Tuesday, September 2, 2008

5 Songs that got me into jazz

Let's face it, we're at a point here where a lot of people are "introduced" to jazz later in their life. I was one of them. Most of the stuff that "inducted" me was jazz-funk or fusion and whatnot, but anyways, here's a look at what got me into jazz.

And make sure you come up with your own list in the comments, I'd love to post a second round with all your thoughts.

1. Chameleon- Herbie Hancock Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters - Chameleon I first heard this song in a medley of stuff that Maynard Ferguson and his band did when he dropped by my township's high school for a master class and performance. The persistent groove really stuck with me and I loved getting my non-jazz friends hooked on that bass groove.

2. Birdland- Weather Report Weather Report - The Best of Weather Report - Birdland My bassist friend told me to give Weather Report a listen, so I went straight for Heavy Weather. It was a good choice. I still listen to that whole album, they're all genious. I now own this one on vinyl.

3. Kind of Blue (album)- Miles Davis Miles Davis - Kind of Blue This one I heard much earlier then anything else listed here. I heard this album going into 4th grade and loved So What, Freddie the Freeloader, and All Blues.

4. Embraceable You/I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good- Louis Prima and Keely Smith Louis Prima & Keely Smith - Live from Las Vegas: Louis Prima & Keely Smith - Embraceable You / I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good I never knew anybody was ever allowed to have this much fun, especially when playing music.

5. Salt Peanuts- Dizzy Gillespie Dizzy Gillespie - Odyssey 1945-1952 - Salt Peanuts I dare you to listen and NOT say "Salt Peanuts! Salt Peanuts!" I mean, seriously...

Ok, well there's my list of 5 Songs that got me into jazz. Of course I left some out like Soul Bossa Nova, and anything Vince Guaraldi, but we'll save that for another time....

-jazzfreak11

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm in my 30s and have been playing jazz music since high school. Here are five songs that I was exposed to back in high school that played a formative role in my interest in jazz:

1) Ornithology - Charlie Parker
My high school stage band performed this song my senior year. This song also got me interested in Charlie Parker's music.

2) Birdland - Weather Report
My first experience with this was in marching band - the arrangement was geared more towards marching band music, but the jazz feel really came through.

3) In the Mood - Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller certainly made his mark on music. I never get tired of hearing or playing this one.

4) Stardust - Hoagy Carmichael
I played this one for a (successful) band audition. The teacher from whom I was taking private lessons suggested this one.

5) TJ's Boogie - (not sure of author)
This one goes back to when I just started playing jazz in high school. One of my first solos ever.

jazzfreak11 said...

thanks for your list! hopefully we'll get another response or two so I can put another post...

I'll make sure to add a call of action to today's post.

Jazz Trumpet Licks said...

Yeah, I loved Dizzy Gillespie's Salt Peanuts tune when I first heard it too. It's got a very catchy melody to it.

Nice blog.

 
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