Weekend Bleg/Open Thread

by publius

A couple of requests for the bloggy masses:

1 -- Is anyone a Joost member? If so, a certain blogger would be eternally grateful for an invite. You can use either this email or legalfiction2004@yahoo. [UPDATE: Got it. Thanks to everyone who sent it along. I now have more Laguna Beach than I could possibly watch.]

2 -- I've tried before, but I'm renewing my efforts to dive into jazz seriously. So please feel free to pass along in the comments any album/artist recommendations. I know some basics, but you can assume I'm starting from scratch. (That said, I know Kind of Blue, and it's great, so I've got that one covered). Thanks!

Comments

[jonnybutter]

Eric Dolphy - 'Out To Lunch'. 'Modern' Jazz for people who don't think they would like that sort of thing. Not at all earnest and leaden like late Coltrane or static-sounding like some 'free jazz'. Funny and fun.

Miles D- 'Sketches of Spain'. Fantastic arrangements by Gil Evans.

Eddie Harris - 'The Electrifying Eddie Harris'. Electric Soul and Jazz music. Funky, often dancable (!!) but still Jazz.

[publius]

thanks - and jazz-funk recs are more than welcome

[hanknacey]

Miles Davis - In A Silent Way - real mellow vibe

Clifford Brown - With Strings - tres romantique

Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus; Tenor Madness - powerful sound

John Coltrane - Blue Train; Giant Steps - classics

[Warren Terra]

My favorite jazz CD that isn't by anyone particularly well-known is Abraham Burton's 'Cause And Effect' (the other two CDs of his that I have are not, in my opinion, as good).

Some free jazz can be very good, especially if you have even mediocre bass and are willing to turn up the volume; I'm thinking of 'Bitches Brew' or, for more recent choices that are more improvisational and energetic, 'Tonic' and 'Combustication' from Medeski, Martin, and Wood.

Other things you might try are Dave Holland's 'Prime Directive' (Dave Holland tends to do very structured, bass-driven work) and Pat Metheny's 'Imaginary Day' (though I find some of Metheny's work, such as 'A Map Of The World', to be a bit saccharine).

[Randy Paul]

Publius,

Regarding jazz, I'll go by instrument:

Piano: Bill Evans, Hank Jones, Herbie Hancock, Hampton Hawes, Tommy Flanagan, Bud Powell, McCoy Tyner (the big band version of Fly With the Wind may be the best music to listen to while driving), John Hicks, Oscar Peterson, to name just a few.

Alto sax: Charlie Parker, Phil Woods, Paquito D'Rivera, Benny Carter (his life pretty much spans every era in jazz history), Art Pepper, Paul Desmond, Bobby Watson.

Tenor Sax: John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Zoot Sims, Sonny Stitt, Benny Golson, Lester Young, Ben Webster, James Moody and Joe Henderson.

Baritone Sax: Gerry Mulligan (a great composer and arranger) and Pepper Adams.

I didn't mention soprano sax, because with the exception of Sidney Bechet and Steve Lacy, few players play soprano only. Coltrane, for example doubled on it.

Trumpet & Fluegelhorn: Art Farmer, Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan, Dizzy Gillespie, Jon Faddis, Arturo Sandoval, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw.

Trombone: JJ Johnson, Slide Hampton, Wycliffe Gordon, Grachan Moncur III, Bob Brookmyer, Steve Turre.

Guitar: Wes Montgomery (avoid the CTI recordings), George Benson (if the pop thing falls apart, he can always play guitar), Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Grant Green, Mark Whitfield.

Bass: Ron Carter, Charles Mingus, Ray Brown.

My favorite female vocalist is Carmen McRae, my favorite male vocalists are Mark Murphy and Kevin Mahogany. Some other woman singers that are not as well known worth your attention are Carla Cook (a truly lovely voice) and Rosanna Vitro (another lovely voice and a classy person: I wrote her a fan letter and she called me to thank me!).

I've hogged this enough, but I would just mention that, with the exception of Cecil Taylor IMHO, you can't go wrong with the classic Blue Note catalogue.

[publius]

randy - please hog away -- this is great stuff.

warren - it's funny you mention Medeski, Martin, and Wood. I listened to their most recent album for the first time last night and really liked it (rhapsody had them highly rated in the "jazz-funk" category).

[Anarch]

I love these threads :)

[Warren Terra]

A postscript: One album that hasn't yet been mentioned (possibly because it seems too obvious a choice) is Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme'. Back when NPR did its 'NPR 100' series on All Things Considered, their pieces on 'Kind Of Blue' and 'A Love Supreme' caused me to start buying jazz CDs.

[russell]

What other kinds of music do you like to listen to?

Why are you interested in jazz?

What did you like or not like about "Kind of Blue"?

Thanks -

[Daniel Goldberg]

Most of the essentials have already been covered in this thread, but I'd add Chet Baker, especially his vocal tracks, Nina Simone, and the greates jazz vocalist of all time (IMHO), Billie Holiday. Holiday is self-taught, and you can instantly tell her chops apart from Ella Fitzgerald, who has the technically most perfect jazz voice, IMO, but the raw emotion and anguish in Holiday's singing has never been matched.

Don't forget Nina Simone -- she's not really a jazz vocalist, she's just a vocalist. She transcends genre, IMO, and virtually every song I've ever heard by her is amazing.

Diana Krall's older stuff is actually quite good. My single favorite jazz album is Saxophone Colossus, which is up there already.

When you're listening to pre 1960s Miles, make sure you listen for what he's not playing, because his singular skill during that era was his understanding that not every note had to be packed into every song, that pregnant pauses and spaces for his bandmates would enhance the melodies and improvisations. Or so I think.

And if you like Big Band -- and you should -- anything by Count Basie is worth listening to. As for Satchmo, I'd advise his Hot Fives and Sevens set.

Too . . . many . . . albums . . . losing . . . power . . .

