J***/Modern J*** recommendations?

quote:

Jazz is a music genre that I have thus far avoided. The stuff that I have heard I just haven't enjoyed.

Recently however I have heard some modern jazz that sounded pretty good to me, it was more upbeat and rhythmic, digesting it was easier than I had heard before.

Jez....a few more clues might help. Modern Jazz is an enormously varied genre.

Do you have the name of the artists you heard and liked?

Was it mainly electronic / synth music or traditional insruments like piano & bass?

Was it a small piano group? or something like a quartet or quintet with saxaphone and trumpet for example? or was it bigger band music?

Did it seem to have an easily identified theme musical tune that started and finished a piece or was it free form with no strong musical theme?

regards
Geoff

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff P:

quote:

Jazz is a music genre that I have thus far avoided. The stuff that I have heard I just haven't enjoyed.

Recently however I have heard some modern jazz that sounded pretty good to me, it was more upbeat and rhythmic, digesting it was easier than I had heard before.

Jez....a few more clues might help. Modern Jazz is an enormously varied genre.

Do you have the name of the artists you heard and liked?

Was it mainly electronic / synth music or traditional insruments like piano & bass?

Was it a small piano group? or something like a quartet or quintet with saxaphone and trumpet for example? or was it bigger band music?

Did it seem to have an easily identified theme musical tune that started and finished a piece or was it free form with no strong musical theme?

regards
Geoff

Wow I think was more bigger band than small piano or quintet, but but defo had some brass involved. In terms of easily identifiable, it did have a melody of sorts.

Does this help?

Not familiar with his work, but, from what I've read, this sounds like Wynton Marsalis territory. Maybe other forum members will be able to tell you more?

OK Jez....not a lot to go on. Probably the best thing for you to do is sample a few different jazz examples. Just get a few CD's by searching their names on a site like Amazon etc.

Here are few names and styles I can suggest to start you off.

Typically Jazz recorded in the 40's 50's & 60's was classed as 'Mainstream' and is defenitely the mature version of what is loosely termed 'Modern' Jazz ( as opposed to traditional which represents more 20's & 30's styles). Mainstream Jazz greats are thick on the ground so here is just a few:

- Piano player trios - Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Thelomius Monk, Erroll Garner all worth trying

Quartets and quintets - a lot of famous names who played together and alone:

- For Saxaphone players try Charlie Parker, Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Cannonball Adderly.
- Horn players Miles Davis, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard.
- Big Bands were in their prime - Of Course Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Gil Evans and Woody Herman are all worth a look.

Mainstream Jazz evolved overtime driven by some key innovators such as Miles Davis and Charlie parker and became more 'creative' but perhaps less easily accessible. Though this is not to say it is not great music.

Names to try are the likes of:

- Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey & Wynton Marsalis

Then there is the so called form know as 'smooth jazz' which is easy listening as they say but can still be quite enjoyable. In this arena some names to consider are:

- George Duke, Lee Ritenour, Joe Sample, Jeff Lorber, Kirk whalam, Bob Jame sand Larry Carlton.

By perhaps picking out one from each of the above groupings you will get an initial idea of what you like. If you like it all then great. If only certain styles float your boat you know where to buy more. You can always come back here AND if you doo a search on Jazz recommendations there are quite a lot of previous threads to explore.

regards
Geoff

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cafez27:
[
Wow I think was more bigger band than small piano or quintet, but but defo had some brass involved. In terms of easily identifiable, it did have a melody of sorts.

Hi Jez-

Working from the above statement, and also from some of Geoff P's excellent suggestions, I would positively recommend Art Pepper + ElevenModern Jazz Classics. A great (small) big band album full of classic tunes from, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Dizzie Gillespie, and others. Great, swingin' album!

For some contemporary, modern artists, you could try:Dave Holland (big band), Dave Douglas, Brad Mehldau Pat Metheny. The last three names will reinterpret pop tunes to great affect . . . such as the Beatles, Radiohead, Borg, Nick Drake, etc.

Also, you should definitely check out the "Some jazz recomendations please" thread. http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/38019385/m/3282916317 There are some excellent recommendations there as well.


Best,
Max

Gentlemen many many thanks

Miles Davis 'A Kind of Blue' has been bought today and will be listened to tonight........I will make my way through the others.

Much appreciated

Jez

A good choice Jez! Stick with it; this was the album that eventually enabled me to "get" jazz.

Pat Metheny's a good suggestion too.

quote:

Originally posted by Max Bass:

Dave Douglas, Brad Mehldau Pat Metheny. The last three names will reinterpret pop tunes to great affect . . . such as the Beatles, Radiohead, Borg, Nick Drake, etc.

