Playlists for Newcomers to Jazz

[Alypius]

Jazz Trumpet #2: 1980s-2000s

1. Wynton Marsalis, “Caravan” (8:20) (from Standard Time, Vol. 1, 1986)
2. Wynton Marsalis, “Black Codes” (9:35) (from Wynton Marsalis, Black Codes (from the Underground), 1985)
3. Dave Douglas, “The Persistence of Memory” (4:40) (from Dave Douglas, In Our Lifetime, 1994)
4. Dave Douglas, “Blue Heaven” (6:23) (from Dave Douglas, Soul on Soul, 1999)
5. Roy Hargrove, “Invitation” (6:53) (from Roy Hargrove, Nothing Serious, 2006)
6. Roy Hargrove, “Joy Is Sorrow Unmasked” (4:49) (from Roy Hargrove, Earfood, 2008)
7. Enrico Rava, “Choctaw” (5:39) (from Enrico Rava, Tribe, 2011)
8. Enrico Rava, "The Words and the Days" (4:00) (from Enrico Rava, The Words and The Days, 2007)
9. Tom Harrell, “Journey to the Stars” (6:35) from Tom Harrell, Number Five, 2012)
10. Tom Harrell, “Prana” (7:30) (from Tom Harrell, Prana Dance, 2009)
11. Tomasz Stanko, “Soul of Things, Variation 3” (4:24) (from Tomasz Stanko, Soul of Things, 2001)
12. Tomasz Stanko, “Song for Ania” (7:44) (from Tomasz Stanko, Lontano, 2006)
13. Kenny Wheeler, “Little Booker” (6:14) (from John Abercrombie, Open Land, 1999)
14. Kenny Wheeler, “What Now” (7:47) (from Kenny Wheeler, What Now?, 2004)
15. Terence Blanchard, “Innocence” (7:23) (from Terrence Blanchard, Bounce, 2003)
16. Terence Blanchard, “Harvesting Dance” (11:43) (from Terrence Blanchard, Flow, 2005)

[Alypius]

Jazz Trumpet #3: New Talent, New Directions, New Sounds

1. Ron Miles, “Blues Dream” (2:32) (from Bill Frisell, Blues Dream, 2001)
2. Taylor Haskins, “Here is the Big Sky” (6:37) (from Taylor Haskins, Recombination, 2011)
3. Taylor Haskins, “The Ballad of Michael Jackson” (6:11) (from Taylor Haskins, American Dream, 2010)
4. Christian Scott, “Fatima Aisha Rokero 400” (5:41) (from Christian Scott, Christian aTunde Adjuah, 2012)
5. Christian Scott, “The Eraser” (5:30) (from Christian Scott, Yesterday You Said Tomorrow, 2010)
6. Thomas Marriott, “Tattooed by Passion” (5:55) (from Matt Jorgensen, Tattooed by Passion, 2010)
7. Ron Horton, “Roll Credits” (6:10) (from Ben Allison, Little Things Run the World, 2008)
8. Alex Sipiagin, “Upswing” (6:56) (from Dave Holland Big Band, What Goes Around, 2001)
9. Alex Sipiagin, “Videlles” (11:42) (from Alex Sipiagin, Destinations Unknown, 2011)
10. Matthew Halsall, “Music for a Dancing Mind” (8:54) (from Matthew Halsall, On the Go, 2011)
11. Jon Hassell, “Last Night the moon came ...” (11:56) (from Jon Hassell, Last night the moon came ..., 2009)
12. Ingrid Jensen, “Transit” (7:02) (from Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Infernal Machines, 2009)

[Straycat]

Originally Posted by hoffy

That's awesome Alypius and thank you very much!

As for Spotify.... Lets just say, I am not a fan. Its also cool to read about it in places like this.

Again, thanks for the 3 lists....

Now for the questions! Considering I am a new comer to Jazz Guitarists and considering I only know those who have had any commercial success, how does George Benson fit into the grand scheme of things? Is there a reason he is not on your lists?

Cheers

Sorry you don't like Spotify. I made a nice Guitar playlist there. More than just Jazz though.

