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Jazz recommendations for a beginner?

Hello, I purchased my first 3 jazz cds just to experiment: Cafe Blue (Pat Barber), Love Scenes (D. Krall) and Kind of Blue (M. Davis). Now I want to officially start listening more jazz. I really liked tracks 2,3,4,9,10 and 11 on Barber's cd, almost every song on Krall's, but honestly 'Kind of Blue' was not too much of my taste. So based on this brief comments, has anybody some good recommendations for a beginner? I'd appreciate your suggestions. Thanks.
Jorge R.
jorge_err
xcr1234
4 posts
 
I would recomend Don Shirley as an instermental jazz artist- his sound is quite diffret from that of Davis and Coltrane. As for vocal music Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan are both quite good (as are many others). I would also recomend Ellington's black, brown and Beidge. If you do not have acess to good jazz radio it may by advisable to by a few inexpensive, but broad compalation cd's to see with styles and artists you like.
charleyprice
8 posts
 

Most of the great newbie jazz albums were made in 1959.

Kind of Blue is fantastic, but also Coltrane's Giant Steps, and Brubeck's Time Out. Also Ornette Coleman's Shape of Jazz to Come though that one's not really my thing.

Thelonius monk is my favorite. It may take a moment to get your head around his dischordancies, but pretty fabulous stuff whether solo or in a band.

Nowadays I just listen to Phish. It has all the technical proficiency, much better sound, and endless flow of delightful ideas. Never before has a band been able to improvise fully as a group with that level of musicality, equality, and coherence.

I know they are an easy band to hate, with their gimmicks, stupid lyrics, rabid fans, and strange songs. Their current style is largely centered on pure improve after the song is over. It is very similar to Keith Jarrett in the Koln, Bremen, Lausanne period, but with four people improvising together, instead of just one (if Jarrett can be called just one!) Get a month free of LivePhish.com and listen to 2024 , 2025 live shows and see if you can dig it. (Do you see what I mean about rabid fans!? Sorry for my diatribe!)

charleyprice
8 posts
 

Also worth mentioning: KRTU.ORG plays well curated jazz all the hours I'm awake, as well as being very (perhaps overly?) devoted to teaching you all about it.

Who says San Antonio only has basketball and breakfast tacos?

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