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

[ott0bot]

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

I kind of agree, and that's why I said they are jazz musicians playing post rock. Yeah they aren't straight jazz, but I think song of there stuff is definately in that category. Songs like "Along the Banks of Rivers" and "Swung From the Gutters" are pretty jazzy to me. But again there are so many categories really unless your takling "cool" jazz or traditional jazz it can be hard to define.

[Snickerd00dle]

agreed

[glynnahab]

Tortoise is great. Good call.

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

I especially loved the electric xylophones they used the time I saw them. Hearing the pun "musical chairs" got really old by the end of the show, I must admit.

[thejamessea]

Seriously. Winard Harper "Make it Happen"

[Radiant Hero]

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.

Yes I did! It is great.I can't believe he moved two houses down from where I was raised (Eagle Rock, LA CA). If only I lived there still...

[alexis524]

can't say much that already hasn't been said here, most of the musician s mentioned are a great place to start.
John Coltrane started my affair with traditional jazz, then branched out to Miles Davis. When i heard "So What" off of Kind of Blue", it blew my mind and still does to this day. His early stuff is great, but his later stuff is out there, way out there. It seems Bitches Brew was a turning point in his career. He started to branch out into acid jazz.
You must listen to "In a sentimental mood" by Coltrane/Ellington, it's timeless.
Others worthy of mention are Lee Morgan (The Gigolo), Horace Silver, Joe Sample and Bob James Trio.
Remember, part of the fun is discovering new artists. Have fun with your newfound love...........

[RadarScope1]

I have been a HUGE Wilco fan for years and I hadn't heard of Nels Cline before he joined that band. I was thrilled to see some real jazz influence come to my favorite rock band. His solo on Impossible Germany on the new Wilco album is one of my favorite musical moments of the last couple of years.

On a side note, I am seeing the Flecktones live on Friday night. They're playing one block from my apartment. Can't beat that.

[RackGaki]

can't say much that already hasn't been said here, most of the musician s mentioned are a great place to start.
John Coltrane started my affair with traditional jazz, then branched out to Miles Davis. When i heard "So What" off of Kind of Blue", it blew my mind and still does to this day. His early stuff is great, but his later stuff is out there, way out there. It seems Bitches Brew was a turning point in his career. He started to branch out into acid jazz.
You must listen to "In a sentimental mood" by Coltrane/Ellington, it's timeless.
Others worthy of mention are Lee Morgan (The Gigolo), Horace Silver, Joe Sample and Bob James Trio.
Remember, part of the fun is discovering new artists. Have fun with your newfound love...........

It's weird reading about how Bitches Brew was brushed aside as a publicity stunt by contemporary reviewers, but has since been recognized as a classic in it's own right. Easy to forget that an album with that word on the cover wouldn't have been taken very seriously so long ago...

[dsheinem]

I have been a HUGE Wilco fan for years and I hadn't heard of Nels Cline before he joined that band. I was thrilled to see some real jazz influence come to my favorite rock band. His solo on Impossible Germany on the new Wilco album is one of my favorite musical moments of the last couple of years.

On a side note, I am seeing the Flecktones live on Friday night. They're playing one block from my apartment. Can't beat that.

Good to see another Wilco fan here - I too have been a huge fan for years (since Being There, anyway). I've seen them about a dozen times - and would concur with the sentiment about Impossible Germany.

[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.

Yes I did! It is great.I can't believe he moved two houses down from where I was raised (Eagle Rock, LA CA). If only I lived there still...

That's awesome!

Man I've listened to Nels Cline's takes on the Coltrane tracks back to back, and it blows me away. I'm in awe of how he managed to squeeze such a sax sound from his guitar, and mimic not only the sound and playing of Coltrane's originals, but even the mood and personality. Amazing.