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good jazz artists, how do i get into jazz, how to get started listening to jazz, jazz 101, jazz podcasts, john coltrane, miles davis, popular jazz artists
Last week, I put out the call and it was answered big time.
As a jazz music virgin of sorts, I asked the connoisseurs to introduce me to the pivotal artists, songs, and albums that define this thing we call “jazz.”
The knowledge-dropping started in the comments with outstanding suggestions from two people whose musical acumen I have come to deeply respect and admire, DJ Stylus and T Grundy of Rhythms in Black Satin.
T Grundy took the discussion to a broader audience on Twitter, where folks have been weighed in all last week with the music that has been integral to their journey as true jazz fans. He then went on to create the first of two Jazz 101 podcasts, which was the perfect writing soundtrack for this piece.
Along with excellent commentary and suggestions on what it is to know and love jazz, he created a masterful mix that I have since listened to twice. I have now moved Oliver Nelson, Freddie Hubbard, Wes Montgomery, Nancy Wilson, and Herbie Hancock to the top of my list of jazz artists I need to study.
I particularly appreciated his suggestion of one way to get started with jazz appreciation is to choose your favorite instrument and then start listening to and collecting the music of the seminal artists who play that instrument.
Here are his personal favorites:
- Trumpet: Miles Davis [more]
- Saxophone: John Coltrane [more]
- Guitar: Wes Montgomery [more]
- Vibraphone: Lionel Hampton [more]
- Big Band: Count Basie [more]
- Drums: Max Roach [more]
- Keyboards: Duke Ellington & Herbie Hancock [more]
Since my first loves are the guitar, sax and the drums, I’ll definitely be looking into the music by the artists he suggests. However, in terms of where I’ll start the next time I go digging (which I think I’ll do for my upcoming birthday), it will definitely be with albums by John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Every single Trane and Miles song or collaboration I hear resonates with me deeply and thus represents a gaping hole in my music collection.
I’ll be sure to share my acqusitions here.
Meanwhile for those not on Twitter, let me share some of the fruits of our discussion. Here are some tracks mentioned that should be added to any “Jazz 101 Starter Kit”:
- Thelonius Monk: “Blue Monk”
- Wayne Shorter: “Juju”
- Freddie Hubbard: “Open Sesame”
- Billie Holiday: “Strange Fruit”
- Louis Armstrong: “I Cover the Waterfront”
- Charlie Bird Parker: “The Bird”
- Lester Young: “D.B. Blues” and “These Foolish Things”
- Ramsey Lewis: “The In Crowd”
- Charles Earland “More Today Than Yesterday”
- Cannonball Adderley“Somethin Else”
- Andy Bey “Tuesdays in Chinatown” and “Shades of Bey”
- McCoy Tyner “What the World Needs Now”
- Blossom Dearie “My Gentleman Friend”
Other artists mentioned were Bob James , Ornette Coleman, and Jackie McClean.
So if you’re looking for musicians and songs to get you started, take a listen to the ones listed here and those included on the RIBS Jazz 101 podcast. Need to research discographies for some of the artists listed here, visit the Jazz discography website before you go digging. You can also look up jazz standards, or the most well-known (to some!) songs within the genre.
I know jazz isn’t everyone’s “thing” so I appreciate those of you kept an open mind and read this post anyway. I’ve talked before about how I’m going to start spending more time with the classics in order to become an more informed “music critic.” I want to be able to recognize the influences as I enjoy a lot of the jazz fusion and subgenres that are more popular today. While you’re rocking to Brand New Heavies, Jazzanova, Lalah Hathaway, or The Roots, what you’re hearing can likely be traced back to a sound created by someone right up there.
Get into this!
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 
here is my ‘jazz bible’. I’m also a relative newcomer to the jazz world but would like to broaden my musical horizons … first stop will be the RIBS jazz 101 podcasts, then back here to check out some of the above. Thanks for puttin this together!
You’re so diplomatic and gentle, so I’ll take that as an opportunity thrust a black gloved fist in the air…
If you’re into black music and jazz isn’t your “thing”, then you’re not really into black music.
This has been your Militant Moment™ brought to you by DJ Stylus!
