Most exciting YOUNG musician

[Pharaohrock]

This might actually be a more interesting poll. I'm sure everyone has different ideas about this.....I've tried to restrict "young" to below 30. Brad Mehldau and James Carter are no longer really young, and Kenny Garrett (who someone here called "a pretty good young alto player") is certainly not....

[valo]

This one is from leftfield, but there's a twentysomething alto sax player from Finland named Mikko Innanen (http://www.allaboutjazz.com/artists/minnanen.htm) who blew me away when I saw him. He's got chops, imagination, an energetic improvising spirit, swings like crazy and can lay down the blues if he wants. When I saw him he busted into an impromptu series of variations on Monk themes on the soprano. he brought a new vigor to the instrument that I've only heard Coltraneor Steve Lacy bring.

he's played with John Tchai and Han Bennik,a nd both have marvelled at his ability. Unfortunately, geography puts him at a disadvantage.

check out the record label he's on at www.fiaskorecords.com. His album "Delirium" is a great post-Ornette improvising fest.

[John]

Do you know where I can download mp3's of these guys' music?

[jazzypaul]

I had to put my vote in for Ethan Iverson, just because he's choice of chords and his improvisational style are just downright fun AND challenging to listen to. But honestly, there are a ton of great choices on that poll. Jason Lindner is a monster with some brilliant new ideas about what can be done in a big band setting. Stefon Harris has put out some amazing and very heady music for someone so young, and the whole Rosenwinkel/Turner thing is outstanding. Kudos, Pharaoh, nice poll. Let's hope everyone starts getting down with some of these new and thoroughly brilliant players.

[jazzypaul]

I could care less about MP3's, but BMG is selling the latest Rosenwinkel album for $2.99. Even with shipping, it's still only $5.80. I think that's more than worth the price of admission.

[John]

$2.99! So what exactly is their deal? I saw that you get seven free CD's if you agree to buy one for full price, is there any fine print I have to know about?

[Pharaohrock]

You pay shipping on those "free" cds, which ain't exactly cheap. Also, realize you're going to get a mailing about once every two weeks in which you have to check off whether you want the cd of the month or not. If you don't reply, they send it to you anyway.
And in fact, it's my belief that those clubs pile up some of their profits with people who either forget to reply or are simply passive.

Still, the deal comes out in your favor overall. Just realize it's not a total "walk in the park."

[Pharaohrock]

"Don't forget Jason Moran!" says I to myself, belatedly.

[clifton]

The choice is limited because you can only have 10 choices in an AAJ poll. I voted for Orrin Evans, but wish you had been able to include Moran, Jimmy Greene, and Ryan Kisor, all of whom I believe are under 30.

[Pharaohrock]

Ryan Kisor's been around....he's at least 30. Greene would still qualify I guess.

[champjams]

Adam Schroeder with Ray Charles band. Graduate from the Clark Terry Institute, straight ahead bebop Bari sax. Very swinging.

[jazzypaul]

So you listen to Ray Charles, who plays just as much R&B and pop as he does jazz, but you won't listen to Dave Douglas or Kenny Garrett, who are all jazz. Interesting.

[Dr. J.]

[TAYLOR EIGSTI (Ikes-dee)

Born 1984, CA-based pianist who opened for David Benoit at age 8 and has since shared the stage with Dave Brubeck, James Moody, Allan Broadbent, Rufus Reid, and Lewis Nash and opened for Diana Krall and Hank Jones, Natalie Cole and Al Jarreau. He's recorded a wonderful CD with Chris and Dan Brubeck which is not yet available.

Taylor has astonishing chops, including OP-like parallel runs and octaves (but doesn't overquote them); fluid, flawless stride, crackling swing, tender ballad playing. Reminds me of Benny Green and the joyful straightahead days of Monty Alexander. There's funk and soul in there. Writes well, too. A very open, bright, unpretentious, friendly, normal kid who plays basketball and just entered college (while also teaching at the Stanford Jazz Workshop since age 15).

Blessedly, he's not from "the wonder of me" school of playing.

I first met Taylor on the S/S Norway jazz cruise 2+ years ago when he was 16 and a special guest in Red Holloway's band. I remember some musicians turning green (and not from bumpy seas) and grumbling things like, "He'd better go home and learn some charts." He was a phenomenon then and has grown exponentially since.

