Jazz advice (obviously non-bb)

[Taras Bulba]

I realize that it's a poor reflection on my upbringing, however, jazz (especially the Coltrane and Miles Davis stuff) gives me a headache.  However, the missus tends to like jazz which brings me to ask if anyone has any thoughts/recommendations on a couple of cd's I should consider?  I tend to tolerate Ellington and Basie reasonably well but don't know their best stuff from their lesser efforts.  

I can't believe I just posted about jazz in the TZ.  A new low.

[Arky Vaughan]

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I realize that it's a poor reflection on my upbringing, however, jazz (especially the Coltrane and Miles Davis stuff) gives me a headache.  However, the missus tends to like jazz which brings me to ask if anyone has any thoughts/recommendations on a couple of cd's I should consider?  I tend to tolerate Ellington and Basie reasonably well but don't know their best stuff from their lesser efforts.  

I can't believe I just posted about jazz in the TZ.  A new low.

The Art Farmer Quartet is nice, but it might also give you a headache.

[MusicMan]

Quote:
I realize that it's a poor reflection on my upbringing, however, jazz (especially the Coltrane and Miles Davis stuff) gives me a headache.  However, the missus tends to like jazz which brings me to ask if anyone has any thoughts/recommendations on a couple of cd's I should consider?  I tend to tolerate Ellington and Basie reasonably well but don't know their best stuff from their lesser efforts.  

I can't believe I just posted about jazz in the TZ.  A new low.

If Miles Davis is giving you a headache, I really don't know what to tell you.

[NeilT]

Some off the wall suggestions from a more or less non-jazz person:


Songs for Ellen by Joe Pass.  Pass was a guitarist, and was dying of cancer. Jazz musicians don't like it so much, I like it because it's on a classical guitar, and it's very melodic.  

The Genius of the Electric Guitar by Charlie Christian.  Christian is the first great electric soloist, which is kinda cool, but as I recall this is album is a lot of Bennie Goodman swing with Christian coming in from time to time.  Bennie Goodman swing is the perfect music to listen to when driving through Wyoming.

The Best of Django Reinhardt.  Reinhardt is so cool he was French.  And a Gypsy.  And he probably smoked Galoises, or whatever the heck those are.

Round Midnight, Linda Ronstadt.  Round Midnight is the single coolest song ever written, and you could do a compilation of great versions of it and walk away happy.  Linda Ronstadt's wasn't great, but it wasn't bad, either, and this is great 50s non-bebpop jazz done 20 years too late.

Tears of Joy, Tuck and Patti.  Great guitarist, good vocalist.  Not a great album, but it's pretty fun.

My Favorite Things by Coltrane.  I can see how someone could say they don't like A Love Supreme, but I don't see how anyone can't like this.  It's incredibly good, even if McCoy Tyner mails it in.

[Holly]

Well, how about Herbie Hancock?

If she likes trumpets mostly, a non-headachy type is Chris Botti. He falls into the Smooth Jazz category, mostly (good "background music"), but I think he's got a wonderful sound (mellow like a flugelhorn, but with licks like Davis).

See also if you can get your hands on some Steve Smith (former drummer for Journey, but don't let that scare you off... he's great!)... especially stuff of his with his group Vital Information.

Also recommend Craig Chaquiso (ex guitarist with Jefferson Starship Airplane TSA Whatever).

And there's always Vince Guaraldi Trio (of the Peanuts cartoon music fame).

Diana Krall is a good ivory-tickler, as well.

Interesting resource:
The Link

[NeilT]

Now if you actually want a headache, try the art ensemble of chicago.  Bang, Klang, Tweet.

[Trey]

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I realize that it's a poor reflection on my upbringing, however, jazz (especially the Coltrane and Miles Davis stuff) gives me a headache.  However, the missus tends to like jazz which brings me to ask if anyone has any thoughts/recommendations on a couple of cd's I should consider?  I tend to tolerate Ellington and Basie reasonably well but don't know their best stuff from their lesser efforts.  

I can't believe I just posted about jazz in the TZ.  A new low.

If Miles Davis is giving you a headache, I really don't know what to tell you.

Agreed.  Maybe try the Marsalis Family album.  It's newer and is a fair amount different than Davis or Coltrane while still not being shit.

[geezerdonk]

Stan Getz and Spyro Gyra won't give you a headache. In fact, if you have a headache, they will make it go away. Also, you could try Dr. John, Nina Simone and Sade. They aren't exclusively jazz artists, but all have a strong jazz component to their repertoire.

[Taras Bulba]

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I realize that it's a poor reflection on my upbringing, however, jazz (especially the Coltrane and Miles Davis stuff) gives me a headache.  However, the missus tends to like jazz which brings me to ask if anyone has any thoughts/recommendations on a couple of cd's I should consider?  I tend to tolerate Ellington and Basie reasonably well but don't know their best stuff from their lesser efforts.  

I can't believe I just posted about jazz in the TZ.  A new low.

If Miles Davis is giving you a headache, I really don't know what to tell you.

Yeah, well I don't like accounting, either.