@DJStylus:
Preach, brother, preach! {smile}
Ok, as a straightup longtime Jazz geek – if allowed- I like to add a couple of suggestions. You’ve probably noticed already that Miles and Trane had “periods”. It’s difficult for someone to like ALL of trane’s and mile’s stuff – compare bebop miles of the 50’s t0 cool jazz miles to electric miles of the 70’s – you’ll find that most folks like miles and trane of a certain period. As someone who lost their mind when I first got into the music, I tried my damnedest to get e’rythang they’ve recorded. Mixed results! “Blue Trane” and “Ascension” seem galaxies apart. I say all of this to underscore the fact that finding a piece by the aforementioned artists (and others) that seem inaccessible or just not to your taste is merely part of the continum of Jazz appreciation. I’d tuck those seemingly sour lemons away for a later date. They’ll make sense – promise!
a few favorites (some may not be available on CD)
Gary Bartz: “Ive known Rivers”
Billy Harper: “Black Saint”
Herbie Hancock: “Headhunters” “Maiden Voyage”
Charles Mingus “Better Git Hit in your Soul”
Les Mccann: “Swiss Movement”
Sonny Rollins: “Saxophone Collossus ”
Joe Henderson: “Mode for Joe”
Horace Silver”Song for my Father”
These are albums by the way…not indvidual songs. If you want song suggestions from the album let me know.
The homage to jazz seems to have an emphasis on some older jazz favorites and standards. I have to put it out there that we have a host of new age & international jazz artists that are awesome as well that are worth a listen. To name a brief few:
– Spyro Gyro
– Robert Glasper
– Esbjorn Svensson Trio
– Stefon Harris
– The Detroit Experiment
– Hugh Masekela
I LOVE jazz & think that starting with the foundation is a great way to go but the jazz Diaspora has to be considered for the larger picture.
Im just saying,
Tafari
@ DJ Stylus – Gospel!
@Ant – I had forgotten that you were a jazz head even back in our college years. Thanks for commenting 🙂
You bring up a very important point about periods. I think that makes the study of these artists’ body of work even more interesting
I am going to add your suggestions to the list.
@tafari – Boo, you know I heart you but did you read my last paragraph?I know you skimmed bama! LOL! We are looking backward to move forward 🙂 Actually I am hoping to feature DJ Stylus new hip hop jazz band (for example) here as soon as I get to a show. I’m sure they would all agree that what they are creating is influenced by one or all of those folk right up there. So yes, this has been all about homage to the “old heads.” I hope to do a post that features some of the artists you’ve mentioned. So thanks for getting the partay started!
@Tafari,
I mentioned Stefon Harris in the previous post but you make a good point about pointing out current talents. Charlie Hunter is my favorite in today’s crop of modern jazz guitar players and he teamed up with Stefon Harris on his “Return of the Candyman” album.
Another current cat I can’t recommend enough is Robert Glasper. He even did a Dilla tribute.
http://www.amazon.com/J-Dillalude/dp/B000TE946I
I also bigged up Cyrus Chestnut in the last post, but he can’t be bigged up enough. Repping B-more too!
Another current cat who is killing it right now:
http://www.robertmitchellmusic.com/
Incidentally, I’ve found that traditional jazz (bop and post-bop at least) is living strong and coinciding most naturally with its electronic offshoots in London. Robert Mitchell is one of many artists across the pond who can kill it with an acoustic trio or over programmed beats. Eska is another. I’ve long been a fan of her hip-hop/club/broken beat records, but when I first saw her live, it was in a trad-jazz setting and she blew my wig back.
As a matter of fact, everybody needs to own this record:
http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php?id=gyyv3wddht
And Viv, don’t get folks’ expectations up too high about that project! We’re still trying to gel as a group.
Folks can listen to the EP we recorded and draw their own conclusions:
http://www.myspace.com/e44band
as a jazz head (that’s all that was played in my house I’m a 60’s baby…listen to a radio station that plays jazz/blues (go figure) from Newark, NJ on the air for 30 years, listener supported, no commericials…WBGO.org 88.3 FM this station will give all the jazz and history you need. the programming is excellent. the dj’s are knowledgeable. You need to know the roots of black music girl!!!!
@TJ,
We have one of those here too:
http://wpfw.org/
Keep black music alive!
I love this Blog…I have been trying to get into Jazz for a while…How ironic I came across this entry the day after a conversation w/ a friend on the matter.
I DL’d the 1st mix…this was a good reference for me…Thanks!!!
we are here…http://sultryjazzdivas.ning.com
stop by and say hello, sign our guest book!
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Join me as I welcome myself to my cousin’s house. Came by unannounced! LOL
My first time with an official visit. I had to put in my bit-o -honey.
My first experience with jazz was as a 11 yr old when a friend sneaked into his brothers crates for a little Dave Brubeck and “Take 5″ . It was on then.
