Looking for help from big jazz fans (genre, albums, miles davis)

**Janszoon** · 12-03-2008, 04:03 PM

I've been listening to jazz for over a decade and own a decent amount of it but I feel like the growth of my appreciation has been somewhat stilted because, unlike other forms of music, I don't know anyone else personally who is really into it. As a result, I find myself going around aimlessly checking out albums by the "greats", but not having that nice organic process of people saying hey check this or that album out.

What I'm hoping here is that I can get some good recommendations of albums or artists that are maybe a bit more under the radar. I already have albums like "Bitches Brew" and "Kind of Blue" and at least a retrospective or two of most of the real big names, especially in bebop and swing. I'm open to pretty much all styles from dixieland to avant-garde and everything in between, old and new, and of course if you're able to share your recommendations that would be particularly appreciated.

mr dave · 12-03-2008, 05:25 PM

i'm not really setup to share but i'll toss out my regular top two choices in threads like this

for new stuff bordering on avant garde definitely check out jaga jazzist if you're not already familiar with them. they're a norwegian 10 piece that have been playing together since high school. very awesome, i'd recommend starting with their 'a livingroom hush' album. their last release 'what we must' reminds me a lot of 'loveless' by my bloody valentine, i think it's the density of the production that really does it. either way here's a clip from ALH

YouTube - Jaga Jazzist - Animal Chin

my old school recommendation will always be eric dolphy. he was a free jazz pioneer who played with the likes of charles mingus, ornette coleman, and john coltrane. his life and career were cut short by diabetes in 1964. i cannot recommend his 'last date' album enough, recorded just 3 weeks before his death it's fantastic from start to finish. his take on 'you don't know what love is' stands as my absolute top tune.

there's not a whole lot of solo dolphy stuff on youtube, but thankfully there's lots of mingus. including this full set featuring dolphy (to mingus' left).

YouTube - Charles Mingus Sextet - Live in Norway, 1964 Part 1

**Janszoon** · 12-03-2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

i'm not really setup to share but i'll toss out my regular top two choices in threads like this

for new stuff bordering on avant garde definitely check out jaga jazzist if you're not already familiar with them. they're a norwegian 10 piece that have been playing together since high school. very awesome, i'd recommend starting with their 'a livingroom hush' album. their last release 'what we must' reminds me a lot of 'loveless' by my bloody valentine, i think it's the density of the production that really does it. either way here's a clip from ALH

YouTube - Jaga Jazzist - Animal Chin

Hot damn does that song kick ass! I definitely have to get some stuff by these guys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

my old school recommendation will always be eric dolphy. he was a free jazz pioneer who played with the likes of charles mingus, ornette coleman, and john coltrane. his life and career were cut short by diabetes in 1964. i cannot recommend his 'last date' album enough, recorded just 3 weeks before his death it's fantastic from start to finish. his take on 'you don't know what love is' stands as my absolute top tune.

there's not a whole lot of solo dolphy stuff on youtube, but thankfully there's lots of mingus. including this full set featuring dolphy (to mingus' left).

YouTube - Charles Mingus Sextet - Live in Norway, 1964 Part 1

I love Mingus. I just downloaded that Dolphy album, really looking forward to checking it out tonight.

mr dave · 12-03-2008, 06:04 PM

glad you're digging it.

the main guy behind JJ is a fellow by the name of lars horntveth. he's put out a solo disc or two as well. his solo work tends to focus on strings more than horns but it's still really good.

the jaga jazzist collaboration with 'motorpsycho' is also worth checking out. especially their cover of the art ensemble of chicago's 'theme de yoyo'. TAEoC is another group well worth checking out if you're not familiar with them as well.

**Janszoon** · 12-03-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

glad you're digging it.

the main guy behind JJ is a fellow by the name of lars horntveth. he's put out a solo disc or two as well. his solo work tends to focus on strings more than horns but it's still really good.

the jaga jazzist collaboration with 'motorpsycho' is also worth checking out. especially their cover of the art ensemble of chicago's 'theme de yoyo'. TAEoC is another group well worth checking out if you're not familiar with them as well.

