As I reach my late forty’s I feel it’s time to get into Jazz, I have no idea what I’m doing, any tips?
More of a Rhythm and Blues guitar man myself, but I've dabbled in Jazz. Miles Davis is the place to start.
I’ve listened to and enjoyed many genres of music, from classical to thrash and doom metal and lots inbetween, but Jazz to my shame has passed me by, time to change that. Miles Davis to start then! I’m going to dig my record player out of the loft and get kind of blue ordered!
It depends which way you're going into jazz. If like me you're coming from rock (particularly prog-rock) then I would suggest the likes of Soft Machine, John McLoughlin or the Canterbury Scene bands like Caravan and Gong. Ultimately though, as suggested above, you'd have to listen to Miles Davis....
Thanks, I’m a fan of Rush, Floyd, Opeth, Dream Theater, old Genesis, Jethro Tull. I’ll look those up.
Once read a cynics assessment of musical styles...must say Cleo Laine killed Jazz for me...... Opera..people singing who should be talking Rap..people talking who should be singing Jazz..A group playing different songs but at the same time Punk...groups not sure what their playing As a Prog rock/ Bowie fan am not sure what the author of the above would have made of my preferences
I like some old school jazz but was once at Ronnie Scott's where a trio played modern jazz for 45 minutes. It was like having teeth pulled.
Avoid anything that is some bloke on a Double Bass or a Chello going dum dum de dum dum with intermittent sax or trumpet playing for twenty minutes and you are on a good path. Its tedious and soul destroying.
Try these. Soft Machine - you might want to skip some of the avant garde intro to Facelift... Gong Mahavishnu Orchestra (John McLoughlin) Caravan
10 Blue Note albums that are a good intro link And a great documentary on the label that was recently on BBC4 link
Don't make any plans for the rest of your evening. Just when you think a song is about to close, it starts up again and goes on and on and on and on. Safe to say I'm not a fan of the genre.
Enjoyed that blue note doc. Shape of jazz to come - Ornette Coleman Kind of blue - Miles Davis Blue Train - John Coltrane. All excellent. Depends what floats yer boat. Music without corners......
If you really get nerdy you'll work out where the jazz bits you are listening to have been sampled and used in stuff from the 80's, 90's and onwards.......
Jazz is wonderful. I started listening when I was about 16. Me and Ian McMillan were and still are fans of The Peddlers. I'd listen to Erroll Garner and Oscar Peterson and used to buy LPs at Casa Disco. Many years later and I'm still hooked although my tastes are more modern UK, European and US based. Some of these guys can really play, and it upsets me that I never learned to play an instrument, particularly the piano. Don't be just restricted to Miles Davis Kind of Blue. Good as it is there's so much out there. I love to watch youtube jazz videos, one thing leads to another and another and another. You can always switch off if you don't like it ! I find new musicians I've never heard of and suddenly I'm captivated by yet another one. It never ends. I can't recommend anyone in particular. There are so many to experience. One thing though, get your headphones on and get on to youtube. It costs nowt.
