I would like to get into bluesy jazz something with a smokey back street kind of sound . Any ideas?

Question

A fairly new artists please nothing before 1985

Answer 1

There are many wonderful jazz artists out there ...some dead even but still recent. Not sure of the years of all these but they shouldn't be pre 1985 except maybe this one

Grover Washington Jr - cd is called East River Drive

and try
Quincy Jones - cd called Q's Juke Joint

Then for a mellow and smooth but not too smoky sound I like
Kenny G and Four Play and I could go on and on ...but at leat you have a start.

Answer 2

Sorry, but you probably won't get too many good bluesy jazz cuts after 1985. There are some, but the legends come much earlier.

Answer 3

It's before 1985, but I know what your talking about, and I know the perfect find for you.

Tom Waits in the mid seventies was a jazzy street like artist poet. Some of his songs are spoken word street tales with jazz backing.

He recorded a live show with lots of stage talk. It's a great album. Do yourself a favor and check it out. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:w7ae4j270waw

PS-If you like this album, check out Blue Valentine, and Small Change.

Answer 4

Dj Krush, Thievery Corportation, Jazzalicious, DJ Cam, Future Sound of London. That's basically instrumentals.

Otherwise if you want more of a guitar sound, try Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Roy Buchanan, BB King, or other guitarists from that genre.

Answer 5

Start listening to Boney James. Good stuff!