[Arky Vaughan]

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If she likes trumpets mostly, a non-headachy type is Chris Botti. He falls into the Smooth Jazz category, mostly (good "background music"), but I think he's got a wonderful sound (mellow like a flugelhorn, but with licks like Davis).

Botti played the national anthem at one of the World Series games in Chicago.  I would compare his tone to Chet Baker.

[Holly]

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If she likes trumpets mostly, a non-headachy type is Chris Botti. He falls into the Smooth Jazz category, mostly (good "background music"), but I think he's got a wonderful sound (mellow like a flugelhorn, but with licks like Davis).

Botti played the national anthem at one of the World Series games in Chicago.  I would compare his tone to Chet Baker.

An apt comparison of tone. He's way mellower than Davis, but they bear a striking resemblance on staff paper. Similar styles, dissimilar sound, if that makes sense. Botti's played the National Anthem at a few Astros games the last few years, too. Lovely. Rather hear him than most of the "singers" in front of the mic.

[NeilT]

My daughter's boyfriend is a jazz guitar student at the New School, which seems remarkably useful.  I hope she meets a nice Jewish medical student soon.

Anyway, his hero (and the funder of his scholarship) is a jazz pianist named Jason Moran, who I've never heard, but I understand he's a good Houston kid and all the rage.  Anyone know anything about him?

[David in Jackson]

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I realize that it's a poor reflection on my upbringing, however, jazz (especially the Coltrane and Miles Davis stuff) gives me a headache.  However, the missus tends to like jazz which brings me to ask if anyone has any thoughts/recommendations on a couple of cd's I should consider?  I tend to tolerate Ellington and Basie reasonably well but don't know their best stuff from their lesser efforts.  

I can't believe I just posted about jazz in the TZ.  A new low.

If Miles Davis is giving you a headache, I really don't know what to tell you.

Well, Bitch's Brew is pretty out there.

EVERYBODY can love "Kind of Blue."  Chet Baker is lighter Miles style horn player.  You could try that.  Stan Getz plays sax and is a favorite.  Coleman Hawkins plays a soft, breathy sax that is classic, as is Lester Young.

Saxphone Colossus by Sonny Rollins is great.  Anything by Monk (you could start with solo piano) and Mingus (which can get crazy loud but is great, too).

Lastly, a Zevon quote (from "Genius"):
"Did you light the candles? Did you put on "Kind of Blue?"
Did you use that Ivy League voodoo on him, too?
He thinks he'll be alright but he doesn't know for sure
Like every other unindicted coconspirator."

[Bill McLuggage]

We played a group called St Germain on the college station. Their music had an electronic touch to it, but they were signed to Blue Note, so that makes them a jazz group by default, right?

[David in Jackson]

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My daughter's boyfriend is a jazz guitar student at the New School, which seems remarkably useful.  I hope she meets a nice Jewish medical student soon.

Anyway, his hero (and the funder of his scholarship) is a jazz pianist named Jason Moran, who I've never heard, but I understand he's a good Houston kid and all the rage.  Anyone know anything about him?

That reminds me: the perfect jazz pianist recommendation: Bill Evans.  Sunday at the Village Vanguard.

[strosrays]

I'm pretty far from a jazzbo, anyway; and I had a suitemate once who would get stoned and listen to James Blood Ulmer continually, like for days.  So I don't like improvisation at all.  But in those rare times when I want to relax and get 'laid back,' I have found Bill Evans (the pianist) to be quite soothing.  

Especially his "Peace Piece", which is wonderful, and can usually put me to reverie, if not sleep.  When I can't find the Allman Bros.' Fillmore East version of "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", I mean.

[jwhudson]

These are the essential recordings for our local pbs station.  A few suprises.  I actually prefer the Big Band stuff.  Hope this helps

Jazz Saturday Night Essential Recordings

Count Basie ? Lil? Ole Groovemaker (Verve 821 799-2)

Dave Brubeck Quartet ? Time Out (Columbia  CK 40585)

Benny Carter ? Jazz Giant (Fantasy OJCCD-167-2)  

Ray Charles ? The Very Best of Ray Charles (Rhino R2 79822)

Diana Krall ? The Girl in the Other Room (Verve B0001826-12)

Bette Midler ? Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook (Columbia CK 90350)

Frank Vignola ? Appel Direct (Concord 4576)

Jazz Like You?ve Never Heard it Before (Compilation) (Polygram 819 344-2)

Carmen McRae ? Live at Birdland West-Fine and Mellow (Concord 4342)

Gene Harris Quartet ? Black and Blue (Concord 4482)

John Pizzarelli ? Meets the Beetles (RCA 74321-61432-2)

Brian Setzer Orchestra ? Vavoom! (Interscope 0694907332)

Rod Stewart ? The Great American Songbook (JRecords 80813-20039-2)

Kenny Garrett ? Simply Said (Warner Brothers 9 47343-2)

Joshua Redman ? Elastic (Warner Brothers 9 48279-2)

Eddie Daniels ? Under the Influence (GRP GRD-9716)

Classic Jazz ? Jazz Legends (Compilation) (TimeLife R124-38R)

