I'm on a Jazz kick for the first time. I'm planning on getting the most out of my emusic.com subscription, so where do I start? I've downloaded a Thelonius Monk album and I'm thinking of Coltrane next. Input, please.
If you're going to buy a Coltrane record get Blue Train or Giant Steps. If you want to check out living jazz players, try: Brad Mehldau Medeski Martin & Wood Carl Denson Charlie Hunter
Louis Armstrong - Hot Fives and Hot Sevens Count Basie Orchestra - Decca Recordings Duke Ellington Orchestra - Blanton-Webster Recordings Billie Holiday with Buck Clayton & Lester Young Charlie Parker - Dial Recordings Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners Miles Davis - Kind of Blue John Coltrane - A Love Supreme Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus Andrew Hill - Point of Departure Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch Anthony Braxton - Dortmund (1976) Many, many, many more.
Way back in the days when I would listen to jazz frequently, my favorites were the Miles Davis-Gil Evans collaborations, and the group Miles had after that with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. Check them both out.
Giant Steps is one of the greatest jazz albums ever, bar none. Add Keith Jarrett and Christian McBride to the living artists list.
Even though a lot of emphasis is put on Kind of Blue, my favorite Miles albums actually kind of bookend it - his ensembles in the late 30's-early 40's (Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones) and early 60's (Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams) were nothing short of stellar. I highly recommend any album by either group.
Found the other thread It's in the Books forum which is why I didn't find it the first time https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48009&perpage=15 Good recommendations in there.
...and after that get "Crescent" and "Coltrane". Then get anything by the Miles Davis Quintet that featured Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams. ESP, Miles Smiles, Nefertitti (sp?). Classics...some of the best jazz ever made in my opinion. If you like the Coltrane stuff you get, then check out some Joe Henderson.
You'll also be wanting:- Ella and Louis and Ella and Louis again By Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong (obviously) and Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto containing the definitive version of The Girl From Ipenema.
http://www.theotherside.org/archive/mar-apr99/gallegos.html An interesting article about a church in San Francisco that adopted John Coltrane as its patron saint.
I think I'm gonna sign up for emusic! I saw some cool stuff in there. As far as jazz goes, try: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Heath Brothers Wes Montgomery Louis Bellson Not jazz per se, but still some cool fusion type stuff. Dave Valentin Strunz & Farah I also some some jazz stuff by Cindy Blackman, the drummer for Lenny Kravitz. I've never heard it, but it might be interesting. And this chopsy, fusion stuff has pretty much sold me on the service. Screaming Headless Torsos Niacin Dennis Chambers Vinnie Colaiuta
I've seen that church's website before. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Eastern Orthodox Church (Greek, Russian, Romanian, Alexandrian, Antiochian, Palestinian, Japanese, American etc.) that this church is NOT an Eastern Orthodox Church.
If you like that, definitely *definitely* grab the new Andy Summers record. Vinnie's on it, for one. They've also got a bunch of Chick Corea, including the older Elektric Band stuff. The Hudson Project, which has John Abercrombie, John Patitucci, Peter Erskine and, I think, Bob Mintzer, is another good one. Also, Gregg Bendian's Interzone is pretty happenin'. They don't have the Coltrane "classics," which were mostly on Atlantic and not Fantasy, but there's a ton of good stuff from him, Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk and Bill Evans, for starters. I've downloaded about 75% of the tunes in the Real Book at this point, maybe even more. Back on the rock side, grab all the Guided By Voices and Pixies, if you're into that crazy indie rock. And the New Pornographers are excellent. Later, COZ (EMusic subscriber and former employee)
Not many people mention Django Reinhardt. Great cafe type euro-gypsy stuff. The guitar and violin take a little getting used to, but I love his music.
on my turntable lately (as couple CDs too) miles davis - miles smiles, birth of cool, bitches brew mingus - mignus dynasty, mingusmingusmingusmignus Sun ra - sun song, the numbians of plutonia art emsemble of chicago - live at mandel hall john zorn and masada - circle maker I <3 chicago jazz mart
Well, get cracking on the downloads, because Vivendi just sold them off to a company called Dimensional, and the $9.99 is only going to get you 40 downloads a month starting in mid-November. If you see value in downloading two or three albums a month, I guess it's still a good deal, but I'm going to have to think about this. Later, COZ