Some good Jazz bands/musicians?
 

Well I like to explore different types of music and since I've never really gone out of my way to listen to Jazz I figured I should.

So can anyone recommend a few good Jazz bands or musicians.

You should definitely start with Miles Davis. Get his best album "Kind of Blue". It's really incredible.

hmmm . . .

It depends on what kind u like, if you like drum featured jazz then I kno a sick dude that plays hella good solo jazz drums with a backtone of jazz

Sun Ra sun ra sun ra sun ra sun ra

its like music you have never heard it cant be explained

what is that guys name... shoot i forgot

If you like blues? Id say: Cannonball Adderley or Roland Kirk.
If you like soul or gospel: "Brother" Jack Mcduff.
For something Funky: Joshua Redman or Jaco Pastorius.
For fusion Jazz, mening a mix of styles eg rock, funk: Weather Report, Miles Davis (from 68-) or John McLaughlin.
Something for those special moments: Chet Baker, Keith Jarret or John Coletrane "Ballads"
World music-jazz: Shakti or Zawinul syndicate

The list could go on for ever but this is a good starting line./ Enjoy!

What about George Clinton and Parliament?

Anyone shoul check out the song Maggot Brain - it's a 10 minute slow jam, very good and very relaxing. Also happens to have one of the funniest opening sentences I've ever heard.

The great Duke Ellington ones said when asked what music he liked: " If it sounds good, it is good.".

Yeah, sorry, I wasn't saying that in response to your post, just the threadstarters :)

I like Miles Davis. In the Jazz ensemble I'm in (lead trumpet) we play alot of John Coltrane, George Gershwin, and Thelonius Monk

MAYNARD FERGUSON!!! he's awesome...

I recommend:

MacArthur Park
&
L-dopa
( in L-dopa... towards the end maynard hits the triple c. in one of his concerts- he hit the note and passed out... its a high note!

Definitley check out John Coltrane.

If you want old school jazz try some big band stuff - Louis Armstrong, Count Basie Orchestra, Buddy Rich - for more modern fusion type stuff try Return To Forever, The Yellowjackets, Pat Methany Group - for smooth jazz try Dave Koz, Brian Cuthbertson, Najee - for fat ass horns and attitude try Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, or The Royal Crown Revue.

fidelityfiend you talk my language. In another thread you spoke my sentiments. Loving your taste.

yo, check out keif jarret, dave brubeck, louis armstrong, felonius monk.

Im lol ing. Its Thelonious Monk my friend. Not a single f in his whole name.

Good suggestions I love RCR. But how could you forget vocal Jazz ie Billie Holiday? Louis Armstrongs hot 7 stuff is so good. Id also suggest Benny Goodman for big band. I dont care much for the fusion stuff but Dizzy Gelespie did do some cool stuff with it. Id also recomend Charles Mingus, sooo good.

Probably the best choice without knowing where your other musical taste lie.
I'm pretty fond of soulive: modern soul/jazz organ trio.

yea man, i love parliament

Sade
Billy Holiday
Kenny G
Shirley Murdock
Louis Armstrong
John Coltrane

and there are a ton of others.

Peace out.

The G stands for gansta. :cool:

start out with some miles davis, like early stuff 40's and 50's stuff, like birth of the cool or even kind of blue. Then if u like that move on to some john coltrane, like A Love Supreme or Blue Train. Then if you like that u will hopefully gain enough knowledge out of intrest to discover new types of jazz on your own, once you get there, there is no coming back

if you like way out stuff, go for some ornette coleman, eric dolphy or don cherry

LOUIS JORDAN
LOUIS ARMSTRONG

(what the hell ! anyone called Louis!)

Um,

JOHN COLTRANE
SONNY ROLLINS
THELONIOUS MONK
ART BLAKEY (JAZZ MESSENGERS AS WELL)

yeah, Coltrane is great - especially A Love Supreme

Well, my all time favorite jazz artist is Nina Simone. No one compares to her in my opinion. She is soooo soulful and her music can give me chills,

Another favorite of mine is Marilyn Scott. She isn't in the same catagory as Nina. She is more in the smooth jazz catagory. I just bought her new album "Handpicked" and was delighted to hear a cover of Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes". That song has always been one of my favorites. Check them both out!

nina simone is a true legend

Mahavishnu Orchestra anyone? Thelonious Monk and Coltrane, just send chills down my spine! And Ornette Coleman is really good as well. And ofcourse, the great, Miles Davis.

the mahavishnu orchestra is great

so is Sun Ra

i just found a record by stanley turrentine called hustin' - it knocked me out! it is seriously great

For shame... no one's mentioned Charlie Parker yet? Tsk, tsk... :yikes:

Here's a starting guide for jazz, divided into sub-genres (also, for a first listen, I'd go with what people are telling you and listen to Kind of Blue, but you've already checked that out by now, haven't you? :D

Traditional/Dixieland:

Louis Armstrong
Bix Beiderbecke
Jelly Roll Morton
Sidney Bechet

Big Band/Swing:

Duke Ellington
Count Basie
Benny Goodman (overrated, but personifies the genre pretty well)

Vocal Jazz:

Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday
Sarah Vaughan

Bebop:

Charlie Parker
Dizzy Gillespie
Thelonious Monk

Hard Bop:

Art Blakey
50's Charles Mingus stuff (Mingus Ah Um, in particular)
Cannonball Adderley

Free Jazz:

Ornette Coleman
Coltrane's later stuff
Sun Ra
Cecil Taylor

Fusion:

Miles Davis (Davis has excellent work that fits into most jazz genres from 1945 on until his death, so he also applies to Bebop and Hard Bop, Cool Jazz, and Post-Bop)
The Mahavishnu Orchestra
Return to Forever
Weather Report

That's just the tip of the iceberg, there are a ton more sub-genres and great artists that I didn't mention. But pick out any of those, and you'll be hearing some fine, fine music. There are artists such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane that have covered several different genres, so I didn't categorize them in any place particular (except for Miles in fusion, because he created it and was the best at it, IMO). Enjoy, I believe you've got some downloading/buying to do. :D

P.S. Parliament and Funkadelic aren't jazz, but I could dig on the funk for weeks straight.:afro:

charlie parker is great - i have this bird and diz record which has some great playing - also the soundtrack to bird is amazing

don cherry is great for free jazz too

It wouldn't be the Quintet's (Bird, Diz, Bud Powell, Mingus, and Max Roach) Jazz Live at Massey Hall, would it? That's a classic, and one of my all-time faves. :)

not sure - it looks pretty "unnoficial" the cover has pictures of parker and bird that look like they had just been glued on and the words "bird and diz" in times new roman - not sure what the record label is but ill try to find out

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

That's the one I'm talking about, doesn't fit all the way with your description. There are a lot of Parker/Gillespie recordings, though, which vary from classic to at least decent. I can't say I've listened to them all, but I doubt any of them are terrible.

Hey!
you should go for "the idea of north" they are a great a cappella jazz group! really awsome! i think u can get them at abc shops.
~han~

curtis mayfield - super fly, great movie great music

Curis Mayfield was funk, but nontheless Superfly was indeed Soooopa Flyyy.

jazzfromhell- Billie Holiday... was absolutely amazing

Preach, brother. I've always been more of an Ella fan, myself, but Lady Day can still make my day, on any day of the week. :D

Jimmy Smith
Wes Montgomery
Django Reinhardt.