Classic Jazz ? The Sixties (Compilation) (TimeLife R612-05)

Cole Porter Songbook ? Night and Day (Compilation) (Polygram 847 202-2)

Wynton Marsalis ? Tune in Tomorrow original soundtrack (Columbia CK 47044)

Jazz at Lincoln Center ? They Came to Swing (Columbia 66379)

The Clayton Brothers ? The Music (Capri 74021)

Michael Buble ? It?s Time (Reprise 48946-2)

Miles Davis ? Compact Jazz (Philips 838 254-2)

Karryn Allyson ? In Blue (Concord CCD 2106-2)

Al Grey ? Fab (Capri 74038)

Frank Morgan ? Mood Indigo (Antilles 7 91320-2)

Miles Davis ? Kind of Blue (Sony 64935)

Jimmy McGriff/Hank Crawford Quartet ? Blues Groove (Telarc 83381)

Brian Melvin Trio ? Standards Zone (Global Pacific R2 79335)

Christian McBride ? A Family Affair (Verve 314 557 554-2)

Geoff Keezer ? Turn Up the Quiet (Columbia CK 68988)

Ray Brown Trio ? Live at Starbucks (Telarc 83502)

Holly Cole ? It Happened One Night (Metro Blue 526099)

Willie Nelson ? Stardust (Sony 65946)

[Ty in Tampa]

Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk - Solo Monk
John Coltrane - Giant Steps
Bill Evans - Conversations With Myself
Miles Davis - Sketches of Spain
Lionel Hampton and Stan Getz - Hamp and Getz
Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out
Chet Baker - Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Nothing too threatening in that list.

[Reuben]

Afraid I'm no expert on Ellington and Basie albums, but you should absolutely love the early Louis Armstrong- his work with The Hot Fives and The Hot Sevens, from the late 1920's - most of these have been reissued on Columbia. That stuff never fails to put me in a good mood. Also the much later Ella Fitzgerald/Louis albums are great fun.

[No? in Austin]

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I realize that it's a poor reflection on my upbringing, however, jazz (especially the Coltrane and Miles Davis stuff) gives me a headache.  However, the missus tends to like jazz which brings me to ask if anyone has any thoughts/recommendations on a couple of cd's I should consider?  I tend to tolerate Ellington and Basie reasonably well but don't know their best stuff from their lesser efforts.  

I can't believe I just posted about jazz in the TZ.  A new low.

Acoustic Alchemy is really smooth accoustic jazz and something non-threatening in the mode of fusion jazz.  It may sound like a one step away from muzak type of jazz, but after a listen or two, and I mean not the type of listening when the music is in the background while you repair a transmission type of listening, then you'll really appreciate the synergy of the two main performers.

Sypro Gyra is right above Acoutic Alchemy in the non-threatening mode but a little more complexity to the music and stuff that you really can't ignore to appreciate.  After a listen to those two group, gradually make your way upwards to the more complex jazz listening, like Dave Brubeck, Pat Matheny, etc.  I might just recommend Pat Matheny and Brubeck before Sypro Gyra just in case you want to ease from acoustic jazz into electric jazz to assemble jazz and then jazz with full big band sounds.

Of course, there may be other ways to do this, including going head first into jazz fusion, so good luck!

[otterj]

Thelonius Monk.

He's fuck all better than anyone else.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

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I realize that it's a poor reflection on my upbringing, however, jazz (especially the Coltrane and Miles Davis stuff) gives me a headache.  However, the missus tends to like jazz which brings me to ask if anyone has any thoughts/recommendations on a couple of cd's I should consider?  I tend to tolerate Ellington and Basie reasonably well but don't know their best stuff from their lesser efforts.  

I can't believe I just posted about jazz in the TZ.  A new low.

If Miles Davis is giving you a headache, I really don't know what to tell you.

Well, Bitch's Brew is pretty out there.

EVERYBODY can love "Kind of Blue."  Chet Baker is lighter Miles style horn player.  You could try that.  Stan Getz plays sax and is a favorite.  Coleman Hawkins plays a soft, breathy sax that is classic, as is Lester Young.

Saxphone Colossus by Sonny Rollins is great.  Anything by Monk (you could start with solo piano) and Mingus (which can get crazy loud but is great, too).

Bitch's Brew is my favorite Miles album because it *is* out there.

But it's best not to judge Miles on any one album. His music for fifty years was continually evolving and always at the vanguard. He maintained relevancy by using elements of current trends of the time from, Bebop to Hip-hop. Through it all his signature tonality never changed.

[Phil_in_CS]

I'd recommend any of Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers albums. Very cool bop, very accessible. Blakey always had great guys in his bands; I'm seeing a line up of Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Short and others on 'mosaic'.

[BizidyDizidy]

My friend who's a fairly accomplished Jazz pianist and overall obsessive is a big fan of Roy Hargrove. He is listenable imo, as a non-jazz guy.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

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My friend who's a fairly accomplished Jazz pianist and overall obsessive is a big fan of Roy Hargrove. He is listenable imo, as a non-jazz guy.

Roy Hargrove is a fantastic trumpet player. His music isn't always the most accessible. He can play it all though.