Are you a fan of jazz, and if so what kind?

Question

Just curious how many people are fans of this relatively obscure and vastly underappreciated genre. Who are some of the jazz artists that have really spoken to you?

I personally like most jazz, from bebop and hard bop to the avant garde and modern. Charles Mingus definitely took hold of me with Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, and it is music that will remain with me forever.

Answer 1

I agree that jazz is under appreciated. Its strange to me that jazz clubs are so small, and crappy bands are selling out stadiums.

I really like the mid to late 1960's jazz. Its a bit beyond be bop, but not erratic like avant guard or free jazz. there is just enough melody, and lots of "outside" playing too.

I am a huge Eric Dolphy fan. He makes every album great, his own or as a sideman.
Andrew Hill is another favorite of mine, he was a very creative writer, a great explorer.
I love to hear a solo from Booker Ervin, especially on his Freedom Book and Space book albums. the whole band is great on those albums.
Sam Rivers is another total original, thank god he was/is around.
Bobby Hutcherson is another one that plays great on any album. I think the song Ghetto Lights is an incredible song. Its on his album, Dialogue (Andrew Hill wrote it).
Jake Byard is my favorite pianist.
I like Joe Chambers drumming, not because of his skills, but because of WHAT he plays.
I like Richard Davis on bass and Reggie Workman too.

PS-The song Wee from the Black saint and the Sinner Lady just came on the radio. That reminds me that I really like Mingus too, especially with Dolphy in the band.


Thanks for asking.

Answer 2

Fusion is what opened me up to the world of jazz and I still love it. My favorites in this sub genre are The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Chick Corea Return To Forever, Alan Holdsworth, Jaco Pastorious, Larry Coryell Eleventh House, Jeff Beck ("Wired"), etc.
I've since branched into most areas of jazz. My favorites are John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, The Crusaders (when Larry Carlton was a member).
The only jazz that I don't really care for are dixieland, most big band, and avant garde. I'm trying to open up to avant garde though.

Answer 3

Im am venturing more and more into jazz, coming from being a funk, soul lover. So, I guess Im mostly into jazz-funk, acid jazz, and breakbeats. SOme of my faves are Gary Bartz, Idris muhhamed, Ahmad Jamal, Weldon Irvine, Cannonball Adderly, Johnny Hammond, Grant Green, Stanley Jordan, and Bobby Hutcherson. As for newer artists- I love Charlie Hunter, and Karl Denson. For whatever reason, I tend to stay away from anything too straight-ahead, or too out there.

Answer 4

I cut my teeth on "Mr. Magic" at the age of 12. I love Smooth/Acid/Fusion Jazz. Joe Sample (a la The Crusaders), Norman Brown, David Sanborn (older records), and Ronny Jordan are among my top ten. I appreciate what T. Monk and Coltrane contributed. I can listen to "Giant Steps" over and over. It is an vastly overlooked genre and the only places I get my fix are on Sirius and Smoothgrooves 'net radio.

Answer 5

I am a huge fan of jazz. Some people admire my love for jazz because of my age: 13. I recently played the song "take five" in our school's talent show with a few other friends I know. I am a big fan of Dave Brubeck, Count Basie (haha), and I also like Charles Mingus like you. Jazz is DEFINITELY under appreciated...like you said. It's sad.

Answer 6

I like some bebop, and modern jazz. Herbie Hancock was tops in that era. Miles Davis's music from that era doesn't impress me. I also like fusion which Hancock was king of in 70's.Jean Luc Ponty was the last to sit in that chair. Miles Davis's last change with Marcus Miller was his best .(Tutu, Amandla)
I like smooth jazz as well. George Duke is the best in this class.
I do think too many have tried to copy Kenny G and have made his sound generic.

Answer 7

I am a fan of fusion mostly from the 70's on, from Tom Scott and the LA Express,Grover Washignton Jr.,Bob James,Hank Crawford,The Crusaders,Lonnie Liston Smith,Herbie Hancock,Return to Forever,Maynard Ferguson,David Sanborn,Weather Report,Jeff Lorber Fusion (Kenny G on horns),Spyro Gyra,Earl Klugh,George Howard,George Benson, Lee Reitnour,Four Play,Fat Burger Keiko Matsui,Hiroshima. I just like mellow music mostly.

Answer 8

I love jazz! I prefer the big-band music because of the abundance of trombone and string bass. Modern jazz is good too, but it contains less of the brass that I always look for in a jazz song. As for jazz artists that have spoken to me, Winston Marsalis is a really nice guy. I talked to him at one of his concerts in Washington D.C.

Now jazz fusion, like The Weather Report is really refreshing. Just the combination on the rock and jazz, makes for really interesting trumpet rips.

Answer 9

I'm more into fusion and smooth jazz, got my taste from early Miles Davis, Quincey Jones & Herbie Hancock etc...and I started playing around the Mr. Magic era, then a drummer introduce me to George Duke, Lenny White & the Astral Pirates Sun Ra...Oh and I can't forget Stanley Clarke !!!

Answer 10

To quote Duke Ellington: "There's only two kinds of music. Good music and the other kind."

I love all eras of jazz, from the tough reedy clarinet of Sidney Bechet to the wild digressions of Ornette Coleman. Monk, Bird and the first wave of boppers are my favorites of all. Coltrane achieved rare transcendence in "A Love Supreme."

Modern players have some great things. Lots of young lions out there.