2007-05-24 10:32:15 · 18 answers · asked by Lenka 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Jazz
Hi! I'm a Jazz Studies major at WMU now and I am just getting into jazz as well (I didn't know anything about it before college).
Contemporary:
Bobby McFerrin- He sings mostly on syllables and is close to the Bebop style, which is based mostly on improvisation. When singers sing bebop, they sing to try to imitate the original instrument playing in the tune, such as Billie's Bounce or Anthropology.
Kurt Elling.
Chick Corea is an amazing piano player- DEFINITELY check him out. FRED HERSCH as well is VERY good.
Pat Metheney Group. If you don't know about Pat Metheney...AMAZING group of musicians. I actually met Lyle Mays, the piano player! He came to WMU to do a master class with Gold Company and he's the uncle of my voice teacher!
Nancy King is a great vocalist to listen to as well.
Dianne Reeves- listen to her. Great, powerful vocalist.
Less contemporary but SOLID GOLD vocalists:
Nancy Wilson
Ella Fitzgerald
Sarah Vaughan
Louis Armstrong (primarily trumpet, however)
Frank Sinatra (he does some jazz)
Joao Gilberto (Latin jazz- he is AMAZING)
Astrud Gilberto (his wife)
Elis Regina (another great Latin jazzer)
Carmen McRae
Billie Holiday
Diana Krall
BIG names for instrumentalists/composers:
DEFINITELY check out Antonio Carlos Jobim, sometimes referred to as Tom Jobim. He's pretty much the standard for all Latin tunes...very important to know!
Then you've got your standard greats like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk! Louis Armstrong, Stan Getz...I could go on forever. The instrumentalists are VERY easy to find. And there are SO many more artists out there besides the ones I just listed. These are just the ones that you absolutely HAVE to know...haha.
I'm more of a vocalist myself, so I know more about the singers, and therefore I'm partial to vocal ensembles as well. If you're interested in vocal jazz ensembles, you should definitely check out:
Gold Company from Western Michigan University
Manhattan Transfer
New York Voices
Take Six
The Swingle Singers
The Singers Unlimited
These are just a few. If you google "vocal jazz" you'll come up with so much more.
Hope this helps! Feel free to message me if you want to check out some tunes!
2007-05-24 13:18:07 · answer #1 · answered by Jewel 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Stanley Turrentine, Charlie Parker, Stanley Clarke, Maynard Ferguson, Billie Holiday, Chic Corea, Stan Getz, Dave Brubeck, Eddie Harris, George Benson, George Duke, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderly, Jeff Beck, Les McCann, Maynard Ferguson, Ramsey Lewis Check out "I Never Knew" and "Ultra Lounge Instrumental by Mingus
2016-05-17 06:09:19 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
John Coltrane
Charlie Parker,
Thelonious Monk
Miles Davis
Duke Ellington
Cannonball Adderley
Nat Adderley
Wes Montgomery,
2007-05-24 20:54:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some of my favorites are Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, The Crusaders, Larry Carlton, Jaco Pastorious, Chick Coreas Return To Forever, John McLaughlin (especially The Mahavishnu Orchestra), Rippingtons, Miles Davis, Lee Ritenour, Billie Holliday, Ronnie Laws. Thats a start. If you want more, heres a website you really need to check out:
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/ (click on "music lists")
2007-05-25 03:06:29 · answer #4 · answered by Stratobratster 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Listen. Here are the two jazz guys that had the most influence on me and my music, and no one else is going to mention them, so listen well:
Vince Guaraldi - he did all the music for the old Charlie Brown TV specials and movies. Think "Linus and Lucy" or "Christmas Time Is Here". Really comfortable, relatable jazz. He has a bunch of albums, some of Charlie Brown music, and some not. You'd like him.
Johnny Costa - Virtually unknown, he's the guy who did the music for Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood! One of the best, THE BEST, jazz piano players, ever. He has a couple albums on Amazon. You need to hear him.
2007-05-24 15:41:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Buddy Rich, Art Tatum, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk are all great choices. Miles Davis is genereally considered one of the greatest, his best album being Kind Of Blue.
2007-05-27 13:27:45 · answer #6 · answered by ncubed03 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there's a long list of jazz bands and musicians that I love:
James Morrison
Benny Goodman ('Sing Sing Sing')
Ella Fitzgerald (I love her version of 'I've Got Rhythm')
The Cat Empire (is fusion - a mix of quite a few types of jazz ('Hello', 'Sly' ,'Days Like These')
Skadaddyz (Ska - a metal type of jazz ('Get Up')
The Blues Brothers (Everybody needs Somebody to love)
Louis Armstrong (When The Saints go marching in)
Weather Report (Birdland)
They're just some of the musicians that I like - hope it helps =) even though, I would recommend that you check out The Cat Empire - they're awesome!!
2007-05-24 23:52:09 · answer #7 · answered by midnight.wildfire 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
John Coltrane is absolutely amazing.. Etta James.. Nina Simone.. Sarah Vaughn..Ella Fitzgerald.. these are oldies, but goodies!
But if you want contemporary artistes, try Diana Krall and her 'The Look of Love' CD. Very very sexy. And I know she doesn't really fit the genre and fits pop more these days, Amy Winehouse is pretty good, for her age. Love her scats! And she is very influenced by jazz, so check her out if you can.
I agree, listen to Antonio Carlos Jobim for awesome latin jazz! 'Triste' is one of the best songs ever!
2007-05-24 16:01:27 · answer #8 · answered by sawwaa! 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For smooth jazz, try
Boney James
Rick Braun
Chris Botti
Dave Koz
Anita Baker
2007-05-24 13:41:49 · answer #9 · answered by brainyblonde38 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Chet Baker-C.B. sings his favorite songs
Cannonball Adderly "The Price You Gotta Pay to be Free"
Louis Armstrong-anything
Coltrane-"Africa Brass one and two. Love Supreme
Elvin Jones-Genesis
Chet Baker and Jimme Giuffre
Early Billie with Lester young
Miles "Sketches", "blue"
Charlie Rich "Pictures and Paintings"
2007-05-24 13:03:23 · answer #10 · answered by barbzigny 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