[publius]

well, i didn't really "get" kind of blue until i read up on it a bit (wikipedia). the shift to modal made me appreciate it more.

i've played music since high school (guitar mostly) so i'm semi-literate. but my understanding is that bebop was basically a repetitive bass or chord progression (often complex) with innovation over top. modal essentially freed the bass. rather than playing the same chord progression over and over, the bass player (and everyone else) plays and improvises within a scale. That's why the bass in Kind of Blue is so cool

this is stuff that i learned literally yesterday, so feel free to correct me. but that's why i liked about kind of blue

[Randy Paul]

A few Brazilian pop musicians have played with a number of jazz players - and I'm not talking about Stan Getz. Herbie Hancock's piano is one of the best things about Milton Nascimento's Miltons CD. If you can score yourself a copy of Gerry Mulligan's Walk on the Water (I believe it's out of print), grab it as well as Gilberto Gil's Quanta Live CD. I listen to the Gil CD on my way home from work after a tough day and my mood is alays lifted.

[hilzoy]

Speaking as a complete ignoramus who has concluded, with some regret, that she will never be into jazz except for the parts that are halfway blues, and also the works of cosmic geniuses whose genre is unimportant:

If you are starting from somewhere near scratch, watching the Ken Burns series is a good way to get the lay of the land.

[hilzoy]

Though I should say that if you like African music, you should check out Dollar Brand, aka Abdullah Ibrahim.

[Randy Paul]

Hilzoy,

I have to respectfully disagree. Burns' show relied far too much on Wynton Marsalis' whose view towards jazzis far too calcified and rooted in tradition nearly to the point of dogmatism.

[Randy Paul]

I do agree with you on Abdullah Ibrahim. African River is a great disc.

[hilzoy]

Randy: probably true -- as I usually say when I am ignorant, and talking to someone who is not.

I just theought that as quick lays of the land go, it might work, since being a DVD/video and all, it lets you hear a lot of music.

[Randy Paul]

Hilzoy,

Fair enough

[cleek]

i started with Kind Of Blue and a Coltrane full-career sampler (The Last Giant). then i got all of Miles & Coltranes' stuff from their late 50's heyday (Workin, Cookin, Steamin, etc., Round About Midnight). then i got everything else I could find of Miles' in the 50's. and then that all connects to Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins, Red Garland, Monk, and, of course, Coltrane. also add Dave Brubeck (IMO, everyone needs to own Time Out) and the Modern Jazz Quartet.

that late-50's stuff is my favorite, especially from Miles; 90% of my jazz collection is from that era. I can't seem to get into Miles' later stuff (Bitches Brew, etc). i do like In A Silent Way, which feels to me, like a half-step towards Bitches Brew but still close enough to the 50's stuff that i don't cringe. i'm also not a fan of the big band stuff, either from Miles or Monk - i like the small group sound best.

don't know much modern jazz, but i do like some of the Dave Holland Quintet's stuff, and John Pizzarelli (amazing guitar player and a good singer with bass & piano backing).

[Doran Williams]

Prepare yourself for a long and enjoyable education. In addition to all the great recommendations above, latch on to some Modern Jazz Quartet (European Windows); Herbie Mann; Benny Goodman; (my memory must be going) get the album with "Blue Rondo ala Turk" by the guy who composed it and the other great pieces on that album. Help me out here, someone.

OH! Dave Brubeck.

Ella Fitzgerald. Louis Armstrong.

Jesus. You are going to have a lot of fun spending a lot of money over the next two years or so.

[publius]

rhapsody people, rhapsody. Stop buying CDs. :)

[hilzoy]

Randy: do you know Echoes of Africa? The first song is absolutely wonderful.

[hilzoy]

(sheepishly): what's rhapsody?

[Doran Williams]

I forgot Philip Catherine, a jass guitarist who has some good stuff out there.

Your're in Houston? Should be able to find some fairly good local jazz there.

[publius]

rhapsody.com -- it's basically a music library that lets you stream.

You pay roughly $15 a month and you have streaming access to a huge music library. Sometimes new ones aren't on immediately, but virtually every jazz CD ever made is probably on there.

You can't put them on your iPod, but if you're in front of a computer all day (or night) -- as i trust most people are -- it's a great value. i can literally listen to virtually every CD listed above without buying it

[Doran Williams]

Jass??? It is much too late to be doing this.

Oh. On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, Paul Ray has his jazz programs on KUT, Austin. He always has a wide selection of the best jazz to be heard on radio. You can get it online at www.kut.org. I think.

[Warren Terra]

"Rhapsody is an online music service run by RealNetworks".

I'm not a user, so I may be completely off base, but I suspect that while it'll do a great job of helping you get up to speed, Rhapsody is likely to be missing a lot of people's favorite lesser-known albums. Part of the fun of jazz is going to dingy used-CD shops and looking for discs you've never heard of; a lot of albums aren't well distributed and may not be licensed by Rhapsody.

[Doran Williams]

rhapsody sounds good, but you will buy CDs anyway, because you will want to listen to them when you AREN'T anywhere near a computer. Like on a road trip to Far West Texas. Better take a bunch of CDs with you through and into that part of the world.

[Harris]

Ah Um, Charles Mingus. A wonderful improvisatory album -- listen to how the band members play off of one another.

Ella Fitzgerald, especially the Songbooks (Gershwin, Porter). Just great swinging stuff.

[hilzoy]

I'll stick with the CDs, I think. Ipod. Car. Stereo downstairs, with decent speakers. And, you know, like that.

Today is a wonderful, wonderful music day for me, because I just got CDs of some of my absolute favorite non-publicly-available music ever, including the tape of the best party I ever attended, and some of his own stuff. My previous tapes had all long since died from being played too much.

I am a happy person. Thanks, xanax.

