[Bigfish]

Guys:

I really like modern Jazz by artists such as:  Richard Elliot, Jeff Kaishowa, Kenny G and The Rippingtons. I tend to prefer the upbeat musical jazz albums without singers.  Do any of you have recommendations of other artists, based on the above comments, that you would recommend?

Thanks,

Ken 

[lonewolfny42]

Some you might  check out....

Spyro Gyra

Yellowjackets

David Sanborn

Acoustic Alchemy

Down To The Bone

Art Porter

Bob James


Go over to Amazon....listen to the samples.

[BobM]

Another source I use to find new jazz musicians, or old jazz musicians with new projects, or just something different every once in a while is through my 20 year subscription to Jazziz magazine. The monthly magazine comes with a comiplation CD of recently released albums by a wide variety of jazz (and sometimes blues) musicians.

It's a great way to hear a wide variety of music that you may never have a chance to be exposed to through normal channels. Well worth the $50 or so annual subscription (so that's less than $5 a CD for 12 CD's a year). If you like an artist you can easily check them out and buy one of their CD's if you like. A far better way to get music you like without the crapshoot of just buying blind.

Enjoy,
Bob

[jtwrace]

Michel Camilio

Jacqui Naylor are just a couple of my fav

[jimdgoulding]

My, you are a neophyte, aren't you Ken?  Check out a new CD from ECM . . Being There by Tord Gustavsen.  It's a trio date of some very nice contemplative jazz.  ECM is sorta that way.  Kenny G?  Every jazz lovers favorite punching bag.  Put this chump in a band where he has to improvise to some up tempo stuff and you'd know what he is made of.  White toast, is what.  What is insulting to jazz lovers is the fact that this elevator music playing wanker has sold millions of records and couldn't hang with nobody.  Buy Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers album or disc of Free For All on Blue Note and hold on to your hat!  You'll be baptised.  You like soprano sax , I guess.  Buy Coltrane's My Favorite Things.  Welcome to the freest, most creative music on the planet . . jazz!

[Bigfish]

My, you are a neophyte, aren't you Ken?  Check out a new CD from ECM . . Being There by Tord Gustavsen.  It's a trio date of some very nice contemplative jazz.  ECM is sorta that way.  Kenny G?  Every jazz lovers favorite punching bag.  Put this chump in a band where he has to improvise to some up tempo stuff and you'd know what he is made of.  White toast, is what.  What is insulting to jazz lovers is the fact that this elevator music playing wanker has sold millions of records and couldn't hang with nobody.  Buy Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers album or disc of Free For All on Blue Note and hold on to your hat!  You'll be baptised.  You like soprano sax , I guess.  Buy Coltrane's My Favorite Things.  Welcome to the freest, most creative music on the planet . . jazz!

Last night I was pulling a blank trying to remember some of the other jazz artists I have in addition to the above.  Some are Keiko Matsui, Hiroshima, Dave Grusin, Earl Klugh, Dave Benoit, Peter White, Diana Krall and Dave Sanborn. As mentioned my favorite jazz artists are the Rippingtons and Richard Elliot. 

Depending on my mood I like Country Music, Country/Rock/Blues (Govt Mule, Kenny Wayne Shepard), Rock (AC/DC, U2, Stones, etc.) and some jazz.  We have a used music and video store in Raleigh by the name of CD Warehouse.  CDs run from $5.99 to $8.99 and replacement guaranteed if the CD is found to be damaged (purchase 15 and get one free).   I visit often and when the store it is not too busy I can listen to CDs before purchase.  CD selection always varies as the turnover (outgoing and incoming) is quite frequent.  Anyway I appreciate the recommendations and will be searching for the artists you have recommended.

Ken

[Scott F.]

Ken,

Although I don't listen to much smooth Jazz anymore, here are a few more artists that I think will suit your musical preferences (adding to Lonewolf's choices);

Fourplay (Bob James and Lee Ritenour)
3rd Force
Grover Washington Jr
Craig Chaquico and Russ Freeman
Ronnie Laws
Govi
Lee Ritenour
Kohala
Chris Botti


Pay no mind to the condescension from jim. You like music that moves you and thats all that matters. There is no right or wrong when it comes to personal choices and enjoyment of music.



On the other hand, Jazz is a journey. Most people start out with smooth Jazz and then start exploring the origins of Jazz. Coming from smooth jazz, a natural place to start when first getting into the origins of Jazz would be the "Cool" Jazz sound or West Coast Jazz artists. Those styles of jazz tend to be very melodic yet contain the essence of of what jazz is, improvisations and polyrhythms.

Sax players like Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon and Jerry Milligan are really easy to get into. They were very melodic in their approach to making music.

If you are into trumpet players, Blue Mitchell, Hank Mobley or some Chet Baker might well suit your tastes.

For Piano, Bill Evans and Dave Brubeck are very good choices.

Guitars, Wes Mongomery and Kenny Burrell were very melodic. Pat Metheny is a phenominal musician and composer but he is closing in on 50 releases so knowing what to choose in his catalog can be an adventure. I'd start with We Live Here, Secret Story, Letter From Home, or if you are more a of a rock and roller, Imaginary Day is phenomenal.

For Swing, look no further than the Count Basie Band.

In Latin Jazz there is but one (IMO) Pancho Sanchez. This guy is great.

