Any good jazz out there you can recommend?

[Big Eee Zee]

I am hoping that some people on here have real musical taste and can help me out. I'm trying to find some new jazz to listen to. My latest thing is Umphrey's Mcgee. Not quite jazz, but definately influenced by it. Any other good similar bands you guys could tell me about? Basically Jazz, jam bands, or a crossover.

 

[cinephile]

For a general overview

Miles Davis

John Coltrane

Thelonious Monk

Weather Report

Tony William's Lifetime ( only the first album)

Mahavishu Orchestra

Duke Ellington

Count Bassie

Return to Forever

Louis Armstrong

And probably 150 others.

What type of jazz are you interested in?

 

[familyguyfan]

I like a few Chet Baker songs.

I would also actually like some jazz reccomendations. The kind I like is soft, slow jazz. Not "smooth" jazz though. Stuff like "Look for the Silver Lining" and "Stella by Starlight".

 

[cinephile]

Then you would probably like

Johnny Hartman ( he did a great album with John Coltrane)

Frank Sinatra

Antonio Carlos Jobin

Norah Jones ( although it really is'nt Jazz)

Sade ( again, not Jazz, but the ladies love it)

Some of the Mid Period Miles and John Coltrane is also very mellow.

 

[LowPlainsDrifter]

Modern Jazz Quartet - indeed, very modern, very classy, "quiet" jazz.
Great for setting a mood...

 

[lerxst]

These fall in the jazz category of bebop / hard bop, but I'll hit you up with some places to start. These are the necessary albums for any jazz collection:

Miles Davis: Kind of Blue, Birth of the Cool

John Coltrane: Blue Train, Giant Steps, A Love Supreme

Herbie Hancock:
Maiden Voyage, Empyrean Isles, Takin' Off

The Dave Brubeck Quartet: Time Out, Time Further Out

And I'll even through this one out there:
The Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Boy Named Charlie Brown

 

[familyguyfan]

Thanks cinephile and LowPlains, I'll have to check those out.

 

[samtheman]

Here are some guys that weren't already mentioned:

Charlie Parker (Bird) - This guy invented bop (a fast insane style of jazz). Check out "Bird's Best Bop On Verve".

Cannonball Adderley - Check out "Somethin' Else"

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Big Band - This is the best big band today. If your into guys like count basie and duke ellington, get this.

 

[Luveno]

Hey, here's some awesome jazz.


Bela Fleck and the Flecktones(unique)

Glenn Miller(rockin swing)

Bill Evans(the best piano player ever)

Oscar Peterson(another piano great)

Joe Pass(guitar master)

Lenny Breau(not so jazzy, but amazing)

Diana Krall(this is real jazz vocals, not that norah jones crap)

Buddy Rich( best drummer ever)

Spyro Gyra(kind of elevator music, but relaxing)

Chick corea( another piano great)

That's all that comes to the top of my head right now that hasn't already been said.

All the other posters listed some great stuff too!

 

[SELF-MASTERY]

Chick corea

Bingo!!! Love this guy we played his music in jazz band, always a crowd favorite.


Stay away from the kenny g's and all that modern jazz bull****, I call it pop jazz.

 

[cinephile]

That Charlie Brown album by Vince is great. I learned to play "Linus and Lucy" on guitar a couple of years ago. While maybe not the deepest music, it sure is fun to listen to.

 

[thefonz]

There's alot of names being thrown out here but my best reccomendation for a newcomer to jazz would have to be Miles Davis.......his song "So What" is the most chill piece I've ever heard, after him I'd have to go with a Charlie Parker mix.