[Warren Terra]

I should have mentioned before: if you're listening to streaming on-demand jazz, you absolutely must listen to Humphrey Lyttelton's Best Of Jazz. Note, that's a realplayer link, so if it doesn't work correctly, copy it and use RealPlayer to open it. Great jazz, great history, from a true legend both of jazz trumpet and of radio. Was an hour weekly for decades, but this year he started taking months off between series. The current series just started on Monday.

[Grover Gardner]

When someone asks me, "So what's some really good jazz?" I usually play one of these irresistible albums, with predictably good results:

Duke Ellington--The Great Paris Concert

Charles Mingus--Blues and Roots

Rahsaan Roland Kirk--The Inflated Tear

James Carter--The Real Quietstorm

The latter's "Born to Be Blue" is a showstopper.

Male jazz vocalists don't often get much play. If you want a fabulous voice with a penetrating way with lyrics and a touch of blues and funk, try this neglected singer:

Johnny Adams--The Verdict

His version of "Blue Gardenia" with Harry Connick is simply breathtaking. I've played this for people who've never heard of him and they always say, "Who IS this guy?!!"

All of these are "wows" in my book and reward repeated listening.

[Grover Gardner]

I just noticed that all four of the instrumental albums I listed above are on the Atlantic label. RIP Ahmet Ertegun, one of the greatest champions of jazz of our times.

[Randy Paul]

Hilzoy,

I don't know that one, but thanks for the tip.

[jonnybutter]

Some free jazz can be very good.... I'm thinking of 'Bitches Brew' or, for more recent choices that are more improvisational and energetic, 'Tonic' and 'Combustication' from Medeski, Martin, and Wood.

Don't mean to be a scold, but: not Free Jazz at all. Let's not muddy the waters, McKinley!

[russell]

bebop was basically a repetitive bass or chord progression (often complex) with innovation over top. modal essentially freed the bass.

Bebop is based on improvising freely over the chord changes of a song, rather than by elaborating the melody as was common in swing. The harmonic language was itself also extended beyond traditional popular song chord tones.

Modal jazz is based on improvising over scale forms and key centers, which can span individual chords. This gave players a broader, less rapidly changing, and more open-ended basis for improvisation. It's not particular to the bass, it freed everyone.

It's hard to know where to begin with jazz, it's a really big universe.

If you like "Kind of Blue" you might like to use that as a starting point from which to explore the repertoire. You might want to check out other of Miles' recordings, perhaps moving forward or backward historically. You might want to check out recordings that other folks on "Kind of Blue" played on. You might want to see who else Miles played with, either as a leader or a sideman, and check out some of their stuff. One thing will lead to another.

Make a point of noticing what appeals to you, and what doesn't, and that will be your best guide. Jazz is a rich and complex music, and some of its greatest treasures don't reveal themselves at first listen. What you like today won't necessarily be what you like tomorrow, or next year.

Some interesting, sort of classic things to check out as starting points:

Count Basie -- Atomic Swing
Lester Young -- The Complete Aladdin Recordings
Bud Powell -- The Genius of Bud Powell
Charlie Parker -- Yardbird Suite (Rhino anthology)
Charles Mingus -- Mingus Ah Um
Thelonious Monk -- Brilliant Corners
Miles Davis -- Round About Midnight, Milestones, My Funny Valentine, Miles Smiles, Bitches Brew, We Want Miles
John Coltrane -- My Favorite Things, A Love Supreme
Sonny Rollins -- Saxophone Colossus
McCoy Tyner -- The Real McCoy
Cannonball Adderley -- Somethin' Else, Mercy Mercy Mercy
Jimmy Smith -- Organ Grinder Swing
Bill Evans -- Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Stan Getz -- Getz/Gilberto (bossa nova), Sweet Rain
Chick Corea -- Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, Return to Forever
Keith Jarrett -- Belonging, Tokyo '96
Sam Rivers -- Fuschia Swing Song (out there but accessible)

Borrow these from the library or download tracks if you can find them online, see what you like, then move forward from there.

Have fun!

Thanks -

[Warren Terra]

I stand reprimanded. And I have no idea what the McKinley reference is to.

[liberal japonicus]

Good recs all. It's really amazing what a huge body of art jazz is. I think there are several ways to dive in. The first is historical, and follow artists and their influence. Another way is to choose your favorite instrument and find the people you like on that. A third way is to choose a grouping (big band, trio, trio + 1) and follow that up.

As a french horn player who got drafted to cover the piano for my university's jazz lab band, by recommendations are a bit idiosyncratic, but here are a few names that weren't mentioned

Please check out the site. honoring the late Michael Brecker. I'm a huge fan, especially his work in Steps Ahead. Michael Brecker links up with Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Chick Corea (whose live album with Herbie Hancock is phenomenal)

I blame the fact that I loved Chick Corea for the fact I'm not a very good piano player. I think if I had had a more realistic model, I might have made some progress. At least that is what I console myself with. A second player I like is Art Tatum. An absolute monster, and wikipedia has some fun anecdotes. When I was on my Tatum jag, our university hosted George Shearing and when I told him I was an Art Tatum fan, he said he met him once and said when he shook hands with him, Tatum's fingers were like a bunch of bananas.

I don't know if the best stuff got transferred to cd, but Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass was amazing. McConnell arranged, let the band and plays valve trombone lead.

While not in the top tier of performers, I have a soft spot for Willie Ruff and Dwike Mitchell because Ruff also plays jazz horn, and William Zinsser's book about the two, Mitchell & Ruff: An American Profile in Jazz, is really interesting because of the light it casts on the ones who are not in the spotlight.

OT but a bit of synchronicity with our talk of pardons, checking Willie Ruff's site has this interesting article about the Tuskegee airmen's act of civil disobedience that notes the following

In the court-martial that followed, the NAACP prepared to defend Lt. Marsden Thompson, and Lt. Shirley Clinton, the ringleaders. The rest of the officers were let off, for Truman and the war department understood that court-martialing 101 black decorated combat veterans was not the solution to the crisis.

