# Recommend me some Jazz **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 31, 2004, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140 "2004-10-31T06:25:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/1 "2004-10-31T06:25:31Z")
I really like: Dave Brubeck - Time Out Miles Davis - Kind of Blue, Birth of Cool John Coltrane - A Love Supreme, His version of _My Favorite Things_ Ornette Coleman - Free Jazz Any recommendations to what else I might like? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/2 "2004-10-31T06:35:37Z")
You like guitar? Try [Mike Stern](http://www.guitar9.com/play.html) and [Frank Gambale](http://www.guitar9.com/comingtoyoursenses.html). ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/3 "2004-10-31T06:37:07Z")
Freddie Hubbard Charlie Parker is in line with some of the Birth of the Cool stuff (bebop influence) Any Miles Davis record from the 60’s/70’s (bitches brew is an experimental take.) Cannonball Adderly > [@Kel Varnsen - Latex Division](#): > > I really like: > > Dave Brubeck - Time Out > Miles Davis - Kind of Blue, Birth of Cool > John Coltrane - A Love Supreme, His version of _My Favorite Things_ > Ornette Coleman - Free Jazz > > Any recommendations to what else I might like? ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/4 "2004-10-31T07:53:03Z")
Herbie Hancock - Mwandishi, Watermelon Man John Coltrane - Naima, Giant Steps (if you love the Ornette this’ll be right up your alley Charles Mingus - Epitaph Thelonius Monk - Solo Monk Those are all particularly strong albums. For artists in general, look for any of the following, they all should be pretty easy to find… Piano: Bud Powell, Art Tatum, Fats Waller, Ellis Marsalis, Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis, Clifford Brown, Ronald Brecker Guitar: Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass Saxophone: Illinois Jacquet, Cannonball Adderley, Wayne Shorter, Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Sonny Stitt ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/5 "2004-10-31T15:56:44Z")
I could go on and on but I’m sure others will list the classics, so I’ll just mention: Lee Morgan, “Search for the New Land” ---
**Author:** ![acoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@acoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acoop)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/6 "2004-10-31T16:22:21Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > I could go on and on but I’m sure others will list the classics, so I’ll just mention: > > Lee Morgan, “Search for the New Land” how bout some modern stuff soulive herbie hanckock martin mediski wood chicago underground trio ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/7 "2004-10-31T16:36:23Z")
A very hard to find album, but its my absolute favorite: Oscar Peterson - Nigerian Marketplace (1982) I also recommend checking your library for “The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz” and giving it a listen. It’s a great overview (of everything before 1980, anyway), and may help you define your tastes. You didn’t mention any big band, but I can’t recommend the unjustly undervalued Jimmy Lunceford. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/8 "2004-10-31T16:38:43Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > You didn’t mention any big band, but I can’t recommend the unjustly undervalued Jimmy Lunceford. …HIGHLY ENOUGH! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/9 "2004-10-31T19:20:12Z")
Regina Carter. The lady plays the violin. ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/10 "2004-10-31T20:13:27Z")
Also on piano: McCoy Tyner. ---
**Author:** ![mrunlucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@mrunlucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrunlucky)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/11 "2004-10-31T21:49:05Z")
Two of my favorites are “Sound” by Roscoe Mitchell (free jazz that was right before the formation of the Art Ensemble of Chicago), and “Interstellar Space” by John Coltrane (this one is very heavy). ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/12 "2004-10-31T23:49:29Z")
Louis Armstrong Why didn’t anybody list Saint Louis? The Manhattan Transfer, and of cousre, The Chairman of the Board, Mr. Frank Sinatra. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/13 "2004-11-01T02:32:55Z")
For something a little more out of left field, check out Ephel Duath’s _The Painter’s Palette_. ---
**Author:** ![Redsland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@Redsland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redsland)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/14 "2004-11-01T02:50:18Z")
The OP’s list is identical to the one I started with. Now you need Kenny Dorham’s “Una Mas” and Herbie Hancock’s “Headhunter.” ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/15 "2004-11-01T02:58:12Z")