Cool. Yeah, despite having lived in Chicago for a long time, I'm not familiar with The Art Ensemble of Chicago but after what I just read about them on Wikipedia I'm intrigued to say the least. I'll definitely check out the other stuff you mentioned too.

Zarko · 12-03-2008, 10:43 PM

Yeah, the Art Ensemble is legendary stuff

- Bap-Tizum, Urban Bushmen, Les Stance a Sophie...

A bit crazy at times, but a nice and unique blend worked to perfection.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band are my favourite Nawleans/Dixieland band, still going strong after a few decades.

Cannonball Adderly is always one to look out for.

I have more free jazz/Avant garde and some fusion moreso than anything else... Any sub genre in particular you like or are interested in? Or anything and everything?

**Janszoon** · 12-04-2008, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zarko

Yeah, the Art Ensemble is legendary stuff

- Bap-Tizum, Urban Bushmen, Les Stance a Sophie...

A bit crazy at times, but a nice and unique blend worked to perfection.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band are my favourite Nawleans/Dixieland band, still going strong after a few decades.

Cannonball Adderly is always one to look out for.

I have more free jazz/Avant garde and some fusion moreso than anything else... Any sub genre in particular you like or are interested in? Or anything and everything?

Yeah, I like the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Cannonball Adderly—though I'm familiar with Cannonball mostly as a part of Miles Davis' band.

As far as what I'm looking for, really anything and everything except smooth jazz. I don't know much fusion at all so I'm definitely interested in that. John Zorn is pretty much the extent of my knowledge of avant-garde and my knowledge of dixieland is pretty much limited to Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, so input on those is greatly appreciated as well. I know a bit more about bebop and swing but I'm definitely open to hearing more about those. And of course I'm sure there are many more subgenres I'm not even thinking of, so input on anything else would be great.

mr dave · 12-04-2008, 01:19 AM

from what i know of fusion the best places to start would be 'weather report' along with herbie han****'s work with the headhunters.

**Janszoon** · 12-04-2008, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

from what i know of fusion the best places to start would be 'weather report' along with herbie han****'s work with the headhunters.

I'm not familiar with the Headhunters, but I like Herbie a lot. I'll have to check that out. I'm familar with Weather Report by name and reputation but I've never actually listened to their music. Do you know a good place to start with them?

Also, lol at this software censoring Herbie's last name. I guess we'll just have to refer to him as Herbie Hanpenis from now on.

Zarko · 12-04-2008, 03:34 AM

Never been a big Weather Report fan, but can't go wrong with their ST...

12-03-2008, 04:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Looking for help from big jazz fans I've been listening to jazz for over a decade and own a decent amount of it but I feel like the growth of my appreciation has been somewhat stilted because, unlike other forms of music, I don't know anyone else personally who is really into it. As a result, I find myself going around aimlessly checking out albums by the "greats", but not having that nice organic process of people saying hey check this or that album out. What I'm hoping here is that I can get some good recommendations of albums or artists that are maybe a bit more under the radar. I already have albums like "Bitches Brew" and "Kind of Blue" and at least a retrospective or two of most of the real big names, especially in bebop and swing. I'm open to pretty much all styles from dixieland to avant-garde and everything in between, old and new, and of course if you're able to share your recommendations that would be particularly appreciated.

12-03-2008, 10:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Zarko Barely Disheveled Zombie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 1,196	Yeah, the Art Ensemble is legendary stuff - Bap-Tizum, Urban Bushmen, Les Stance a Sophie... A bit crazy at times, but a nice and unique blend worked to perfection. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band are my favourite Nawleans/Dixieland band, still going strong after a few decades. Cannonball Adderly is always one to look out for. I have more free jazz/Avant garde and some fusion moreso than anything else... Any sub genre in particular you like or are interested in? Or anything and everything?

12-04-2008, 03:34 AM	#10 (permalink)
Zarko Barely Disheveled Zombie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 1,196	Never been a big Weather Report fan, but can't go wrong with their ST...