-snip-

Not surprisingly, Berry’s virtuoso gifts made short work of the proceedings, and all the officers were found not guilty as charged. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Terry was convicted of “conduct unbecoming an officer,” an honorable act that earned him a dishonorable discharge. (Justice prevailed 43 years later, however, when President Clinton at a White House ceremony in 1998, granted Terry an executive pardon, thus removing the stigma from his achievement.) In the court-martial that followed, the NAACP prepared to defend Lt. Marsden Thompson, and Lt. Shirley Clinton, the ringleaders. The rest of the officers were let off, for Truman and the war department understood that court-martialing 101 black decorated combat veterans was not the solution to the crisis.

A young black lawyer named Thurgood Marshall led the defense team, and later became the first black justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. Instead of appearing in court himself, Marshall engaged two of the most capable black civilian trial lawyers in the nation, to defend the officers — Theodore Berry, later the Mayor of Cincinnati, as lead defense counsel; and Harold Tyler, a Chicago lawyer. Acting as assistant defense counsel was Lieutenant William Coleman, who later became the chief defense counsel of the NAACP.

Not surprisingly, Berry’s virtuoso gifts made short work of the proceedings, and all the officers were found not guilty as charged. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Terry was convicted of “conduct unbecoming an officer,” an honorable act that earned him a dishonorable discharge. (Justice prevailed 43 years later, however, when President Clinton at a White House ceremony in 1998, granted Terry an executive pardon, thus removing the stigma from his achievement.)

[jonnybutter]

I know you're going to get the standard recommendations (Duke Ellington, Armstrong, et. al.) - and well you should. But there are some overlooked worthies. I'd nominate Cannonball Adderly. He used to be more revered than he is now, and I think he deserves revisiting. Very inventive improvisation, and very soulful. Also Oscar Peterson, who likewise used to get a lot of dig; he wasn't as purely flashy as Tatum, but had a more deeply musical virtuosity. The greatest bop/post-bop pianist that ever was. Plus, he reduced all those standards' changes to blues changes - what's not to love about that?

[jonnybutter]

I stand reprimanded. And I have no idea what the McKinley reference is to.

Free Jazz = Ornette Coleman (and his hundreds of acolytes/imitators). I was refering to a genre, rather than 'free' as an adjective. (Muddy Waters' real name was McKinley Morganfield. Sorry for being annoying).

Please check out the site. honoring the late Michael Brecker.

Both Michael and Randy are/were fine musicians. Michael will be missed.

[xanax]

what Anarch said @ 10:49.

and so glad hilzoy's happy.
really. truly.

meanwhile, this (Nocturnes - by Rainer) is commercially available (as are many of his best recorded works). a little googling'll get you there. it's worth it. and Rainer's widow benefits. here's a review of Nocturnes from 1995:

RAINER: Nocturnes
Glitterhouse GRCD 363 (German CD). 1995. Rainer Ptacek, prod.; Clif Eagar, eng. ADD? TT: 49:52
Something profoundly mystical inhabits this disc, its otherworldly nature indelibly etched by the '97 passing of Tucson slide guitar virtuoso Rainer Ptacek. Much of Nocturnes was recorded in a house of worship, and mostly comprises stark, contemplative instrumentals (performed on a vintage National Steel) more akin to some of John Fahey's darker compositions than the jagged, visceral electric blues that earned Rainer the comradeship of such notables as Robert Plant and Billy Gibbons. A cover of the Beatles' "Within You Without You" has a shimmering, ghostlike quality, while an ambient collaboration with Britain's The Grid, "Nod to N2O," utilizes electronic pulses, echoey string samples, and deep-mix textures to protectively cocoon Rainer's eerie, twanging riffs. What resonates throughout is an emotional pungency that's as rich as the sound quality is pristinely intimate—and the knowledge that great art offers its creators genuine immortality.

[Sean Carroll]

Having lived in Chicago for quite a while, I was exposed to a lot of great jazz but hearing it up close and personal. Patricia Barber is one of the most creative musicians around -- she writes, sings, and plays piano, mixing jazz with classical and pop in a way that makes you say "Why isn't everybody doing this?" Cafe Blue and Modern Cool are my favorites, but all of her albums are good.

Or you could go old-school with Von Freeman or Fred Anderson, two classic tenor giants who are still very much alive and kicking.

[Greg Greene]

Your Joost invite should get to you momentarily. Knock yourself out (metaphorically, of course =, ).

[SPAZZNiBLET]

If you're looking for jazz-funk you have to check out Greyboy Allstars, Karl Denson and his Tiny Universe and Soulive. Those three bands are fantastic. I suppose they fall more into the Acid Jazz genre, but most people would probably call it funky jazz.

[SPAZZNiBLET]

Oh... and Joshua Redman is pretty solid too.

[MeditativeZebra]

One of the things that has always kept me from liking jazz more than I do is that half of every song seems to be a sax solo. When I finally discovered that jazz didn't have to be that way I started liking it more.

Publius, I think I remember you saying you were a bit of a guitarist. Perhaps, then, you will like the work of the esteemed guitarist Kenny Burrell (I'm amazed that no one has mentioned him yet-while Pat Metheny, he of the Kenny G school of schmaltz-jazz, has gotten several mentions-hell, Kenny Burrell is the founder and director of the jazz program at UCLA ). Midnight Blue is great, both the song and the album. As an aspiring guitarist I’m amazed by the way he can carry a song so fluidly and effortlessly.

Beyond that, I can only make recommendations of songs that I know from my experience in high school jazz band. I tend to like the songs that are more about having a common melody carried by the whole band that goes from beginning to end and I stay far away from anything that calls itself “free jazz” or otherwise seems to be a random collection of solos whose only connection is that they happen to be in the same key.

