What JAZZ are you listening to?

Originally posted by Crowley
So, if a rock guy wanted to listen to a little jazz (which he knows nothing about), what would be a good starting point?

Eddie Cleanhead Vinson was one the first that I had gotten into. Les McCann "Swiss Movement" was another. Maybe try some with some funk like the Jazz Crusaders.

Originally posted by rbmorris
A lot of that stuff comes with time.

Try not to complicate it too much.

Listen, relax, enjoy.

[b]Currently listening to:
Oscar Peterson, Exclusively for My Friends - Vol I[/b]

Yes, it comes with time, but I think it a good thing to be aware of it.

Charles Mingus "Cornell 1964"

Ben Webster and Associates

Ben Webster "The Soul of Ben Webster"

rbmorZ gave me some stuff to listen to...

My wife friggin HATES it! Me, I'll give it some time to grow on me...

Originally posted by Crowley
rbmorZ gave me some stuff to listen to...

My wife friggin HATES it! Me, I'll give it some time to grow on me...

Care to share what you're listening to?

Originally posted by Crowley
rbmorZ gave me some stuff to listen to...

My wife friggin HATES it! Me, I'll give it some time to grow on me...

Gurlz HATE jazz. FACT! (Funny, I almost warned you about that.)

My wife hates that stuff too.

------------
At the Lighthouse [LIVE]
Cannonball Adderley

Exclusively for My Friends Vol I
Oscar Peterson

Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall [LIVE]
Michael Brecker, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove

Kind of Blue
Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley & Bill Evans

Originally posted by rbmorris
Gurlz HATE jazz. FACT! (Funny, I almost warned you about that.)

My wife hates that stuff too.

------------
At the Lighthouse [LIVE]
Cannonball Adderley

Exclusively for My Friends Vol I
Oscar Peterson

Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall [LIVE]
Michael Brecker, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove

Kind of Blue
Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley & Bill Evans

I wonder if the live albums make for tough sledding - especially if they follow head/solo/head arrangements with bass and drum solos.

KOB might also prove difficult. I suggested "Somethin' Else" instead of KOB because it seems more listenable to me.

I haven't heard the Peterson, but I'd think it would be quite listenable.

What do you think?

Originally posted by ThinkOfOne
I wonder if the live albums make for tougher sledding - especially if they follow head/solo/head arrangements with bass and drum solos.

KOB might also prove difficult. I suggested "Somethin' Else" instead of KOB because it seems more listenable to me.

I actually thought about including "Somethin' Else".

The reason for the albums I selected is that I felt they encompassed several different moods expressed by jazz. Some of it's more upbeat, while some is quite the opposite.

It's hard for me to pick my absolute favorites. It all depends on the type of mood I'm in. I do like a lot of the live performances though. For me, much of the charm of jazz is its "off-the-cuff' nature, and I feel that the live albums tend to capture a little more of that (particularly for the beginning listener) than many of the studio releases. That's just me, though. Obviously, there's no right or wrong.

Also, as Crowley said in his original post, "So, if a rock guy wanted to listen to a little jazz...", I think the live performances have a little more of a "rockin'" (for lack of a better word) feel than some of the studio albums.

It's all a matter of personal taste, though. He probably won't love all 4 albums, but maybe one will appeal to him, and if it does, hopefully he'll be encouraged to explore a bit more.

Happy listening.

Originally posted by rbmorris
I actually thought about including "Somethin' Else".

The reason for the albums I selected is that I felt they encompassed several different moods expressed by jazz. Some of it's more upbeat, while some is quite the opposite.

It's hard for me to pick my absolute favorites. It all depends on the type of mood I'm in. I do like a lot of the live pe ...[text shortened]... does, hopefully he'll be encouraged to explore a bit more.

Happy listening.

Yeah. A lot of it depends on the past experiences of the listener as to what might 'click' for them.

I remember I had a difficult time with avant-garde jazz until I saw David Murray's trio in concert. It was like they were a Rosetta Stone for me. Everything made sense after that.

Originally posted by rbmorris
Gurlz HATE jazz. FACT! (Funny, I almost warned you about that.)

I just started to listen to your jazz album, and it sounds good so far. 🙂 Must be my male brain.

Cannonball has a lot of music for new listeners. I still love the guy, today. Listen to him all of the time.

Originally posted by badmoon
Eddie Cleanhead Vinson was one the first that I had gotten into. Les McCann "Swiss Movement" was another. Maybe try some with some funk like the Jazz Crusaders.

I used to see "Cleanhead" with Harry "Sweets" Edison when they used to come to town every year. They always put on a good show. I really like his "Kidney Stew is Fine" album on Delmark, though I think of it as more of a blues album what with T-Bone Walker playing on it and all.

"Wait a minute baby..."

Cleanhead has a really cool album that features Larry Coryell. A live show.

Originally posted by badmoon
Cleanhead has a really cool album that features Larry Coryell. A live show.

Are you talking about "You Can't Make Love Alone"? It doesn't look like it ever made it to CD and at 24 minutes, it seems unlikely to. You may have a real collector's item there.

Originally posted by ThinkOfOne
Are you talking about "You Can't Make Love Alone"? It doesn't look like it ever made it to CD and at 24 minutes, it seems unlikely to. You may have a real collector's item there.

Yeah, I have it on vinyl. It is really entertaining.