Recommendations Please

[Kaad_g]

I know nothing of Jazz, but I heard a tune called “Barcelona Nights” which emphasized the Spanish guitar (I think) and Drums. I loved those two instruments! The sound of both instruments was clean and clear. I also like the sound of the bongo drums.

I have no idea where to begin; could someone point me in the right direction? Any recommendations? Is there also a place on the net where I could listen to samples?

Thanks,

Kaad_g

[bubber]

There's quite a few threads on the "New to jazz"-section giving good general information/guidance, see thread "jazz newcomer" and a couple of others.

[Kaad_g]

Thanks I'll check it out.

Kaad_g

[Saundra Hummer]

Originally posted by Kaad_g
I know nothing of Jazz, but I heard a tune called “Barcelona Nights” which emphasized the Spanish guitar (I think) and Drums. I loved those two instruments! The sound of both instruments was clean and clear. I also like the sound of the bongo drums.

I have no idea where to begin; could someone point me in the right direction? Any recommendations? Is there also a place on the net where I could listen to samples?

Thanks,

Kaad_g

I like some of the old Braziian influenced jazz, like Laurindo Almleida on guitar, recorded with Bud Shank, and I also like some of the Cal Tjader recordings where he plays the conga's, and I had one where he played bongo's but that is a hard one to find, no one remembers it. It was so long ago that it was taken from me, that I don't even remember for sure what was on it, but it was a blast. It was called "Tjader Plays Bongo's" I believe the one with the conga drums, was called "Tjader Plays Conga's."

I like Sabicus on the guitar, classical Spanish guitar with Flameco overtones. Then there is Segovia, said to be the greatest master of Spanish Classical guitar. Always a pleasure to hear. These two men have had a big influence on almost every serious guitar player. Then there is Charo. She isn't just a CoochieCoochie girl, she is a world class guitar player. I haven't been able to keep up with much like some of the other members, so I am sure they will be able to tell you a lot more than I can, and they probably will chime in.

[Kaad_g]

Thanks Saundra, that's the kind of stuff I'm after. I hope to hear some more people throw in a few ideas

Kaad_g

[Saundra Hummer]

Originally posted by Kaad_g
Thanks Saundra, that's the kind of stuff I'm after. I hope to hear some more people throw in a few ideas

Kaad_g

You're welcome, and I hope you will be able to find some recordings that you will like, and that can be of help.

I know you can find a lot by going on google, they have sites about everything, which I am sure you already know.

I found sites for drummers, for trombone, etc, so there has to be a lot about what it is you want to hear.

I would go to the library and go on their computer and see if you can order any number of recordings that they might have and check them out. They might even have tapes that you could view. You can order books from the state capital library in the state you live in, and I am sure you could order items whether it is books, tapes, or cds, and then there is the national library, where you can probably do the same. I would imagine you could find a link to these sites, and check them out on your own computer at home. I have done a little with our local library on our home computer, but not with music.

Good luck once more.

[Noj]

I don't know much about flamenco, but I know some great guitar albums that have latin flavors...

Check out Baden Powell for some Brasilian virtuoso guitar playing. Which reminds me of Joe Pass VIRTUOSO, I'd definitely recommend that one.

Pat Martino CONSCIOUSNESS is excellent. Jim Hall CONCIERTO...which reminds me of Miles Davis SKETCHES OF SPAIN...

Kenny Burrell MIDNIGHT BLUE--just got this one recently and it it is incredible. I'm bettin' you'd like the tune "Chitlins Con Carne."

Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, Airto=great conga players. Bobo's got some cool stuff under his own name on Verve.

[Saundra Hummer]

I have tried to look up MIke Casino in Hermosa Beach, and can't find him anywhere, see some other Casino's listed, but they aren't the right ones. I know he had a son that would be in his 40's by now, or that seems about right.

The reason I have tried to find him is that he was so instrumental in bringing a lot of music to the South Bay, he put on some fantastic bongo and conga happenings back in the late 50's. I'd say in 1957. He used to put on week long, or so it seems, sessions at the Hollywood Riveria Club, in Hollywood Riveria, now known as Torrance Beach.

It was fantastic! I don't know where he found all of these people that had so much talent, Africans, Brazilians, Cubans and all sorts of people from all over, much less people from here in the states.

Another fellow here at AAJ tried to find him too, but no luck. I know he used to advertise heavily on campuses for his sessions, and they were full of college kids. I just can find no record of him. He is good friends with Lorna Luft, Judy Garlands daughter, so if anyone knows how to contact her, she just might know where he is.

I would like to see some of the old ads and see just who it was, and where they, the people who performed there were from, and who they were.

