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!
You have gotten tons of great comments above, so I won't add to the list. I just want to reinforce the suggestion by several others that you must buy Dave Brubeck's "Take Five." Not only do I think it is one of the great jazz albums of all time, but it is also incredibly accessible. For an album that was an experiment in unusual time signatures, it turns out to be unbelievably engaging to hear. I really cannot imagine a better jazz album to draw you into the converted (or perverted?).
Posted by: HungChad | July 09, 2007 at 11:46 AM
"Cindy Sheehan threatens to run against Pelosi if Pelosi doesn't move to impeach Bush in the next two weeks.
is the woman crazy ?"
Yes. (And I am on her side for the most part.)
Next question.
Posted by: john miller | July 09, 2007 at 12:06 PM
Next question
is Sheehan trying to become the next Nader ?
Posted by: cleek | July 09, 2007 at 12:59 PM
"Escalator Over the Hill," amen. I first heard it at 3 a.m. in 1983, back when WNYC-FM was the best radio station in the U S and A, and I thought: "This is why I moved to New York. To be exposed to stuff like this."
Now I live in Canada.
Posted by: Diamond Jim | July 09, 2007 at 01:10 PM
I don't believe I saw any mention of John Zorn. I've only heard a tiny bit of his stuff, and it was some time ago, but I have this lingering curiosity that I have yet to satisfy. Any of you jazzheads have any thoughts?
Posted by: hairshirthedonist | July 09, 2007 at 02:29 PM
I like the idea of Zorn's music more than the music itself. That said, some of the Klezmer stuff is fun.
Posted by: jonnybutter | July 09, 2007 at 05:42 PM
By the way, if you want to hear the most unusual Oscar Peterson disc, give a listen to With Respect to Nat, in which Peterson sings!
Posted by: Randinho | July 09, 2007 at 10:52 PM
The best way to dive into jazz, IMO, is to subscribe to XM Radio and listen to Channel 72, "Beyond Jazz"all day, every day. The host, Russ Davis, is a veteran of the scene, and he puts out a varied playlist accompanied by knowledgeable reporting.
That said, you should get every album that features Stanton Moore as the drummer. He's fantastic.
Posted by: AlabamaYankee | July 09, 2007 at 11:51 PM
No time to read the whole thread, but I text-searched the page, and it appears that no one has mentioned these records, all soul/funk-jazz burners:
Les McCann & Eddie Harris - Swiss Movement and Second Movement
Joshua Redman - Elastic
Lou Donaldson - The Scorpion Live at the Cadillac Club
"Groove" Holmes - Living Soul
Cannonball Adderley Quintet - Country Preacher: "You know it's rough and tough in this ghetto...lot of funny stuff going down. But you gotta walk tall! Walk tall! Walk tall! [2, 3, 4...]"
And oh my goodness, can't believe it hasn't been mentioned, New Orleans street brass bands play songs off this record for god's sake...
Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
Can't go wrong.
Oh, and speaking of New Orleans street bands, if you want jazz chops with soul power, check out:
Rebirth Brass Band - Live at the Glass House
Can't! Go! Wrong!
Posted by: st | July 10, 2007 at 09:49 AM
Amen to C. Adderley's 'Country Preacher'. Kick ass!
Posted by: jonnybutter | July 10, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Nobody's mentioned Weather Report or Jaco Pastorius yet!
Disclosure: I used to play bass guitar, so I'm a bit biased toward Jaco and his collaborations.
Anyway, WR and Jaco are both more fusiony, but they're still definitely jazz and definitely worth a look. Jaco's eponymous album is especially good, as is his live Birthday Concert album.
Paul Chambers, bassist for Miles Davis on Kind of Blue and other albums, also has a pretty good solo album called Bass on Top. Oddly enough, one of the best parts of the album is the guitar, so if you like guitar jazz give it a shot.
Posted by: Joshua | July 17, 2007 at 11:41 PM