Here are my song recommendations:
Kenny Burrell: Midnight Blue
Stan Kenton: La Suerte de los Tontos, Send in the Clowns
Buddy Rich: Channel One Suite, Basically Blues
Horace Silver: Song for My Father

And if you want something a little funkier with an interesting historical footnote check out Gustav Brom’s band on the album “Between or Beyond the Iron Curtain: Rare Grooves from Eastern Europe: 1967-1978”. Nothing quite like that communist jazz.

On preview: I'll second Eric Dolphy. Anyone who can turn a bass clarinet into a legitimate jazz instrument has a soul truly meant for jazz. *Shakes head* I can't believe it. Jazz bass clarinet. What next? Jazz bassoon?

[someotherdude]

Verve had a series called "Round Midnight. It collected the smoothest and most elegant romantic sounds from its catalogue. The whole collection will make you melt and fall in love while taking you to school. But two CDs stand out.

'Round Midnight: Shiley Horn (Compilation)
Shirley Horn singing I Wanna Be Loved, it is one of the most seductive and sensual songs ever created. You will get the butterflies in you stomach and all you blood will rush to you head.

'Round Midnight: Billie Holiday (Compilation)
Billie Holiday singing "It Had To Be You" makes you feel like she's tickling you before she make you a man.

Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays (1961)
F*ck Dean Martin! Cole and Shearing make Fly Me To The Moon do what it says!

Jaco Pastorius (C'mon!)

Donald Byrd (Soul-Funk-Jazz)

Stepping into Tomorrow (1974)
Street Lady (1973)
Black Byrd (1972)

Keith Jarrett (Grow Up!)

SOLO:
Solo Concerts (Bremen/Lausanne) (1973)
Köln Concert (1975)
Sun Bear Concerts (1976)

TRIOS:
Changes (January 1983)
Standards, Vol. 1 (January 1983)
Standards, Vol. 2 (January 1983)
Standards Live (July 1985)

[matttbastard]

What, no love for the Sun Ra Arkestra? (This is somewhat more representative of the Arkestra's sound).

Yay to whoever gave a shout out to Sonny Rollins. I love this 1963 performance featuring Don Cherry (who I also don't believe has been mentioned, although I may be mistaken.)

Finally, an album recommendation: Carla Bley's 1971 'jazz opera' Escalator Over the Hill is an unsung favourite of mine. Be warned it's...eclectic. (Title track here, live in Italy 1998.)

[someotherdude]

MeditativeZebra,

Speaking of Soviet Rare Groves:

Soviet Grooves Vol.1 & 2

[Incompetence Dodger]

I think nothing beats live jazz (properly recorded). Something about working in front of an audience, without a net, really takes jazz musicians to another level. That't particularly true when they've been working together for a while, and have achieved for all intents and purposes telepathy.

Each of these live box sets is simply stupendous. None are cheap, but all are worth every penny (Actually now that I've checked, the Evans and Marsalis actually are cheap).

John Coltrane: The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings (4 discs)
Miles Davis: Live at the Plugged Nickel 1965 (seven discs)
Keith Jarrett at the Blue Note (six discs)
Bill Evans: The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings 1961 (three discs)
Wynton Marsalis: Live at the Village Vanguard (seven discs)

If you're getting into jazz-funk, I think Jimmy Smith's Root Down is the place to begin (another live album). I've personally always preferred Soulive and particularly Galactic to Medeski, Martin, and Wood.

Not jazz per se, but any jazz-influenced guitarist simply has to listen to Derek Trucks and Robert Randolph.

He's not really my thing, but considering that you're a guitarist it's amazing that Django Reinhart hasn't even been mentioned in this thread.

[liberal japonicus]

Hmmm, the Metheny-Kenny G comparison is interesting, because Metheny wrote an evisceration of Kenny G when he overdubbed a duet with (the late) Louis Armstrong.

[liberal japonicus]

Also at the jazzoasis site is Keith Jarrett's thoughts on Wynton Marsalis. Though I have to admit, one of my best laughs was this documentary of Marsalis writing a score for a modern dance choreographer whose name escapes me, and the choreographer blowing up during rehearsal, saying 'can't you play it the same way every time?'

[Doran Williams]

Have any of the above masses mentioned Kronos Quartet?

[abber]

Anyone notice how impartial Publius tried to be before the election? It was obvious that he really wasn't, but for some reason he desired to present himself that way.

It's good that he has finally shown his true colors. It reminds me of the journalists that are so popular in the MSM. Publius would fit right in with them.

[Phil]

I think the comment above me is someone who was banned under a different handle. The "abb" is kind of a giveaway.

Anyway, publius, one way to extend your listening reach is to seek out different versions of a particular composition. For instance, if you're liking Miles, check out his version of "Bemsha Swing" on Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants, with Monk on Piano. Then check out Monk's original recording on, I believe, Monk's Mood, Coltrane's version on The Avant-Garde, Bill Evans on Conversations with Myself, etc. Gives you a lot of insight into what different performers bring to a single composition.

If you want a recording that's a little difficult to listen to in terms of how it fits into jazz at first, but rewards repeated listening, try Miles's On the Corner.

[a-train]

second the nina simone recommendation. simply cannot go wrong with her.

unmentioned can't miss classics:

"take five" by dave brubeck.

dizzie gillespie, the rca years (really, really multi-disc set)

"the hawk flies high" by coleman hawkins

also, some person faves:

"the queen's suite" and "a drum is a woman" by duke ellington.

also, if you haven't seen it, you have to check out the documentary "the language of music" on tom dowd, the engineer at atlantic records. if you love music, it is guaranteed to blow your mind. this guy was the sound engineer/producer on half the great music recorded in the 20th century, from ray charles, coltrane, and mingus to aretha, wilson pickett, and booker t. & mg's. and before he got into recording music he worked on the manhattan project!

[a-train]

oops, another can't miss classic:

"waltz for debbie" by bill evans

[Ted]

I got no kick against modern jazz.

[Bernard Yomtov]

I got no kick against modern jazz.

