Asking for advice before I purchase CD's

[rpimba]

Hi all:

I'm getting into Jazz. I really like the upbeat type. Some of what I have heard on the radio is has been great, upbeat and "fast". There seems to be several instruments at play.

I'd like to get a few CD's but don't know what to get.

Could I get some advice such as artist and name's of a few CD.


Thanks in advance.

[gregk]

The best jazz CD of last year, in my opinion, is Inside Out, by Keith Jarrett. Its a piano trio, so I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for, but it's fascinating. If you like it, he has a new CD coming out this Tuesday, same kind of music. Oh yes, also the latest Wayne Shorter (Footprints Live!) and the latest Herbie Hancock are also excellent. good luck!!! Enjoy!!! Jazz is the best, most interesting music you can listen to

[GA Russell]

Since you're just getting into jazz, I wouldn't recommend anything too hard core.

The fastest guitarist I'm aware of was Terry Smith, who played for a British jazz-rock band called If.

You can read about their "best of" album called Forgotten Roads here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000PTA/qid%3D1034556495/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-3269554-7023835

I might also recommend Buddy Rich's first album for Pacific Jazz, whlich you will find here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000005H1Q/qid=1034556790/sr=1-16/ref=sr_1_16/103-3269554-7023835?v=glance

Good luck!

[hugh janus]

Try "The Sidewinder" by Lee Morgan and "Song for my Father" by Horace Silver for starters.

[andreimatorin]

Yeah, Song for my father is pretty easy to digest ;)

[xricci]

Not sure if "upbeat and fast.... several instruments at play." means bebop or free jazz, but I'll take a shot and recommend a few new titles...

*Chris Potter's "Traveling Mercies" (Verve)
*Mario Pavone's "Mythos" (Playscape)
*Snowboy "Para Puente" (Ubiquity)

[jazzypaul]

Sorry, can't see a post like this and not put in my two cents...:D

Fast with a lot of instruments says one thing to me...

John Coltrane: Ascension

I'm just kidding. Don't buy that one until you're sure you can handle it. But fast and lots of instruments at play does make me think of another Trane album that hasn't been mentioned yet...

Blue Train. It's on Blue Note. It's darn good.

[clifton]

Here's my two cents: Charlie Parker, "Jazz At Massey Hall", Miles Davis, "Milestones", Dave Douglas, "The Infinite", Lee Morgan, "The Sidewinder", Sonny Stitt, "Endgame Brilliance", John McLaughlin, "After The Rain".

[PiousBionicus]

I have to agree with GA Russell, most Buddy Rich is great. Also, Oscar Peterson is the man who got me into jazz! "Night Train" by Peterson is probably your best bet. I suggest listening to a wide range of samples on Amazon to see which you prefer.

[hotbebop]

Hi rpimba,

Let me give you my two cents worth. I'd recommend Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue". It is reported to be the worlds biggest selling jazz recording of all time. Listen to it and you will hear why.
Anything by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (especially with the front line of Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, and Curtis Fuller). Benny Golson and the Jazztet with their front line of Benny Golson, Art Farmer, and once again Curtis Fuller. John Coltranes "Bluetrain" is pretty incredible.
As I am a trombonist and am rather partial to the recordings of trombone players allow me to turn you on to some of the finest jazz trombonists that you will ever find. Check out Frank Rosolino, Carl Fontana, J.J. Johnson, the aforementioned Curtis Fuller, and Bill Watrous for some world class jazz that is interesting and easy to listen to. You'll be boppin' your head so hard you might have to go see a chiropractor.
Hope that helps.

[clifton]

Hello hotbebop - Kudos for mentioning Frank Rosolino, a great musician, probably underrated all his life because he was a "West Coast" player. What worries me is that Rosolino is becoming forgotten, like so many players who came of age in the 1950's. We need to be reminded, sometimes, that jazzmen like Frank Rosolino were with us. Similarly, Harold Land, Sonny Criss, Elmo Hope, Jimmy Lyons, etc. Anyway, thanks.

[jazzdude]

What type of music do you enjoy, rpimba? Favorite instruments?

Based on your answers CDs can be recommended which can better ease you into jazz. Over a period of time you will find yourself branching out to other styles (there are about 15 styles and subcategories of jazz) and artists. Some styles of jazz and CDs can be hard to get into and upon an initial listen it can turn you off to the music.