"Resonance," his trio CD debut with the worthy Jason Lewis (drums) and John Shifflett (bass) will be out in June, on Bop City. I strongly recommend that everybody watch for it - although when it hits, I suspect you won't be able to avoid it!

[champjams]

Non-Absolute Jazzie, how much do you know about Ray Charles? He was a Jazz alto player before he ever sang "Georgia."

[jazzypaul]

Yeah, and Nat Cole was a piano player before he ever sang Unforgettable. You're a piano player, and you've never said word one about Nat. And Nat was a monster back in the day.

George Benson was a mutha of a jazz guitarist before he figured out that he could sing and sell millions of copies of records. Never hear you mention him either.

Art Porter played some of the meanest Be-Bop you ever heard in Chicago before he started making smooth jazz records. Never hear you talk about him.

The list goes on. But, in your world of total absolutes, either you're jazz or you're not. So where is Ray? I love him, but I'm not drawing lines in the sand all over this forum, either.

[Pharaohrock]

Adam, s cool. go to allmusic.com whenever there's a musician you haven't heard of. THere's great discographies there, and bios on most of the musicians.

[champjams]

Where's anyone that stops playing Jazz? They're just in the world of not playing Jazz. However, are you suggesting that Nat Cole's singing is not Jazz? He was a wonderful pianist and a great singer, though I do not cite him as a major influence.

George Benson is a good guitar player, but he can't sing - so I don't understand your point there.

As for Art Porter, never heard of him.

[clifton]

I'm wondering if the existence of so many talented younger players weakens the poll somehow. And champjams: instead of attacking, couldn't you have posted on what younger musicians you think are the most exciting? Wouldn't that be more constructive?

[LeMo]

Steve Lehman, Kevin O'Neil, Scott Rosenberg, Chris Jonas, Susie Ibarra, Jacques Foschia...

[Oakland]

I agree with Dr. J. Taylor Eigsti is the man. Have seen him several times. He was mature at 16, so now he's getting older (19). But...how about Julian Lage. I think he's 14 or 15 now, plays a very impressive jazz guitar, and has been doing so for several years. I believe he's from Santa Rosa, CA and his parents have to drive him around to his gigs.

[BruceH]

Cyrus Chestnut. He's KIND of young. Under 40 at least.

[Sonnyhill]

Jeremy Pelt.

I saw him at the Kavehaus in NYC with his band Creation. Pelt on trumpet, Myron Walden on bass clarinet/alto sax, Chris Conner on vibes, Mike Moreno on guitar, Derek Nevgelt (sp) on bass, and the amazing Tommy Cramer on drums.

They are all probably 30 and under--Cramer looks like he's about 19 (remember the name he is amazing!!!!!!!!)

Someone needs to properly record this band. I'm definitely going to see them next time they play together.

Mp3's of this band are available on Pelt's website www.peltjazz.com.

The band played all Pelt original tunes--a quite impressive band. I would love to hear Pelt and Moran and Harris get together.

[Rooster_Ties]

Jason Moran, or at least I think he's still under 30, or at least under 32. (I think) he's the most exciting 'young' piano player I've heard in 10 years.

[Sonnyhill]

Also there's Mark Shim the tenor saxophonist (His album "Turbulent Flow" on the Norah label showed much promise).

Liberty Ellman a guitarist who I saw playing with Henry Threadgill and Greg Osby (I believe I read on this site that Ellman and Shim might have recorded an album together)

Also giving the drummer some: Nasheet Waits who is busy and rightfully so because he is one of the best drummers I've heard live.

[Aggie87]

My vote goes to Peter Cincotti.

*ducks*


PS - "the Norah label" ....heh heh...

[EKE BBB]

Jason Moran

[Finger Poppin']

My vote would have to be for Jason Moran.

[Dan Gould]

Originally posted by Pharaohrock
Ryan Kisor's been around....he's at least 30. Greene would still qualify I guess.

Ryan Kisor doesn't turn 30 for another month, so I'd say he's still eligible.

[ADR]

Yeah - I'll go with Jason Moran as well.


ADR

[tipitina]

Stanton Moore is the best drummer I have seen live. I have seen him play with jazz, r&b, blues and funk bands. Check out his "All Kooked Out" release on Fog City and his "Flyin' the Koop" release on Verve. He gets my vote.