> [@Kel Varnsen - Latex Division](#): > > I really like: > > Dave Brubeck - Time Out > Miles Davis - Kind of Blue, Birth of Cool > John Coltrane - A Love Supreme, His version of _My Favorite Things_ > > Ornette Coleman - Free Jazz > > Any recommendations to what else I might like? If you like avant-garde, check out **Sun Ra**. He has a million CDs. Plus he’s just awesome. Coleman’s the father of avant-garde, and a purist would say to delve more into his stuff. His other big recording was **“The Shape of Jazz to Come”**. There’s also a KEN BURNS JAZZ CD for him. Miles also has some great abstract work- notably **"Bitches Brew**". **“Live Evil”** and \*\*“Dark Magus” \*\* are also two favorites of later Miles for me. You can’t go wrong with Coltrane, though his later stuff can be hard to grasp for some. Check out \*\*“Giant Steps”. \*\* The entire **“My Favorite Things”** album is classic. If you like Coltrane you might like **Sonny Rollins**. His “must get” is **“Saxophone Colossus”**. But then again, as a jazz god, he has dozens that are sure hits. I’m a huge **Bill Evans** fan- you MUST check out **“Sunday at the Village Vanguard”** and “\*\*Waltz for Debby”. \*\* Jazz trio stuff- if you like Brubeck you’d like Evans. Evans wipes the floor with Brubeck anyway. Also, I’ve gotta mention **Charles Mingus**. Any jazz enthusiast has him in their collection, but there’s something a little quirky about him that gives him a cult following. I love him- check out **"Mingus Ah Um**" for an introduction. I’ll back up the **Herbie Hancock** and **Medeski, Martin and Wood** suggestions. Both are big on fusion- Herbie’s electric masterpiece will always be **"Headhunters**". For acoustic Herbie, **Maiden Voyage**. If you like Miles you’ll like that. MMW is more avant garde. All of their stuff is a sure hit- try earlier CDs. ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/16 "2004-11-01T10:57:35Z")
Great thread, jazz is something I’ve always loved but haven’t devoted enough time to learning more about. If you’re interested in something a little more contemporary, you should check out an album called “Tourist” by a guy called St Germain. Very very cool, but also probably sacrilege for the purists. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/17 "2004-11-01T12:59:21Z")
Wes Montgomery is wonderful. Ben Webster, if you can find _Ballads,_ is sublime. But don’t miss out on the great vocalists. Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan. And don’t turn your nose up at these new kids like Norah Jones and Diana Krall. For sheer entertainment value, Louis Jordan’s _Man Alive, It’s the Jumping Jive_ is really hard to beat. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/18 "2004-11-01T13:42:13Z")
Additional: Trumpet: **Chet Baker** , nearly any album Vocals: **Jane Monheit, k.d. lang w/Tony Bennett** If you like “Time Out”, try “Live At Carnegie Hall”, which has some of the best work the quartet ever did. Sax: \*\*Stan Getz \*\* (Getz and Gilberto is a classic) ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/19 "2004-11-01T15:52:58Z")
Great suggestions here. Some others: **Sonny Rollins** - Great sax player, the Ken Burns Jazz compilation is a good place to start **Horace Silver** - phenomenal piano player, try _Safari_, which is a great overview of the man and his work, which is brilliant. Check out **Art Blakey**. One of the greatest drummers ever, he led the Jazz Messengers, who featured Horace Silver for a while. The Ken Burns Jazz compilation is a good starting place also. Don’t forget **Dizzy Gillespie**. He and Charlie Parker practically invented be-bop. His stuff from around the end of WWII and into the early 1960’s was awesome. I tout the Ken Burns Jazz compilations for the primary reason that I believe the digital cleanup and reproduction was as painstaking as possible, and makes a lot of music that was recorded between 40 and 70 years ago sound fresh and new. One of my favorite one-off albums is ‘Two of the Few’, which is just Oscar Peterson (perhaps the greatest jazz pianist of all time) and Milt Jackson (a truly supreme vibes player) playing together and making the most heavenly sounds imaginable. Also, I suggest latin Jazz, specifically Tito Puente (percussion) and Cal Tjader(vibes). Pick up any of their stuff from the 50’s and 60’s, it is essential listening. For contemporaries, I like **Poncho Sanchez** for latin jazz, he is the Tito Puente of our time. Also I can’t let an opportunity go by without plugging my absolute favorite group of any genre, **Bela Fleck and The Flecktones**. They come closest to replicating the incredible skill and composition talent of Dave Brubeck in a modern context, but they deserve a category all their own, as they incorporate just about every possible musical style available across the globe in a unique and pleasing way. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140/20 "2004-11-01T17:41:00Z")
> [@picker](#): > > Thelonius Monk - Solo Monk Heh…this reminds me of someone…I think maybe Brook Shields…she was asked what she though of Thelonius Monk. She replied, “Who’s the loneliest monk?” All these picks are good. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-jazz/272140.md?page=2)