Hi all,

So I've been meaning to check out some jazz for a long time, but I have no idea where to start. I know next to nothing about jazz and I've only listened to a few tracks from a some classic jazz musicians like Coltrane, Miles Davis and so on. The only jazz I really listen to is naked city.

I prefer the sax/bass/drums/piano line-up, but I'll listen to anything you guys throw at me.

Here's some tracks I know and like:

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW5oyOMNaVE

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

I know it's not a lot, but I really wanna get started with this jazz thing and a little help would be much appreciated, thanks!

I'm not a jazz connoisseur, by no means, but I can always try. Jazz fusion is probably the best way to start with jazz, especially for a metalhead. Once you get used to the nature of fusion jazz, you "understand" / "get" regular jazz better. Plus, fusion jazz tends to be a lot catchier and more energetic. My favourite fusion jazz record so far is Frank Zappa's HOT RATS, followed by his THE GRAND WAZOO album. Really easy albums to get and dig, and they don't wear out no matter how much you listen to them (that usually is the strong point in jazz). Zappa made a lot of great jazz records, and if you feel like it, check out Weasels Ripped My Flesh, Uncle Meat, Burnt Weeny Sandwich and Waka/Jawaka. You could like WRMF a lot, as it's damn weird and crazy album, not unlike Naked City / John Zorn stuff!

Here's some other fusion jazz records I consider pretty good:
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
Billy Cobham - Spectrum
Colosseum - Valentyne Suite
Soft Machine - Third

You mentioned Coltrane and Davis, so I won't speak of them, but do you know Charles Mingus? He did some great albums too, most notably BLACK SAINT AND THE SINNER LADY and MINGUS AH UM.

One of my favourite jazz albums is Eric Dolphy's OUT TO LUNCH, which is a kind of hard album to "get", but once it hits you, it really sucks you in. The album sound, dare I say, kinda twisted and warped at times, it is avant-garde jazz after all! What I especially love about this album are the bass lines, and the wonderful, demented vibes.


Well, those albums should keep you busy for a while. I hope I was of some help at least.

Just finished listening to 5-6 minutes of each of the ones you posted. There's a bit too much going on in most of them, actually the Eric Dolphy one is the one I liked most. I'm looking for something more laid back and mellow, not as mellow as Kind of Blue though. I did like the sound of Frank Zappa, but it's not what I'm looking for this time around, but thanks anyway!

My absolute favorite Jazz composer and musician is Charles Mingus. I love Black Saint and the Sinner lady as the whole album has a grandeur to it and bits of Spanish flamenco to the mix. It's melodious and even catchy. If you want something a bit more typical definitely check out Mingus Ah Um.

Black Saint....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKIHlYwEOq8

Mingus Ah Um

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOFttSQQ85E

and another favorite, "II BS"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgr7YGzONZc

Bad PLus are a pretty "popular" jazz trio that's gotten a lot of attention because they like to cover popular songs (everyhitng from "Ironman" and "Smells like Teen Spirit" to "Film" (by Aphex Twin) and Blondie. Look past the novelty of those as they are really talented and create some powerful stuff. As a metalhead, I think they're one of the best bands I've ever seen live.

My favorite song of theirs, it's a bit more moody and has a great buildup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cphDmAwBVE4

"Big Eater"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA59EFUv5S8

I know you've said you've listened to Coltrane, but i can't stress it enough how amazing A Love Supreme is. Some of my favorite drumming as well as Elvin Jones was the best. Make sure you know this album well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H07OztoKgE


If you're more of a fan of the chaotic stuff that Naked City draw from you should check out Ornette Coleman and poke around "free Jazz" and other JOhn Zorn related projects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxbkUA5BiSw

If you like Naked City/ John Zorn stuff I highly recommend Supersilent. You might like Jan Garbarek too; it's quite minimalistic ECM style stuff.

Andrew Hill - Judgement
Art Blakely- Moanin'
Blue Mitchell - Down With It
Duke Pearson Dedication
Eric Dolphy - Out To Lunch (This is my favourite morning coffee, cigarette and old book soundtrack btw)
Grant Green - Idle Moments
Ike Quebec - Heavy Soul
Joe Harriot - Abstract
Joe Henderson - In N Out, Multiple
Madlib - Shades Of Blue (A Hip Hop album on Blue Note Records with appearances by Quasimoto and MF Doom among others)
Michel Portal - Alors! (okay so this record is one of the most far out Jazz albums I know of. It's like, intense, man)
Ornette Coleman - Science Fiction, The Shape Of Jazz To Come, Free Jazz
Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Blacknuss (funky side of weird)
Sam Rivers - Contours, Streams (more avant garde stuff)
Stanley Turrentine - Look Out!
Sun Ra - Fucking everything
Thelonious Monk - Straight No Chaser, Underground, Monk's Dream, Alone In San Fransisco
Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil

Check out John Zorn's (the mastermind behind naked city) other material if you haven't

I would honestly start by listening to all the names that are thrown around a lot.
John Coltrane - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30FTr6G53VU Classic
Thelonious Monk- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLrwJ_P3C3I
Miles Davis- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbCyIOzbZWM
McCoy Tyner - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW0EapKHf28
Paul Chambers- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoFZekcmHn0
John Mclaughlin- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv_bkS5VVaA ( a good bit more guitar based then the rest)
Ornette Coleman- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJULMOw69EI
Charles Mingus- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPoK1lryfh4

Check out stuff from all eras of their discographies because a lot of the greats did everything like bebop, hard bop, modal, free jazz etc. They all cover a wide range of sounds and you may not like some stuff while loving other stuff. For more I would honestly use wikipedia and blogs because Jazz has a lot of sub genres. A lot of these artists sounds progressed with eachother and many of them have albums containing several of these guys.

New stuff that is rock fusion based you should check out if you havent
The Mars Volta (any of the first three albums) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C0F7eFxhXM
T.R.A.M. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg6d2kxkJrQ
Trioscapes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ARb9_YWKFo

Thanks to you all, this'll keep me entertained for a while!

If you want something slower, smooth, dark, and atmospheric, check out Bohren & Der Club of Gore.
For something that's basically doom metal but played with sax instead of distorted guitar, check out Free Nelson Mandoomjazz.

I already know and absolutely love Bohren! Free Nelson Mandoomjazz I've heard a few tracks from too, they're.. something special, haha.

Oliver Nelson - The Blues And The Abstract Truth (1961)
http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/The+Blu ... th/2380448

Roy Haynes Quartet - Out Of The Afternoon (1962)
http://grooveshark.com/#!/artist/Roy+Ha ... tet/337356

Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners (1957)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v0iNraQ_VM

Dusko Goykovich - Swinging Macedonia (1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQhu7Uttcp4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DIF1kDTLnE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCe0cDWRB6I


all with sax/bass/drums/piano in the line-up (also trumpet and flute somewhere)