So you want some of that rock'n'roll music? Wrong thread.

To (maybe) add to the above:

Piano: Bill Charlap, Cyrus Chestnut
Trumpet: Terence Blanchard, Jeremy Pelt
Vocal: Sarah Vaughan, Dianne Reeves. Avoid recent Cassandra Wilson.

In general, I think a good way for neophytes (I'm looking at you, hilzoy) to get started is with vocalists. Not much work, and then you can start to enjoy what others do with the songs. I think the main off-putting thing is to imagine that it's all a hopelessly complex and in-group thing. Some people act that way, but it's unnecessary. Just enjoy the music.

[jonnybutter]

'Jazz is not dead, it just smells funny" - F. Zappa circa 1973

As if more proof were needed, we have the phenomenon of 'Smooth Jazz', an oxymoron if there ever was one. The other day, I heard a 'smooth jazz' version of the Brubeck classic 'Take 5': It was in 4/4!! Not kidding, unfortunately.

[OutOfContext]

Most of my jazz experience has been big band and/pre 1950. I have had nearly a lifelong obsession with Artie Shaw. Also Django Reinhardt.
I use Napster-to-go and, since I have a Plays-for-sure non-Apple mp3 player (iRiver), I can download any of the millions of tracks to my player and listen to it anywhere. Just can't burn it.

[jdkbrown]

Ahmad Jamal, espcially "But not for Me/Live at the Pershing".

[Randy Paul]

Meditative Zebra,

While I agree with you about Kenny Burrell, (get his Heritage and Moon and Sand discs) boy are you wrong about Metheny, especially as Liberal Japonicus pointed out.

Liberal Japonicus,

What you said regarding Michael Brecker. If you want to listen to a pianist whose playing influenced countless others and whose improvising is marked by lovely, long melodic lines, listen to Bill Evans. In addition to the Vanguard sessions mentioned by Incompetence Dodger, I recommend You Must Believe in Spring and I Will Say Goodbye (Evans' style worked well with Michel Legrand's songs).

[Katherine]

what venues & bands are good for live music in Chicago? I am sure not taking advantage of that part of living here, because I don't know where to start.

[russell]

I got no kick against modern jazz.

Unless they try to play it too darn fast.

At the risk of milking the jazz thread beyond it's natural lifespan, some personal favorites with comments. My apologies if I'm wearing out my welcome on this one.

Emily Remler -- Catwalk

Remler's not that well know, but she plays solid, clean, straight up jazz guitar, and she's a great writer. This recording has an excellent band, and is very accessible. It sounds like it's time (70's I think) but it's still great.

Kenny Wheeler -- Gnu High

Wheeler has possibly the most beautiful tone of any trumpet or flugelhorn player around. The band here became Keith Jarrett's "Standards" trio. This is a tiny bit outside, but still very accessible. Among other things, features a beautiful cymbals-only drum solo by Jack DeJohnette.

John Handy -- Karuna Supreme

Jazz/Eastern fusion before it was trendy, and Handy comes at it more from the funky/bluesy Mingus world than from some kind of ethereal, beyond-it-all vibe. One of the most fun jazz records you'll ever hear.

Archie Shepp -- Blase

Spare, pungent, hipster jazz, but for real. "There Is A Balm In Gilead" is one of my favorite jazz performances, anywhere, ever, by anyone.

Kenny Werner -- Live At Visiones

Creative, resourceful piano trio playing by a great pianist and great band at the top of their game. They stretch the song forms quite a bit, but not to the point of being unrecognizable.

John Coltrane -- Crescent

IMO, the most intimate and tender Coltrane recording.

Bobo Stenson -- Serenity

Scandinavians have kind of taken the jazz ball and run with it, inventing their own approach to improvisation in the process. There's no real blues basis here, it's more cerebral than typical American jazz, but it's a beautiful, thoughtful, intuitive approach to the piano trio.

Clifford Brown & Max Roach Quintet -- (eponymous)

Brown and Roach are brilliant players. Brown has a bright, ebullient tone, Roach was and remains one of the master drummers in the jazz tradition. This recording contains two of Brown's best tunes, "Daahoud" and "Joy Spring".

Joe Pass -- Songs for Ellen

Solo acoustic jazz guitar does not get better than this. Released posthumously, dedicated to his wife.

Art Pepper -- Straight Life

Pepper was one of the few alto players of his generation (Phil Woods was another) who was able to carve out an individual voice in the wake of the musical tsunami that was Charlie Parker. This recording comes from his maturity, after he cleaned up and rejoined the human race. You'll never hear "September Song" the same way again.

Charlie Haden and Hank Jones -- Steal Away

Acoustic piano and upright bass played by two real masters, playing all hymns and spirituals. Sweet and lovely.

Keith Jarrett -- Belonging

Jarrett's first recording with his European quartet. Joyful, hypnotic, exuberant.

Chet Baker -- Lonely Star

Straight up hard bop session, with Baker backed by a tough Detroit band who wake him up and keep him honest.

Abdullah Ibrahim -- South Africa

Ibrahim is from South Africa, and his music retains the sound of township music. Elegant and eloquent, simple in the best way, but also with lots of fire.

Brad Meldau -- The Art of the Trio, any volume

Thoughtful, highly intelligent, trio playing from one of the best pianists and trios working today. Introspective and romantic, but romantic in the sense of early Goethe.

Wes Montgomery -- The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery

Sure, you've heard this kind of bluesy, smooth, no-sweat guitar playing a million times, but Wes invented it. Sometimes you just want to hear some Wes. 'Nuff said.

John Scofield -- Groove Elation or Hand Jive

Funky, loose, hip and fun. Scofield is a great path into jazz for folks who already dig blues, funk, or NOLA style R&B.

Larry Young -- Unity

Young's a Hammond B3 player, this is just a standout, absolutely burning session with a great band.