He would know who to, and where to hook you up I would imagine. Wish I could find him, but I am not even sure that he is still alive.

I am gong to ask a couple of friends in Manhattan Beach to see if they can find out whatever has happened to him, he may not even be around at all.

I have some gypsy music by the Gypsy Kings, and some other people, recorded in the Flamenco Bars in Spain, but they are not how we have usually heard Flamenco, and may not be to your taste.

Noj has good people that he has recommended, and you will probably be happy with what he has laid out. Again, good luck.

[Frank Mullen]

For Kaad_g
Theres plenty of jazz to sample on the internet.Amazon permits sampling of jazz cd's . If you have a MacIntosh you can sample stuff on their itunes. Out here where I live in a jazz desert its the only way I could hear Nicholas Payton without investing in a cd. Needless to say, I bought the cd as soon as I heard him play Louis' West End Blues.
Ialso discovered "live 365" which charges 3.65 a month for membership and has scads of all kinds of jazz sources going 24/7. I think thats about the cheapest on the net.

Frank

[Kaad_g]

Thanks for the Amazon idea, it was great. I was able to listen to a sample of most of the artist mentioned on this thread; unfortunately, I didn't fine what I was looking for.

I just loved "Barcelona Nights", and knowing nothing of Jazz, I had a difficult time describing what I was looking for. I think now a proper description would be music with an upbeat tempo where the drums and guitar are the main instruments.

I don't care for singing and I'm not that crazy about wind instruments (that leaves a lot out, I know).

There has got to be plenty of music out there like that, any more suggestions?

Thanks,

Kaad_g

[Kaad_g]

Well, if anybody is still here……….

I have been perusing Amazon and found a few tunes that were a little closer to what I'm looking (although I'm not really sure WHAT I'm looking for). I find I really like the non wind instruments (piano, guitar, etc.) with the drums being a very strong part of the tune; where the drums are more in the foreground rather than the background in a tune. And an upbeat tempo.

A few musicians I liked were Peter White, David Benoit, Brian Bromberg and Spyro Gyra. I didn't care for everything they had, but they all had tunes I that caught my fancy.

Any other suggestions that might be similar to the groups above?

Kaad_g

[clifton]

Kaad_G: Check out the late Brazilian guitarist Bola Sete. His "Live At Monterey" has just been reissued on Verve, and I think it might be right up your alley.

[Muskrat Ramble]

Kaad_g, you may find this thread about guitar trios useful:

http://forums.allaboutjazz.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2772

Also, here's a disc without guitar but with piano, bass, and drums, where the drums play a very active part (and are wonderfully recorded): These Are the Vistas by The Bad Plus. That's one of the best discs I've bought this year.

[boptilUdrop]

If you can find a copy of Gene Ammons' "Bad! Bossa Nova" you might want to give this a try. Obviously, it's got a sax master on it, but it also has Kenny Burrell on guitar and Bucky Pizzarelli (sp.?) on Spanish guitar, plus someone else on bongos, etc., very latin feel. Highly recommended.

Also a good way to start edging into bop ...

[Kaad_g]

Thanks everyone,

I listened to samples of all the names mentioned above, but they all sounded….I don't know, traditional ( I don’t know how else to say it). The drums were their to keep the beat, in the background, as opposed to really standing out and yelling "Here I am everyone!"

I did listen to samples of "Friday Night In San Francisco" with Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, and Paco De Lucia. It was missing the drums, but the guitar playing was great with a lot of pep to it, they were really jamming. Now if we can add some good drumming to that……

I'm still looking and taking any and all recommendations.
Kaad_g

[Muskrat Ramble]

Maybe this might fit the bill?

http://www.charliehunter.com/audio/index.htm

He plays a bizarre 8-string guitar/bass combo. Lots of percussion, and it ain't traditional!

[Mike Neely]

The best introduction to jazz that I know of is The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz. This is a five CD set with extensive notes by Martin Williams, one of the all-time best writers on jazz. This set takes a historical approach with selections from early jazz all the way to contemporary groups - from Jelly Roll Morton to the World Saxophone Quartet. The selections are superb and Williams writes about each track and the musicians involved, and also puts the music in context of the times. This original vinyl set has been re-mastered into CDs. The sound quality is excellent. In all the years I've been listening to jazz I've never come across a better introduction, and I doubt that I ever will. I have recommended this set to many friends and relatives and all have been very pleased. Enjoy!

[Kaad_g]

I really did like the Charlie Hunter tunes where percussion was almost all they played, like in "Run for it". Speaking of which; Are there any tunes out there with drum solos?

Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz.... I'll have to check into that.

