I want to start listening to Jazz, but need help!

[dsheinem]

http://myjazzworld.blogspot.com/

thanks - good stuff!

[Snickerd00dle]

i work at a record/game store in ohio and we have a sweet kind of blue vinyl/cd box set for 80 bucks, im sure you can find it online easily, but for anyone looking for some jazz for christmas, its a sweet set

[RadarScope1]

The newest release of Kind of Blue -- I think its the 50th anniversary edition -- has alternate takes of all the tracks. Really nice to hear and for a new jazz listener is another great way to see how players can come up with completely different takes on improv solos.

Except smooth jazz - I hated jazz for so many years as a child because I thought this crap was representative of what was out there.

Or as I call it, "the dreaded smooth jazz."

[Ack]

WHAT IS THIS?!?! I see no love for all things Bing Crosby on this forum!

[noiseredux]

Nels Cline! That is if you what to go straight up alternative/indie, jazz/noise rock with no messing around! I believe that he just released a new album with a famous drummer in tribute to Miles Davis. For open minds only.

Nels Cline is incredible. Did you hear his tribute to Coltrane? Interstellar Space Revisited. Insane.

[ott0bot]

Wow! I'm also really suprised to see so many jazz fans on here. There are some great suggestions on here. And really with jazz you just have to listen to it. No matter how many things have been recomended to me I have always formed my own opinion after a good listen.

Few thinkgs i'd recomend-
I second the Eric Dolphy. One of the only experimental clarinet players in jazz, really cool sound. His later stuff is quite good, to bad he died young.

Miles Davis is one of the major influences in almost every jazz movement since the early 60's. You really can't go wrong with him. If you don't like one of his records just try going back or forwards a couple years and you'll hear a entirely new genre. I'd have to say the most intersting for me is Bitches Brew....it's like soul/funk/jazz/rock had a child who was more creative than it's parents. I have a live disc of his "Live at the Fillmore" that was done a few months after that and he's already going in a different direction. Chick Correa, Herbie Hancock and Dave Holland are great on this record.

Charles Mingus. Great bass player and composer. Played in groups with Davis and Coltrane and went on to make some really great stuff.

If you like classic Jazz, check out Cannonball Adderly and one of the original jazz legends Charlie Parker.

Ok now for some modern stuff.
Tortoise - alot of great jazz players doing some indie/post rock music with a heavy jazz influence. "TNT" and "Millions Now Living Must Never Die" are amazing records and even though they aren't straight jazz they are a great listen.

Isotope 217 - really great modern jazz with some members of Tortiose. more traditional but definatley in the experimetal category. One of the best live shows I've seen

Chicago Undergrouund Duo/Trio/Quartet - aweomse modern jazz. drummer chad taylor is so good he can play a glockenspiel with one hand and drum a different rhythm with the other. the trio/quartet stuff is so good.

Jeff Parker & Tri-color: such and awesome jazz guitarist. alos a member of tortiose and chicago underground stuff..

Tied + Tickled Trio - great electronic jazz fuison. very cool grooves and beats.

Most of this stuff is on Thrill Jockey records, check out there catalog. They have moved more towards rock lately but have some great stuff.

[noiseredux]

Tortoise is great. Good call.

[ott0bot]

Tortoise is great. Good call.

They are so good live too! Everyone switches off instruments and they play for like 3 hours.

Another group I think is worth a listen is The Mercury Program. It's somewhere in between math rock and jazz. They don't have horns, but insted use xylophone and keys as the two featured insturments, plus guitar, bass and some really awesome drums. Great and fairly unknown group.

[ubelaffe]

Big big seconding to Eric Dolphy and Miles Davis's "Kind of Blue"

Jazziz magazine is great. They pack each issue with a cd of great jazz over a variety of genres.

[Snickerd00dle]

i would argue that tortoise isnt so much jazz, as progressive post rock, which might sound redundent, but that whole category of post rock is rock, with jazzy elements