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

guitarherowaka · 11-12-2007, 11:28 AM

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, 11:41 AM

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, 05:28 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.

anticipation · 11-16-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

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.

definately don't do that.

listen to Jimmy Smith and Wes Anderson's "The Dynamic Duo".

it's nothing too experimental and won't scare you away from good solid jazz.

jackhammer · 11-19-2007, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentleman Johnny

definately don't do that.

listen to Jimmy Smith and Wes Anderson's "The Dynamic Duo".

it's nothing too experimental and won't scare you away from good solid jazz.

I'm not huge on jazz, but I found this fairly mainstream to listen to myself.

anticipation · 11-19-2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

I'm not huge on jazz, but I found this fairly mainstream to listen to myself.

I recommended it because it was mainstream & simple.

I advocate covering the bases of a genre before exploring the extremes of it.

cardboard adolescent · 11-12-2007, 06:01 PM

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

anzamatik · 11-13-2007, 09:40 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, 02:26 PM

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

jackhammer · 11-14-2007, 02:46 PM

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

11-12-2007, 11:28 AM	#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, 05:28 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, 02:46 PM	#10 (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.”

11-12-2007, 11:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
djchameleon A.B.N. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NY baby Posts: 12,052	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, 06:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,511	Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and Frank Zappa's Hot Rats are my favorite fusion albums.

11-13-2007, 09:40 AM	#8 (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, 02:26 PM	#9 (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.