[KyPeN]

After a recent HF meat in my area and a few listens of "Riding with the King," I realize I'm missing out on 2 big genres of music here! I could have started a new thread for both, but I don't want to flood the forums.

I am a big Grado man and love strings if that helps at all.

What are some must haves? Great recordings?

 

[gmoffatt]

A couple of standards for starting off in Jazz include Kind of Blue (Miles Davis) and Time Out (Dave Brubeck). See how those strike you.

 

[Bert]

Classic jazz recommendations:

A listing of important jazz recordings can be found here http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersy...00/top100.html

including:
Miles Davis Kind of Blue 1959
John Coltrane A Love Supreme 1964
John Coltrane Giant Steps 1959
Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um 1959
Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus
The Dave Brubeck Quartet Time Out 1959
Cannonball Adderley Somethin' Else 1958
John Coltrane Blue Train 1957
Herbie Han**** Maiden Voyage 1965
John Coltrane My Favorite Things 1960


I have them and can't say there is a dud among them.

Happy listening,
Bert

 

[rhythmicmoose]

I'm just getting into blues now, but I can highly recommend Willie Dixon - "I Am The Blues." If you dig blues-rock of any era, it'll make you feel warm and cozy inside.

 

[terriblepaulz]

For Blues

There is an amazing box set for Chess Records singles:

http://www.amazon.com/Chess-Blues-Va...889739-9935128

I also recommend trying any sampler from Alligator records for more recent and contemporary artists. These should get you started before you start acquring albums by individual artists.

As for jazz, I was in your spot about two years ago. I strongly second this:

Quote:

Miles Davis Kind of Blue 1959 John Coltrane A Love Supreme 1964 John Coltrane Giant Steps 1959 Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um 1959 Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus The Dave Brubeck Quartet Time Out 1959 Cannonball Adderley Somethin' Else 1958 John Coltrane Blue Train 1957 Herbie Han**** Maiden Voyage 1965 John Coltrane My Favorite Things 1960

I would add the following:

"Dizzy's Diamonds" - Dizzy Gillespie (http://www.amazon.com/Dizzys-Diamond.../dp/B0000046LW)

The four LPs that, IIRC, were recorded over two days in 1956 by the Miles Davis Quintet (Steamin' . . . , Cookin' . . . , Relaxin' . . . , and Workin' . . . )

"The Shape of Jazz to Come" - Ornette Coleman

When I started listening to jazz, I was in the dark, so I got some anthologies of artists I had heard and enjoyed. If you want to go that direction, check out the collections from Rhino records:

http://www.rhino.com/store/CatalogList.lasso?Genre=Jazz

If you are feeling a little adventurous, check out Rahsaan Roland Kirk (a crazy blind genius multi-instrumentalist).

If you are feeling really adventurous (or if you took large quantities of hallucinogens) check out Sun Ra & His Arkestra.

For some funky jazz that is almost R&B, check out Jimmy Smith (master of the Hammond organ)

Fore some New Orleans flavor, check out Professor Longhair, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and The Rebirth Brass Band.

Enjoy!

 

[Uncle Erik]

Great suggestions so far. I'm a big Bill Evans fan, try these by him:

"Waltz for Debby"
"Sunday at the Village Vanguard"
"Explorations"
"Moonbeams"
"Portrait in Jazz"

Two more discs that get a lot of play here are:

"Stan Getz, Cal Tjader: Sextet"
"Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto: Getz Gilberto"

 

[Jubei]

For blues, a nice sampler set would include:

Albert Collins - Ice Pickin
Albert King - Born Under A Bad Sign
BB King - Live At The Regal or Live In Cook County Jail
Big Walter Horton - Big Walter Horton With Carey Bell
Buddy Guy - any of the Chess sets, really
Etta James - The Essential Etta James
Freddie King - Hideaway: The Best Of Freddie King
Howlin Wolf - Howlin Wolf / Moanin In The Moonlight
Magic Sam - Black Magic and West Side Soul
Muddy Waters - The Best Of Muddy Waters
Otis Rush - Right Place Wrong Time
Sonny Boy Williamson - Down And Out Blues

 

[tjohnusa]

For jazz....anything by Spyro Gyra

 

[Rav]

Also try stuff by Herbie Han**** (i like headhunters particularly) and Booker T and the MGs. A bit more fusion that jazz, but still good stuff.

For goodness sake, Herbie Hanc0ck is not a swear word

 

[DJShadow]

I'm a relative newcomer to jazz but Kind of Blue, Bitches Brew, Headhunters and Maiden Voyage are what I consider to be essential.

 

[GlendaleViper]

Please, please get Melting Pot by Booker T. and the M.G.'s

 

[asebastian0]

Buddy Rich! He does some drum work which will really blow your mind, jazz you can really tap your feet to.

 

[Sarchi]

It's tough to get a newb into "Jazz" without some idea of what they like, the genre is so VAST! The OP mentioned strings, you could start with Grant Green or Wes Montgomery from the golden age, or George Benson...or Pat Metheny...or...

Or Stephane Grappelli for that matter. Or Django Reinhardt.

My suggestion, set aside 20 hours of your life, go to the library and take out the 'JAZZ' documentary by Ken Burns. It's far from perfect, but it gives you a pretty decent starting point for exploring the music and its' artists. At least up to about 1967.

 

[Rav]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlendaleViper /img/forum/go_quote.gif Please, please get Melting Pot by Booker T. and the M.G.'s

Havn't heard the album, but the title track is awesome

 

[Redo]

Jimi Blues is always a good place to get some psychedelic rock blues action