You meant Bjork, right?

Anyway, all three are fantastic suggestions, especially Metheny who is one of the true giants of jazz of the last 30 years.

Just want to clarify, though, that Metheny generally does not cover pop tunes as both Douglas and Mehldau do. Not that there's anything wrong with that (jazz musicians have been covering pop tunes since the birth of jazz a century ago), nor is Metheny at all averse to pop music, but he generally plays only his own originals, or those co-composed with longtime collaborator Lyle Mays in the context of the Pat Metheny Group (as opposed to his trios and other side projects). He has covered a few standards on his trio albums, and on one solo acoustic guitar album, One Quiet Night, he does cover a couple of pop tunes to great effect. But it is not his general MO, as it is for Douglas and Mehldau.

The other thing to consider with Metheny is that there are a few albums you may come across that, while musically excellent, are not at all representative of the rest of his oeuvre, venturing into very challenging avant-garde territory. So do taste before you eat.

All best,
Fred

Further to Fred’s post, I recommend the following Pat Metheny albums to start with: Still life (talking), Letter from home, Secret story, Imaginary day. The last is satisfyingly heavier in sound. Fred didn’t mention it, but one of the pleasures of the Pat Metheny Group is the excellent percussion – far from just a drumkit.

Missing from this thread is the excellent Jan Garbarek – very prolific sax player. The newer the album, the more likely it is to be a bit ‘easy listening’, but at his best he is absolutely individual (try Legend of the seven dreams).

Also missing is the also excellent, and even more prolific, Keith Jarrett. In addition to a decent catalogue of acclaimed classical recordings (Mozart, Shostakovich, Bach…), he plays his own improvisations solo (try Radiance), improvises in a range of groups, including one with Jan Garbarek (try Personal mountains), and plays standards, mostly in a trio with drumkit and acoustic bass (try Standards live), but also solo (try The melody at night, with you).

A recent find for me is Norma Winstone and John Taylor. She sings, he plays piano both together and separately. Their album Somewhere called home, with clarinet/sax from Tony Coe, is delightfully cool and definitely nice and gentle as you asked for.

Do let us know what you listen to and your thoughts on it.

Regards

This fellow is just starting out in jazz listening. I would avoid most of stuff recommended here, at least initially, and just try a few classics like the Miles Davis Kind of Blue, maybe Brubeck (Time Out), Oscar Peterson (Night Train), Bill Evans (Waltz for Debbie), and some music from the greatest jazz musician that ever lived, Louis Armstrong (Essential--2 DC set on Sony Legacy). That would avoid anything too far out that might turn him off.. Hook him in, then lay the heavy stuff on him

quote:

Originally posted by Oldnslow:
This fellow is just starting out in jazz listening. I would avoid most of stuff recommended here, at least initially, ... Hook him in, then lay the heavy stuff on him

I hope my suggestions are approachable and conform to the request for a nice and gentle introduction. Maybe Keith Jarrett is a bit clangorous - perhaps I wouldn't suggest a first-timer plays Radiance starting with track 1 - play disc 1 tracks 3, 6, 8 and 9 for a easy intro to this great player.
Regards

quote:

Originally posted by Jeremy Marchant:

quote:

Originally posted by Oldnslow:
This fellow is just starting out in jazz listening. I would avoid most of stuff recommended here, at least initially, ... Hook him in, then lay the heavy stuff on him

I hope my suggestions are approachable and conform to the request for a nice and gentle introduction. Maybe Keith Jarrett is a bit clangorous - perhaps I wouldn't suggest a first-timer plays Radiance starting with track 1 - play disc 1 tracks 3, 6, 8 and 9 for a easy intro to this great player.
Regards

Jeremy - in opinion some very good choices. I started out with jazz in the late 80's and Metheny Still Life Talking was what I started with. To me it is not true jazz, more of a mix of rock, world, jazz etc that is a good stepping stone into the jazz world. At the end of the day it is just a damn fine album and kick started a passion and fantastic jazz journey for me.

Keith Jarrett Standards Trio is a good start as well - try the new box set Setting Standards, Whisper Not, Still Life or the new one My Foolish Heart.

Personal Mountains is one of my favourite CD's but it may be a little challenging as a intro to the jazz world but then, it all depends on the listener.

Some of the other titles mentioned, to me are not modern jazz but more classic jazz - Bill Evans, Louis Armstrong, Miles etc etc. It all depends on your definition of modern as it used to mean many different things.

