Lost and confused

[The_best_part]

I am possibly the most newbie of newbieness. I am tired of all the music genres out there that high school students mention, I have always considered trying jazz, but it seems very complex. I was just wondering if someone could give me one cd to buy as a building block.

[It Should be You]

Welcome!

Check out http://www.allaboutjazz.com/

In the upper left hand corner are a bunch of links for Getting Started, with lots of recommendations for people new to jazz.

What made you tired of the music your peers talk about? Just curious!

[The_best_part]

Thanks!

I became tired of the music that my peers listen too because it seems to have become a compitition. A compition I am not interested in so I have fallen behind. Alot of my friends believe they are elite because they listen to one genre of music.

[It Should be You]

You will find a lot of knowledgeable people here with lots of suggestions. Don't quite know what to tell you about competition and elitism, though. It's pretty spread out among all kinds of music and all kinds of people, I find.

Do you have any favorite instuments or styles you like to hear? That might help us make suggestions.

[The_best_part]

I am sure thats true about elitism and competition, but I want to try something new.

Instruments... I play guitar, piano, and clarinet. So I guess I would I like those three instruments.

[The_best_part]

Oh styles, I guess more in the rock genre of styles. I went to the link and it was helpful.

[3pointdeli]

please let us know what you decide to purchase (or get from your library, or whatever), and how you like it. welcome to the board.

[The_best_part]

Thank you, I will.

[Muskrat Ramble]

Welcome to the board. I'm sure you'll find that jazz is a very broad, diverse genre with tons of cool stuff to hear. (You'll also find that a lot of us around here love all sorts of music. I dig classical and rock a lot, too, for example. So, you'll find lots to talk about here and a broad range of recommendations.)

Since you play guitar and piano and are looking for something with some rock feel to it, here are two I'd strongly recommend:

These Are the Vistas by The Bad Plus. They're a popular trio w/ piano, bass, and drums and tons of hard-driving energy. They also cover some rock tunes, like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana.

Goodbye to Romance by the Alex Skolnick Trio. Skolnick was the lead guitarist for thrash metal band Testament but became a straight-ahead jazzer. This album features covers of a bunch of classic metal and hard rock tunes.

***

Btw, regarding complexity in jazz: It's complex to learn how to play it, but not really to listen to. Basically, most tunes have an intro where the band plays the melody over a sequence of chords, then a number of players take turns soloing over that chord sequence (played one or more times behind the soloist--each time through is called a "chorus") until everyone is done. Then the band plays the main melody or a variation of it and maybe a little coda, and that's it. Of course, much of that is all improvised on the spot, which ideally gives it a really fresh, exciting feel. No two performances by the same player/group of the same song are ever identical.

The main thing, to me, is that jazz is above all about feel and groove. Just let it hit you in the gut. Try to figure it out intellectually later if you want.

[Brad]

Why not try the Ken Burns single cd compilation from his series. That's not a bad way to start. It will give you a cross of all the styles. If you want to start more specifically, I'd suggest Miles Davis' Kind of Blue (a classic), John Coltrane's My Favorite Things or Duke Ellington's At Newport (from around 1956 or so).

This is a really good way to start. That's what I did. Also look at this Board to get education.

[jazz_fan]

Hello...

I started by purchasing Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue". While I'm still a newbie really, i thought it was a good place to start.

[shawn·m]

Boy, have I ever changed my opinion on what to recommend when somebody asks where to start. When I was into hard bop exclusively, my short list reflected it. When my tastes broadened, who’s-who books and this site’s features were invaluable. Now, just to change things up a bit, I wonder if Miles Davis isn’t a good place to start?

Miles Davis career spanned a healthy chunk of jazz history and his music reflected the times. Maybe it would be helpful if a tangible thread ran through a starter list? Of course the list I’m about to submit omits eras and artists that shouldn’t be ignored, but for context Davis can provide a starter, I’ll slip my neck in a noose and recommend:

· Birth Of the Cool

· Cookin’

· Kind Of Blue

· Miles Smiles

· Bitches Brew

So while it’s a very short list (and hopefully affordable), you’ll get a foothold on cool, hard bop, modal, free and fusion with Davis’ acting as the connective tissue.

