Intro to Jazz (soundtrack, rock, genre, albums, miles davis)

guitarherowaka · 11-12-2007, 12:28 PM

Hi everyone, I'm new to the board, and also very new to jazz, although it seems like a genre that's crucial to understanding a lot of 20th century music. My brother lent me the soundtrack from the Ken Burns docu but it's all over the place and hard for a newcomer to follow. What's a good place for a jazz newbie to start? I'm most interested in fusion which I know isn't actual jazz but might be a good place to begin, you think?

Other people have told me to start with Miles Davis, since he basically marked most trends in jazz after the 1940's.

djchameleon · 11-12-2007, 12:41 PM

oh I should've made a thread similar to this earlier. I'd love to delve deeper into jazz. I'll take any suggestions/recommendations also.

jackhammer · 11-12-2007, 06:28 PM

A good way to get into jazz is to sample fusion, which is Jazz-rock. You can appreciate the rock riffs while listening to some improvisation. Try Lenny White.

cardboard adolescent · 11-12-2007, 07:01 PM

Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and Frank Zappa's Hot Rats are my favorite fusion albums.

anzamatik · 11-13-2007, 10:40 AM

Bitches and Rats are definitely classics. However, they also do speak to a very narrow, very controversial form of jazz. You could also try albums like "Kind of Blue" -- modal workouts -- or Cannonball Adderly's "Mercy Mercy Mercy" -- sort of soul-jazz -- and a lot of Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea albums from the 70's, they covered a lot of ground (folk, flamenco, rock, free jazz, etc, etc). It's really about testing out what kind of jazz ya might like, it's got a lot to offer

bluesintheshoes · 11-14-2007, 03:26 PM

Chick Corea just did some work with Bela Fleck that was amazing.

jackhammer · 11-14-2007, 03:46 PM

I like Weather Report too. It's fairly commercial as Jazz goes but Jaco Pastorius can play a mean bass!

littleknowitall · 11-15-2007, 05:50 AM

desperately trying to learn teen town as we speak.

teshadoh · 11-15-2007, 09:28 AM

If you hate fusion & modern elevator jazz (like me)...

I would recommend 'Birth of Cool' from Miles Davis. Actually, I would recommend most jazz albums from the late 1940's & 1950's which was the bop & post-bop era of jazz. Also check out Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, & Dizzy Gillespie.

Night_Lamp · 11-15-2007, 11:09 AM

My favorite jazz albums:

'Miles Smiles' -Miles davis
'A Love Surpeme' -Coltrane
'Somethin' Else' -Cannonball Aderley
'Straight, No Chaser' -Monk

These are all 'Classic' jazz, and a good place to start.

11-12-2007, 12:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
guitarherowaka Groupie Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4	Intro to Jazz Hi everyone, I'm new to the board, and also very new to jazz, although it seems like a genre that's crucial to understanding a lot of 20th century music. My brother lent me the soundtrack from the Ken Burns docu but it's all over the place and hard for a newcomer to follow. What's a good place for a jazz newbie to start? I'm most interested in fusion which I know isn't actual jazz but might be a good place to begin, you think? Other people have told me to start with Miles Davis, since he basically marked most trends in jazz after the 1940's.

11-12-2007, 06:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	A good way to get into jazz is to sample fusion, which is Jazz-rock. You can appreciate the rock riffs while listening to some improvisation. Try Lenny White. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

11-14-2007, 03:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I like Weather Report too. It's fairly commercial as Jazz goes but Jaco Pastorius can play a mean bass! __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

11-15-2007, 11:09 AM	#10 (permalink)
Night_Lamp Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hooterville (SW Ont.) Posts: 105	My favorite jazz albums: 'Miles Smiles' -Miles davis 'A Love Surpeme' -Coltrane 'Somethin' Else' -Cannonball Aderley 'Straight, No Chaser' -Monk These are all 'Classic' jazz, and a good place to start. __________________ LP'S/CDS - TUBES - HEADPHONES

11-12-2007, 12:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
djchameleon A.B.N. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NY baby Posts: 11,451	oh I should've made a thread similar to this earlier. I'd love to delve deeper into jazz. I'll take any suggestions/recommendations also.

11-12-2007, 07:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and Frank Zappa's Hot Rats are my favorite fusion albums.

11-13-2007, 10:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
anzamatik Groupie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Clubland, USA Posts: 17	Bitches and Rats are definitely classics. However, they also do speak to a very narrow, very controversial form of jazz. You could also try albums like "Kind of Blue" -- modal workouts -- or Cannonball Adderly's "Mercy Mercy Mercy" -- sort of soul-jazz -- and a lot of Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea albums from the 70's, they covered a lot of ground (folk, flamenco, rock, free jazz, etc, etc). It's really about testing out what kind of jazz ya might like, it's got a lot to offer

11-14-2007, 03:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
bluesintheshoes Groupie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Plattsburgh N.Y. Posts: 30	Chick Corea just did some work with Bela Fleck that was amazing.

11-15-2007, 05:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
littleknowitall Pow! Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,671	desperately trying to learn teen town as we speak.

11-15-2007, 09:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
teshadoh Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 94	If you hate fusion & modern elevator jazz (like me)... I would recommend 'Birth of Cool' from Miles Davis. Actually, I would recommend most jazz albums from the late 1940's & 1950's which was the bop & post-bop era of jazz. Also check out Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, & Dizzy Gillespie.