Re: Seminal Jazz Albums?

Jim Ayson (jra@europa.com)
Fri, 12 Apr 1996 11:15:59 +0800


At 02:14 PM 4/11/96 -0400, KEVIN D. ENGLAND wrote:
>
>Best thing for a newcomer to jazz would be to go to a used vinyl shop or
>public library where you can get records for a dollar (or free). My
>personal introduction came after digging through my dad's abandoned
>records.
>
>Donald Byrd with Voices
>Horace Silver "Song for my Father"
>Lee Morgan "The Sidewinder"
>Wes Montgomery "A Day in the Life"
>Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66

That's all cool, but Sergio Mendes?????

For early bossa nova though, check some of the old Antonio Carlos Jobim
recordings. Or for bossa nova's introduction to jazz, the Stan Getz and Joao
Gilberto collaborations in the early 60's (which most of the public
remembers as introducing Astrud Gilberto to the world, singing "Girl from
Ipanema").

>Maybe its time to take a listee poll on "First jazz albums?" Yea?

I think I was about 12 when I heard my brother's copy of Ahmad Jamal's
"Jamalca" which I dug instinctively. I still remember his cool "Theme from
M*A*S*H" with the tasty Rhodes lines and "groovy" acoustic bass figures - it
would probably still be playable on an "acid jazz" programme today. Prior to
this I was listening to "Frampton Comes Alive" (shudder)

On records for introducing jazz to newbies, I think it depends on where the
listener is originally coming from. I would probably use US3 to introduce
jazz to a young hiphopper, and hope that leads him on to the Blue Note
catalog. And maybe for vocalists, for someone used to singing standards, I'd
introduce that person to Dianne Reeves and hope that person would eventually
check out Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn later on. In general, I think
that acid-jazz itself serves as a good intro to jazz. As people get into the
music, they eventually want to check out its roots. It's a lot easier for
them than having someone make them listen to Coltrane or Miles or Bird right
away ... Hell, I'd even play 'em Kenny G if it'll lead them to some deeper
sounds later on. <g>

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jim ayson [ jra@europa.com ] ... quezon city, metro manila, philippines
W3 Business Communications: website design and management [w3bc@best.com]
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