I love the way you’ve framed this post: an invitation to an alternative path. No clickbaity “don’t be basic” shaming nonsense, just a welcome—someone sharing something they’ve found beautiful and meaningful without putting anyone else down. We need more of this in the world I think.
Thank you for the writing, and thank you for the album recs.✨
Great picks! The first jazz album that really captured me was Ahmad Jamal’s At the Pershing. I heard it on a pretty high end system in a hifi shop and was mesmerized. Felt like they were performing in front of me.
A pick I like to toss in as a wildcard for newbies is Dorothy Ashby & Frank Weiss ‘in a minor groove’. It’s such an interesting combination and works really well. Approachable music and a good entry point to jazz harp.
Great read, thank you! and thanks for putting Takeshi Shibuya and Tony Fruscella on my radar. I had not heard of them before this.
Like you, I always have been into listening and collecting music. My love started from age 8. I explored different genres and collected on different media. However it took me another 28 years to fully engage with Jazz. Jazz hit me with its full force when I listened to a recent vinyl reissue of Duke Ellington & John Coltrane album by Acoustic Sounds. I sat down and as first note was played I was stunned. And since that happened, I have not been able to really look back. I am still learning about Jazz and its history. I have a lot to explore and the joy seems endless.
From the lesser known artists, I really enjoy Billy Harper, Charles Tolliver, Harold Land, Joe Harriott, Joe McPhee, and Mal Waldron.
How amazing! Sounds like we’ve had very similar experiences getting into jazz, and I can see how that Ellington and Coltrane record would be the turning point. There’s so much to learn (I’m constantly learning new things every day) so that is great to hear and I agree it is endless! Thanks so much for sharing.
I’m actually unfamiliar with many of these artists so I will have some exploring to do. Thanks!
Bill Evans rearranged all my molecules about 7 months ago. I have not been able to look back, either. And yes, so much joy. I’m so glad I heard “What Is There To Say?” It’s wild to be so blown away still. After all these years.
Absolutely! I did not expect that either. In my experience, with Jazz, there is a point of no return. Throughout the years, I had made several attempts to listen to Jazz on streaming services but it never stuck somehow.
I remember listening to that Coltrane & Ellington release multiple times on streaming services with headphones. Interestingly enough, I appreciated the music and the virtuosity but I did not fully connect with it. It happened when I took the chance and bought the record. I said to myself worse case I will trade it with another record if I do not like it. Then I put it on the turntable, sat down, the first note hit my ears and everything fell into it places.
Totally agree and understand it exactly! I’ve been a little slack with listening to my records lately so you’ve inspired me to put something on over the weekend. That Coltrane & Ellington record is a great pick!
Thank you for the intro to some beautiful, new to me, music. Middle school, early ‘70’s late night radio out of Buffalo and Toronto - complex time signatures, searing solos, peaceful harmonies.
A few of my faves from my teen years: Larry Coryell, Philip Catherine, Chuck Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Keith Jarrett, Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra, King Crimson, and many more.
Thanks for reading! Those are some excellent artists and I wish I had started listening to them in my teens as you did, but glad to have gotten to them now.
I was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by sounds of jazz and blues played on my parents turntable; Mingus, Monk, Miles, Coltrane, Ellington, Brubeck, Parker, Peterson, Big Bill, Billie,and so many more. Going into my teens I of course segued off to rock..and later rekindled my passion for jazz finding solace in Pharoah Sanders, Albert Ayler. Jim Pepper (Pepper's Pow Wow), Don Cherry, Horace Tapscott. Bert Wilson (Endless Fingers. Ok, on a roll here thinking of the music Iove!
That sounds incredible, I envy you for having grown up by the sounds of jazz. Those are some amazing artists to be nurtured on from a young age, and some great ones to move off into! A few I’m not across so I will definitely look into them and give them a listen. Thanks so much for sharing!
