SherlockOhms
Member
I learned a lot from this thread on the other forum, so hoped by recreating it here, we could keep the ball rolling as it were
From over there.
I need more!
From over there.
I need more!
Jumping into Jazz: Introductory records for beginners
- Thread starter SherlockOhms
- Start date
doncornelius
Well-Known Member
I don't see Sonny Rollins mentioned, and his work is essential. I recommend as starters Work Time, Saxophone Colossus, Easy Living and Global Warming (a wildcard choice of mine).
DataBase
Member
I'm going to compile a list from the old thread and post it here in a second...
DataBase
Member
Alright I just went through the old thread and lifted I THINK everything that had been mentioned...
Certainly not exhaustive, so let's keep adding to this list! We've hit a lot of the canon, but I'd love to hear more about contemporary artists. Robert Glasper anyone?
Certainly not exhaustive, so let's keep adding to this list! We've hit a lot of the canon, but I'd love to hear more about contemporary artists. Robert Glasper anyone?
| Adderley, Cannonball | Somethin Else |
| Ahmad Jamal Trio | The Awakening |
| Armstrong, Louis | Hot Fives and Hot Sevens |
| Baker, Chet | The Very Best |
| Bill Evans Trio | Waltz for Debby |
| Blakey, Art | Free for All |
| Blakey, Art | Moanin' |
| Blakey, Art | Art Blakey!!!! Jazz Messengers!!!!! |
| Byrd, Donald | Stepping into Tomorrow |
| Byrd, Donald | Black Byrd |
| Byrd, Donald | Street Lady |
| Byrd, Donald | Places and Spaces |
| Carter, Betty | Look What I Got! |
| Charles, Ray with Milt Jackson | Soul Brothers |
| Coleman, Ornette | The Shape of Jazz to Come |
| Coleman, Ornette | Skies of America |
| Coleman, Ornette | Science Fiction |
| Coltrane, Alice | Journey into Satchidananda |
| Coltrane, John | A Love Supreme |
| Coltrane, John | Giant Steps |
| Coltrane, John | with Johnny Hartman |
| Coltrane, John | Live at the Village Vanguard |
| Coltrane, John | Crescent |
| Coltrane, John | My Favorite Things |
| Coltrane, John | Blue Train |
| Coltrane, John | Coltrane Jazz |
| Comet is Coming, the | Channel the Spirits |
| Corea, Chick | Now He Sings Now He Sobs |
| Dave Brubeck Quartet | Time Out |
| Davis, Miles | Kind of Blue |
| Davis, Miles | Live at the Plugged Nickel |
| Davis, Miles | A Tribute to Jack Johnson |
| Davis, Miles | Nerfertiti |
| Davis, Miles | In a Silent Way |
| Davis, Miles | Round About Midnight |
| Davis, Miles | Sorcerer |
| Dearie, Blossom | S/T |
| Dolphy, Eric | Out to Lunch |
| Ellington, Duke | The Blanton/Webster Years |
| Ellington, Duke | Money Jungle |
| Evans, Bill | Live at the Village Vanguard |
| Evans, Bill | Everybody Digs Bill Evans |
| Fitzgerald, Ella | Songbook Collections (Verve) |
| Gillespie, Dizzy | Dizzier and Dizzier |
| Gordon, Dexter | Go |
| Hancock, Herbie | Headhunters |
| Hancock, Herbie | Maiden Voyage |
| Henderson, Joe | Inner Urge |
| Hipp, Jutta | With Zoot Sims |
| Holiday, Billie | All or Nothing at All |
| Humphrey, Bobbi | Blacks and Blues |
| Humphrey, Bobbi | Satin Doll |
| Jamal, Ahmad | Tranquility |
| Madlib | Shades of Blue |
| Miles Davis All Stars | Walkin' |
| Mingus, Charles | Mingus Ah Um |
| Mingus, Charles | Mingus Plays Piano |
| Monk, Thelonious | Brilliant Corners |
| Monk, Thelonious | Underground |
| Pastorious, Jaco | S/T |
| Return to Forever | Light as a Feather |
| Roach, Max with Clifford Brown | Study in Brown |
| Salvant, Cecile McLorin | For One to Love |
| Shorter, Wayne | Speak No Evil |
| Shorter, Wayne | Etc. |
| Simone, Nina | Nina Simone Sings the Blues |
| Various | Verve Remixed |
| Various | Blue Break Beats |
| Washington, Kamasi | The Epic |
| Weather Report, the | Heavy Weather |
| Weather Report, the | Black Market |
| Williams, Kamaal | the Return |
| Young, Larry | Unity |
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SherlockOhms
Member
Nice. Could I be a cheeky sod an ask for a 'style' column in there - I know I like hard bop, but not so much post bop for example, and the extra info might help me target my listening a little more
(though might inadvertently start a holy war as to quite which album falls into which category)
(though might inadvertently start a holy war as to quite which album falls into which category)
DataBase
Member
That can be arranged - it's definitely all over the place in terms of style!
