What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Henk]

Listened to this recording yesterday night.
Great recording, great quartet. Would possibly be in my top-ten jazz recordings.

[BWV 1080]

[modified]

Tomas Stanko Quintet (2009): Dark Eyes

[AnotherSpin]

Tomas Stanko Quintet (2009): Dark Eyes

+ many pluses for Tomas Stanko.

[71 dB]

I don't listen to jazz very often so you won't see me much here.

The Modern Jazz Quartet --- Blues On Bach

Most of the time when I listen to jazz, the first 5 minutes sounds very cool, but then I get gradually more and more bored. Nothing really "happens" in typical jazz. No drama. No story. No provocation. No experimentation. Nothing. It is just endless improvisation based on compositions by other people most of the time (J.S.Bach in this case). That's why I don't like "pure jazz" much and I favour jazz that combines other music styles to have some interest beyond endless improvisation.

[Henk]

Many jazz artists write their own compositions.

Davis called jazz 'social music'. Most jazz is without pretentions, which I appreciate.

Jazz is about musical personality. Good jazz just is a pleasure to the ears. It's as in life, people are at best just gentle, funny, inspiring etc to each other.

Playing an instrument is a skill and art. Jazz artists make their own music with their own instrument, in a live performance, which can be a thrill.
There are many different genres within jazz. It evolves.

Maybe you can visit a concert instead of listening to a cd, if you haven't. Be sure you visit something first rate. Or even a school or local amateur band can be fun.

[SimonNZ]

Nothing really "happens" in typical jazz. No drama. No story. No provocation. No experimentation. Nothing. It is just endless improvisation based on compositions by other people most of the time.

As a sweeping generalization all of those statements are manifestly false. Especially the "no experimentation" one.

You need to play more, not less, and learn why.

[AnotherSpin]

I don't listen to jazz very often so you won't see me much here.

The Modern Jazz Quartet --- Blues On Bach

Most of the time when I listen to jazz, the first 5 minutes sounds very cool, but then I get gradually more and more bored. Nothing really "happens" in typical jazz. No drama. No story. No provocation. No experimentation. Nothing. It is just endless improvisation based on compositions by other people most of the time (J.S.Bach in this case). That's why I don't like "pure jazz" much and I favour jazz that combines other music styles to have some interest beyond endless improvisation.

Jazz has been coming in many different forms. From commercial salon music, which is really impossible to listen to, to the most diverse, unpredictable and in the most serious sense creative music. Try listening to Anthony Braxton, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Charlie Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, Sam Rivers. Recordings of early 60's Coltrane, Miles Davis from the 60's. Various albums on Blue Note from the 60s, early ECM from the 70s. Keith Jarrett's American and Norwegian Quartets. Many, many others.

There are some very interesting jazz musicians from Finland. Juhani Aaltonen, Iiro Rantala, Edward Vesala, etc.

Another thing is that what is released today under the category of jazz causes serious doubts that this music has a future. It is enough just to check what is being listed on Qobuz every Friday under the jazz. Jazz is becoming increasingly indistinguishable from pop, hip-hop or other commercial products. It's not fun at all.

[71 dB]

As a sweeping generalization all of those statements are manifestly false. Especially the "no experimentation" one.

You need to play more, not less, and learn why.

Those statements are not false. They are my opinions. I grew up in a household where jazz was almost only music ever played because my father is a jazz nut. There's jazz I like such as Clifford Brown/Max Roach or Gato Barbieri's latin jazz, but most of it isn't for me. Just bought Charlie Haden/Kenny Barron Night and the City album, but the jazz I enjoy (for more than 5 minutes) is few and far between to my experience. Miles Davis' On the Corner is really cool jazz funk. Keith Jarrett is cool... Bobo Stenson, Gil Evans, Dave Brubeck...

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

RIP Richard Davis, my favorite bassist.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Bird at the Bandbox.

[vandermolen]

In These Times
Makaya McCraven

[KevinP]

Just ordered a four-LPs-on-two-CD set by Dorothy Ashby.

Which just arrived.

However, I've since discovered these have been recently reissued on a deluxe limited edition six-LP set that I'm really tempted to get.

[AnotherSpin]

I knew that one day Steve Lehman would deliver the perfect modern jazz album. If this album isn't it yet, it's very close.

[AnotherSpin]

Unexpectedly fine

[T. D.]

This obscure release by the underrated Prince Lasha (with British sidemen incl. mostly Stan Tracey on piano) has some nice harp playing by David Snell:

[SimonNZ]

[ando]

Nice. I hear Sony is in the midst of a complete Ellington discography titled, Ellington In Order, the latest installment is 1930-31, I believe. Think I'll wait until they've released them all before I venture an investment. Looks promising, though.

[ando]

Unexpectedly fine

How did it feel to you? Been ages since I listen to a Redman album. Cool cover.

[ando]

Abby Sings Abby Abby Lincoln