to jazz form, instrumentation and improvisation.

 

Look out for a Blue Note compilation/sampler with some of those artists.

[Telecine]

Julie London - Julie Is Her Name -- lovely recording, just Jules and a guitar, but I can't find any CD in print  

See:

http://www.amazon.com/music/dp/B000008HTO

[Get off My lawn]

I'm no expert, but I love "easy listening" jazz.

 

If you like piano, then I'd suggest Bill Evans - you can't go wrong with "Waltz for Debby" as a good starting point.

 

For saxophone, Art Pepper ( Meets the Rhythm Section, +11) or Stan Getz.

[Decky]

So Decky Jan's sligoriverblues free firm European jazz we reserve as a postgraduate study?

 

Let say  a graduate diploma

[CraigC]

Guys  - "beginners toolbox" - that is what we are talking about here - ie easy listening jazz. The only Coltrane I would recommend to a beginner are the Ballades, but if you want to explore further his lights and darknesses (and one cannot go without another) you should try other stuff. If you start from Love Supreme you might black-list Coltrane for all the wrong reasons. 

 

Try some modern artists as well - Brad Mehldau Trio, Joshua Redman, Patricia Barber, Tord Gustavsem Trio, Manu Katche, Marcin Wasilewski . As you can see I am a big fan of jazz trios.

That's not true, Blue train, mainstream and his album with Johnny Hartman are perfect for jaz beginners.

[Decky]

That's not true, Blue train, mainstream and his album with Johnny Hartman are perfect for jaz beginners.

 

Truth is a very flexible notion in this universe and overly used in vain. But I agree - Blue Train was my first Coltrane album and although I liked it, I was also scared of it. Hard to explain in couple of words, but enough said that it took me 10 years to come close to actually understanding and accepting Coltrain's emotional spills. Only after that I was ready for other of his albums.

 

You see with Miles its easy - he hits your emotional nerve and lets it vibrate while his contemplating where to hit you next. Sometimes you do not know if that was his emotions or he was simply masterful enough to just manipulate emotional energy as he was pleased. With Coltrane it was different - he had so much pain and love of his own to show to the world - for most of the people that is not easy sh*t to manage all at once. That  was my reason for caution.

[kczar01]

Thanks all for the awesome response!!! 

 

I am going shopping tomorrow!!!!

 

Sounds like I have opened a new door with music here and there is more than I imagined to explore

[soundfan]

Truth is a very flexible notion in this universe and overly used in vain. But I agree - Blue Train was my first Coltrane album and although I liked it, I was also scared of it. Hard to explain in couple of words, but enough said that it took me 10 years to come close to actually understanding and accepting Coltrain's emotional spills. Only after that I was ready for other of his albums.

 

You see with Miles its easy - he hits your emotional nerve and lets it vibrate while his contemplating where to hit you next. Sometimes you do not know if that was his emotions or he was simply masterful enough to just manipulate emotional energy as he was pleased. With Coltrane it was different - he had so much pain and love of his own to show to the world - for most of the people that is not easy sh*t to manage all at once. That  was my reason for caution.

 

While I tend to agree with CJCC67's comments, I can see where you are coming from in regards to Coltrane. Some of his output can be pretty tough going. Me.... I can't even get into Love Supreme and seriously wonder what the fuss is about with the love for the album. And I love avant garde and free jazz.

But he has quite a few albums that are easy on the ear, and could appeal to the OP.

 

And as the OP mentioned a few jazz albums he likes with vocalists, the Coltrane/Hartman album would be perfect.

[emesbee]

Thanks all for the awesome response!!! 

 

I am going shopping tomorrow!!!!

 

Sounds like I have opened a new door with music here and there is more than I imagined to explore

 

Yes, there is always more to explore than what one first imagines, in any musical genre.

 

There are a lot of good suggestions in this thread, covering quite a few different styles. All I can suggest now is to have a listen to some of the suggestions here and see what appeals to you personally.

[mikey d]

I think if you start with the easy, sweet, tasty stuff then you start to learn the language of jazz. It is a gradual process to the more challenging material. So long as it sounds good to you, that's all that counts. Good to see another contributor to this venerable music thread.

[k-k-k-kenny]

Being pretty new at the jazz thing meself, maybe of some help to suggest discs that have worked for me:

on the cool side:

Modern Jazz Quartet - Django (if Bach does it for you, you'll get MJQ, plus vibes are always good for a cocktail or two)

Johnny Smith - Walk Don't Run & Moonlight in Vermont (supersmooth guitar)

Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else (could just as easily have been called a Miles Davis album)

a bit warmer:

Ahmad Jamal - Jamal at The Penthouse & Live at the Pershing Lounge (very fine/refined piano trio material)

Red Garland: The 1958 Trio - hard bop piano trio

Introducing Carl Perkins - ditto

WInton Kelly - Kelly Blue - ditto

cranked:

Erroll Garner - Concert By The Sea (but beware of the recording quality: it's pretty abysmal)

[jaywhar]

A couple more...

Keith Jarrett - anything from the trio with Gary Peacock & Jack Dejohnette. His solo stuff is great too.

Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um.

- The black saint and the sinner lady.

[buddyev]

You might want to check out the Original Album series - they are box sets with 5 cds for $20. Great intro to some of the greats of jazz - miles davis, john coltrane, charles mingus, ornette coleman, modern jazz quartet etc

Edited June 10, 2013 by buddyev