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.

**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!

littleknowitall · 11-15-2007, 04:50 AM

desperately trying to learn teen town as we speak.

teshadoh · 11-15-2007, 08:28 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, 10:09 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.

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11-12-2007, 11:28 AM
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, 11:41 AM
djchameleon Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 543	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, 05:28 PM
jackhammer A Cabled Discount Join Date: May 2007 Location: U.K Posts: 3,872	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. __________________ My music collection.cough cough enjoy. Ha Ha charade you are. My dvd collection.

11-12-2007, 06:01 PM
cardboard adolescent time isn't on my side Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,302	Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and Frank Zappa's Hot Rats are my favorite fusion albums. __________________ The thread you've all been avoiding My blog The Ocean Will Have Us All

11-13-2007, 09:40 AM
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
bluesintheshoes Groupie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Plattsburgh N.Y. Posts: 31	Chick Corea just did some work with Bela Fleck that was amazing.

11-14-2007, 02:46 PM
jackhammer A Cabled Discount Join Date: May 2007 Location: U.K Posts: 3,872	I like Weather Report too. It's fairly commercial as Jazz goes but Jaco Pastorius can play a mean bass! __________________ My music collection.cough cough enjoy. Ha Ha charade you are. My dvd collection.

11-15-2007, 04:50 AM
littleknowitall Last of the Musicologists Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: swansea, wales, uk Posts: 1,463	desperately trying to learn teen town as we speak. __________________ My Myspace. My Bands Myspace - Please Show Some Love Here. My Youtube. My Ultimate Guitar.

11-15-2007, 08:28 AM
teshadoh Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 87	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.

11-15-2007, 10:09 AM
Night_Lamp Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hooterville (SW Ont.) Posts: 106	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