When it comes to New jazz that is melodical you have several choices. There are a number of good bands coming out of northern Europe. Tord Gustavsen is a good choice but my favorite is Esbjorn Svensson Trio. Somewhere Else Before is the place to start with these guys. On the domestic side, the Adam Rafferty Trio is very good too.

Be careful listening to someone that states you need to need to buy Coltrane or Miles Davis. These two covered a lot of sub-genres in jazz, many of which you will likely find completely unlistenable being new to jazz (relatively speaking). In particular their work in the hard-bop, (some) modal and (near) avante guarde jazz sub-genres.

I do have to say the Miles and Coltrane's work on Kind of Blue (modal) is spectacular and you will most certainly enjoy that release. The same would hold true for Coltane's Giant Steps or Blue Trane.

Believe it or not, Wikipedia has a decent explanation of the sub-genres of jazz. Armed with that and Amazon.com for 30 second music samples and you are set for the next few years of exploration.

Hope that helped 

[lonewolfny42]

Another "toe in the water".....

Ken....While checking out the Cd bin's, look for sampler's...try the Blue Note one's....good artists....and a good starting point.And as Scott mentioned...good to have "Time Out" and "Kind Of Blue" and "Blue Trane" on hand....their real standards....

Good post Scott....

[Bigfish]

Thanks guys for all of the recommedations.  I will check out the Amazon Samples and start searching the bins for the artists you have suggested.

Thanks Again,

Ken

[lonewolfny42]

http://www.allmusic.com/

Type in a name in the search box...and on the opening page,you can check for similar artists and styles....and read album reviews....and samples.

[rajacat]

Wow! That's a great music site. Nice educational summaries of the different genres, samples and a price search function among other things.

Thanks Lonewolf

...Raj

[lonewolfny42]

Thanks...

More Jazz.....a good site...

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/

[Bigfish]

Chris and Scott:

Thanks for the links.  I have been listening to music samples for awhile.  Based on your recommendations and the sample music I now have some new CDs to search for.   

Thanks Again,

Ken

[lonewolfny42]

Great Ken....because without music...who needs audio equipment....

Happy hunting...and listening...

[Bigfish]

Great Ken....because without music...who needs audio equipment....

Happy hunting...and listening...

Darn, I am going to have to buy a larger hard drive!

[Scott F.]

Hey Ken,

Heres another free one that will turn you on to all kinds of jazz (and other music too).

Pandora

Its streaming radio. Type in one of the artists that were recommended and the station will build a personalized radio station based upon music of the same type. Its a great way to find new music. All you need is speakers for your computer or a Squeezebox.

Enjoy!

[lonewolfny42]

Another link....A History Of Jazz Music.....

And....a link to Smooth Jazz Radio Station on the web......

[jimdgoulding]

Ken-  Jim here from a couple of posts ago.  I didn't want to make you uncomfortable, well, maybe a little.  I'm a pretty advanced listener of the genre and a fierce advocate.  My style may be blunt but the suggestions I gave you are stand up.  Wolf gave you some good ones, too,  if I do say so and in the logical order.  For the record, Hank Mobley is a tenor player not a trumpet player and it's Gerry Mulligan, not Jerry Milligan.  Blue Mitchell is a good jazz trumpeter and was a mainstay in Horace Silver's bluesy quintet along with Junior Cook on tenor.  That's the best place to hear him (Blue Note).  You want to hear some sophisticated live in concert jazz, try "Miles In Tokyo "with his stellar supporting cast of Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums.  They were joined on this date by Sam Rivers on tenor, a pretty edgey player but accessible on the lone ballad, My Funny Valentine- a beauty.  This has been remastered and re-released.  I own the original on Japanese Sony and the sonics are first rate.  Enjoy.

[Scott F.]

For the record, Hank Mobley is a tenor player not a trumpet player and it's Gerry Mulligan, not Jerry Milligan. 

You are correct....my bad 

I didn't want to make you uncomfortable, well, maybe a little.

Jim, you need to know that Audio Circle is a friendly place for people to hang out. We don't act like the guys at some of the other sites out there. In turn, relative newcomers usually feel comfortable posting innocent questions without fear of being pounced upon by the masses. Here, we help and are encouraging by giving assistance where we can and when we are knowledgeable.

Calling yourself a manufacturer and then taking swipes at your potential audience isn't really a good way to endear yourself to everyone here. May I also take this opportunity to point out that Audio Circle has very specific guidelines for manufacturers when posting. In your signature line, you need to clearly state that you are in the business. You also need to have a link to your website. The Rules

Please, take it easy around here with your aggressive posture. It won't play well to the management.



Sorry about the sidetrack to your post Ken.

[jimdgoulding]

Nothing like being given a lesson in manners but I'm a little beyond that.  What . . everything said here should be an affirmation?  Or, are you saying I should just dial it back a bit.  I'm just trying to educate the lad in my own inimitable way and happen to have opinions.  I also know what I'm talking about when I talk and offer suggestions.  One can take them or leave them without having me put on a dress.

I'm not in the business of ingratiatiing myself to others.  I manufacture a scientifically viable product for the benefit of serious listeners and audio enthusiasts not for money.  However, I do wish to observe the rules.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to exchange ideas.  If I should change my moniker or whatever because I'm a manufacturer, someone please tell me how I should do this because I don't know and I happily will.

Having said that, I will try and observe the rules of etiquitte for the benefit of amiable conversation no matter if it chokes me.  It doesn't, usually.