I've also been quietly enjoying both the PBS series and
this list's discussions of the series. Actually, I was
quite inspired by the second show and it affected my radio
show for that evening. I decided to open up my show with
Gang Starr's Jazz Thing, and followed that up with some of
the early jazz artists which were featured in the series,
King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, the Duke. Randomly, more or
less, I played Armstrong's Mahogany Hall Stomp, only to
realize that the trumpet intro to the stomp also opens up
Jazz Thing. And then to hear Winton Marsalis discuss that
very same snippet of music the next day on the series,
well, I was pretty floored. Although I listen to it far
too infrequently, I actually own Mahogany Hall Stomp. It's
on a really poor quality, old, hard (you'd think it was
Bakelite), mono Decca 10" pressing which I think I got for
a quarter at a garage sale. The static pops and hisses
pretty much overpower everything but Louis' horn, but it
still brings a smile to my face.
I haven't studied any music history, my mother wasn't very
musical, and my dad only listens to classical, so I know
(or knew, i guess) very little about Jazz. The PBS series
has kept me glued to the tv, wide-eyed, trying hard to take
everything in. Not having strong knowledge of the history
of jazz, i have no basis, or will, to criticisize the
series -- I think it's great (but would tend to agree with
most of the comments about Wynton Marsalis).
--- "Leslie N. Shill" <icehouse@redshift.com> wrote:
>
> i would love to see some lists from people that relate to
> the beginnings of their love of jazz and improvised
> music. what really made you wake up to jazz? what are the
> outstanding landmarks in the soundscape of your musical
> consciousness?
>
As for the beginnings of my love of jazz, well... I grew
up a hip hop head (and some days would probably still
characterise myself as such). Jazz knowledge came about in
a roundabout kind of way, stumbling upon the source of so
many samples. 3rd Bass introduced me to Dave Brubeck, and
Run DMC let me know about Bob James. When hip hop went
through it's so-called golden age in the early nineties,
and certain groups got singled out as 'jazzy' (Tribe,
Jungle Brothers, Dream Warriors) in relation to the growing
gangsta-rap movement, I felt the need to search out the
source of the sounds I enjoyed so much. A Tribe Called
Quest's "Peoples Instinctive Travels..." probably did more
for my love of jazz than anything else...
I think the first jazz album I actually purchased was Miles
Davis' Kind of Blue - After hearing 'So What' played in
tribute the day of his death, I was transfixed. Oscar
Peterson's Canadiana Suite, Clifford Brown/Max Roach Alone
Together, and (much as I hate to admit it) the Shuffles
Demon's Spadina Bus song are other titles which have warped
my musical preferences for the better.
=====
Marco Pringle, host of
the Fat Beat Diet - Way late, Tues nights/wed morning
CJSW 90.9FM (Calgary) - in real audio at:
http://www.cjsw.com
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