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subrosa wrote

Jazz is huge. I'll link some of that fast-paced stuff that pulled me in.

Dave Brubeck - Take Five

Charles Mingus - Moanin'

Jaimie Branch - Theme Nothing

John Coltrane - Giant Steps

Curtis Fuller - Minor Vamp

Caravan

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

Ok I listened to all of these. I think part of my problem is that I associate jazz with some strange things that make it hard to connect to the music.

The only one I liked right away was the Theme Nothing track. The search continues! I think I'll try more of their stuff. Their most popular song on Spotify is called prayer for amerikkka pt 1 and 2, so that seems like it might be interesting.

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subrosa wrote

Yeah, I felt similaraly not too long ago, and I still find it hard to connect a lot of the time. I think I 'learned' to appreciate the art some more by actively listening to musicians playing with music, rather than a song from an album. Rock and electro tends to have a final product, a sum arguably greater than its parts.

Jazz (thinking bebop, and whatever grew out of it) usually has a more improvisational, expressive character. The musicians all share a core structure to build around, but within a fairly complex framework they give each other a lot of room to do their own thing. It's about moments and moods, about pushing the limits of the framework in an alive back-and-forth conversation between musicians. Which is probably why you get a lot of names in jazz: Talented individuals with a unique 'voice' rather than band projects; compositions and takes rather than songs.

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

That's a helpful way to think about it. So I guess the best way to get into it would be by seeking out good live shows.

In a pandemic...

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LostYonder wrote

Miles Davis - 'Round About Midnight

Sachal Jazz Orchestra's rendition of Brubeck's Take Five

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

A few people have recommended Miles Davis, I didn't immediately work with that song so hopefully I find some other stuff of his to start with.

I don't like Take Five, but was glad for the opportunity to listen to the Sachal Orchestra version.

Thanks!

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kin wrote

Nice suggestions from u/subrosa and u/LostYonder

I think I still learning to like jazz, first acidJazz and tangent styles bossa nova etc. Having a soft spot for Ska (jamaican ska, like skatalites) and Afrobeat helped me dive into it.

Like was said, jazz is huge so try to find some cross genre at first.

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

You got a couple songs you can recommend from those subgenres?

I'm also just trying to figure out what exists.

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kin wrote

Sure ;)

for Afrobeat go to Fela Kuti. Once on a while a I post afrobeat tunes, because I have the need come back to this genre

Bossa Nova, I usually tend to like more the contemporary approach, I think many loFi beats use bossa nova instrumentals. Maybe you find Bossa Nova more accessible.

Bebop, the kind of the subgenre that reinvented jazz, rapid stuff.

Acid Jazz, look into Jamiroquai stuff too. This genre is a mix between RnB Funk Soul and Jazz.

Ska, skatalites covering Coltrane I believe.

Fusion, is jazz with rock, kind of what Zappa like to do.

And Sons of Kemet they are magical

And maybe try to focus on instruments, like Coltrane stuff is sax, if you like piano maybe Thelonious Monk is your guy

Feel free anyone to correct me, by no means I am a critic or whatsoever xD

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

This is very helpful, thank you.

The Bossa Nova and Ska examples are pretty nice and based on a couple songs I think Sons of Kemet is my favourite recommendation so far.

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zddy wrote (edited )

Thelonius Monk - Straight, No Chaser

Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

Herbie Hancock - Headhunters ( more funk and bebop)

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[deleted] wrote

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zddy wrote

For some reason "bop" made me think of cowboy bebop and its opener "Tank!" which is quite possibly the entry point of my interest in jazz.

So secondary recommendation: Tank! From Cowboy Bebop

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

ha! I watched that show about a decade ago.

It makes me think too much of action movie scenes when I listen to it...

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

I like the weird of the Herbie Hancock version more. Thanks for the comparison!

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Ennui wrote

I used to be big on Mingus and Coltrane, but now I gravitate more towards jazz-rap.

Alfa Mist is my favorite artist. Antiphon, Structuralism, Nocturne, and everything else he's made is good.

