Hello there. I've always been a fan of many different genres... my top four favorite bands would probably be Placebo, Nine Inch Nails, Pink Floyd, and The Dead, haha. So I'd really like to get into some jazz. I've always been a bit put off by jazz because (no offense, i mean no offense) i thought it sounded boring. Then I read On The Road by Jack Kerouac and in this book he's really describing the soul of jazz music. And I love that. The way it sounds all wild and free. Oh sweet Jesus, i am babbling and drunk. Okay, so all i really want to know is, what are some really crazy, wild, jazz musicians?
Start with Miles Davis and Billie Holiday. But first IMO to enjoy and understand Jazz you must start w/ the Blues. Old blues!
Blues sounds good. I like the sound of it. I mean, i've never really listened to it, but when i think blues, and i get that stereotypical blues sound, i like it. haha. and thank you, darling.
I'm fairly new to jazz, too, but some albums that I've given a lot of listening that are absolutely brilliant are A Love Supreme and My Favorite Things byJohn Coltrane, very good introductions to jazz. For Miles Davis, pick up Kind of Blue and Birth of the Cool. The Dead were heavily influenced by both Coltrane and Miles, and if you enjoy their Space jams or lengthy Dark Star sequences you should really get In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew by Miles Davis, the intro to Silent Way will remind you immediately of the Dead. Be warned though, this was the era when Miles began to get very heavy into LSD, and it is pure abstract brilliance but probably the strangest thing you'll ever hear. Sketches of Spain by Miles is a bit more conventional but still acid-laden. His album Live-Evil incredible in the same sense as those albums, but with magic of a live performance. Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall is another brilliant live album. Also, if you're already into rock, try jazz fusion like Billy Cobham's Spectrum. Its a "fusion" of rock and jazz, heavy use of electric instruments in a rock fashion but written in non-traditional, jazzy ways, its easy to enjoy for mostly anyone. Jazz musicians have an overwhelming amount of music out, just pick one of the above albums and see what you think, and then move on to another when you're done.
Thelonious Monk with Coltrane is simply outstanding Another is Joe Pass with Oscar Peterson. Bitches Brew is great. But Miles's drug of choice was smack.
I'm sure he's done plenty of drugs.. but he did use LSD, and it influenced his work. Its very noticeable in the drastic change from his more mellow jazz to the work he did which was just pure musical insanity. I'd be very surprised if heroin influenced him for Bitches Brew... EDIT-Yeah, I just looked on Wikipedia very quickly, his heroin addiction came about in the early 50's during his "cool jazz" era, and he overcame it nearly a decade before the acid jazz stage.
charlie parker dizzy gillespie Thelenouis monk miles davis elvin jones Ceicl taylor Louis Armstrong duke ellington billie holiday countbaise stan kenton rashaan roland kirk
I like various types of jazz, but my favorite by far is 60s-style post-bop. Here's my favorite 21 jazz studio albums (at this moment in time)--excluding compilations and box sets: 1. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme Transcendent. A pure expression of love and devotion. 2. Miles Davis - Miles Smiles Just perfect. The level of musicianship, synergy, and power here is just untouchable. 3. Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue Fine and mellow from beginning to end. Some of the most beautifully melodic jazz solos ever all on one album. 4. Eric Dolphy - Out To Lunch Odd, but compelling. Obviously not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think this is one of the boldest and strongest statements ever made in jazz. 5. Andrew Hill - Point Of Departure A stellar line-up playing some of the best tunes by (imho) jazz’s greatest composer, Andrew Hill. 6. Miles Davis - ESP Not quite on the same level as Mile Smiles, but this has much of its spirit and power. 7. Dave Holland - Conference Of The Birds One of the freshest and most original approaches to the avant garde. Strong tunes and even stronger performances. 8. Chick Corea - Now He Sings, Now He Sobs The most dynamic and exciting piano trio album I’ve heard. 9. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew Like a jungle of sound filled with exotic creatures and wild colors. Many question whether this is jazz at all, but that question misses the point. This shit throbs with life. 10. Miles Davis - In A Silent Way Like a lighter and airier Bitches Brew. Ambient. 