New to Jazz? Start here.

Do you have a friend or relative that you'd like to introduce to Jazz, but don't know where to start? My nephew recently asked me how he could get "into jazz". I am absolutely no expert on the subject, but I've been listening to jazz since I was in grade school. My father introduced me to the Big Bands, and it took off from there. Hey. Maybe this will become an ongoing discussion.

Here's a portion of what I put together for him so far:

Here's a few comments and ways to get to know Jazz better.It's really hard to know where to start. It kind of dependson your current music tastes. That way, you don't listento a style that turns you off to jazz forever.

I did a little research on the internet, and found this guy's comments about how to introduce someone to jazz.

"I don't think it's so much a question of specific recordings, as telling new listeners how jazz "works." I tell people it's not so much about liking this song or that song, but that jazz is a kind of game--what happens when artist X encounters song Y. Listening to jazz is like watching baseball. Baseball is incredibly boring if you don't know what's going on, but the more you know, the more you enjoy it. It's the same way with jazz. You can learn the basic rules (head-solos-head, etc.) in about 5 minutes. Then, the more you know about the game, the more you can appreciate the subtleties. That's why "Kind of Blue" is such a great introduction: the rules are very easy to understand, but the game is so well played."

I got a list of "Essentials for a Jazz Collection" from Wynton Marsalis, who of course knows his stuff pretty well. Duh!

Some of the Classics are:

• Louis Armstrong (Considered by many to be the greatest of all time)
• Count Basie
• Duke Ellington
• Dizzy Gillespie - the Father of BeBop (BeBop is a term you'll hear a lot from jazz musicians. It's a style that became extremely popular in the 30's - 50's)
• Benny Goodman
• Thelonius Monk
• Charlie "Byrd" Parker
• John Coltrane
• Sonny Rollins
• Dexter Gordon
• Joe Henderson
• Ben Webster
• Miles Davis
• Herbie Hancock
• Wayne Shorter
• Freddie Hubbard
• McCoy Tyner - Just unbelievable piano
  

Since my nephew is a guitar player, maybe he should begin here.
Get Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, Herb Ellis

Many 60's rockers became jazz fans by listening to Miles Davis "Kind of Blue". I think you'd dig that.

There are so many! Whew! And I haven't even mentioned Vocalists
Billie Holiday ("Lady Bird") - The STANDARD!
Ella Fitzgerald - the "scat" queen (Scat is voice improv, not another definition that's sick.)

Here's an idea for a beginner: Rent Clint Eastwood movies! You'll get a fantastic sample ofgreat jazz in "Bridges of Madison County", "Byrd"

Oh, go rent "'Round Midnight" - It stars Dexter Gordon andHerbie Hancock, and is all about the musicians. You can really get a feel for many different aspects of the jazz "life".

One time I heard Eddie VanHalen interviewed, and they asked himwhat his influences were. He said he used to listen to John Coltrane (saxophone) and try to immitate his solos on the guitar, and that's how he developed his guitar style.

Hey. If you have a lady friend, there is NOTHING as romantic as jazz - NOTHING!! Especially the saxophone. Play anything by Ben Webster. Also, Dave Brubeck's Time Out, Miles - Some Day My Prince Will Come, Joe Henderson - Lush Life, Dexter Gordon - Ballads, and of course, Wynton Marsalis - Intimacy Calling.

A contemporary group that is more "smooth jazz" that is extremely romantic, and at the same time, features 4 of my favorite artists right now, call themselves "FourPlay" (Harvey Mason on drums, Bob James on piano, Nathan East on bass, and Larry Carlton on guitar. They're easy to listen to, and you will hear how awesome they are as players.

If you visit my online music store TomLikesMusic , you'll find a good sample of these artists.
Go download them!