Piero Piccioni is just something random I have in my saved albums. Not jazz rap.

The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble is alright.

Skinshape is a interesting artist with cultural elements. Not even sure if they count as jazz.

And this definitely isn't jazz, but you should listen to Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, Number Girl, and Pechiku!! by Sajjanu.

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

True anarchist in this post recommending mostly not-jazz!

lol.

That Kilimanjaro Darkjazz wasn't bad! I liked the bits of Alfa Mist that didn't sound like jazz, ha.

Mass of Fermenting Dregs was pretty fun, would have to be a guilty pleasure though.

Thanks!

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote (edited )

This version of Coltrane's Alabama is so far the only jazz song I find outstanding. I'd really love to develop an appreciation for it further.

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rot wrote

try alice coltrane, his wife

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_caspar_ wrote

I second that.

also, check out The Lounge Lizards

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

I liked that the most of the few Alice Coltrane tracks I listened to.

Lounge of Lizards didn't work out for me though. Thanks for these.

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_caspar_ wrote

no problem. John Lurie and the Lounge Lizards are a bit more experimental, coming out of what was called No-Wave in 80s NYC. though they had a following, I still think they are underrated. Lurie's paintings and filmwork are worth checking out also.

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

Thanks for the rec, I didn't know that she did music too. It's quite different. I'm more and more now wanting to see this stuff live.

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NOISEBOB wrote

Albert Ayler Don Cherry "mu-something"

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

Not sure what you mean by "mu-something", haven't been able to find a song or album for that string of words.

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

Surprising amount of you know quite a bit of jazz!

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stealThaInternet wrote (edited )

I tend to like the old-timey jazz. The static buzz, and wobbly tune, really puts on those nostalgia feelings.

Write yourself a letter fats waller really hit a note with me.

And also I like louis armstrong. as far as other jazz, I just listen, don't know who's playing. I don't really like new jazz too much anything past the 80s really. Latin Jazz is pretty interesting too.

if you wanted to torture me, you'd have me listen to smooth jazz.

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

I think my starting point can't be old-timey stuff, I just have no good associations with it, it's like the opposite of nostalgia for me.

Thanks for these.

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existential1 wrote (edited )

Here's a pandora station that I've curated for a business I used to run. It's all blues and jazz. I can now listen for hours without ever skipping songs. I'd recommend exploring artists who sing songs you like a lot whenever they come up. There are sooo many ways to go with jazz and blues, so just dive in and explore.

https://pandora.app.link/sA02HZJcebb

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

Lol I wasn't expecting so many responses. I'm down to just this one now. Seems like a good resource! Thank you. I'll take my time with it so you may not hear from me depending on how life sweeps me up.

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

I think I'm going to do this last because it's the only endless recommendation, but I'm excited about it. Also glad that my vpn can put me in the US, since pandora only works there.

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

I'm not sure how to relate to how (especially with what I assume is the older stuff) much of these songs are some person playing tik-ki-stee tik-ki-stee tik-ki-stee on the drums while some other person plays a bass like walking down a staircase and then there's just a piano or a sax or a trumpet that grabs onto something in bits but otherwise just kinda upping and downing and speeding and slowing like a small plumey fish in water and that's most of the song.

I'm not sure what I'm missing :/

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existential1 wrote

Check out the songs that pop-up on the pandora station I linked earlier. I think there's a big separation for vocal vs non-vocal jazz and the quality of the singer too. I selectively enjoy non-vocal jazz and blues, but I really like a lot of the jazz and blues on that station that are mostly vocal tracks.

A lot of non-jazz listeners aren't really conditioned to listen to music without vocals, so it can be quite a barrier to get over. Not saying that's your deal, but I've had a lot of conversations with family about it.

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

Will do, I'm going through all the recommendations and haven't gotten to yours yet :)

I really enjoy a lot of instrumental music so that's not a concern with me.

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Hibiscus_Syrup OP wrote

Asher Gamedze's a southern African artist and also anti-authoritarian anticapitalist whose album Dialectical Soul won a bunch of prizes etc. recently, if anybody's interested.

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