Great to find a community of jazz lovers here! If you are not familiar with Jim Pepper, there was a documentary produced by Susan Osawa many years ago, "Pepper's Pow Wow", about his life. The dvd might be difficult to locate but there are many clips on youtube from live shows featuring him along with Don Cherry, Claudine Amina Meyers, Larry Coryell and others. Truly diverse! Have you checked out the Substack by Quinn Belice, The Black Guitarist? Musings and music from a young woman jazz guitarist, composer, singer?
Totally agree! I don’t know a single person who loves jazz so it’s really nice to have so many here who do. I’m not actually! But that documentary sounds fabulous. I will check it out, thank you. Not familiar with that Substack either, but sounds like something I’d love. Awesome suggestions, thank you.
Great post, thank you! I really got into jazz with the punk chaos of John Zorn, actually. All of the classics, like Kind of Blue, sounded too slick and measured, even though they were revolutionary at the time. Zorn led me to Ornette which led me to Sonny Rollins, and then I got back to the classics through the side door. There are different ways of getting there, and it's interesting to hear other people's paths. I'd love to hear more "uncommon required" listening!
Ah how amazing! I’ve just finished reading a book about Bill Frisell which featured a lot of Zorn so I’m soon going to dive into his work. Glad to hear he started your love of jazz and led to others. No two ways into jazz are the same so I agree it’s always interesting hearing other paths. Thanks for sharing!
I tend to gravitate towards jazz piano songs and definitely stumbling upon Presentiment by Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou is what kick started the interest. So I appreciated the Takeshi Shibuya track! Excited to explore his work a bit more.
Jazz piano songs tend to be some of my very favourites so that record sounds up my alley. I’ll give it a listen, thanks so much for the shout out! Glad to hear you enjoyed the Shibuya track, you might also enjoy his album ‘Shibuyan’!
I hear you about Coltrane but the more I listen the more I love him - Lush Life with Johnny Hartman blows my mind every time as does his 13 minute album version
At Christmas 🎄 I can’t get enough of My Favorite Things live at Newport
My Grandfather introduced me to Sinatra In the Wee Small Hours when I was maybe 14 … becoming ever increasingly hooked on Jazz vocals since
But the Mid Century stuff is still my favorite generally speaking
Check out Monk’s ‘Round Midnight Live at the Blackhawk 1961
Some wonderful records there. Love those Coltrane picks, and the Sinatra one is fantastic too. What a brilliant introduction to jazz that must have been!
Don’t think I’ve heard that Monk record so will check it out. Thanks so much!
I'll have to check these out! I first got into jazz after hearing Karl Olgeirsson's Mitt Bláa Hjarta. I also really enjoy Joél Pálsson and ADHD. For whatever reason, Icelandic musicians seem to have consistently high recording quality. It does feel like I have a lot of jazz to catch up on and these artists seem like a great place to start.
Oh wow, I don’t think I’ve really listened to Icelandic jazz before so these sound fantastic, thanks for sharing, appreciate it. I’ll give them a listen. These records are definitely a great place to start!
My dad exclusively listens to bebop and I rebelled by ignoring it for years. What finally got me listening (and appreciating and changing our relationship) was Freddie Hubbard’s Straight Life
I was a bit like that with the music my parents listened to, but it was nothing as cool as bebop! Glad to hear you picked it up later on. I’ve not heard Straight Life so have added to my list, thanks.
I love the way you’ve framed this post: an invitation to an alternative path. No clickbaity “don’t be basic” shaming nonsense, just a welcome—someone sharing something they’ve found beautiful and meaningful without putting anyone else down. We need more of this in the world I think.
Thank you for the writing, and thank you for the album recs.✨
That really means a lot and was certainly my intention. This comment made my day. Thank you so much! I hope you found some great music to listen to.
Wonderful recommendations! Thank you.
First flights for me - Ellington and Basie.
Later - Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson.
Thanks! Oscar Peterson is a blind spot for me so thanks for the mention. Just added Night Train to my library to listen to.
