Topic: Need some help (Jazz) (Read 5705 times)

malevis · « **on:** 13 May 2007, 22:25 »

Hello, QC. I know I don't post here much at all, usually I just lurk, but I'm in need of some good stuff to get me started on jazz, and in the end playing some but I guess that doesn't really matter.

Anyway...

Here's what I'm looking for, some jazz, specifically piano because that's what I play, paired with female vocals.

The idea is I'm interested in learning jazz piano, and together with a friend we concocted an idea to be playing in bars and the like. I however, have no material and don't know where to begin, having not listened to much jazz outside of cowboy bebop, which I enjoy megatons.

And If you have any other jazz recommendations, unrestricted by any boundaries then feel free to post them. Just try to put a note by it telling me so that I don't get too confused.

THANKS!

Johnny C · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 May 2007, 23:52 »

Billie Holiday.

Ballard · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 May 2007, 23:56 »

Well, firstly, jazz is an incredibly vague term. There is an enormous amount of music out there that can be labeled under jazz.

Writing music in a genre that you don't know much about is ambitious but it will prove to be extremely difficult. If I were you, I'd listen to some Fats Waller, Thelonius Monk, and Art Tatum and try to get a feel for the genre.

And yes, Billie Holiday is one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time.

anditsdiscontents · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 May 2007, 03:33 »

McCoy Tyner's ... although i guess if you want to play stuff in a bar with a female vocalist you should only listen to his earlier stuff before he did stuff with john coltrane and went bebop and such? Maybe?

(help me out here, jazz afficionados. my knowledge stretches to miles, 'trane, mingus and associated personell and that's about all. correct me).

SilentJ · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 May 2007, 04:45 »

Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Benny Golson, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Dizzie Gillespie.

In more recent years, Al Di Meola, Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Jean-Luc Ponty.

Mixing jazz with other genres, Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai, Norah Jones and Amy Winehouse.

Will · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 May 2007, 08:08 »

Nina Simone.

McTaggart · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 May 2007, 08:51 »

You said unrestricted by any boundaries so I'm going to suggest you find yourself a copy of Kieran Hebden and Steve Reid's The Exchange Sessions volumes one or two. Either is good, but I prefer volume two. The thing with the boundaries is that it's far from typical jazz instrumentation.

Johnny C · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 May 2007, 08:52 »

<3 Four Tet.

Misereatur · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 May 2007, 09:16 »

Get every album ever recorded by Keith Jarrett.

the-artful-dodger-rodger · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 May 2007, 11:52 »

Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday
Nina Simon
Sarah Vaughan
Norah Jones
Diane Krall
Jane Monheit

those are just some of my picks

music fop · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 May 2007, 12:37 »

Hey, I'm getting started on Jazz Piano as well.

The first real step is to find a vein of Jazz you like, doesn't particularly matter if it's the Voice+Piano style. Just find something you like and listen to it in bulk.

Then emulate. One of the great things about jazz (alot of Baroque music is the same way) is that you can change the instrumentation and it will work with all kinds of funk configurations.

As for specific examples, Miles Davis, John Coltraine, Thelonius Monk and Charlie Parker are all great jazz artists that reach across various realms of Jazz.

greenMonkey · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 May 2007, 13:21 »

Bill Evans is great for jazz piano.

Misereatur · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 May 2007, 14:42 »

You know what? Screw it, get everything by Cecil Taylor.

If you like it, then you are doing it right.

casull · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 May 2007, 16:37 »

I can get you some amazing jazz, especially piano jazz. I don't know so much about vocal stuff... most of the artists I would have reccomended have been posted.

*Sights* · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 May 2007, 18:57 »

It's not even close to what you asked, but since you said to post any suggestions, check out Jaga Jazzist for a more modern take on Jazz.

Yes, postcount +1. I have nothing of value to add and feel good about it.

godinpants · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 May 2007, 04:21 »

Chick Corea.

Ishotdanieljohnston · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 May 2007, 04:32 »

YES. I saw Chick Corea jam with Herbie Hancock the other night and it was truly fucking astonishing. If you want to get into Herb get some of his early stuff and then inject yourself with 1974's Head Hunter's record- just to get the vibe of his range. If you want to hear just where jazz can go check out some of the fusion bands- Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Soft Machine, Bela Fleck and the Flectones, Weather Report are a good start. Don't even move though till, as the other posts have suggested, you have listened to everything Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane recorded.

Ishotdanieljohnston · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 May 2007, 04:35 »

OH... and Miles! How could I forget Davis!

casull · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 May 2007, 19:56 »

Ok, a more comprehensive post.

Piano greats worth checking out
Jelly Roll Morton - 1900ish - Arguably the inventor of stride
Art Tatum 40s-50s - Amazing at everything. uber-technical
Keith Jarrett - 70s-present - Jazz in a less traditional sense. Less technical.
Bud Powell 50s-66 - Cool, technical. weird dude, and it comes out in his playing.
Herbie Hancock - fusion pioneer, along with corea
Chick Corea - Both have been around for decades but are still playing.
Thelonious Monk - 40s-82. Anti-virtuouso. Very simple, thoughtful, and weird playing.

Fuck it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_piano

Almost anyone there will blow your mind.

godinpants · « **Reply #19 on:** 15 May 2007, 20:24 »

Quote from: Ishotdanieljohnston on 15 May 2007, 04:32

YES. I saw Chick Corea jam with Herbie Hancock the other night and it was truly fucking astonishing.

That would have been an amazing gig.

I turned down cheap tickets to see Chick play with the Sydney symphony. i should have.

But i did see the flecktones a while back.

Inlander · « **Reply #20 on:** 16 May 2007, 06:53 »

Quote from: Ishotdanieljohnston on 15 May 2007, 04:35

OH... and Miles! How could I forget Davis!

Famous for neither his piano playing, nor his singing.

I am sad that I am the first person to mention Teddy Wilson. An exquisite pianist, and a consummate accompanist to boot. He led the bands on most of Billie Holiday's early recordings.

IronOxide · « **Reply #21 on:** 16 May 2007, 17:50 »

COLTRANE

I don't care what vein of jazz you are looking for, it all ends at Coltrane.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Need some help (Jazz) (Read 5705 times)

music fop