[ADR]

tipitina:

Nice to see you stopping by here from your usual digs at JC. Hope you decide to stick around.

ADR

[tipitina]

tipitina:

Nice to see you stopping by here from your usual digs at JC. Hope you decide to stick around.

ADR
ADR - thanks but you have me confused with someone else. I'm not sure what JC stands for?

[ADR]

Ah -

JC stands for "Jazz Corner" and there is a longstanding poster on the Bulletin Board System there who posts under the name "tipitina".

Now that I think about it - the JC tipitina lives in NYC and you live in Colorado.

Anyway - sorry for the confusion and welcome to AAJ.


ADR

[Dr. B]

Anyone heard of the under-20 pianist, Taylor Eigsti? Remember the name...

[boscohell]

Hy guys!.What about the "los hombres calientes"young trumpeter,Irwin Mayfild?:eek:

[clifton]

I don't know what happened to the original ballot, but I'm voting for Marcus and E.J. Strickland anyway.

[Muskrat Ramble]

A clarification regarding the BMG Club:

You pay shipping on those "free" cds, which ain't exactly cheap. Also, realize you're going to get a mailing about once every two weeks in which you have to check off whether you want the cd of the month or not. If you don't reply, they send it to you anyway.

You can request that they a) don't send you physical mailings, just email and b) don't send you anything without you specifically ordering it.

The longer you stay in the club, the better the deals get. Now I get all CD's at $4.99 per disc all the time with no shipping and handling charges (normally S&H is like $2.50 per disc or something crazy). The selection isn't great (and you also lose access to clearance items and certain sets under the specific aforementioned deal), but they do have some cool stuff, nonetheless. Definitely worth a look. And they have lots of classical, rock, and other genres, too, if you're into those.

[carmenodgie]

Cuong Vu

[Andy D]

Well for me it would be people like:

Soweto Kinch- from England

Alexi Tuamarila - from Finland

Tord Gustavsen - from Norway

Or one of the many 'young' European jazz musicians, I guess it may also depend on what the definition of young is?

Regards

Andy D.

[Hardbop]

Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt has made a big splash on the NYC scene, though I'm somewhat disappointed that he seems to have fallen in love with the dreaded Fender Rhodes, so that rules him out.

The Brothers Strickland, Marcus and E.J., are good choices. They do it just about right. They site another set of brothers, the Brothers Marsalis, specifically Wynton & Branford, as mentors so they would be good choices.

I like pianist Robert Glasper quite a bit, but his debut disc on FSNT proved to be disappointing for 1) being too out; 2) using electronic instruments.

I don't know if pianist Anthony Wonsey could still qualify since he's been around for awhile now and is at or around 30. If so, he'd probably be my choice.

One other comer is N'awlins trumpeter Christian Scott, who is still a teenager I think. He's also alto ace Donald "Duck" Harrison's nephew and he brought Christian up to NYC to JVC jazz fest gig a number of years ago and he will be the next great trumpeter to come out of that city, joining Marsalis, Blanchard & Payton. Mark my words!

[jazzypaul]

Wonsey's gotta be over 30 by now. I'd second or third the Taylor Eigsti vote. He's a monster with some pretty cool ideas. Seamus Blake, if he's still young enough to qualify.

[clifton]

Definitely Robert Glasper. I'm not bugged by electronics, but Hardbop, you gotta admit, on acoustic piano, Glasper delivers the goods. Brice Winston is a very impressive young saxophonist, almost steals "Bounce" from Blanchard, IMHO. Drummers Nasheet Waits, Eric Harland, and Rodney Green. And although I'm pretty sure he's over 30, Wycliffe Gordon.

[solarjazzband]

What's the age limit actually for this question? If Brad Mehldau is already too old...

[clifton]

If I remember correctly, the age limit was 30 when the poll was originally posted. I suggest we get rid of the age limit. It's too arbitrary, says I.

[bluenotes]

I have a CD by Cecil Payne called "Payne's Window" on which tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander plays (along with tombonist Steve Davis on the front line and Harold Mabern leading the rhythm section) that got me interested in Alexander's playing. I bought two CDs that Alexander led and although I don't listen to them as often as some of the older musicians, I'm very impressed with his playing. To me, Alexander heads the list of younger players that I need to hear more of.