[Pharaohrock]

People have made some strange suggestions for someone just getting into jazz.....Inside Out? Ascension?? Wow, are you just trying to insure someone gets turned off by their first experiences with jazz once again?

My advice: go to the B section of Jazz and just pick out any Art Blakey Jazz Messenger cds that you think look cool. "Free for All" and "Mosaic" are two of the best, and if you want something more current, get "Straight-Ahead" that features Wynton Marsalis on trumpet.

I guarantee ya you won't go wrong with Mr. Blakey and his uptempo, impassioned brand of hard-bop jazz.

[Coypu]

I would also try Mahavishnu Orchestra, very easy to get into and seems to appeal alot of persons even outside of jazz / fusion.

Tribal Tech is also nice, great bassplay and overall fine musicianship and songs.

Sean Malone - Cortland, a great jazz album with strong focus on bass.

Atheist - Elements, my favorite fusion album by far. A great mix between composition and improvisation which very strong songs of several different styles.

[3pointdeli]

anything on blue note that has joe henderson on it.

[jtprod2000]

Hello,
I can help advise you with cd purchase. This is a strong genre with alot of talented artists, young and old. Norah Jones has a unique and impressionable approach to jazz singing, she's like a Billie Holliday and Anita O' Day. The beautiful thing about Norah is that she's authentic. Roy Hargrove, Claudia Acuna, Cassandra Wilson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Carmen Lundy, Diana Krall, Chris Botti, and others are making jazz flexible again. Also keep your eyes and ears open for a young and talented male jazz vocalist named Benjamin Duncan. I've been promoting him for a whole year and within that time he's made a great impact on jazz in his region. You can visit his website at www.benjaminduncan.com, he is versatile and youthful in his talents. He's working on his debut cd "Lottie Alley". I highly recommend the classic jazz flavors, they give you that old fashioned touch. I hope this has helped you in some way. Good luck!
Sincerely,
Jamal Timmons

[jazzdude]

"Page One" CD on Blue Note. Considered a classic. Actually I like his releases on Verve alot, too.

Specifically,
"Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn." A Grammy winner, for what it's worth.

And "So Near, So Far: Musings of Miles.

[Saundra Hummer]

I really like Carman McRaes "StarEyes." Soft, and wonderful, then there's Nina Simones songs, and of course Ella and Sarah, then there is Dinah Washington, earlier singers who I never tire of, along with Billy Holiday, she is hard to beat. Just too bad the technology with some of these recordings isn't as good as it is today, because their music is wonderful.

I think Bud Shanks collaberation with Laurindo Almeida is great, and a softer jazz, and if you enjoy guitar, you will probably enjoy their works. Cal Tjader albums were upbeat and the drumming was excellent, Red Norvo was always a treat, as were so many others from that era, Zoot Simms, and then there is Ray Brown was always a kick to hear, and even better to watch in person, as his smile could light up a room, and to go back even a little farther, Duke Ellington and Count Basie had some big band sounds that are still popular today. Love their works, timeless music.

Depends on which style and artist you end up enjoying, as to which cds to buy, there are so many out there. You can't really let people tell what it is that you should like, because when you get it you may not like it at all. We're all different in that respect. Some of us like it all, and then there those who can't stand a certain style or the way musician interperts a song, or they just don't like their playing at all, while someone else might think they are wonderful.

Go on some record sale sites and listen to some cuts from some albums, several record stores have these sites that have snippets of the songs on an album. Google is where to start looking, and then there is Tower Records, and I'm sure there are other people here that will steer you to other sites. There are radio online stations, which I can't get because I don't have a sound card right now, but I hear some of them are excellent, which ones I don't know, but I am sure someone else will and can tell you.

[Andy D]

Inside Out - Keith Jarrett Trio

Ravi Coltrane - Mad 6

Both these albums are in my top ten of the year and they are a good place to start if you are looking for' upbeat music.. Sometimes it is hard to start with the 'mass' of the 'older stuff' so why not trying something like these are work backwards?

Regards

Andy D.

[shawn·m]

I wonder what ever happened to rpimba? His one and only post was over a year ago. Who knows were the recommendations led him? Some kindly soul should send an email.