What Jazz Records Would You Reccommend? 235
zmotula asks: "What Jazz records do you think are a must-have for a Jazz Geek? I've got about twenty records I really love (Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, Tijuana Moods by Charlie Mingus, Lush Life by John Coltrane, just to mention some) and I want to spend some more money on buying more. Alas, I can only afford buying around two CDs a month. What records do you think are essential?"
Re:What kind of Jazz? (Score:5, Interesting)
Pat Metheny's Answer: Kenny G is not a musician I really had much of an opinion about at all until recently. There was not much about the way he played that interested me one way or the other either live or on records. I first heard him a number of years ago playing as a sideman with Jeff Lorber when they opened a concert for my band. My impression was that he was someone who had spent a fair amount of time listening to the more pop oriented sax players of that time, like Grover Washington or David Sanborn, but was not really an advanced player, even in that style. He had major rhythmic problems and his harmonic and melodic vocabulary was extremely limited, mostly to pentatonic based and blues-lick derived patterns, and he basically exhibited only a rudimentary understanding of how to function as a professional soloist in an ensemble - Lorber was basically playing him off the bandstand in terms of actual music. But he did show a knack for connecting to the basest impulses of the large crowd by deploying his two or three most effective licks (holding long notes and playing fast runs - never mind that there were lots of harmonic clams in them) at the key moments to elicit a powerful crowd reaction (over and over again). The other main thing I noticed was that he also, as he does to this day, play horribly out of tune - consistently sharp.
Of course, I am aware of what he has played since, the success it has had, and the controversy that has surrounded him among musicians and serious listeners. This controversy seems to be largely fueled by the fact that he sells an enormous amount of records while not being anywhere near a really great player in relation to the standards that have been set on his instrument over the past sixty or seventy years.
And honestly, there is no small amount of envy involved from musicians who see one of their fellow players doing so well financially, especially when so many of them who are far superior as improvisers and musicians in general have trouble just making a living. there must be hundreds, if not thousands of sax players around the world who are simply better improvising musicians than Kenny G on his chosen instruments. It would really surprise me if even he disagreed with that statement.
Having said that, it has gotten me to thinking lately why so many jazz musicians (myself included, given the right "bait" of a question, as I will explain later) and audiences have gone so far as to say that what he is playing is not even jazz at all.
More right here... [everything2.org]
One word.. Squarepusher. (Score:2, Interesting)
What's so interesting about it is you can clearly tell that there's a big modern influence, even a drum'n'bass influence if you will. Where the influence really occured the other way around, his jazz album makes it sound like D&B came first, and then jazz was a progression on from THAT. This leads to some extremely interesting tunes.
The album is called 'Music is Rotted One Note'. I suggest you look at the reviews of it at Amazon [amazon.com] (not an affiliate link) and even listen to a few clips. The best track by far, in my opinion, is 'Don't Go Plastic' which has a real Miles feel.
Re:My Top Ten album (Score:3, Interesting)
Rahsaan Roland Kirk needs to be added here. Wow, where do you start with this guy? Maybe Domino, with Herbie Hancock as a sideman, too.
On another track: Brother Jack McDuff. Really, almost the most laid-back of the Hammond B3 players. Once you listen close, and see where he's going with the band...
It's hard to go wrong with The New Boss Guitar of George Benson, with the Brother Jack McDuff Quartet . Benson's debut at about 21. McDuff has him lead the group, and you can see just what He built his original reputation on.
Oh Yeah, Herbie! How come no one's mentioned Herbie Hancock so far? I know he doofed bad in the '70's (like Benson) but c'mon! Takin' Off!
Re:Good Jazz Labels (Score:2, Interesting)
As for a single album: "Mystery Lady" by Etta James. James is more well known for her Blues work, but this album of Billy Holiday tunes is spectacular.
say goodbye to your money (Score:1, Interesting)
So of course you'll have to buy a couple live versions. And then a couple more and then the box set with all the live versions you had before, plus ONE MORE GOOD ONE!! ARRRHHHGGG!!!!!
I was already an obsessive completist about CDs, but it's easy to buy all the CDs when the artist has only put out 6-7. What about if there are *FIFTY* different compilations? AARRHRHRHGG!! NO MORE MONEY!!!! BROKE!!!
For instance I was looking for ella fitzgerald
Seriously, if the artist is dead, just get the tracks from filesharing. That's my new policy.
Dave Holland!! (Score:2, Interesting)
His work with his quintet is really amazing- some of the finest ensemble playing anytime, by any standard. The style his group has developed is really wonderful; heavy on improvisation and eastern influences. Billy Kilson takes the drums from a "groove" role to the front of the ensemble - taking on almost melodic roles. Generally, there are multiple solos going on at any time. Even the written music sounds improvised.
This is some of the most wonderful, euphoric recording... really great. My favorite recordings of anything, ever.
Here are some to check out:
Prime Directive [ecmrecords.com]
Points of View [ecmrecords.com]
Not for Nothin' [ecmrecords.com]
Enjoy!
Re:WTF?! (Score:3, Interesting)
Kurt Elling! Plus Oscar, Keith, Chick.... (Score:2, Interesting)
Some pianists you must consider:
* Oscar Peterson - wonderfully big-hearted, and a great example of a phenomenal technique used brilliantly for emotional expression. 'Exclusively for my Friends' is an essential four-disc set.
* Keith Jarrett (The Koeln Concert in particular is a powerhouse of free, unbounded improvisation)
* Chick Corea. The gonzo jazz-rock fusion of Return to Forever isn't to everyone's taste (it is to mine), but he has a wonderfully crisp style with a totally distinctive harmonic language. A fine composer too (his Piano Concerto is one of the more successful jazz-classical crossover attempts).
* Michel Pettrucciani. This man is was a genius, despite being quite badly disabled. A triumph of the human spirit. I highly recommend the two-disc set of him live at the Champs-Elysees (solo) - the highlight is an incredible continuous 30min+ 'Medley of my Favourite Songs'. Talk about stamina!
Sun Ra, Ultimate for Jazz Geeks (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:What about modern Jazz (Score:3, Interesting)
What about the real stuff? Jazz that only rehashes the past isn't jazz, IMO. Innovation is its life blood.
There are some great living players. Here are a few:
Of those no longer living, I don't see any mention of Eric Dolphy, who was one of the greatest improvisational geniuses of whom we have an accurate record. Check out Out to Lunch to get your neurons humming.