Guitarists, drummers, and trumpeters are the main things I'm looking for. I know a couple people, but the only person I've actually heard is Frank Zappa. The best ever for gret beaks would be grant green, Trust me I have 7 of his stuff
Here is a classic break down of things you should collect:
Art Blakey-Dat Dere
Herbie Hancock-Maiden Voyage
Kenny Burell-Day Dream
Sidney Bechet-summertime
Sam Cook-Been A Long Time Coming
Kenny Dorham-Una Mas
McCoy Tyner-The Wanderer
Lou Donaldson-Blues Walk
Donald Byrd-Black Byrd
Stanley Jordon-Elenor Rigby
Miles Davis-It never entered my mind
Bobby Mcferrin-Turtle Shoes
Dexter Gordon-Three Oclock in the mornin
John Coltrane-Blue Train
Grant Green-Sookie Sookie
Miles Davis-C.T.A.
Grant Green Speak Low
Just To Name A few, I am A dj and Collector of Vinyl and Samples of Jazz for my beats Guitarists: John McLaughlin, Al DiMeola, George Benson Drummers: Max Roach, Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham Frank Zappa isn't really a jazz musician.
Miss A. and Bird Lady pretty much nailed many of the essentials.
Some other great 70's jazz/fusion bands/artists you might want to try are;
Return To Forever / Chick Corea
Mahavishnu Orchestra / John McLaughlin
Dixie Dregs
Deodato
Keith Jarrett
Brand X
Weather Report
Jaco Pastorius
Jean-Luc Ponty
Tony Williams Lifetime
Back Door
Larry Coryell
Lee Ritenour
Nova
Stanley Clarke
Herbie Mann
Al DiMeola
Eberhard Weber
John Scofield
Passport
Allan Holdsworth
Pat Metheny
Joe Pass
Billy Cobham
Herbie Hancock
Alphonse Mouzon (Mind Transplant album)
Chase
John Tropea
There are many more great obscure fusion bands from the 70's, but most of the artists I've listed above are fairly accessible as far as tastes go.
Here's a few classic artists by what some purists might call, "authentic" or "real jazz";
Charles Mingus
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Louis Armstrong
Cannonball Adderley
Max Roach
Sonny Rollins
Oscar Peterson
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Moon Dog
Ornette Coleman
Dave Brubeck
Eric Dolphy
J.J. Johnson
Grant Green
Stanley Turrentine
Wayne Shorter
Sam Rivers
Duke Ellington
Cecil Taylor
Dexter Gordon
Art Blakey
Don Cherry
Django Reinhardt
Joe Henderson
Dizzy Gillespie
Hank Mobley
Wes Montgomery
Charlie Parker
Quincy Jones
Yusef Lateef
Piero Umiliani
Thelonious Monk
Benny Carter
Chet Baker
Jack DeJohnette
Art Tatum
King Curtis
Stephane Grappelli
That's just the tip of the ice berg, I could name hundreds more!
As I mentioned, Frank Zappa (RIP) is not a jazz artist. His music began in the 60's as weird psychedelic rock/avant garde experimental music, and by the 70's he had many different sounds. He fused hard rock, jazz, blues and just plain weirdness. He released something like 60 studio albums between 1966 and 1993.
He was a true genius. All of his albums sounded totally different from one another, unlike so many other artists of the 70's. So if you bought something like his 'Thingfish' (not a good place to start) album from the early 80's, it would sound nothing at all like the material on lets say his 'Zoot Allures' album (pretty good place to start) album from '76.
I realize that I've listed quite a few bands above, and this may seem a tad overwhelming for you. But save this list, take your time, Google the different artists. Many of them should have audio samples at various sites or blogs. Then go from there.
I (and the other 2 answers above and 1 directly below) have provided you with a vast selection of essential jazz, and jazz fusion artists.
Only a fool, or a person unfamiliar with jazz would be so silly as to call them "useless names".
If you're really interested in the genre, our lists are sure to enlighten!
Here's a few videos from some of the true greats of the fusion genre. People like 'Guthrie Govan' are greatly influenced by these geniuses. Without them there would be no Guthrie Govan.
Larry Carton:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwGHaKbno...
John Mclaughlin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujcYw2QTP...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4xJXNdNK...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtSIEkPqV...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2KRG7cVM...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXheHcv8q...
Al Dimeola:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClbE6YEO6...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgaRjKe2H...
Return to Forever (with Bill Connors/guitar, Stanly Clarke bass):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFP-alYNq...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxg1AoEz9...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCg_EGPb1... (with Al Dimeola on guitar)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3sT5Ucyw...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YShQZUMe...
Stanley Clarke (GREAT BASS PLAYER) He influenced all the great bassists of today; Stu Hamm, Les Claypool, etc:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC001Z3XW...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCjmtW7FE...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je_iqbgGX...
Jaco Pastorious (fantastic jazz bassist from Weather Report) Another huge influence on many of yesterdays and todays bass player:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsKxdx4rv...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdY-KAmj5...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25DXcFg1T...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuCajiXZC...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd14gB2oM...
Hope that helps! Roy Ayers.
George Benson.
Al Jarreau.
Kenny G.
The Blackbyrds.
Fourplay.
Bob James. YOU DON'T NEED TOO MUCH USELESS NAMES.
Guthrie govan, robben ford, and the yellow jackets are enough to start. search for them with www.youtube.com try astrud gilberto and lisa ono they're my faves or jacintha abigashenaden |