Danilo Perez -- Central Avenue

Perez is one in a long line of brilliant, virtuosic Latin jazz pianists. The tunes here are true arrangements rather than just a bunch of guys blowing over changes. Smart, cool stuff, great playing, highly accessible.

Sorry if I went on too long.

Thanks!!

[Randy Paul]

Russell,

Emily Remler came to prominence in the 1980's and died in 1990 far too young at 32. She had plenty of chops as this video shows.

I owe John Handy for my interest in jazz. I took his jazz survey course at San Francisco State as an elective. Any class where you meet at the Keystone Korner is okay by me!

[jonnybutter]

Katherine:

The live music scene in Chicago - especially for jazz - is a faint shadow of what it was. There is an unfortunate late tradition here: musicians generally don't get paid. I don't know how people rationalize that, but they do.

That said, the Green Mill has jazz 6 or 7 nights a week (Lawrence and Broadway in Uptown). If you haven't been, you ought to. The decor is right out of the 40s (it was a speakeasy before that), and they get very good local and touring jazz acts there (and pay them). Keep an eye on the Hothouse (South Loop); they have some interesting jazz and 'world' music there. And the venue is historic. I once interviewed Studs Terkel in connection with a show I was playing there, and he told me the space was a WPA 'workers theatre' in the late 30s.

Also, there's a very nice, small club called 'Katrina's' on Irving Park between Lincoln and Ravenswood which has some interesting, hard to pidgeon-hole music. They have jazz, Greek, Balkin....

I don't know what kind of music you like, but...a few more suggestions:

For wacky rock-ish music, go to the Empty Bottle in Bucktown. For more mainstream (?) 'Indy' (?) rock, check the Double Door in Wicker Park.

enjoy

[liberal japonicus]

Randy,
Bill Evans, yes, yes, yes! Mentioning him has me suggest Scott LaFaro, the bassist who played on those sessions, and played with Stan Getz (geez, did no one mention him?). The Village Vanguard sessions were the last recording LaFaro made before he died in a car crash and Evans didn't play for a year or two after his death. I'm also reminded that LaFaro played with Hampton Hawes, who you mentioned, and then note that you mentioned Clifford Brown, who died too early in a car crash.

Thinking of Stan Getz and Hampton Hawes, one thing that amazes me about jazz musicians is that so many of them had severe addiction problems. (We could probably make an all star list for Publius of jazzers solely from those who have been addicted to one drug or another) Something I have always wondered is if they would have been even better without the drugs or if the drugs unlocked something.

Reading down thru this thread makes me realize that I don't listen to music as much as I should and a lot of the stuff mentioned here, I had as vinyl, but don't have the cds, though now, I'm wondering if cds are on the way out.

[jonnybutter]

Katherine cont.

oops. Forgot about Blues. My favorite place is called B.L.U.E.S. It's on Halsted near Diversey. Yes, it's on the North side. I'd avoid Kingston Mines down the street. Too crowded, too loud, too full of tourists. Buddy Guy's club in the S. Loop can also be good, but also overrun with tourists sometimes. BLUES is small and gets crowded, but it has a regular local clientele, and has much more of the true blues club vibe. It's homey.

[Randy Paul]

Thinking of Stan Getz and Hampton Hawes, one thing that amazes me about jazz musicians is that so many of them had severe addiction problems.

True, which is why Clifford Brown's death was so incredibly tragic. He was a dedicated family man, devoted to his wife and young son and didn't do drugs. I've read that Max Roach to this day doesn't talk about Brown without getting misty-eyed.

[Randy Paul]

By the way, another male vocalist with a beautiful voice who deserves more attention is Andy Bey.

[Mike Meginnis]

(Sheepishly)

If somebody could toss me a Joost invite at mike.meginnis@gmail.com, that'd be completely awesome.

[Nell]

Charlie Haden and Hank Jones -- Steal Away

Acoustic piano and upright bass played by two real masters, playing all hymns and spirituals. Sweet and lovely.

Thanks, russell! Not only have you not worn out your welcome, being reminded of this album has by itself justified for me the hours spent reading ObWi comments in the last few months.

I'm clipping and saving your whole comment for music-shopping.

While I'm here, let me put in a plug for Betty Carter. She performed with a trio of young musicians during the years when I saw her (late 1970s, 1980s).

Her peak of visibility/commercial success for non-jazzophiles might have been her duet with Ray Charles, 'Baby It's Cold Outside.'

[collin]

Agree with all the folks talking about Bill Evans, but no recommendation of my fave album of his - "On Green Dolphin Street"

And as long as the subject is piano jazz, Marcus Roberts - "Alone With Three Giants"

[Cryptic Ned]

Ornette Coleman Trio, at the Golden Circle in Stockholm, 1965

[godoggo]

I'd just recommend some good jazz blogs. Best audio blogs: Words and Music (hype machine), and (more oriented to avant-garde stuff) Destination-Out (hype machine).

Also, I check out the blog of the notoriously loud piano trio the Bad Plus. I'm actually not a huge fan of their music (though their fans are truly fanatical), but their pianist, who does most of the posting, is one of the most insightful music writers around.

Also, in the interests of plugging the L.A. edge jazz scene, I must mention the Downbeast. Nels Cline, in particular, is god.

[circularfile]

The best introduction I know is the Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz (12 sides or 5 cds): from ragtime to the late sixties, just before fusion took off. The cds are out of print, but occasionally turn up. Naturally, I have not digitized my LPs, because that might violate copyrights. For newer music, I recommend the Blue Series albums from Thirsty Ear records: Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Spring Heel Jack . . .

[novakant]

I think some more contemporay stuff would do no harm here, so here goes:

Jason Moran (amazing amazing pianist)

Don Byron (clarinet and sax, beautiful)

Kurt Elling (my favourite male vocalist, saw him live in Paris once, funny and moving ballads and free verse)

Medeski Martin Wood (not everybody's cup of tea, but very interesting and actually lots of fun; very versatile, semi-electronic; albums vary quite a bit in style so better check before buying)

cheers

[godoggo]

Regarding singers: somebody above mentioned Carmen McRae as their favorite, and, yeah, she's mine, too. I especially recommend her 1986 album "Fine and Mellow: Live at Birdland West," and her 1961 album "Lover Man."