Great picks! The first jazz album that really captured me was Ahmad Jamal’s At the Pershing. I heard it on a pretty high end system in a hifi shop and was mesmerized. Felt like they were performing in front of me.
A pick I like to toss in as a wildcard for newbies is Dorothy Ashby & Frank Weiss ‘in a minor groove’. It’s such an interesting combination and works really well. Approachable music and a good entry point to jazz harp.
Ahmad Jamal is such a great one and I can see how that would inspire you to dig into jazz!
Actually giving this a listen now and it’s a very cool choice. Love it. Thanks for sharing!
Great read, thank you! and thanks for putting Takeshi Shibuya and Tony Fruscella on my radar. I had not heard of them before this.
Like you, I always have been into listening and collecting music. My love started from age 8. I explored different genres and collected on different media. However it took me another 28 years to fully engage with Jazz. Jazz hit me with its full force when I listened to a recent vinyl reissue of Duke Ellington & John Coltrane album by Acoustic Sounds. I sat down and as first note was played I was stunned. And since that happened, I have not been able to really look back. I am still learning about Jazz and its history. I have a lot to explore and the joy seems endless.
From the lesser known artists, I really enjoy Billy Harper, Charles Tolliver, Harold Land, Joe Harriott, Joe McPhee, and Mal Waldron.
How amazing! Sounds like we’ve had very similar experiences getting into jazz, and I can see how that Ellington and Coltrane record would be the turning point. There’s so much to learn (I’m constantly learning new things every day) so that is great to hear and I agree it is endless! Thanks so much for sharing.
I’m actually unfamiliar with many of these artists so I will have some exploring to do. Thanks!
Bill Evans rearranged all my molecules about 7 months ago. I have not been able to look back, either. And yes, so much joy. I’m so glad I heard “What Is There To Say?” It’s wild to be so blown away still. After all these years.
Bill Evans certainly has the effect! And that is a brilliant track.
Absolutely! I did not expect that either. In my experience, with Jazz, there is a point of no return. Throughout the years, I had made several attempts to listen to Jazz on streaming services but it never stuck somehow.
I remember listening to that Coltrane & Ellington release multiple times on streaming services with headphones. Interestingly enough, I appreciated the music and the virtuosity but I did not fully connect with it. It happened when I took the chance and bought the record. I said to myself worse case I will trade it with another record if I do not like it. Then I put it on the turntable, sat down, the first note hit my ears and everything fell into it places.
Totally agree and understand it exactly! I’ve been a little slack with listening to my records lately so you’ve inspired me to put something on over the weekend. That Coltrane & Ellington record is a great pick!
Thank you for the intro to some beautiful, new to me, music. Middle school, early ‘70’s late night radio out of Buffalo and Toronto - complex time signatures, searing solos, peaceful harmonies.
A few of my faves from my teen years: Larry Coryell, Philip Catherine, Chuck Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Keith Jarrett, Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra, King Crimson, and many more.
Thanks for reading! Those are some excellent artists and I wish I had started listening to them in my teens as you did, but glad to have gotten to them now.
I was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by sounds of jazz and blues played on my parents turntable; Mingus, Monk, Miles, Coltrane, Ellington, Brubeck, Parker, Peterson, Big Bill, Billie,and so many more. Going into my teens I of course segued off to rock..and later rekindled my passion for jazz finding solace in Pharoah Sanders, Albert Ayler. Jim Pepper (Pepper's Pow Wow), Don Cherry, Horace Tapscott. Bert Wilson (Endless Fingers. Ok, on a roll here thinking of the music Iove!
That sounds incredible, I envy you for having grown up by the sounds of jazz. Those are some amazing artists to be nurtured on from a young age, and some great ones to move off into! A few I’m not across so I will definitely look into them and give them a listen. Thanks so much for sharing!