[Alypius]

It's close to the end of the year and so it seems like a good time to update one last time my playlists for the best of 2012. I posted one in April, and another in July. Well, a lot of happened in the last 6 months, and so much good music that it seems best to post two playlists. Here they are:

Best of 2012: Playlist One

1. Signing (7:56) (from Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group, Signing, Motema)
2. Journey to the Stars (6:35) (from Tom Harrell, Number Five, High Note)
3. African Sunset (8:04) (from John Moulder, The Eleventh Hour: Live at the Green Mill, Origin)
4. 26 (7:51) (from Brad Mehldau Trio, Ode, Nonesuch)
5. Come and See (8:29) (from Pat Metheny, Unity Band, Nonesuch)
6. Strangest Consequences (5:34) (from Enrico Pieranunzi Trio, Permutation, CamJazz)
7. Woody’s Delight (6:54) (from Steve Turre, Woody’s Delight, HighNote)
8. Optimism (7:24) (from Vijay Iyer Trio, Accelerando, ACT)
9. Rio’s Dream (7:02) (from Johnathan Blake, The Eleventh Hour, Sunnyside)
10. One Thousand and One Nights (8:17) (from Marc Johnson, Swept Away, ECM)
11. Praia Grande (5:52) (from Donny McCaslin, Casting for Gravity, Greenleaf)

Best of 2012: Playlist Two
1. Ali Farka Touche (4:31) (from Jenny Scheinman, Mischief & Mayhem, self-released)
2. Running After Years (6:23) (from Manu Katché, Manu Katché, ECM)
3. Mainz (6:32) (from Jeff Parker Trio, Bright Light in Winter, Delmark)
4. Of Fire (4:15) (from Christian Scott, Christian aTunde Adjuah, Concord)
5. Backbou (5:06) (from Ben Wendel, Frame, Sunnyside)
6. 7 Roses (6:12) (from Federico Casagrande, The Ancient Battle of the Invisible, CamJazz)
7. No Turn Back (4:01) (from Floratone [Bill Frisell], Floratone II, Savoy Jazz)
8. Seven Minute Mind (5:38) (from The Bad Plus, Made Possible, E One)
9. World of the Bardo (8:39) (from Wayne Escoffery, The Only Son of One, Sunnyside)
10. Perseus (5-7-8) (6:00) (from The Odd Trio, Birth of the Minotaur, self-released)
11. Got Me Wrong (5:25) (from Brad Mehldau, Where Do You Start, Nonesuch)
12. Spring Haystacks (7:58) (from Scott Dubois, Landscape Scripture, Sunnyside)
13. Nostalgia in Times Square (9:27) (from Medeski, Martin & Wood, Free Magic, Indirecto)







I hope others will consider posting their own "Best of 2012" playlists.

[boberz]

Best thread in the forum.

[Alypius]

Originally Posted by boberz

Best thread in the forum.

Boberz, Welcome to the forum. Thanks for the kind words. Hope you'll contribute, let us know what you're enjoying and exploring. All the best.

[boberz]

Hi, I only commented because I saw a comment that suggested you were not sure if people were still benefiting from these (they definately are). I have been a lurker for a while, but still 'new to jazz' definitely enjoying your 2012 play-lists most. Modern jazz is the hardest to get a grip of when your new to the genre and struggling for time, there is a tendency to look at stuff you have heard of:

Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Charlie Parker (I feel really self concious typing Bird), Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bill Evans (easily my favourite), Kenny G (don't kill me), Norah Jones (is it even Jazz? probably not) are all things I had heard of and own in one form or another.

I almost always listen on my iPhone at the moment, I can imagine when I have a better job and more time on my hands (ie never) really becoming interested in physical collections especially of vinyl which has always looked fun.

Grown up in a classical music household, with a piano/clarinet teacher mother and a guitarist/bassist playing father (and now a singing sister also). So I tend to be drawn towards those instruments more. If someone has time or the inclination to create a jazz piano playlist I would be eternally grateful (acutely aware it may already exist and I have been a lazy bugger) however I am quite happy reading along and finding new things as I go.

Keep up the great work guys.

[Alypius]

Originally Posted by boberz

Hi, I only commented because I saw a comment that suggested you were not sure if people were still benefiting from these (they definately are). I have been a lurker for a while, but still 'new to jazz' definitely enjoying your 2012 play-lists most. Modern jazz is the hardest to get a grip of when your new to the genre and struggling for time, there is a tendency to look at stuff you have heard of ... If someone has time or the inclination to create a jazz piano playlist I would be eternally grateful (acutely aware it may already exist and I have been a lazy bugger) however I am quite happy reading along and finding new things as I go.

Keep up the great work guys.

Boberz, You're right about one of my earlier comments. I was beginning to wonder if this thread had outlived its usefulness since I hadn't heard any comments in a while.