Thanks,

Kaad_g

[Muskrat Ramble]

There are a million and one jazz tunes with drum solos :) To make it easy, I'd say just go for highly rated albums (check AMG: www.allmusic.com, for example) featuring any of these drummers: Art Blakey, Max Roach, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Jeff Watts, Philly Joe Jones, Billy Higgins, Joe Morello, Charles Moffett, to name a few. A few albums that come to mind with some cool solos, iirc:

Roach: Thelonious Monk--Brilliant Corners
Roach: Sonny Rollins--Saxophone Colossus
Morello: Dave Brubeck--Time Out, At Carnegie Hall
Williams: Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock--a bunch of 60's albums (check AMG)
Watts: Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and solo--various albums, try Bloomington by Branford and Citizen Tain (awesome) by Watts himself
Higgins: Ornette Coleman's Atlantic Albums
Charles Moffett: Ornette Coleman--At the "Golden Circle" Stockholm, vols. 1 and 2
Blakey: where to begin? :) Moanin', A Night at Birdland vols. 1 and 2, A Night in Tunisia (on Blue Note), Africaine, At the Cafe Bohemia vols. 1 and 2, Orgy in Rhythm, Drums around the Corner
Elvin Jones: numerous albums with John Coltrane (see AMG), McCoy Tyner--The Real McCoy, solo--In Europe (on Enja)
Philly Joe Jones--tons of albums, try Miles Davis's 50's small-group material

Hope that helps as a starting point!

[Kaad_g]

Thanks Muskrat, it will take some time, but I'll check out all of your suggestions.

Kaad_g

[Muskrat Ramble]

Here's a guitar/bass/drums album that might be of interest:

Alex Skolnick Trio--Goodbye to Romance: Standards for a New Generation.

Skolnick is an ex-metal guitarist (with Testament). His album contains straight-ahead jazz versions of tunes by KISS, Aerosmith, Ozzy, the Scorpions, the Who, and Black Sabbath.

www.alexskolnick.com

[GiantSteps]

Hello Kaad_g,
I read ur thread ....!
In Drums U should check The Genius "ART BLAKEY' he's marvellous , try to find MOANNIN',ROUND MIDNIGHT,A NIGHT IN TUNISIA ( THE JAZZ MESSENGERS LIVE @ THE OLYMPIA FEATURING WAYNE SHORTER)....
U can also check JACK DEJOHNETTE , MAX ROACH ,KENNY CLARKE........
Hope u enjoy it...!

[Kaad_g]

Thanks GiantSteps. I listened to Art Blakey, and it's not exactly what I'm looking for. The problem with a lot of the older recordings is that it always sounds like the mic is sitting a distance away from the drums when being played.

The closest thing I found was that Charlie Hunter tune "run for it"; which had some cool drum playing in it.

http://www.charliehunter.com/audio/index.htm

And of course I loved "Barcelona Nights" which is what got me started on this search in the first place.

Thanks for the input everyone, I'll keep searching.

Kaad_g

[Gourmet4U]

Flamenco Music (Arabic words "Felag Mengu" mean "Peasant in Flight") and dates originally from the wandering Nomadic Tribes who entered Europe via Egypt (called Gypsies or from Egypt), brought in from Egypt by Phillip of Macedon, because they were great steel workers, making swords & spears etc., they are their own Race and keep to themselves, rarely mingling with outsiders, when their Gypsy Caravans reached Spain, they merged their music with Spanish Folk Music from Andalucía, Southern Spain, and helped to modernize the Spanish Acoustic Guitar; Modern Flamenco Guitar comes from the playing of the legendary Ramón Montoya, the uncle of Carlos Montoya, but was turned into an Art Form by the legendary Augustín Castellón "Sabicas", the greatest exponent of the Flamenco Guitar, his CD's are still available, and his concerts are available on DVD at the Spanish Website: http://www.Flamenco-World.com (I produced 3 concerts with him in Massachusetts and Colorado, and went to the Bull Fights with him in Madrid, Spain); today, with out a doubt, the greatest Flamenco Guitarist is Paco de Lucía, but there are more wonderful guitarists in Spain; the Gypsy Kings are French Gypsies and play Flamenco Fusion (Pop Flamenco, but popular with younger audiences); another French Gypsy was "Manitas de Plata" and, of course, Django Reinhart...legendary Jazz Trumpeter Miles Davis used to say that he would bend to his knees and cry, when he heard authentic Flamenco Music (see the movie "Carmen" with Flamenco Dancer Antonio Gades, and other films), and find more on DVD Format at the Spanish Website listed above; a wonderful musical Art Form, like Jazz, a true expression of the Human Spirit.