11. Andrew Hill - Judgment! Hard to find words to describe this one: Intimate. Soulful. Deep. Percussive. Sweet. The perfect blend of sturdy melodies and odd rhythms. 12. John Coltrane - Giant Steps Ferocious. Bop taken to its natural conclusion. 13. Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters 14. Herbie Hancock - Thrust 15. Charles Mingus - Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus 16. Booker Little - Out Front 17. John Coltrane - My Favorite Things 18. Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage 19. Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um 20. Max Roach - We Insist! 21. Bobby Hutcherson - Dialogue My favorite 7 jazz live sets: 1. John Coltrane - Birdland, 1963 2. John Coltrane w/ Eric Dolphy - Village Vanguard, 1961 (not to be confused with the 1966 joint) 3. Bill Evans - Village Vanguard, 1961 (as found on Sunday at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby) 4. Miles Davis - Cellar Door, 1970 (as found on Live Evil and Cellar Door Sessions) 5. Miles Davis - Plugged Nickel, 1965 6. Charles Mingus - Town Hall, 1964 (not to be confused with the 1962 joint) 7. Eric Dolphy & Booker Little - Five Spot, 1961 My favorite 3 jazz albums of the past decade or so: 1. Andrew Hill - Dusk 2. Dave Holland - Extended Play 3. Charles Lloyd - Jumping the Creek My favorite 3 jazz albums of the past couple of years: 1. Charles Lloyd - Sangam Very unconventional band config: tenor sax (mostly), drums, and tabla (Indian hand-drum)! Really exciting stuff recorded live. 2. Andrew Hill - Time Lines 3. Fred Anderson & Hamid Drake - From the River to the Ocean
Bitches Brew isn't really "acid jazz". "Acid jazz" is a sorta dance music that grew out of soul jazz.
I hate it when people just talk about fusion and more avant garde type jazz. Like anything before it just sucks out loud and only miles davis and coltrane have the right to be mentioned. I don't even get why everyone digs coltrane, he bores the hell out of me.
Old Any Art Tatum Straight Ahead (Bop/Cool) Hank Mobley - Soul Station Miles Davis - Kind of Blue Sonny Rollins - Sonny Side Up Sonny Rollins - Way Out West John Coltrane - Blue Train Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder Clifford Brown - The Beginning And The End Freddie Hubbard - Hub Tones Bill Evans - Sunday At the Village Vanguard Wes Montgomery - Smokin' At The Halfnote Oscar Peterson - The Trio Avant-Garde (Older) John Coltrane - A Love Supreme McCoy Tyner - The Real McCoy Chick Corea - Now He Sings Now He Sobs Miles Davis - Miles Smiles Wayne Shorter - Juju Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil Joe Henderson - In 'N Out Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage Fusion Miles Davis - Bitches Brew Miles Davis - In A Silent Way Herbie Hancock - Thrust Chick Corea - Light as a Feather Freddie Hubbard - Straight Life The Brecker Brothers - Heavy Metal Bebop Modern Jazz Brad Mehldau - Places Keith Jarrett - Live at the Blue Note Chris Potter - Gratitude Joe Lovano - Quarters-Live at the Village Vanguard Michael Brecker - Michael Brecker Branford Marsalis - Trio Jeepy John Scofield - Enroute Kenny Kirkland & Kenny Garrett - Songbook Wynton Marsalis - Standard Time Vol. 1 Kurt Rosenwinkel - The Next Step Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life
I am somewhat new to Jazz too but one of my current favorite albums is Charles Mingus' Mingus Three. This album makes me want to be a jazz pianist. it is such a beautiful album. One of my favorite things about jazz is the drumming. it is so cool. so interesting compared to straight rock drumming. I don't really like jazz guitar as much. i don't know what it is but i just don't like it as much as other instruments in jazz. i love me some jazz piano, trumpet, drums (like i said), and sax ( and i don't mean the smooth sax kind of jazz) JOn
Eric Dolphy (Out To Lunch) Circle (Paris Concert) Sun Ra (Atlantis) Ornette Coleman (Free Jazz) Miles Davis (Live at Fillmore) David Murray (Ming) Sam Rivers (Waves) John Coltrane (Sun Ship) ...and it's too much for me, but... Peter Brotzmann (Machine Gun) Art Ensemble of Chicago
Check out some Jimmy Smith. He was a jazz organist who played a lot with Wes Montgomery (who you should also check out). Also, you should look up Charlie Parker's Yardbird suite and his version of A night in tunisia. Check out some Cannonball Adderly too; his song Mercy mercy mercy makes me wet my pants.
miles davis -birth of the cool straight amazing album mingus with coltrane at carnegie hall in 71 or 73 i think is great. its a mindblowing album. i'll have to go through my dads jazz collection its huge.
for crazy drumming look no further than art blakey. For absolutely insane john coltrane is the way to go. The album Meditations will change your definition of music.
