Recommend me some of that "Jazz" I keep hearing about?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomKure 

Hello. When I read about audiophile stuff, there's very often a word like "Jazz" or "classical" being mentioned. Now, I have my favourites when it comes to classical (Grieg, Brahms, Vivaldi, etc - yes, I'm a classical "beginner"), and - of course - I know what Jazz is, but I have never really heard (listened to for a prolonged period of time) to any serious Jazz. So, could anyone recommend me some nice, soft, fluent, melodic Jazz with some nice Saxophone or trumpet and a stand up bass perhaps and maybe some piano and perhaps even some nice vocals? As one - slightly embarrassing - example of what I liked I would mention the music in the videogame SimCity 3000

Please don't laugh at me too much

Thanks!

Dave Brubeck - Time Out reminds me of SimCity, I don't know if it is actually the same style. It's been a while. (didn't play Simcity 4 that much)

I always put Jazz music while playing games like Civilization or Crusade Kings, just to remember the "feel" of the old SimCity games

I put together a list of the 10 albums I recommend when someone wants to explore jazz.

Some things to remember

1.  there are many styles of jazz

2.  jazz is an aquired taste

3.  for me at least, sometimes things I don't really care for the first time I listen to them, turn out later to be favorite albums.

Miles Davis - "Kind of Blue" is on the SimCity 3000 soundtrack and it's a good start for a jazz discovery.

 Nina Simone's first record "Little Girl Blue" is a wonderful record. She's classically trained pianist, and her first recording already shows an amazing talent and her emotion are right upfront. Another singer/pianist that sometimes get's taken too lightly is Blossom Dearie. Her voice is pretty unique and could be seen as too cute by some. She's a coy and stealth performer, quiet and moody (so is life sometimes) but as soft as she may seem there is a solid base underneath.

Check out some early Ramsey Lewis, sometimes Jazz just needs to be for a swinging good time. Ahmad Jamal is another artist who I think is approachable yet amazing. His recording of "Poinciana" I've linked to is one of my favourite Jazz tracks.  It's flat out pretty in places but it moves along.

There's also more emotional of Jazz that may move you. Yousef Lateef and Bill Evans seem to be on another plane. Here are two versions of "Love theme from Spartacus" 

*And a bonus version of the track from Ahmad Jamal

Speaking of being on another plane. Pharoah Sanders (who probably wouldn't make it on a video game sound track) always seems to dig deep. It's hard not 

to think of John Coltrane listening to Pharoah Sanders. 

Bill Evan Trio's Waltz for Debby

No horns, but oh so good.

Cool jazz? Here's a few choices:

Chico Hamilton - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hArNuNUR_i4

Stanley Turrentine- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0nIKWRyLF0

Lou Donaldson- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwO5TZdNWok