jazz me up

strumjoughlamps · September 2013

Never been interested but I like to give all things a go, same with classical and I find now that I like to play some for appreciation rather than choice so its time to try jazz.

So I have ordered Miles Davis - Kind of Blue, anything else worth trying for appreciation purposes?

Jalapeno · September 2013

Wow - 100yrs of a music form - a big ask.

I'd give that a good listen see if it inspires or bores you.

Then ...

Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue
Stan Getz/Joao Gelberto - Getz/Gilberto
Bill Evans/Jim Hall - Intermodulation, and Undercurrent
Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus
Charlie Parker - any compilation

Also - get some vintage compilations from Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Count Basie and most importantly Duke Ellington

guitarfishbay · September 2013

It is a wide genre so it depends if you're looking for something moody or something a bit more upbeat.

Check out these two albums if you fancy something upbeat.

Charlie Parker + Dizzie Gillespie - Bird and Diz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AffTF6GeIM

Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a4n6yZIXxI

randomhandclaps · September 2013

What is difficult (as you will already know) is that Jazz as a term can be as loosely applied as Rock, so undoubtedly if you search you will find some you like and some you detest.

Although a clichéd choice, Kind Of Blue is for me one of my top five jazz albums of all time. Then I am a tremendous Miles Davis fan, but it's worth remembering Mile's stand went through 4-5 major shifts. I find myself with some I love, some I like and some I just appreciate.

You need to find a foothold of an album you like and explore from there finding what you do and don't like about the genre.

strumjoughlamps · September 2013

good point on the scope of the word jazz.. was trying to avoid buying VA compilation cds but it might be worth it to help in finding out..

but then as mentioned its about appreciation that may lead to enjoyment, just as long as its a great piece of work then I am okay with that, sounds weird but it makes sense to me..

I guess if there is a nice jazz airing on the side of blues, that would suit, would choose moody over upbeat.

Jalapeno · September 2013

Then Kenny Burrell will be right up your street, also explore Grant Green.

Blues -> Jazz - Louis Armstrong (Hot Five & Hot Seven eras) really is THE guy.

Megii · September 2013

You absolutely must have some Wes Montgomery in there - for many the greatest jazz guitarist, so please try the "Smokin' at the Half Note" album, with the Wynton Kelly Trio. I think it was Pat Metheny no less who rated this as the greatest jazz guitar album of all time.

Jalapeno · September 2013

But get "The Incredible Jazz Guitar ...." first

Megii · September 2013

Jalapeno said:

But get "The Incredible Jazz Guitar ...." first

Lol - get them both!

then get more...

EricTheWeary · September 2013

I have a little section of my cd collection that could be described as jazz but very little of it regularly gets an airing ( including Kind Of Blue, I'm afraid). The main exception is Midnight Blue which could easily be in any top 10 blues albums of all time or any top 10 most important guitar albums of all time as well as any jazz list (fans include SRV and Otis Rush and Robben Ford and BB King - who even employed Burrell for a while). Don't expect to be blown away by it, it is pretty laid back but the tone and the phrasing are just super human.

I certainly 'got' jazz a lot more when I used to go to lots and lots of gigs of all sorts including jazz ones so I would recommend seeing what's on at your local arts center and going to see half a dozen modern jazz artists.

Coming from a guitar perspective its also worth checking out gypsy jazz - Django or one of the many modern interpreters. It tends to be a bit more immediate ( by which I think I mean easier to follow) and a bit bluesier than some modern jazz. There are various concerts and festivals around once you start looking.By no means strictly a jazz player John Jorgenson has done some modern takes on gypsy jazz, watching him interpret the Shadows FBI in this style is a very happy memory for me.

And, finally, you could also consider a bit of western swing - in a loose sense like gypsy jazz but with singing.A useful 'gateway' music if you find you don't know where the tune is when you listen to jazz.

ChrisMusic · September 2013

A bit like you, I am dipping my toes into jazzier waters, after rediscovering the guitar I want to expand my appreciation and technique beyond where I was before. So here goes.

This may interest you - BBC Radio 2 - Jazz Guitar Greats - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b038xtf7

The current program is on Herb Ellis. The previous two were on Charlie Byrd and Pat Metheny

Jools Holland is usually a good source of programs as is Jamie Cullum.

Programs give "discoverability" for new stuff, so worth putting on in the background, absorbing gently and making a note of what you like now. You never know where it will lead or what you may like in a few years time, so worth a few hours in the background if you're not sure.

Also check YouTube for things like the North Sea Jazz Festival, it's not all strictly Jazz though, great to discover some new stuff.

Plenty of other festivals too.