Great to find a community of jazz lovers here! If you are not familiar with Jim Pepper, there was a documentary produced by Susan Osawa many years ago, "Pepper's Pow Wow", about his life. The dvd might be difficult to locate but there are many clips on youtube from live shows featuring him along with Don Cherry, Claudine Amina Meyers, Larry Coryell and others. Truly diverse! Have you checked out the Substack by Quinn Belice, The Black Guitarist? Musings and music from a young woman jazz guitarist, composer, singer?
Totally agree! I don’t know a single person who loves jazz so it’s really nice to have so many here who do. I’m not actually! But that documentary sounds fabulous. I will check it out, thank you. Not familiar with that Substack either, but sounds like something I’d love. Awesome suggestions, thank you.
Grateful!
Great post, thank you! I really got into jazz with the punk chaos of John Zorn, actually. All of the classics, like Kind of Blue, sounded too slick and measured, even though they were revolutionary at the time. Zorn led me to Ornette which led me to Sonny Rollins, and then I got back to the classics through the side door. There are different ways of getting there, and it's interesting to hear other people's paths. I'd love to hear more "uncommon required" listening!
Ah how amazing! I’ve just finished reading a book about Bill Frisell which featured a lot of Zorn so I’m soon going to dive into his work. Glad to hear he started your love of jazz and led to others. No two ways into jazz are the same so I agree it’s always interesting hearing other paths. Thanks for sharing!
I tend to gravitate towards jazz piano songs and definitely stumbling upon Presentiment by Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou is what kick started the interest. So I appreciated the Takeshi Shibuya track! Excited to explore his work a bit more.
Jazz piano songs tend to be some of my very favourites so that record sounds up my alley. I’ll give it a listen, thanks so much for the shout out! Glad to hear you enjoyed the Shibuya track, you might also enjoy his album ‘Shibuyan’!
PS That entire Hartman/Coltrane album is stellar
Loved your article
I hear you about Coltrane but the more I listen the more I love him - Lush Life with Johnny Hartman blows my mind every time as does his 13 minute album version
At Christmas 🎄 I can’t get enough of My Favorite Things live at Newport
My Grandfather introduced me to Sinatra In the Wee Small Hours when I was maybe 14 … becoming ever increasingly hooked on Jazz vocals since
But the Mid Century stuff is still my favorite generally speaking
Check out Monk’s ‘Round Midnight Live at the Blackhawk 1961
Some wonderful records there. Love those Coltrane picks, and the Sinatra one is fantastic too. What a brilliant introduction to jazz that must have been!
Don’t think I’ve heard that Monk record so will check it out. Thanks so much!
Thanks Joel
PS Samara Joy takes it into the future. She does a killer Lush Life with an amazing band filmed in studio
Thanks! Samara Joy has a live show here in a few months for our jazz festival in Melbourne, so I’ve only just heard about her. Will check it out!
I’d add Keith Jarrett: The Köln Concert
Wonderful record, great pick.
Thanks very much for these.
A song that I found absolutely intoxicating:
Abdullah Ibrahim: African Market Place.
Will give it a listen, thanks!
Miles Davis's Elevator To The Gallows album. Also, Black Saint & The Sinner Lady by Mingus.
Love both of these. Great choices.
I'll have to check these out! I first got into jazz after hearing Karl Olgeirsson's Mitt Bláa Hjarta. I also really enjoy Joél Pálsson and ADHD. For whatever reason, Icelandic musicians seem to have consistently high recording quality. It does feel like I have a lot of jazz to catch up on and these artists seem like a great place to start.
Oh wow, I don’t think I’ve really listened to Icelandic jazz before so these sound fantastic, thanks for sharing, appreciate it. I’ll give them a listen. These records are definitely a great place to start!
My dad exclusively listens to bebop and I rebelled by ignoring it for years. What finally got me listening (and appreciating and changing our relationship) was Freddie Hubbard’s Straight Life
I was a bit like that with the music my parents listened to, but it was nothing as cool as bebop! Glad to hear you picked it up later on. I’ve not heard Straight Life so have added to my list, thanks.
Sunflower by Milt Jackson
Brilliant track!