Favourite jazz albums/artists

jimmyjazz

jimmyjazz

Well-known member
I have limited knowledge when it comes to jazz musicians. It's not a genre that was played at home growing up nor do I really know anyone who is a 'jazzhead', but I've always been somewhat drawn to it. Maybe it's a want to understand something that is unfamiliar or foreign to me? I also find some jazz just totally soothing and relaxing and just sets a nice mood. It feels right in my soul. But then again, some jazz feels like the devils trying to tap into my soul!

The thing is there are many different styles of jazz and so many different jazz musicians from 'back in the day' to now. Some jazz i instantly like and 'get', others i'm just lost and wonder if my brain just cant understand that level of musicianship. But ill persist and maybe one day it will click... Two albums I often play are Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers - Moanin', and The Miles Davis Quintet - Steamin' with The Miles Davis Quintet.

Who are your go-to jazz musicians/albums?
 
Nice.
rkangel said:
Miles Davis, Hugh Masakela and Gil Scott Heron are my first go tos.
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The first song I heard of Gil Scott Heron was H20gate Blues and i really digged it. Have you a favourite Gil Scott Album?

Will check out Hugh Masakela today on my afternoon walk. Thanks
 
"Stimela" and "African Secret Society" are two great Masakela tunes to stroll to.

Gil's final album "I'm New Here" is a beauty and "Black Wax" on YouTube gets repeated playings.

Also Wynton Marsalis's "All Rise" is a personal favourite.
 
Great thanks ill work my way through them.

Just out of curiosity are there any artists or genres of jazz you just don't 'get' or it took some time to understand and learn to love? I found Coltrane a little like this personally, but ive not persisted with him if i'm honest.
 
"Jazz" has many gendre`s from the smooth silk of Nina Simone and Billy Holiday to the Big Bands of Ted Heath and Glen Miller. Its vast - you have to shuffle your way through the beautiful music untill you find your ray of sunshine mmmmmm. Like a child in a sweet shop - love all the jars but there is always a favourite.

My first Jazz record was a 78 rpm copy of "Sing Sing Sing" by Benny Goodman. Other names to look out for are:
Roland Kirk, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald and Kellylee Evans.

Happy searching for food for the soul - which is "Jazz".

This guy always lifts my spirits...
 
If I was to have to chose one classic album, it would be Chet Baker Sings, which is absolutely amazing.

Then I'd go to some of the classics like Kind of Blue (Miles Davis), A Love Supreme (Coltrane), Birth of the Cool, (Miles Davis) Moanin (Art Blakey), John Coltrane & Thelonious Monk at Carnegie Hall, Headhunters (Herbie Hanock), Bitches Brew (Davis) & Somethin Else (Cannonball Adderley).

I've currently got Freddie Hubbard - Hubtones on my turntable, but am listening to a lot of Bill Evans Trio lately too.

There's a real good British jazz scene at the moment, and so checking out people like Emma-Jean Thackray, Moses Boyd, Yadasofi, Sons of Kemet, Ezra Collective. We Out Here from Gillles Petersons Brownswood recordings is a good place to start with checking out the current UK jazz scene.

A decent starting point to discover jazz (I know you're not a newbie here, but still worth looking at), would be the two Jazz On The Corner compilations put together by Eddie Piller (Acid Jazz head honcho) and Martin Freeman (Tim from The Office, who is also a big fan).
 
And as an aside the Story of Ronnie Scott and Ronnie's Jazz Club is an excellent watch with some outstanding footage. It's worth watching even if you're not a jazz fan because of the historical context of it.

It's available on BBC iplayer now.
 
DCI_Gene_Hunt said:
And as an aside the Story of Ronnie Scott and Ronnie's Jazz Club is an excellent watch with some outstanding footage. It's worth watching even if you're not a jazz fan because of the historical context of it.

It's available on BBC iplayer now.
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I'll second that, some great historical footage of Soho throughout the years which was brilliant.

Off to Ronnie's in a couple of weeks for the annual Christmas party show, although will likely be very different this year I'm sure it'll still be great.
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
I'll second that, some great historical footage of Soho throughout the years which was brilliant.

Off to Ronnie's in a couple of weeks for the annual Christmas party show, although will likely be very different this year I'm sure it'll still be great.
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How are they doing it Safely LJ?
Might plan a trip in Jan
 
1finny said:
How are they doing it Safely LJ?
Might plan a trip in Jan
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Not sure TBH, it always included a meal anyway for this show, so that's fine. In addition the tables are fairly well spaced out, but not sure how they'll do the stalls to enforce social distancing - probably just a much lower capacity I would imagine.

Off to a Christmas show at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday, where you have to keep your mask on the entire performance which will be strange.
 
DCI_Gene_Hunt said:
And as an aside the Story of Ronnie Scott and Ronnie's Jazz Club is an excellent watch with some outstanding footage. It's worth watching even if you're not a jazz fan because of the historical context of it.

It's available on BBC iplayer now.
Click to expand...
Thats a great watch, also on the iplayer is:
Miles Davis - Birth of the Cool
Blue Note Records - Beyond the Notes

I'm only a dabbler in jazz but thought these were superb programs. Some great music to pick up on included.
 
The last jazz album I listened to was Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil. Really good music that I reckon most people would like.
Maybe I could also have a sneaky go at steering you into a bit of Frank Zappa. Try Hot Rats, The Grand Wazoo and Waka/Jawaka.
 
jimmyjazz said:
Great thanks ill work my way through them.

Just out of curiosity are there any artists or genres of jazz you just don't 'get' or it took some time to understand and learn to love? I found Coltrane a little like this personally, but ive not persisted with him if i'm honest.
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It's normal not to get stuff right away, and your taste changes so that stuff you like now you won't in a few years, and vice versa. That's the beauty of it, there's always something interesting and new.

With Coltrane ignore the early Prestige records and start with his Atlantic albums eg Ole, My Favourite Things, Plays the Blues etc. Then move onto Impulse eg A Love Supreme, Africa Brass. Don't go too far or you'll end up 'out there' - but then again you might even like it o_O

Otherwise Blue Note is the go-to label, with classics such as Sidewinder, Song for my Father, Somethin' Else. None of those are too challenging, and as such are classics for a reason. Read the liner notes, go for other albums by the musicians that you like the sound of. And so the journey continues.

As far as comps go, this one's pretty good but then it would be ;)

www.discogs.com

Various - Spiritual Jazz XII - Impulse! (Esoteric, Modal & Progressive Jazz From The Impulse! Label 1962-75)

Explore songs, recommendations, and other album details for Spiritual Jazz XII - Impulse! (Esoteric, Modal & Progressive Jazz From The Impulse! Label 1962-75) by Various. Compare different versions and buy them all on Discogs.
www.discogs.com www.discogs.com
 
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