Jazz for beginners, recomendations.
Discussion
Not really into Jazz myself, but I heard this album years ago in a pub in Camden and it's been a firm favourite ever since. Great jazz saxophone playing with the added twist of a synth in parts of the backing tracks.
http://www.amazon.com/Mama-Rose-Archie-Shepp/dp/B0...
Great for just sitting back and getting into late at night. Highly recommended.
http://www.amazon.com/Mama-Rose-Archie-Shepp/dp/B0...
Great for just sitting back and getting into late at night. Highly recommended.

3 that I keep going back to...
Abdullah Ibrahim Trio - Cape Town Revisited
Miles Davis - The Essential Miles Davis
Portico Quartet - Knee-Deep in the North Sea
You don't need to be a Jazz musician to "understand" either of them and neither sounds like 3 blokes rolling down some stairs followed by their instruments
Abdullah Ibrahim Trio - Cape Town Revisited
Miles Davis - The Essential Miles Davis
Portico Quartet - Knee-Deep in the North Sea
You don't need to be a Jazz musician to "understand" either of them and neither sounds like 3 blokes rolling down some stairs followed by their instruments
Some Caro Emerald would be a good place to start
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75vjDHbHxeI&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74LXx0wSqMI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75vjDHbHxeI&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74LXx0wSqMI
Edited by Apache on Wednesday 2nd May 19:09
TBH Jazz is best experienced live. Have a look for your nearest Jazz fest and see what you like.
http://www.traditional-jazz.com/ John Petters does some cracking events and is part of a very very good Fats Waller tribute group.
You could also try Louis Prima as a good entry into Jazz - Everyone likes 'I'm the king of the swingers' and he sung it.
E.g. I'm Just a Gigolo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIRIsKG95lg&ob=...
When you're smilin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXYRkp2HZto
http://www.traditional-jazz.com/ John Petters does some cracking events and is part of a very very good Fats Waller tribute group.
You could also try Louis Prima as a good entry into Jazz - Everyone likes 'I'm the king of the swingers' and he sung it.
E.g. I'm Just a Gigolo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIRIsKG95lg&ob=...
When you're smilin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXYRkp2HZto
As mentioned, that's an impossible question to answer. Jazz is a VERY big genre.
Only thing I could add is that when I heard this, back in 1977, I quit my job, went to music college and became a jazz musician. It sounds dated now, but back then it was JUST what I needed to hear. (I've been a musician ever since, due in large part, to this one album).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae0nwSv6cTU
ETA: You really need to listen to all 6 mins to get it.
Only thing I could add is that when I heard this, back in 1977, I quit my job, went to music college and became a jazz musician. It sounds dated now, but back then it was JUST what I needed to hear. (I've been a musician ever since, due in large part, to this one album).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae0nwSv6cTU
ETA: You really need to listen to all 6 mins to get it.
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 2nd May 20:21
And this is why you should see Jazz live...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0_3t5WsO2Q&fea...
It's the fun of the solos, the interaction between the musicians, that make it; it's as much a visual art as it is a musical one. And you MUST have a cold beer in your hand to truly enjoy the experience
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0_3t5WsO2Q&fea...
It's the fun of the solos, the interaction between the musicians, that make it; it's as much a visual art as it is a musical one. And you MUST have a cold beer in your hand to truly enjoy the experience

As GetCarter says, you post a very difficult question OP; jazz goes from lairy Trad a la New Orleans stuff, to very musically cerebral be-bop.
For me personally, I'd also go with the above poster who mentioned Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. But I would also recommend something by Thelonius Monk or Jim Hall. Certainly the latter two are jazz legends, but are - I think - more accessible by beginners than someone like Charlie Parker.
For me personally, I'd also go with the above poster who mentioned Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. But I would also recommend something by Thelonius Monk or Jim Hall. Certainly the latter two are jazz legends, but are - I think - more accessible by beginners than someone like Charlie Parker.
The best thing I can suggest is:
www.wwoz.org
Which is New Orleans' community radio station. About 75% of the output is jazz, and when I say jazz it really is the whole gamut of the genre. You'll find out pretty quick which bits of it you like. As a previous poster said, Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" is well worth it.
www.wwoz.org
Which is New Orleans' community radio station. About 75% of the output is jazz, and when I say jazz it really is the whole gamut of the genre. You'll find out pretty quick which bits of it you like. As a previous poster said, Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" is well worth it.
GetCarter said:
As mentioned, that's an impossible question to answer. Jazz is a VERY big genre.
Only thing I could add is that when I heard this, back in 1977, I quit my job, went to music college and became a jazz musician. It sounds dated now, but back then it was JUST what I needed to hear. (I've been a musician ever since, due in large part, to this one album).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae0nwSv6cTU
ETA: You really need to listen to all 6 mins to get it.
Not heard that in ages.Only thing I could add is that when I heard this, back in 1977, I quit my job, went to music college and became a jazz musician. It sounds dated now, but back then it was JUST what I needed to hear. (I've been a musician ever since, due in large part, to this one album).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae0nwSv6cTU
ETA: You really need to listen to all 6 mins to get it.
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 2nd May 20:21

GetCarter said:
As mentioned, that's an impossible question to answer. Jazz is a VERY big genre.
Only thing I could add is that when I heard this, back in 1977, I quit my job, went to music college and became a jazz musician. It sounds dated now, but back then it was JUST what I needed to hear. (I've been a musician ever since, due in large part, to this one album).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae0nwSv6cTU
ETA: You really need to listen to all 6 mins to get it.
Great tune - I prefer it in big band flavour though TBHOnly thing I could add is that when I heard this, back in 1977, I quit my job, went to music college and became a jazz musician. It sounds dated now, but back then it was JUST what I needed to hear. (I've been a musician ever since, due in large part, to this one album).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae0nwSv6cTU
ETA: You really need to listen to all 6 mins to get it.
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 2nd May 20:21
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcEKAWZ1Nbk
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff


