I want to start getting into Jazz music, but don't know where to start?

Question

Hello. I love Jazz music. However, unlike other genres, I can't just ask my friends what is good. Could people give me some lists of artists (past and present) to check out? I especially like saxophone and electrical guitar, but anythings fine.

Answer 1

Here you go:



John Coltrane - A Love Supreme, Naima, My Favorite Things, On Green Dolphin Street

Miles Davis - Four, Nefertiti, Solar, Eighty One, Fall

Charlie Parker - Donna Lee, Confirmation, Moose The Mooche, Yardbird Suite

Thelonious Monk - Ruby My Dear, I Mean You, Monk's Mood

Freddie Hubbard - Little Sunflower, Up Jumped Spring

Joe Henderson - Blue Bossa, Black Narcissus, Fire

McCoy Tyner - Search For Peace, Blues On The Corner

Wes Montgomery - Four On Six, West Coast Blues, Unit 7

Joe Pass - All The Things You Are, Stain Doll, Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me

Bud Powell - Hallucinations, Bouncin' With Bud

Eric Dolphy - Something Sweet, Something Tender, Straight Up And Down, Epistrophy

Bill Evans - Waltz For Debby, Very Early, Gloria's Step

Wayne Shorter - Footprints, Ana Maria, Speak No Evil, 3 Marias

Sonny Rollins - St. Thomas, Oleo, Airegin, Pent Up House

Cannonball Adderley - Mercy Mercy Mercy, Blue Daniel

Herb Ellis - Georgia On My Mind, There'll Never be Another You

Charles Mingus - Reincarnation Of A Lovebird, Self Portrait

Oscar Peterson - A Gal In Gallico, C Jam Blues, You Look Good To Me

and a lot more..... good luck!

Answer 2

OK, try a site called AccuJazz.com, it has all sorts of different genres within the overall Jazz heading ( like guitar, or piano, or sax etc.,or New Orleans or Chicago or New York ) then just click around on the different headings and see what you like. Also try Miles Davis, Sonny Rawlins, Joe Pass, Tal Farlow, Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrel, Thelonius Monk, McCoy Tyner, Bucky Pizarelli, Freddie Hubbard, Stan Getz. Put those names and others you come across into another site called Grooveshark they have fairly complete compilations of artists works, also just type " famous Jazz artists" into your browser and you'll find some fairly complete lists to also use in Grooveshark. Hope this helps, grab a nice glass of your favorite wine and happy Jazzing.

Answer 3

Part of getting into jazz is finding what you like. Most artists play multiple genres, so you will probably find that you like some stuff by that artist, but won't like other stuff by the same artist. Also, make sure you can hear the full spectrum of what you are listening to. I've discounted great Jazz because I couldn't hear the bass line on my tinny laptop speakers. Headphones really help.



Check this list out for ideas. I recommend Miles Davis or Dave Brubeck to start. Stay away from free jazz or avant garde until you've built up your jazz ear.

http://www.squidoo.com/best-jazz-albums

Answer 4

BooBoo has a good answer. I would definitely add "YouTube"

http://www.youtube.com/

to your list! You can search for any type of jazz you can think of (e.g. piano trio jazz, saxophone jazz, electric guitar jazz, modern jazz, latin jazz) or you can search for a specific performer (e.g. jazz guitarists, Anthony Mazzella, Wes Montgomery, jazz saxophonists, Cannonball Adderly, Stanley Turretine).



I also listen to streaming jazz radio at AOL--just follow this link to sign up for free internet radio:

http://music.aol.com/radioguide/bb



AOL radio also offers many types of jazz, but YouTube frequently has a video of the performance to go with the audio!

Answer 5

Two sites to recommend. YouTube is the best way to hear and put a face to the music. Allmusic.com can help you with searching for everything such as similar artists, influences, songs and albums.



Here are a some of my favorites. Be sure to look at related videos.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lubGHpeE6jU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR0grs9joy0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KXGSbMrKm4

Answer 6

In addition to what the both said,



try to visit this site.



http://www.tonetsdaily.com/



and click the category JAZZ.



most of them are BOSSA NOVA song. :)