Re: Jazz piano recordings :)

Date: 23 Jun 2003 19:16:31 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.jazz
Size: 3,085 bytes

laladela writes:
<< Mr Young has recommended me to listen to as much Jazz as possible so I
suppose the question is whom? and what? >>
First, I'd like to agree with that: The first step to learning jazz, long
before you start attempting scales and arpeggios and chord voicings and what
not, is to start listening to jazz. You need to develop a concept of what the
finished product should be, before you start equipping yourself to produce it.
It's great for a contractor to learn about hammers and nails and drills and
electrical wiring and whatever the hell else is involved in building a
house...but the first thing he oughtta do is walk around a bit and say, "Oh, so
that's what a 'house' is." Doncha think? ;-)
As for what artists and albums you should check out: This is definitely the
most often-asked question in jazz: "Where should I start?" "What are the best
jazz records?" "Which artists are essential?" Et cetera. It usually devolves
into an argument; and no two lists are *ever* the same. No offense, but I'm
going to try and avoid getting into this one. I argue too often, already. ;-)
I will offer the same advice I gave a fellow who asked the same question a few
weeks back, on rec.music.bluenote. Search Google for some terms like "best jazz
albums," "classic jazz CDs," "top ten jazz," "favorite jazz," etc. You'll find
a million lists. Check out as many as you like. You'll notice that, while no
two lists will be identical, certain albums will keep popping up on nearly
every list. Consider those albums the "essential" picks.
As for where to start...wherever. Honestly. I don't buy that elitist "you have
to be cautiously guided through jazz" crap. Know how I picked my first jazz CD?
I wanted to hear something like this piano trio I'd been listening to; so I
browsed through the jazz section until I found a CD with a picture of a piano,
a bass and a drum kit on the cover. I bought it, I loved it, and I'm still
loving it years later.
Nobody guided me through the process. I wandered through record stores, looking
and learning. Maybe I liked the bassist on one CD, so I'd try to find another
album he played on. Maybe I liked the tune "Autumn Leaves," so I checked track
listings looking for that song. It was a process of discovery, and it was fun.
Listening to an album with no idea what to expect is often more fun than
listening after reading a review or recommendation.
You're not going to like everything you hear, but know this: Jazz is truly vast
and varied. You may love one album by an artist, and hate another album by the
same fellow. And because of the nature of jazz (it's a language), people's
tastes tend to develop over time. In other words, the album you hate today
might be your favorite in ten years.
That's my two cents. If it's not enough, you can email me privately and I can
offer more specific suggestions. But plenty of other people will be happy to do
that, as well...and if you can sort through the inevitable flamewar that will
result, you'll probably end up with a decent list. ;-)
Good luck...and welcome to jazz.
crib