For Ella, I recommend any of the live recordings she did with the Ellington Orchestra in the '60s. Astounding stuff (the Ellington Songbook's good, too, just not as)

Among singers who aren't you know, dead, my favorite is Dianne Reeves. "A Little Moonlight" is a good one.

I'll stop there.

[JakeB]

I really like Don Pullen's _Capoeira_, although I'm not that familiar with his other stuff. The album as a whole has a nice Afro-Brazilian/West African tilt to it.
The first song in particular has some spectacular piano work. He was noted for his double and triple slides--a friend of mine who saw him play in Manhattan said at one point during the evening Pullen reared back clutching his right wrist with his left hand, his right hand spasmed into what looked like something from Tiger Claw kung fu, and a terrible rictus on his face--I guess it was quite a cramp, but the kind of thing that happens if you play that way a lot.

[rdldot]

Am I the only one that puts Gil Scott-Heron is the jazz category?
As an aside, the best concert I ever saw was in the early 80s - Count Basie - they had to roll him out in a wheelchair to the piano, he barely touched the keys, but what a showman. And his band was awesome.

[Doodle Bean]

Thanks for asking, Mike. That makes it easier for me to ask!

doodle-bean@hotmail.com

[tarylcabot]

If you're still in beginer mode, then i'll recommend my Friday night dinner discs as a good intro point:

Miles - seven steps to heaven
Monk - it's monk's time
Ellington - live at newport 1956 (get the 1 disc version. the double disc adds a bunch of intro talking that you really don't need. diminuendo in blue and crescendo in blue is the show stopper

we play those 3 discs frequently while enjoying friday night wine blogging.

Coltrane's overall best album was "a love supreme" but the greatest single jazz piece is "ole". side 2 of the album (in case you buy vinyl) is solid, but not spectacular.

[Randy Paul]

diminuendo in blue and crescendo in blue is the show stopper

Credit where credit is due: Paul Gonsalves plays one of the legendary tenor solos in jazz history.

Rdldot,

I'm on the fence about Gil Scott-Heron, whose music I love despite his caving in to drug addiction after so many powerful songs against.

I will say this: every rapper owes him and the Last Poets a major debt.

Another wonderful singer and influential in the world of vocalese is Eddie Jefferson. Check him out.

[Randy Paul]

Since Publius said hog away, a couple of more things I'd like to add.

As I mentioned Carmen McRae before a couple of facts to share. She had one of the widest repertories in jazz history. She covered songs by Santana (evil Ways) and Alice Cooper!(Only Women Bleed. I don't think anyone could consistently interpret a song better than her. She refused to sing Send in the Clowns until someone explained to her that is what is done at circuses when a disaster happens.

Another young male singer to keep your eyes open for is Sachal Vasandani. I saw him at Jazz at Lincoln Center about two years ago and he just released his first CD.

[Diogen]

Surprised not to see any mention of Art Blakey-- or did I overlook? The Jazz Messengers was, in essence, a training ground for hard bop musicians. My recommended CD is "Moanin'".

Great to see a shout-out for Rainer halfway up the thread. (I'm a Tucsonan.) I saw him with his old outfit, Das Combo, way back in the 'Nam (late 80s).

[godoggo]

Just remembered, here's an article from a while back with a list of jazz albums for indie rock fans. Not all of it's to my taste, but that's OK.

[cleek]

jazz albums for indie rock fans

"Sonny Sharrock"... wow. i only knew him from the Space Ghost theme song.

yes, i am a Philistine.

[cleek]

and... if you're in the mood for some real mainstreamy everyone-can-like-it stuff, Madeleine Peyroux's "Careless Love" is just the thing.

[WD-40]

Janko Nilovic is incredible.

Check out his Jazz Impressions I at my music blog...

Mongoloid.

Also, I too would like to beg for an invite to Joost. I would appreciate it greatly.

Thank you.

Enjoy the album.

:-}

[Quill]

Cleo Laine. And/or Mel Torme. That is, if you like vocals.

[publius]

Thanks to everyone -- this is great. Completely daunting, but great nonetheless

[Jon H]

Everybody go to the Kung Fu Monkey blog and donate to Fisher House, which provides free or low-cost housing near VA hospitals for the loved ones of wounded Iraq/Afghanistan vets.

John Rogers, the proprietor of the blog, is going to match your donations. And, one of the producers of Transformers is *also* going to match donations. So your money will do 3 times as much good.

Spread the word.

[rilkefan]

Shawn Lane improv.

[rilkefan]

Shawn Lane improv.

[rilkefan]

That was odd - typepad is a bit random tonight.

[Anarch]

jonnybutter: The other day, I heard a 'smooth jazz' version of the Brubeck classic 'Take 5': It was in 4/4!! Not kidding, unfortunately.

O. M. F. G. You owe me, dude. I don't know how or when I'm going to collect, but you will suffer, and you will regret having put that image in my mind (or sound in my brain, whatever).

Although, this is a great excuse to plug my all-time favorite time-signature parody: the finale of Oedipus Tex, the oratorio by PDQ Bach. My dad was literally spasming from cognitive dissonance by the end of it, much to my delight. Totally worth a listen if you can find it.

[jonnybutter]

you will regret having put that image in my mind (or sound in my brain, whatever).

Misery loves company. Maybe you'll hear it yourself sometime when you're in some Borgia of Commerce.

[Randy Paul]

Jonnybutter:

Could have been worse. Could have been Giant Steps in C . . .

[cleek]

Cindy Sheehan threatens to run against Pelosi if Pelosi doesn't move to impeach Bush in the next two weeks.

is the woman crazy ?