Calling all jazz fans!

I have listened to a lot, and won't spend time on the supremely worthy contingent of jazz greats that everyone knows quite well. I'm somehow more interested in pointing at a couple of artists that popped into my head and, over the course of ten minutes contemplating the topic, haven't been outdone in relative novelty and greatness (imo).

First, my second favorite Pharoah Saunders performance (not that I've heard more than a fraction of them, but still):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV5Ob...eature=related
(I had to pause it and let the "buffer" build for a while. The video loaded slowly... It might for you, too, and it's a long track.)

Second, I want to mention Bill Frisell. Here's one of the best tracks (one of!) off of a great album called Blues Dream:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL4DRT1zogE

As a final note, I should mention I despise most of the "singer jazz". Diana Krall is in my enemy list.

I don't know if you are suggesting that you hate all jazz singers... because I personally love any number of them: Count Basie with Joe Williams, Jimmy Scott, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Billy Holiday... to say nothing of any number of the singers who performed with Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, etc... This past Wednesday I spent much of the morning cleaning the den/library/computer room in anticipation of guests coming for the holiday. Much of the time was spent cleaning to the accompaniment of Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/...2c2c751a_o.jpg

...one of the absolute essential jazz recordings with Armstrong magnificently playing out on songs by the true "father of the blues"... one of the absolute founders of jazz: W.C. Handy. Armstrong in joined amiably by Velma Middleton on vocals and the banter between the two performers conveys an absolute unadulterated joy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2TUlUwa3_o

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Originally Posted by stlukesguild

[COLOR="DarkRed"]I don't know if you are suggesting that you hate all jazz singers... because I personally love any number of them: Count Basie with Joe Williams, Jimmy Scott, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Billy Holiday... to say nothing of any number of the singers who performed with Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, etc...

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Not all of them, no, but I do tend to prefer unsung jazz. There are some notable exceptions (like Astrud Gilberto, love her voice), but they are the minority for me. I was mostly referring to this relatively new wave of "jazz singers", that seem more like refined pop stars that don't really do jazz IMO (Krall, Jamie Callum, Michael Bublé, to name a few). When people refer to the genre as "vocal jazz", they don't think of any of the greats you mentioned, I fear.

Re: jazz singers.

One of the big problems I have w. pop music of the last 3 or 4 decades is that it's very heavy on two things: electric guitars and vocals. Quick-- name any pop hit from 1970 to today that is strictly an instrumental. Bet you can't do that.

By contrast, in jazz, the vocalist is often an afterthought and not the main attraction, although I hasten to say that among jazz singers, I prefer male vocalists (Joe Williams, Mel Tormé, and yes, Sinatra) to female chanteuses --except for Ethel (Waters), Billie, Ella, and Sarah, and a couple of others. Not too crazy about Jimmy Scott, a little too stylized for my taste.

I would never put Diana Krall on my enemies list, but I do prefer her piano playing to her singing. Her piano style is superb, I think. There are parts of a video (a clip from the IFC show "Spectacle") which features her version of "Night Train" . If you closed your eyes, you'd think you were listening to Oscar Peterson.

It is said that jazz originated in the twentieth century, but if you listen to Beriloz's Symphonie Fantastique, you would swear that a part of it is jazz.

Big Band!

Woody Herman and his Swingin' Herd - Caldonia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voTQKRE361I

I had an incredible "jazz high" experience the other day after listening to Charlie Parker for a couple of hours. There's a great playlist here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTORd...883CBD5D1270EA (Hope that goes to the playlist and not just the single track - I think the new Youtube set-up is rubbish).

Going to try and re-live that tomorrow, I think - I hope!

I'm really into fusion more than anything--those who think jazz has become stagnant seem to ignore fusion or write it off. Personally, I think it's the most creative genre out there.

Some of my contemporary favorites:

Blotted Science
Liquid Tension Experiment
Canvas Solaris
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Animals as Leaders
Planet X

This is the kind of thing that brings back memories of a misspent youth. I had a number of LPs of American bands from the 1920s but I preferred the British revivalists because they had greater presence and were more inventive. I never liked modern jazz, that couldn't be danced to and always seemed to me to be pretentious. The jazz revival in the UK was very big and there were a host of bands playing in dance halls, pubs and concert halls. It was a great time to be alive but I wouldn't want to be that young again unless it were with what I know now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh_7N12a_sI


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDyb3LsjKIg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fgxy...20&playnext=13

Oh I love this...

Edit: and ko-ko.

Oh, and Miles Davis of course:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoPL7BExSQU

Well after a crappy day... April Fools and the first Friday the kids have had in 4 weeks due to meetings, conferences and two snow days... and I needed an evening of wings and beer... some good imported European stuff: Corsendonck Christmas Ale (on sale after the holiday), Samuel Smith Imperial Stout, and Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence (I'm saving that for last... I absolutely love Belgian beer and ale). Now its on to my favorite music for slipping slowly (or not so slowly considering the alcohol levels in this stuff) into inebriation:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/...ed6a859d8a.jpg

Moving on from jazz to the blues:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/...3710ac834a.jpg

:party:

Let's hear it for Fletcher Henderson and the boys!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbXSe...TAJ30SUuU8zvuH

Brilliant music to dance and cook sausages to!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neely

Let's hear it for Fletcher Henderson and the boys!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbXSe...TAJ30SUuU8zvuH

Brilliant music to dance and cook sausages to!!!

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But not at the same time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Emil Miller

But not at the same time.

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No, no you can do it at the same time, as long as you keep your eyes on the sausages.