Cheers
Adrian

Try the Gerry Mulligan Quartet. West Coast jazz at its best, particularly in the early days when Mulligan's baritone sax sang so beautifully with Chet Baker's trumpet.
Ken

a sense of Deja Vu about this thread but just to prove I'm nothing if not consistant


2 you cannot go wrong with


Ellington and Hodges







both superaltive albums that I cannot recommend highly enough.


then try Solstice by Ralph Towner





for a whole different perspective



SJB

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:

Just want to clarify, though, that Metheny generally does not cover pop tunes as both Douglas and Mehldau do.

dave douglas covers pop tunes? i had no idea. i have several douglas and tiny bell trio albums, but none with pop tunes, though it's been several years since i bought a douglas album. i think of douglas as being more adventurous than pat metheny, and yes, i know metheny did an album with ornette coleman. douglas has so many side projects that go off in many directions, perhaps pop tunes is one of those directions.

quote:

Originally posted by gordon cavanaugh:

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:

Just want to clarify, though, that Metheny generally does not cover pop tunes as both Douglas and Mehldau do.

dave douglas covers pop tunes? i had no idea. i have several douglas and tiny bell trio albums, but none with pop tunes, though it's been several years since i bought a douglas album. i think of douglas as being more adventurous than pat metheny, and yes, i know metheny did an album with ornette coleman. douglas has so many side projects that go off in many directions, perhaps pop tunes is one of those directions.

Douglas covers three Joni Mitchell tunes on Moving Portrait, but no, you're right, he doesn't generally cover pop tunes as Mehldau sometimes does.

Douglas does appear as a sideman on several pop albums by Suzanne Vega, Sheryl Crow, Sean Lennon, Ron Sexsmith, Cibo Matto, etc.

I don't necessarily agree that Douglas is more adventurous than Metheny ... not even sure how one would measure that in a meaningful way.

All best,
Fred

The suggestion of the Mulligan and Ellington/Hodges recordings are right on for a first timer. I agree we don't think of Armstrong as modern jazz, but his classic recordings from the late 20's and early 30's are, to me, the most moving performances in the entire jazz canon. I came to them late and started out listening to modern jazz, and kinda worked backwords, as I expect lots of other listeners did who did not grow up in the earlier era.

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:
I don't necessarily agree that Douglas is more adventurous than Metheny ... not even sure how one would measure that in a meaningful way.

All best,
Fred

there is, of course, no metric for adventurousness, but if i had to pick which musician was more likely to surprise me, i would pick douglas over metheny. some of douglas's side projects have surprised me in a negative way, i.e. boring in a windham hill sort of way. when i first heard that metheny and ornette coleman were going to do an album together, i though, wow, i have no idea how metheny/coleman album would sound. but when i first heard "song x," my reaction was, oh, it sounds just like a metheny album. don't get me wrong, i like "song x" a lot, and think highly of metheny, but i'd induct douglas into the jazz hall of fame before metheny. others would disagree, i'm sure .

quote:

Originally posted by gordon cavanaugh:

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:
I don't necessarily agree that Douglas is more adventurous than Metheny ... not even sure how one would measure that in a meaningful way.

All best,
Fred

there is, of course, no metric for adventurousness, but if i had to pick which musician was more likely to surprise me, i would pick douglas over metheny. some of douglas's side projects have surprised me in a negative way, i.e. boring in a windham hill sort of way. when i first heard that metheny and ornette coleman were going to do an album together, i though, wow, i have no idea how metheny/coleman album would sound. but when i first heard "song x," my reaction was, oh, it sounds just like a metheny album. don't get me wrong, i like "song x" a lot, and think highly of metheny, but i'd induct douglas into the jazz hall of fame before metheny. others would disagree, i'm sure .

Hmmm ... well, having recorded for the Windham Hill label, I'm not sure I'd agree with using "Windham Hill" as a de facto synonym for "boring" ... certainly some music on the label is boring, and some is decidedly not. Just as there is plenty of boring music on any given label. To use it as a blanket pejorative seems undiscerning.

I love most of Metheny's albums, and enjoy Song X quite a bit, but I'm hard pressed to understand how it sounds like other Metheny albums other than the actual sound of his instrument and his way of playing it ... the music itself, due in no small part to Ornette's prominent presence, is quite different.

But, then, while I think Douglas is a fantastic musician, I consider Metheny to be one of the true giants of jazz of the last 30 years. And I find much of his music decidedly adventurous, only that the nature of his explorations and innovations often inhabit a more subtle realm, not always apparent unless one really looks under the hood.

All best,
Fred

I would look for some Dave Holland's stuff.
Maybe.

http://www.robertglasper.com/
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