What Piece Got You Into Jazz?

Chiomara · 02-02-2017, 04:49 PM

I think it was something from a compilation album of 1920s-30s jazz and ragtime that I checked out from the library when I was 12. (I was a decidedly uncool kid) Cab Calloway, Whispering Jack Smith, etc. But hearing John Coltrane's Psalm was probably what truly converted me later on.

JiggleMonster · 02-02-2017, 07:20 PM

Other than the pop jazz I got into at the beginning, such as Jamie Cullum, it was artists like Coltrane that got me into "real" Jazz.

I had this song on my ipod for years, but it clicked one night when I was on vacation fresh out of high school and this song came on shuffle. I was sitting on the beach in Florida (gulf shores along the panhandle) by myself looking up at the stars, and this song came on. I will never forget that moment, not only because this song was so relaxing, but I was going through **** at the time and this was a positive moment in my life. an epiphany type of moment if you will.

For a stretch, this song became my favorite after that night.

I don't like this one as much as I use to, but still good stuff.

JiggleMonster · 02-02-2017, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaSho

who starts a song like that???!!?!?!?!!?!?

Like this a lot

ribbons · 02-08-2017, 01:12 PM

This was the last jazz album purchased by my father, who was a jazz drummer. I still have a strong spiritual and emotional connection with it.

Akai · 03-25-2017, 09:40 AM

Not specifically jazz but reciting the lyrics over and over again in and out of the car as a child (around 5-6 yo) was definitely my entry into the world of Jazz/Jazz Fusion etc

Another main contender would be

Spectralmusic · 05-04-2017, 10:34 PM

I can't really remember. I know the first jazz album I got ecstatic about was Eric Dolphy's Out To Lunch, which is still one of my favorite jazz albums.
There was a point where I was buying lots of Miles Davis albums but found after a while that he didn't quite scratch my itch. Then there was Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, Thelonious Monk, Anthony Braxton, John Zorn, Charlie Parker and Charles Mingus.

Yeah!

Akai · 05-05-2017, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectralmusic

I was buying lots of Miles Davis albums but found after a while that he didn't quite scratch my itch. Then there was Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, Thelonious Monk, Anthony Braxton, John Zorn, Charlie Parker and Charles Mingus.

For the most part I'd say I feel the same about Davis

**Frownland** · 05-05-2017, 08:45 AM

Miles has a lot of jazz that set the stage for things like standard bop and cool jazz which don't sound innovative after years of people building on his ideas, so context is important in that sense. I agree that he has a lot of incredibly overrated material though (*cough* Kind of Blue *cough*) and there are better jazz artists out there (Coltrane will always be king). Then there's stuff like In a Silent Way, Miles Smiles, Sketches of Spain, Live-Evil, and above all, Bitches Brew. ****in Bitches Brew man. If you only check one of his albums out it's gotta be that one. I'm gonna go listen to it now.

I see Kind of Blue as being Miles' 4'33". It was a big step for him, but much like John Cage, it followed him everywhere he went despite him sprawling out and trying many many different things throughout his lengthy career. I'm certain there's a Miles album for everyone.

Mega Bear · 06-16-2017, 06:29 PM

The first piece of jazz I truly loved was probably Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World," which was played for me in elementary school and I still it find beautiful today. When I got older and wanted to hear more jazz music I picked up Kind of Blue at a used CD store-- it was a safe and predictable pick but it introduced me to jazz music without putting me off. I got it around Christmas too so it was really comfy and inviting and matched the mood of the times. What Frownland said feels very true, about how that album has followed Miles everywhere. For instance the CD I own pitches it as one of the most important jazz records ever. Makes sense it would be my first, and probably many other people's first, foray into the genre.

Zhanteimi · 06-16-2017, 08:39 PM

Bitches Brew.

Regardless of genre, it's one of my top ten albums.

02-02-2017, 07:20 PM	#12 (permalink)
JiggleMonster GoochTickler Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 249	Other than the pop jazz I got into at the beginning, such as Jamie Cullum, it was artists like Coltrane that got me into "real" Jazz. I had this song on my ipod for years, but it clicked one night when I was on vacation fresh out of high school and this song came on shuffle. I was sitting on the beach in Florida (gulf shores along the panhandle) by myself looking up at the stars, and this song came on. I will never forget that moment, not only because this song was so relaxing, but I was going through **** at the time and this was a positive moment in my life. an epiphany type of moment if you will. For a stretch, this song became my favorite after that night. I don't like this one as much as I use to, but still good stuff. Last edited by JiggleMonster; 02-02-2017 at 07:48 PM.

03-25-2017, 09:40 AM	#15 (permalink)
Akai Godless Ape Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Britannia Posts: 1,255	Not specifically jazz but reciting the lyrics over and over again in and out of the car as a child (around 5-6 yo) was definitely my entry into the world of Jazz/Jazz Fusion etc Another main contender would be Last edited by Akai; 03-25-2017 at 11:21 AM.

05-05-2017, 08:45 AM	#18 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Miles has a lot of jazz that set the stage for things like standard bop and cool jazz which don't sound innovative after years of people building on his ideas, so context is important in that sense. I agree that he has a lot of incredibly overrated material though (cough Kind of Blue cough) and there are better jazz artists out there (Coltrane will always be king). Then there's stuff like In a Silent Way, Miles Smiles, Sketches of Spain, Live-Evil, and above all, Bitches Brew. ***in Bitches Brew man. If you only check one of his albums out it's gotta be that one. I'm gonna go listen to it now. I see Kind of Blue as being Miles' 4'33". It was a big step for him, but much like John Cage, it followed him everywhere he went despite him sprawling out and trying many many different things throughout his lengthy career. I'm certain there's a Miles album for everyone. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.* d e a f b o x

06-16-2017, 08:39 PM	#20 (permalink)
Zhanteimi Mord Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tokyo Posts: 4,874	Bitches Brew. Regardless of genre, it's one of my top ten albums. __________________ Zhanteimi LetsTalkMusic

02-02-2017, 04:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
Chiomara mayor of spookytown Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 812	I think it was something from a compilation album of 1920s-30s jazz and ragtime that I checked out from the library when I was 12. (I was a decidedly uncool kid) Cab Calloway, Whispering Jack Smith, etc. But hearing John Coltrane's Psalm was probably what truly converted me later on.

02-08-2017, 01:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
ribbons Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,265	This was the last jazz album purchased by my father, who was a jazz drummer. I still have a strong spiritual and emotional connection with it.

05-04-2017, 10:34 PM	#16 (permalink)
Spectralmusic Contemporary Composer Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: 93/93 Posts: 462	I can't really remember. I know the first jazz album I got ecstatic about was Eric Dolphy's Out To Lunch, which is still one of my favorite jazz albums. There was a point where I was buying lots of Miles Davis albums but found after a while that he didn't quite scratch my itch. Then there was Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, Thelonious Monk, Anthony Braxton, John Zorn, Charlie Parker and Charles Mingus. Yeah!

06-16-2017, 06:29 PM	#19 (permalink)
Mega Bear Groupie Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 11	The first piece of jazz I truly loved was probably Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World," which was played for me in elementary school and I still it find beautiful today. When I got older and wanted to hear more jazz music I picked up Kind of Blue at a used CD store-- it was a safe and predictable pick but it introduced me to jazz music without putting me off. I got it around Christmas too so it was really comfy and inviting and matched the mood of the times. What Frownland said feels very true, about how that album has followed Miles everywhere. For instance the CD I own pitches it as one of the most important jazz records ever. Makes sense it would be my first, and probably many other people's first, foray into the genre.