[Frank Mullen]

Sorry guys-I disagree in part with the advice you guys are giving our newbie. Mainly because Miles doesn't encompass all the possibilities in jazz. (And I'm later gonna recommend one player who doesn't either)

I suggest that anyone new to jazz expose him-or-herself to stuff from widely disparate eras and see what appeals before buying blind. We've started a thread here on 'jazz listening on the internet' where one can sample styles or musicians free for the clicking before putting money on the barrelhead.

Now for one of my favorite living clarinetists. (Our newbie said he played clarinet)
Try listening on the net to anything by Ken Peplowski. He's a fine jazzman and is not restricted to any one style.

And that brings up another question. How come there is so little use of the clarinet in bop and later forms of jazz. Sax, sure, but hardly any clarinet.How come?

[shawn·m]

No problem, Frank. Best_Part will undoubtedly benefit from everyone’s input (even though I’m convinced I’m right ;)).

Incidentally, both Vandermark and Eddie Daniels play a mean clarinet.

[It Should be You]

That was a good suggestion to listen for free on the Internet to various eras!

For stuff from the 20s-40s, you can hear free stuff at The Red Hot Jazz Archive, http://www.redhotjazz.com/ (requires RealPlayer)

Just use the link at the bottom of the page for musicians. If you like clarinet, check out Johnny Dodds and Sidney Bechet. Pee Wee Russell. Awesome!!

For piano, James P. Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton, Willie "The Lion" Smith, and Fats Waller...

[Saundra Hummer]

A fun thing is Ramsey Lewis and his "The Inn Crowd." and "Raunchy." Not so much jazz as say Miles, Coltrane, Charlie Parker. Zoot Sims, Ahmad Jamal, Bud Shank, Stan Getz and the boys, but a fun light look at jazz just the same.

Want to go deep? Lots and Lots to choose from.

West Coast Jazz, a lighter touch than some. Red Norvo on Vibes, Wes Montgomery on guitar, Ray Brown, now there is a beat that just reaches deep in to your phyche. Love his music.

How about Cal Tjader in all of his different periods. Search out all of the different styles, and takes, there is just so much to choose from, that who knows where to start. It's all a matter of looking around and seeing what it is that suits you.

Of course there are the artists and albums that are considered the essential ones to have in a collection, and most of them, if you are into jazz and enjoy it, you will agree with, but if not, then hey, that is o.k. too. Try to go and see a live event, try to go more than just a few times, this is how I got into jazz, and I still believe nothing can beat it, and if you are going to love jazz, that will sure let you know.

I myself like jazz as a fun happening, a spiritual happening, not as some deep, sad overpowering with it's somberness entity, but then that is just me, I am sure that there are others out there that need to have it that way, but to me it is a fun thing, and it can also be a deep into my thoughts thing, but never a cry in my beer, because of why??? Going off here, but you get the drift.

Hope you enjoy your journey into our world.

[Noah Peterson]

I'd go with easing into it - some of the jazz I like now isn't the jazz I liked 5 years ago. It's an acquired taste - I recommend keeping it fun while wandering out into new territory.

I'd suggest Dr. John's "Duke Elegant." And if you dig it. Start checking out more of Dr. John's stuff, otehr New Orleans artists, Duke Ellington and start exploring others who have recorded Duke's tunes. That should keep you busy for about 15 years!

[Andy D]

Well I guess KOB is just about the most popular 'starter' album there is, at least if you go by the sales of the album. For me I would go the other way and try something more recent, for example Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette 'Up For It', one of the best and most recent this trio have done.

Or for me something more home grown try the album by Soweto Kinch, that many have talked about 'Conversations With The Unseen' or perhaps the new album by the Esbjorn Svensson Trio (EST) 'Seven Days Of Falling', which is one of the best they have done and is a great introduction into the possibilities of European jazz.

From these albums you can then work your way back to Miles and Co;)

Regards

Andy D.

[The_best_part]

Sorry I was without internet for a while.

Wow thats a lot of suggestions, thank you all very much!

[Saundra Hummer]

You're surely welcome!

[Muskrat Ramble]

Mainly because Miles doesn't encompass all the possibilities in jazz.

But he encompasses far more than most players.

[Brad]

If you're interested in clarinet, try some Buddy DeFranco, one of the great old masters. I'd recommend Mr. Clarinet. Wonderful with Kenny Drew on piano.

You can also try Benny Goodman or Artie Shaw. Hard to beat those guys.