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Jazz Recs for Classical Music Fan - Challenging

Having acquired 1000s of classical CDs (probably more than I could ever listen to), I think that it is time to start with some Jazz. I know there are a lot of forums, websites, and books that give much great advice on how to approach the subject. However, I am looking for more particular recommendations. Perhaps some fellow posters with classical tastes in the Romantic and Modern eras could give some recs that would nicely bridge the gap. I've tried to make my way into Jazz a couple of times, but haven't been successful to date. Perhaps someone here can help me make the breakthrough.

Here are some of the things I am looking for:
1) Decent recordings. This probably means something from the 60s, forward. A little tape hiss is OK, but excessively remastered or noisy recordings are not what I'm looking for. I know that many of the great recordings are from the 30s through the 50s, and I have ordered a couple of those.
2) Naturally recorded. No amplification, no over-miking, good engineering. Vocals should be minimally or not amplified. Soundstage needs to be realistic. The venue should be apparent. No 50 ft clarinets and vocals eminating from the entire soundstage.
3) Acoustic instruments. I do not like electronic music.
4) No divas-come-lately. I don't care to hear the latest 22 year old with a big voice, amplified and electronically filtered to 'perfection', a pretty album cover, and a marketing campaign to tell me how great she is.
5) Emotional content. Not just for tapping your foot or for background music.
6) Great performances. Not just something that came out last month with high recommendations in the press.
7) Probably smaller ensemble pieces. Vocals, piano, quartets, etc.
8) There may be some labels that have classical and jazz recordings that overlap (?ECM).

Thanks,
Rob
rtn1

Showing 1 response by judasmac

judasmac
25 posts
 
As someone who listened to classical before discovering jazz, I've brought with me a preference for jazz that emphasizes composition. I like improv, but for my taste too much jazz glorifies the improv solo at the expense of the overall composition and structure of the song, and the results are often a bore of tag-team soloing. (I'm not a bop fan.) I prefer it when the solos are woven into the structure of the piece. I also want my jazz to swing and be fun. The mind working with the head bobbing. With that in mind, I would recommend the following:

Louis Armstong, who to me epitomizes the heart and soul of jazz

Benny Goodman, I particularly like his small trio and sextets. There's a lot more big band that is underestimated as good jazz.

Gerry Mulligan Quartet

Dave Brubeck

Count Basie

Duke Ellington

Miles Davis

Horace Silver

Oscar Peterson

Bill Evan also would fit here, but he's not my cup of tea for other reasons.

And a very different kettle of fish, but Pat Matheny. I can't stomach all of his work, but at his best he can craft a terrific composition

Vocals also tend to ground jazz into some overall stucture, though some jazz vocals can be too light on the jazz.

If anyone else has suggestions along these lines that I haven't mentioned please pass them on.
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