I am an unashamed Jan Akkerman fan, so this is his North Sea Jazz Festival gig from 2011 (has a few moments both good & bad ! )

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Fretwired · September 2013

The trumpeters blue trousers are something to behold .... I prefer this funkier track:

Philip Catherine is worth checking out .. great composer and jazz guitarist .. this is one of his songs

ChrisMusic · September 2013

Fretwired said: .... I prefer this funkier track:

Sublime.

That's a WOW from me, for that stunning guitar, for you personally for finding and posting this,

and above all to Jan Akkerman for a fantastic performance, just loved it.

What is that guitar? (I notice that higher fret access is not as good as a Les Paul), but that does look and sound stunning.

It looks like it plays effortlessly too, so a great instrument all round.

Fretwired said: Philip Catherine is worth checking out ...

Another new find, thanks @Fretwired.

I am sure there will be many more new finds through this discussion, thanks to everyone for sharing, and strumjoughlamps for starting it.

viz · September 2013

Elegant Gypsy by Al di Meola if you want to taste the delights of jazz fusion.

Fretwired · September 2013

ChrisMusic said:

Fretwired said: .... I prefer this funkier track:

Sublime.

That's a WOW from me, for that stunning guitar, for you personally for finding and posting this,

and above all to Jan Akkerman for a fantastic performance, just loved it.

What is that guitar? (I notice that higher fret access is not as good as a Les Paul), but that does look and sound stunning.
It looks like it plays effortlessly too, so a great instrument all round.

Fretwired said: Philip Catherine is worth checking out ...

Another new find, thanks @Fretwired.

I am sure there will be many more new finds through this discussion, thanks to everyone for sharing, and strumjoughlamps for starting it.

Philip Catherine actually replaced Jan in Focus - small world. He didn't enjoy very much as he was a jazz guitarist. I saw him at a small jazz club in London and we had a few beers together. Really nice guy ..

Jan's guitar is a custom guitar based on his old Framus with a headstock of his own design. I've had a strum on it and it's a very nice guitar.

Check out Jesse van Ruller as well ...

Bellycaster · September 2013

If he's not been mentioned already you could do a lot worse than Joe Pass. I think there is one of his Tuition vids on Yoo Chewb.

ICBM · September 2013

Trying not to duplicate what's been said so far...

If you've come to jazz from classical, you could start with Gershwin. He's a bit of a 'crossover'.

Don't forget Big Band and WWII-era Swing either... Glenn Miller, for short

.

Chris Barber is good for a varied take on 'trad' jazz.

ChrisMusic · September 2013

Just thought I would bring this to the surface again to see what other sage advice is out there.

Deadman · September 2013

You've gotta try Corduroy:

Fretwired · September 2013

Like the Corduroy track ....

Fretwired · September 2013

Time for some Ronny Jordan ...

viz · September 2013

Seeing as we're going youtubey, I urge you to watch this - it's pretty much in the middle of Al di Meola's styles, spanning his 70's and 80's heavy fusion and speed, and his 90's and 2000's world music, textural stuff, so if you like it there's about 30 more albums to enjoy for you!

Fretwired · September 2013

See Al live quite a few times .. an amazing player ..

Return to Forever ...

ChrisMusic · September 2013

YouTubey, why not, what a fantastic way to explore @viz, good choice, Al - pretty special.

Great fun, that put a smile on my face @Deadman

Pure class - haven't heard Ronny Jordan before, enjoyed that lots @Fretwired.

- and that was so tight it made my eyes water !

"so much to learn, only one short life time"

a bit classical a bit jazzy

- - -

rather tasty bass chops here too.

- - -

viz · September 2013

Awesome @Fretwired, that looks like return to return to forever! When was that? We saw him at Ronnie's last year, wonderful intimate close-up sort of gig and he was just brilliant

strumjoughlamps · September 2013

Kind of Blue turned up today, after a couple of plays this afternoon I find myself liking the piano more than anything else so who is worth a listen? oh and I find the ting t t tings of the percussion and the dum d da dums of the bass not to my taste. Blue In Green is currently the track I am liking the most if that helps in your recommendations

Ta

Fretwired · September 2013

And Hiromi's Sonicboom ...

Fretwired · September 2013

@viz Return to Forever Live at Montreux 2008 ... check out the live CD and DVD ...

Fretwired · September 2013

@ChrisMusic check on Jan doing gypsy with the Rosenberg Trio [a group well worth checking out] ..

viz · September 2013

Thanks I'll check it. Didn't know they'd done stuff recently. I interviewed Jan Akkerman for guitarist tv a few years ago. He was mental. We actually couldn't understand what he was talking about so we couldn't air the interview!

ChrisMusic · September 2013

Hey @viz, I don't suppose you kept a copy of that interview with Jan by any chance?

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