As for jazz piano: I had had in mind putting together some jazz piano playlists comparable to what I put together earlier for guitar and trumpet. Give me a few days, and I see what I can come up with. All the best.

[boberz]

Originally Posted by Alypius

As for jazz piano: I had had in mind putting together some jazz piano playlists comparable to what I put together earlier for guitar and trumpet. Give me a few days, and I see what I can come up with. All the best.

That would be great

[Toolin]

Originally Posted by Alypius

Boberz, You're right about one of my earlier comments. I was beginning to wonder if this thread had outlived its usefulness since I hadn't heard any comments in a while.

As for jazz piano: I had had in mind putting together some jazz piano playlists comparable to what I put together earlier for guitar and trumpet. Give me a few days, and I see what I can come up with. All the best.

I've also been following this post from afar and really appreciate it, I'm just starting to dig a little deeper than the " big names"

[Alypius]

Originally Posted by Toolin

I've also been following this post from afar and really appreciate it, I'm just starting to dig a little deeper than the " big names"

Toolin, Welcome to the board. Glad to hear that the thread has proven useful. Hope you'll contribute. All the best.

[Alypius]

Earlier I posted playlists for jazz guitar and trumpet. Here’s the first of four playlists dedicated to jazz pianists of the last 50 years. As with my other playlists, these four give only the tiniest glimpses into the range and styles of these artists, but hopefully, for newcomers, these might provide a first foothold.

Some of these artists are not only fine pianists but also are among the greatest composers in jazz history (namely, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Andrew Hill). Here I’ve chosen tracks to illustrate their piano prowess rather than their best-known compositions. Monk, for instance, recorded his classic “‘Round Midnight” many times, but I’ve chosen a piano solo version that brings his improvisational abilities center stage. Similarly, while Duke Ellington recorded Billy Strayhorn’s classic “Take the ‘A’ Train” many times, the version I’ve listed opens with Ellington soloing on piano. In the case of Dave Brubeck, I chose not his wildly popular “Take Five” because that number was a vehicle for his sax player Paul Desmond and his drummer Jim Morello, but instead the somewhat less famous “Blue rondo a la turk” because Brubeck’s piano controls the meter-shifting head and he ends with a fine solo. In this list, I’ve sometimes split up the two tracks from a given artist so as to vary the tempo from track to track—balancing, for instance, the high-powered Bud Powell with the mellow Bill Evans.

Jazz Piano (1st of 4): A Few Classics (1940s-early 1960s)

1. Duke Ellington, “Take the A Train” (4:38) (from Duke Ellington, Ellington at Newport 1956)
2. Duke Ellington, “In a Sentimental Mood” (4:17) (from Duke Ellington / John Coltrane, 1962).
3. Thelonious Monk, “‘Round Midnight” (3:54) (from Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Greatest Hits, 1962; also The Essential Thelonious Monk, 2003).
4. Thelonious Monk, “Well You Needn’t” (11:22) (from Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Music, 1957)
5. Bud Powell, “Un Poco Loco” (4:45) (from Bud Powell, The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1, 1951)
6. John Lewis, “Django” (7:06) (from The Modern Jazz Quartet, Django, 1954)
7. Bill Evans, “Israel” (6:11) (from Bill Evans, Explorations, 1961)
8. Dave Brubeck, “Blue rondo a la turk” (6:46) (from Dave Brubeck, Time Out, 1959).
9. Dave Brubeck, “Soliloquy” (3:23) (from Dave Brubeck, Brubeck a la mode, 1960).
10. Bud Powell, “Tempus Fugit” (2:29) (Bud Powell, Jazz Giant, 1949)
11. Bill Evans, “Gloria’s Step” (6:08) (from Bill Evans, Sunday Night at the Village Vanguard, 1961; also The Complete Live at the Village Vanguard, 2005).
12. Bill Evans, “On Green Dolphin Street” (9:48) (from Miles Davis, ’58 Miles, 1958; also on Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, 1955-1961, 2000)

[Alypius]

Jazz Piano (2nd of 4): The Blue Note & Fusion Eras (1960s-1970s)

