New to Forum, Not new to Jazz

[AJC-NY]

New to jazz history if this makes any sense.

Hi,

I stumbled across this website while doing some research on Jazz history on the internet.

I am a 40 year old New Yorker who has been listening to Jazz since I was 20 years old. Even though I’ve been listening to jazz for 20 years I know very little about its history. Unfortunately I never took the time out to educate myself. The only education I have on jazz is what I learn from listening to WBGO. http://www.wbgo.org/index.asp


At this point in my life I have this insatiable urge to learn more about jazz history. Can anyone recommend a video, audio book or book on jazz history? I recently ran across an audio book on Jazz history by Ken burns. Would this be a good beginning? I really am looking for something that will give me a good foundation then once I get the foundation I can begin exploring jazz more in depth.

Some of my favorite jazz artists are Coltrane Coltrane/Hartman (I love Coltrane and Hartman) Chet Baker, Lou Donaldson Lou Morgan, Bill Evans, Count basie, Ella, Cannonball, Dexter Gordon, Sandoval and Getz. With this in mind can anyone suggest new jazz artists who have similarities to these artists? I really enjoy ballads and piano. I am particularly interested in artists outside the United States also. Italy, France and Brazil come to mind. I have excellent knowledge of Italian pop but have no knowledge of Italian Jazz except for Paolo Conte who I saw in Concert a couple of years ago.

Also does any one know of a good website for jazz art?

I have to run now. I have to catch a train lol…..

Thank you for listening… AJC

[sheila]

Well, you're asking for a lot, but I'm sure the members of this board will come forward with some valid information. I'll just give a recommendation re jazz from France, since you ask for that - you should listen to a new piano player called Michel Pilc, an older one called Martial Solal and of course the great Michel Petrucciani.
There's also the excellent tenor saxophonist Barney Wilen, who I'm sure you'll like based on the preferences you mention.

[shawn·m]

Realizing I may be opening a big can of worms... there are factual errors in Burns’ Jazz and many take exception to its editorial content or slant, but Jazz, if nothing else, should serve as a fair introduction to pre-60s jazz.

And welcome, AJC, you and I share a similar demographic. The Internet has widened my horizons dramatically, and places like AAJ (main site and bulletin board service) will certainly help fill in gaps left by Burns’ Jazz.

[Bev Stapleton]

Burns series is highly controversial. Its biases and inaccuracies are well documented extremely annoying to those with a great depth of knowledge or a strong partisan leaning towards a different viewpoint.

But as a way of getting an introduction to jazz I'd say use it. I watched it and enjoyed it thoroughly, even though it bypassed the European areas of jazz that I have a great fondness for. Just don't take it as anything like the authorised version.


You might find these threads useful to find out about European jazz:
http://forums.allaboutjazz.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=693&highlight=Italian+Jazz

http://forums.allaboutjazz.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1566&highlight=European

[AJC-NY]

Thank you all for responding. The links you provided are excellent. When I get home tonight I will look them over. Amazing, just 10 years ago if I wanted the same information It could have taken me a week to obtain (especially when it comes to jazz artists). In less then 24 hours I received enough information to get a good start. Please if anyone else has more info. to provide please do.

Sheila here is a link to a concert with Petrucianni.

http://www.raiclicktv.it/raiclick/pc/website/0,4388,6-115-25-CTY5-CID115-0-0-0---112-25-ABB0,00.html

This concert was taped in Pompeii in 1983. If anyone is interested watch the concert. IMO it is better to watch on broadband connection.

OT: Also if anyone would like to be introduced to an Italian Pop artist (I highly recommend this documentary on Claudio Baglioni) great music and certain scenes have GREAT choreography.

http://www.raiclicktv.it/raiclick/pc/website/0,4388,6-25-203-CTY15-CID2894-0-0-0---112-112-ABB0,00.html

Check back tomorrow night. THanks again... AJC

[Muskrat Ramble]

I'd recommend watching the Burns series, with the provisos mentioned above. For books, Jazz 101 by John F. Szwed (a smarter book by far than the title implies) and The History of Jazz by Ted Gioia. Another great book to get is the Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD: over 1700 pages of articulate, intelligent, and often elegant and witty writing, covering the development of each artist through series of chronological reviews.

And welcome to the forum!

[Bev Stapleton]

Yes, Penguin is a marvellous reference book and a great read too. Again it has its biases - it upsets those who love hard bop for its frequently cool response to such artists - but really scores on its inclusion of a great deal of European jazz. It only includes music available at the time of printing so has lots of gaps.

Use it alongside the AMG guide. This can be bought in book form but there is an online version which is easier to use and updated regularly.

http://www.allmusic.com/

Again neither are the gospel but they'll draw you in and help you to spend all your money!

[DustyFoot]

I second Ted Gioia's The History of Jazz. That was the first jazz book I read, and the only one I've read more than once. It's focus is very broad yet it goes into just enough detail to make it interesting. A very pleasant and informative read.

There are many others, but this is the one I would recommend starting with.

[Bev Stapleton]

There's a nice overview of books on jazz here:

http://www.jazzscript.co.uk/recommended.htm

Excellent place to pick up jazz books for people in the UK.

[Phil Kelly]

In addition to the above excellent sources, for a more anecdotal easy read on various jazz personalities, I'd recommend the series of various Gene Lees books ..particularly " Meet Me at Jim and Andys " ( a long gone NYC jazz watering hole )

[AJC-NY]

I am speechless at the amount of information I received. Thank you. I think I am going to go with the Ken Burns audio book which I downloaded on my mp3 player (audio books are a dyslectics dream :) ). After I finish with Burns I will use the links provided me to choose subject matters of interest. I am hoping the Burns book will give me direction on other subject matters I might want to explore in more detail. Like one who studies Renaissance era as opposed to Medieval Period I am looking to do the same with jazz.


I am also hoping to expand my mind and begin to learn more about new jazz. In reading this message boards I am CERTAIN this task will be accomplished easily. I've already learned about a few new artists that might interest me. I have a subscription to music match and I have itunes installed on my computer these two softwares are a student's dream. I can listen to most of the new jazz names that were provided me on this thread. I highly recommend these types of services for anyone who would like to explore jazz music before going out and purchasing a CD. (itunes is free btw)

Let me leave you with another link from France. This link will really expand the music mind. I love all music. Check it out for yourselves.

http://www.radioceros.com/Defaultsf.htm

Here is an interesting artist.
http://www.radioceros.com/ondemandvideo/cachaito/cachaito.htm

AJC

[gregk]

uh-oh, someone mentioned Ken Burns again.....shouldn't Chris be jumping in here soon??:D

[Muskrat Ramble]

Btw, those of us recommending Burns were, I think, referring to the video/DVD series--at least I was. I have no experience with the accompanying (audio)book.