I have listened to Louis Armstrong but I cannot listen to him anymore.
Music played at Starbucks cafes seems to be good.
A few basic names on jazz music would be fine. start with John Coltrane: Giant Steps, Love Supreme
and then proceed with Wayne Shorter: Speak No Evil
and then go with Herbie Hancock: Head Hunters, Maiden Voyage. Take a turn with Weather Report: Heavy Weather
Jaco Pastorius: Jaco Pastorius, George Benson: Breezin' george benson Theolonius Monk MILES DAVIS
MONK
COLTRANE
"BIRD"
MARSALIS
DEXTER GORDON Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, Frank Zappa Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, Stan Getz, Les Paul, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Good Man, Miles Davis, George Benson, Pat Metheany.... Best bet is to google jazz. Duke Ellington
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Dave Brubeck
Wes Montgomery
That's a good starting list. Whenever someone asks me this question, I start them with these 7 albums. IMHO, these 7 albums are at the dead center of the jazz genre. They represent everything that came before, and everything that has come since. They are key albums in the careers of these musicians, and represent the center of everything they do. You can then move forward from here, or backwards from here into the genre, as your tastes gravitate towards one style or another. These albums allow you to explore not only the leaders, but the sidemen on the albums that have also give so much to the genre.
1. Miles Davis - "Kind of Blue"
2. Cannonball Adderley - "Somethin' Else"
3. Dave Brubeck - "Time Out"
4. Horace Silver - "Song for My Father"
5. Herbie Hancock - "Maiden Voyage"
6. John Coltrane - "Blue Train"
7. Weather Report - "Heavy Weather"
I have never met anyone, that hasn't listened to these 7 albums, and not become some type of a fan of some type of sub-category of jazz. Everyone goes in a different direction.. but this list gets them somewhere.. which is a lot better than no-where!!! I know how to ease you in. If you try these albums first, you will develop an ear for jazz. I know what I'm talking about. These albums that I am suggesting are easy to like. Yes Charlie Parker was great, but not for beginners. these albums are perfect for beginners, and they are all jazz classics.
Miles Davis Kind of Blue album. It's a great album for a beginner, and it's great even if you've heard a whole lot of jazz. Get it.
Thelonious is another great and important master of jazz. I suggest that you start out with the Monk's Dream album. Don't operate heavy machinery while listening. Monk swings the hardest of any jazz musician, in my little opinion.
Roland Kirk's called The Inflated Tear is an album that really turned me onto jazz. I still enjoy it and respect it.
Matador, by Grant Green is a great album, centered around the guitar playing, although McCoy Tyner is at his best (piano player from Coltrane's band). It's another great album that's easy to like.
Wayne Shorter's, Speak No Evil is a great album that you really have to hear. I can't even talk about it. The whole band is amazing.
Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage is great and easy to like album. Freddie Hubbard is at his best through the whole album (on trumpet, fluglehorn). It's a concept album, and it really does flow like the sea, as Herbie intended it to.
Horace Silver plays piano with soul. The songs are great and so is the band. Everything works on his album, Song For My Father. It's another easy to like album too.
Please trust these suggestions. These are classic albums. They are accesible to the beginner's ear. Jazz is a form of music that is untouched by the ambitions of being famous. It's all about the music.
You can find accurate reviews of these albums at-http://wc08.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am...
PS-Jazz is the best art form. If you need any more help, I am happy to help get you started. Someone helped me a while back, now I am happy to be able to help others.
Another PS-John Ellis allbum called, Roots, Brancher, and Leaves is a modern great, in my opinion.
Happy listening. Ray Brown Trio: Summer Wind -- Live at the Loa
Oscar Peterson Trio: We Get Requests Oscar Peterson, Thelonious Monk, Dave Brubeck (Piano)
Ella Fitzgerald, Manhattan Tranfer, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, (Vocals)
Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong (Trumpet)
John Coltrane, Ben Goodman, Stan Getz (Sax)
Basie, Ellington, Metheney (Band Leaders) Duke Ellington Dave Brubeck Gordon Goodwin
Charlie Parker Michael Buble is a great jazz vocalist
Miles Davis It seems that all the previous answers forget to mention that jazz started in New Orleans. try Sidney Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton,George Lewis, Papa Celestin,and all the different Preservation Hall recordings. You may still not know mexican jazz musicians and some of them are extremely good.
Roberto Aymes is Mexico麓s finest bass player. He麓s performed or recorded with the following artists: Chick Corea, Michel Camilo, Chet Baker, Danilo P茅rez, Dizzy Gillespie, Clare Fischer, etc. You can check out some of his music at YouTube. I especially recommend you these songs: Besame Mucho, Summertime, The White World of Winter and Take the "A" Train.
Another great mexican jazz musician is H茅ctor Infanz贸n. His trio is one of Mexico麓s most important latin jazz groups. You can also get to know some of his music at YouTube. |