Years latter as a teen, Ramsey’s ” The In Crowd” was the next big thang . Dug Cannonball’s “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” and Lou’s “Tobbaco Road/Dead End Street” on the radio. The street people were the jazzheads of the day, they had all the music, and I heard The Three Sounds “Elegant Soul” & “Soul Symphony” as they were getting their nod. Trane, The MJQ, Art Blakley and Jug (Gene Ammonds) blasted on the Gerard’s. “Swiss Movement” turned me on to Les McCann
and Eddie Harris. Eddie did rock the amped sax with “Silver Cycles & Plug Me In.” (word of advice…be sober when you listen to certain cuts).
I can go on with Quincy, Rashaan Roland Kirk, Horace Silver, Grant Green, Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson, the Hammond master’s Jimmy Smith, The J Macks…. McGriff and McDuff and so may more. Ya’ll get the point….and I know some are salivating and looking for som-o-dez! Yeah!
And yes Ms Fine Lady…I got my eye on you!
OK, the taxman is taken care of, now I can put my full 2 cents in on this…
@Vivrant Thang – Excellent follow-up post, my Lady, to your initial “All That Jazz…” post and to the “Jazz 101” conversations we had in the comments and on Twitter. I think we “touched a nerve” so to speak and it is so refreshing to see so many folks chiming in about jazz. It has been an absolute pleasure on my part to “collaborate” with you on this. Now, what do you know about the “Blues”?… Well, maybe we can work on that one later in the year {smile}.
@El Slick – you so krazy! {smile}
Oh, and folks may I formally introduce you to someone who is fast becoming one of my favorite people online, El Slick! An avid music fan and super, super knowledgeable about Jazz, R&B and Soul music. And yes, he is so crazy! (but I mean that in a good way) Slick is a regular visitor over on RIBS and we have been engaging in some wonderfully enjoyable conversations about the RIBS mixes and music in general. Slick, are you on Twitter yet?
No Sirrrr…not on Twitter yet. That’s something new to me. I’m sorta scared of it…you know new things kinda scare us “mellowed” folks. Gimme a burp and show me how it works bruh.
And thanks for the intro “T”. I hope my “play cousins” don’t mind me stopping in here and there with my proverbs (at times going over peoples heads until they give thought to what I’m really try’n to say). They may be somewhat may be scrambled but there’s meaning to them.
I can’t say I know all that because the many blogspots I visit enrich my knowledge and love for music. I can’ t play or sing, but I have an ear, and I know what I like and read. And I participate with what I like.
Now, if I can find my way back to where I came in. Anybody got a flashlight?
See…I need erasure already! lol
@TGrundy,
With all my jazz militancy, I have to confess that my blues knowledge is slim to scarce, which is a shame because the blues scale and standard song structure are integral base elements of jazz.
We’re all on our individual journeys!
before i take anybody into the deep end of the jazz pool i usually tell people to check Miles Davis’ ‘Kind of Blue’ , ‘The Gentle Side of John Coltrane’ , and The Billie Holiday Songbook
i’ve had johnny hodges’ “day dream” on constant rotation this week
i made this jazz mix around the holidays which i still play frequently – hope you find something in it you can enjoy
http://www.zshare.net/download/59080682cf8cffdb/
if you are ever in harlem (126th & park) be sure to check out the jazz museum free jazz appreciation class every tuesday night
http://www.jazzmuseuminharlem.org/
jazz has a diversity that most of our music is missing – you can go backwards, forward, or sideways and not go wrong in this genre
Hey Peeps! A quick teaser just to let you guys know I didn’t forget about my promise. The “Jazz 101”, Lesson #2 mix is almost ready for posting. It should be up on Monday morning (April 27, 2009). This “lesson” includes:
Organ: Charles Earland, Jimmy Smith
Keyboards: Horace Silver, Bob James, Ramsey Lewis
Trumpet: Lee Morgan, Louis Armstrong
Vocalists: Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Shirley Horn
Group: The Crusaders
OK, class is back in session…
“Jazz 101” – An Introduction To Jazz, Lesson #2
Well come to the site where we feature the Jazz DIVAS ONLY! We do give the guys a break once in a while to balance the energy..and we give big ups to our Rock Divas..it’s all about US not them!!!
Jazz is universal and our site respects all jazz artists around the world.
Ciao!
Oh was the website supposed to show or no?
sign our guest book, let us know nice people like you stopped by to say hello~~http://sultryjazzdivas.ning.com
Jimmy Rollins has postponed the attempt to break the world record for striking a baseball the farthest due to calf pain.Now the Biggest Question right now is Will He still able to accomplish this?Short Evening Dresses