1. Herbie Hancock, “Watermelon Man” (7:11) (from Herbie Hancock, Taking Off, 1962)
2. Herbie Hancock, “Maiden Voyage” (7:57) (from Herbie Hancock, Maiden Voyage, 1964)
3. Horace Silver, “Song for My Father” (7:18) (from Horace Silver, Song for My Father, 1964)
4. Andrew Hill, “Subterfuge” (8:04) (from Andrew Hill, Black Fire, 1963).
5. McCoy Tyner, “Passion Dance” (8:47) (from McCoy Tyner, The Real McCoy (Blue Note, 1967)
6. Horace Silver, “Bonita” (8:38) (from Horace Silver, Cape Verdean Blues, 1965)
7. Andrew Hill, “The Brown Queen” (6:22) (from Andrew Hill, Passing Ships, 1969)
8. McCoy Tyner, “Peresina” (10:22) (from McCoy Tyner, Expansions, 1968; also The Definitive McCoy Tyner)
9. Chick Corea, “Now He Sings Now He Sobs” (7:03) (from Chick Corea, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, 1968)
10. Chick Corea, “No Mystery” (6:13) (from Return to Forever, No Mystery, 1975; reissue: The Anthology, 2008)
11. Keith Jarrett, “Part IIC” (6:57) (from Keith Jarrett, Köln Concert, 1975)
12. Keith Jarrett, “The Wind” (6:34) (from Keith Jarrett, Paris Concert, 1990)

[Alypius]

Jazz Piano (3rd of 4): Post-Modern Post-Bop (1990s – 2000s)

1. Brad Mehldau, “Things Behind the Sun” (4:37) (from Brad Mehldau, Live in Tokyo, 2004)
2. Brad Mehldau, “Unrequited” (6:09) (from Brad Mehldau, Songs: Art of the Trio, Volume 3, 1998)
3. Jason Moran, “Joga” (6:02) (from Jason Moran, Facing Left, 2000)
4. Marcin Wasilewski, “K.T.C.” (6:23) (from Marcin Wasilewski / Slawomir Kurkiewicz / Michal Miskiewicz, Trio, 2003).
5. Ethan Iverson, “Anthem for the Earnest” (6:37) (from The Bad Plus, Suspicious Activity?, 2005)
6. Ethan Iverson, “Everyone Want to Rule the World” (5:38) (from The Bad Plus, Prog, 2007)
7. Marcin Wasilewski, “The Cat” (9:58) (from Marcin Wasilewski Trio, January, 2008)
8. Vijay Iyer, “Song for Midwood” (7:27) (from Vijay Iyer, Reimagining, 2005)
9. Vijay Iyer, “Galang – Trio Riot Version” (2:41) (from Vijay Iyer, Historicity, 2009)
10. Rob Burger, “Half Moon Bay” (4:39) (from John Zorn, The Alhambra Love Songs, 2009)
11. Matthew Shipp, “Cohesion” (6:36) (from Matthew Shipp, Equilibrium, 2003)
12. Esbjörn Svensson, “Jazz” (4:17) (from E.S.T., Leucocyte, 2008)
13. Jason Moran, “Planet Rock” (5:47) (from Jason Moran, Modernistic, 2002)
14. Aaron Parks, “Harvesting Dance” (9:35) (from Aaron Parks, Invisible Cinema, 2008)

[Alypius]

Jazz Piano (4th of 4): The Latest (2011-2012)

1. Brad Mehldau, “26” (7:51) (from Brad Mehldau, Ode, 2012)
2. Geoffrey Keezer, “Signing” (7:56) (from Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer, Signing, 2012)
3. Wolfert Brederode, “Inner Dance” (4:55) (from Wolfert Brederode, Post Scriptum, 2011)
4. Elaine Elias, “One Thousand and One Nights” (8:17) (from Marc Johnson, Swept Away, 2012)
5. Vijay Iyer, “Human Nature” (9:39) (from Vijay Iyer Trio, Accelerando, 2012)
6. Jacob Karlzon, “The Big Picture” (5:17) (from Jacob Karlzon3, The Big Picture, 2011)
7. Enrico Pieranunzi, “Strangest Consequences” (5:34) (from Enrico Pieranunzi Trio, Permutation, 2012)
8. Aaron Goldberg, “Burrito” (3:34) (from Aaron Goldberg / Guillermo Klein, Bienestan, 2011)
9. Marcin Wasilewski, “Night Train to You” (10:41) (from Marcin Wasilewski Trio, Faithful, 2011)
10. Colin Vallon, “Rruga” (4:34) (from Colin Vallon Trio, Rruga, 2011)
11. Benedikt Jahnel, “Equilibrium” (9:39) (from Benedikt Jahnel, Equilibrium, 2012)
12. Nik Bärtsch, “Modul 48” (8:09) (from Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin, Live, 2012)