Joyless Division
Active Member
The list is great. I would also just say for a true beginner get:
Coltrane- A Love Supreme
Miles- Kind Of Blue
Brubeck- Time Out
Coltrane- A Love Supreme
Miles- Kind Of Blue
Brubeck- Time Out
DataBase
Member
SherlockOhms
Member
Love Supreme is gorgeous, though I have to be in the right mood for it
supahypeag
Well-Known Member
I'd suggest trying a few Big Band swing records, stuff by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, even Glenn Miller. It's neat history, and it's where a lot of folks got their start.
mitchwagz
Well-Known Member
Yeah sometimes it’s my favorite album of all time and sometimes I just can’t listen to it. I would also not point a newcomer to it unless they are open to slightly more adventurous jazz. Giant Steps or Blue Train would probably be the place to start imo.
mitchwagz
Well-Known Member
The Atomic Mr. Basie is amazing!
supahypeag
Well-Known Member
Miles Davis Birth of the Cool would also be neat for a beginner. It’s a little easier to digest for not-hardcore fans than some of the free jazz/hard bop/fusion stuff.
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Just had a look through your fantastic list! In terms of Jutta Hipp I have always preferred At the Hickory House Volume 1 & 2 over 'With Zoot Sims' personally.
And I think the best way to 'discover' new jazz records is to start with a classic/go-to, pick out which bits you like and look at who it is that's actually playing that part. From there you can look at their discography and continue on. For example:
Miles Davis - A Kind Of Blue (great tenor sax - Coltrane) TO John Coltrane - Blue Train (great trumpet solo - Lee Morgan) TO Lee Morgan - Cornbread (great piano - Herbie Hancock etc etc.
Its a basic system I used and you soon build up a decent knowledge of artists which makes picking them out a bit easier. Kind of like a musical rabbit hole.
agutierrezb
Well-Known Member
While this list is super dope and full of great records, I think a newcomer can feel overwhelmed with such a long list. I think we should sort out a "sampler", and then recommend some records off this list based on what someone enjoyed the most out of the sampler. Something like: "If you enjoyed Hancock's "Maiden Voyage", then try the albums and artists in the "Post Bop" style. What do y'all think?
David A.
Well-Known Member
So, my hot take on the Ella songsbooks are that some are a bit bloated (that Gershwin songbook) or a bit too polished but each one is worth seeking out. I love the Kern and Ellington songbooks, personally and the Gershwin songbook is loaded with gems but also some fluff. But she dedicates herself to every song.
Ella in Berlin and Ella sings Gershwin (the 1951 piano duet album with Ellis Larkins that was released on Decca) deserve mention.
Ella in Berlin and Ella sings Gershwin (the 1951 piano duet album with Ellis Larkins that was released on Decca) deserve mention.
David A.
Well-Known Member
When I first heard A Love Supreme, I was really intimidated by it. I felt a spark but it's very jagged and I really didn't have a full taste for atonality and insane chord changes at the time.
Now I'm pretty sure that it's the perfect album.
DataBase
Member
Good idea! Have you ever used Popplet? Easy to use collaborative mindmapping app. We could start with some basics like Giant Steps and Kind of Blue and then branch out???
agutierrezb
Well-Known Member
I didn't know about the app, but I think its a good idea. We can first build a solid list of records in the Google Shit, and then map them all using this app.
AC Slaughter
Active Member
This was a really great Blue Note flow chart someone posted in the Past. I have found it pretty helpful and fun to run down some of the tracks.