Best jazz song/ album ever?
 

I am new to jazz music, and I would love to buy more songs, but I dont know where to start, it seems like an ocean full of good jazz music, I only know big names like Diana Krall, Miles Davis etc:)

While rock tends to be defined as prog rock/hard rock/rockabilly and so on, jazz is often just treated as one genre. It's a bit hard to know what people would like when they ask for recommendations in jazz.

In the thread expand your horizons, I posted this post that gives an example of some flavours of jazz that I like. I'll repost it here for you :)

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I'm not really into jazz .. I like it a lot, but it's not what I play most. Also, just asking for jazz is like asking for recommendations on metal. You don't know if they want Dio or Korpiklaani. Anyways!

I think an easy entry into jazz is to check out the cream from last decades swing revival. Squirrel Nut Zippers is my favourite of the bunch and their album "Perennial Favorites" is excellent. I also wrote a review on it in my journal. I have one album by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy called "Americana Deluxe" and although it's not as diverse, it's also good.



This is not the track I wanted to show, but the selection off youtube is not really extensive. It's Squirrel Nut Zippers opening track from Perennial Favorites (released in 1997).


If you like gypsy jazz reminiscent of old Django Reinhardt, I can recommend Joe Pass album "For Django" (1964) or Bireli Lagrene's "Gipsy Project & Friends" (2002).



The video above shows Bireli and his gang playing Django's jazz standard, Minor Swing.


If you like more trippy electronica jazz with a bit of drum n bass and other stuff thrown in, then you could have a look at Jaga Jazzist from Norway or perhaps Kyoto Jazz Massive from Japan.



The video above shows Jaga Jazzist song Animal Chin from their 2001 album "A Livingroom Hush" which got good reviews in Norway.


If you want more prog-jazz fusion stuff, I think you should check out the Canterbury scene's legendary Soft Machine. The following video is from the last half of the last track on their album "Third" from 1970. Also try out Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever or Weather Report, all of which are perhaps more accessible than Soft Machine.




Guys like Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Herbie Han**** or John Coltrane shouldn't need an introduction since they are all still immensely popular. I have Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" from 1965 and I like it a lot. It's also critically acclaimed. "Miles Ahead" (1957) and "Kind of Blue" (1957) by Miles Davis are awesome .. I also got Bitches Brew on a recommendation here, but I've yet to listen to it. It's also easy to get box sets from all these artists.



In the youtube-vid, you can see Miles Davis and John Coltrane together playing "So What", the opening track on "Kind of Blue".


If you think you might like avant-garde jazz, try Bill Frisell. The following vid shows him playing Shenandoah which is from his 1999 album "Good Dog, Happy Man" ..



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nice, thanks for sharing

thanks toretorden
Really wonderful and useful videos

I am no afficionado, but I absolutely am entranced by Jazz 'Round Midnight, with the Gilbertos and Stan Getz.

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

don't take this the wrong way but that sounds like the oddest pairing of names ever.

'Round Midnight is Thelonius Monk's most famous piece, mostly because it's the only 'proper' melodic piece he composed. most people thought he was crazy back in the day due to his atonal and unorthodox approach to playing piano. he was just way ahead of his game (regardless of his mental state).

as for the Gilbertos and Stan Getz, that was a series of albums from the early 60s of Antonio Carlos Jobim's compositions. He's the main man behind what's typically referred to as Bossa Nova. Getz's participation in the recordings was a successful attempt by his record label to sell a new sound to north america, everything is very smooth and melodic across the three albums in the initial series (Jazz Samba, Jazz Samba Encore!, Getz & Gilberto)



basically ACJ's music can best be described as the greatest elevator music you'll ever hear.

Thelonius Monk's on the other hand is like a music box rolled down a flight of stairs.

both will get you to the ground floor but you can see why it becomes an odd pairing of names.


as for the best song album thing... i'm going with 'you don't know what love is' by Eric Dolphy from his 'last date' album. NOTHING i have heard to this day tops this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgGs3h7CytA (WARNING - the very last note is missing, no other versions)

I'd like to set up camp in that elevator

Lol, That's quite an appropriate analogy!

Guess I'll just post a few favourites...

Art Ensemble of Chicago - Les Stances A Sophie
- Avant garde jazz, which I love not only due to the proficiency of the artists, but also a interesting interpretation of classic/classical ideas. Favourite songs include 'Variations Sur Un Theme De Monteverdi', 'Theme De Yoyo' and 'Theme Amor Universal'.
- Theme De Yoyo

Charles Mingus - Pithecantropus Erectus or The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
- Classics in every sense of the word. I can't really split them. (Can't find any bloody youtube vids)

Sonny Sharrock - Ask The Ages
- Pushing away from conventional jazz, ATA is Sharrock's best work IMO, doing his normal stunning work as lead jazz guitar. Supported by a top crew including Pharaoh Sanders.
- Many Mansions

Nils Petter Movlaer - Khmer
- One of the best albums of the 90's. Still holds ground today. The Norwegian trumpeters solo debut.
- On Stream

Contemporary Noise Quintet - Pig Inside The Gentleman
- A newer find, I just find myself loving it every time I listen to it.
- Even Cats Dream About Flying

Many more just thought I would highlight a few worth trying out IMO.

Ditto.

http://perfekcyjnanuta.blox.pl/resou...ver_a_love.jpg