Album Recommendation for Jazzy Friend

[theantkid12]

I have a friend who is really into Jazz, mostly early 20th Century jazz. He is a huge fan of Miles Davis.

I'm trying to slowly introduce him to some Prog music.

I know David Sanborn isn't Prog, but he is more recent music. I need to get on his good side with music ideas. I was thinking of introducing him to Sanborn because he has never actually heard of him.

Any other ideas?

[Lolicat]

Miles Davis isn't early 20th Century D:

Make him progress from *****es Brew to some jazz-influenced rock.
Or make him liek punk rather than smelly old prog.

[Alright_Computer]

Two words: King Crimson. Jazz fusion should get him on the road to prog, if that's what you're going for, although there's nothing wrong with liking jazz. If he has *****es Brew (and I'm guessing he does since he's a big Miles Davis fan) then it shouldn't be that big of a leap.

[Lolicat]

Maybe you should listen to his music more though. :p

[WhiffleBallTony]

Billy Cobham's Spectrum, an amazing jazz fusion album. Yes, it's still got a lot of jazz aspects, but it's also got lots of rock aspects. That's why it fits him perfectly. You need to ease people into things like this.

[Lolicat]

On the topic of easing people from one kind of music to another, how can I make my flatmates change from classic rock and Metallica to something... better. Folk would be nice and mean I could listen to my own music without hearing thundering guitars blasted through their huge speakers.

[Hungryfreak]

Definitely King Crimson, a said before. They are a very jazzy prog band. In The Court Of The Crimson King is the only place to start with them. Some of Zappa's work, like Hot Rats would also be good and ELP as well (I would suggest Tarkus).

Those are nice places to start him off at.

[WhiffleBallTony]

Definitely King Crimson, a said before. They are a very jazzy prog band. In The Court Of The Crimson King is the only place to start with them. Some of Zappa's work, like Hot Rats would also be good and ELP as well (I would suggest Tarkus).

Those are nice places to start him off at.

The only problem with that album is stuff like "Moonchild". It's incredibly trippy and not for the uninitiated.

[Hungryfreak]

The only problem with that album is stuff like "Moonchild". It's incredibly trippy and not for the uninitiated.

Though King Crimson does that sort of thing more than once in their discography. If the person doesn't like the piece immediately, they may learn to love it, too, since the rest of the album would fit his palette quite will.

[Alright_Computer]

Maybe you should listen to his music more though. :p

Hey, I've listened to tons of Miles Davis. In fact, there was a time when that was practically all I listened to. It's just that none of that is scrobbled on last.fm.

[theantkid12]

Yeah, I've listened to a lot of his music before, I actually like it too.

It's just that if I could move from Rock to Jazz, and still like both, he could move from Jazz to Rock and still like both, so we would have the best of both worlds right?

I'm probably going to pick him up The Court of the Crimson King though.

Maybe some Zappa too.

What Zappa album?

[WhiffleBallTony]

Yeah, I've listened to a lot of his music before, I actually like it too.

It's just that if I could move from Rock to Jazz, and still like both, he could move from Jazz to Rock and still like both, so we would have the best of both worlds right?

I'm probably going to pick him up The Court of the Crimson King though.

Maybe some Zappa too.

What Zappa album?

Apostrophe

[Hungryfreak]

Maybe some Zappa too.

What Zappa album?

I told you, Hot Rats. One of Zappa's jazziest albums.

[theantkid12]

I told you, Hot Rats. One of Zappa's jazziest albums.
Ah, sorry. Must have skipped over it.

[OldFogey]

I like the stuff that's been mentioned so far, but to be honest I wouldn't consider it very "jazzy." Your friend may think differently though -- and in the end it's great music and it may not matter whether it's really jazz-like or not.

First off -- does he know Steely Dan? Aja is a great album with a lot of jazz greats playing on it.

Joni Mitchell did an album with an all star jazz lineup -- it's live. It's called Shadows and Light. The players are Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny from Metheny's group, Jaco Pastorius on bass, Don Alias on drums and I think Michael Brecker on sax. When Joni does her stuff with a little swing I like it a lot. I'm a little more iffy about when she tries to jazz classics or something "jazzy" of her own.

Jazz/blues might be his cup of tea -- hard to tell without a little more knowledge. I would suggest Robben Ford's Talk to Your Daughter album.

Fusion actually doesn't usually go over big with jazz fans -- the changes are too simple, and the music lacks swing. So I'm not so sure I'd recommend any jazz fusion until you know more what he likes and doesn't like.

See if any of those go over and then I'll know more and be able to give you some more/better recommendations.

[Hungryfreak]

Bah, how did I forget Steely Dan? I'll back that recommendation up as well.

[theantkid12]

Steely Dan and Zappa so far, King Crimson might be too simple, as you pointed out, for him.

[Alright_Computer]

Dammit, OldFogey reminded me of Steely Dan. Can't believe I forgot them. I'd also recommend them, they also have tons of great jazz-influenced rock. You could really pick up any album from them, but you'll probably recognize at least one song from Countdown to Ecstasy (it has Bodhisattva). Aja is their jazziest record, so if you're trying to transition him then it's a good starting point. It also has a few hit singles on it. He'd also probably recognize quite a few of the musicians playing on it.

[OldFogey]

Steely Dan and Zappa so far, King Crimson might be too simple, as you pointed out, for him.

Give the Robben Ford a shot, though -- Robben played with Miles. He has jazz chops for sure. His albums he cut with the Yellowjackets are classics. This album has him covering a YellowJackets tune called Revelation that may be my favorite instrumental track outside of mainstream jazz. He also covers Ain't Got Nothing but the Blues.

Allmusic's review says:


On his 1988 solo effort Talk to Your Daughter, singer/guitarist Robben Ford proves himself a master of sophisticated blues-rock guitar playing. The material is quite strong, and all the musicians perform at the highest level, but it's Ford's stellar soloing that makes this release. Fans of flailing '80s rock virtuosos would do well to check out Ford's exceptional work on Talk to Your Daughter. The musician's colorful yet controlled improvising and harmonic mastery is a rare and beautiful sonic treat. The title track is dripping with soulful, well-placed guitar lines that play like a master lesson of up-tempo blues phrasing that guitarists would do well to study. Other standouts include "Born Under a Bad Sign" and "Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues." The fine arrangements and especially Vinnie Colaiuta's sharp drumming are all tightly wound with crisp, clear production that tops off "Talk to Your Daughter," making it a shining success. Listeners fond of Ford's work with the Yellowjackets and numerous side gigs, as well as guitarists and all musicians, should enjoy this very professional, succinctly executed offering. First rate!

The review highlights the blues aspect, but the sophistication comes from Robben's jazz pedigree.

He also did an all instrumental album that's very jazzy called Tiger Walk.

[OldFogey]

Some stuff where the two of you might be able to discover together -- Michael Landau, Tales from the Bulge; Mike Stern, Play; Bill Frisell, just about anything, but I'd say Gone Like a Train might be a good introduction; John Scofield, again almost anything -- Hand Jive might be another good introduction, but Works for Me is a more recent offering that has gotten really good reviews, I just haven't gotten around to checking it out yet.

You might also want to check out the Alex Skolnick Trio. I put up a thread on here about them called Jazz/Metal or Metal/Jazz that could be worth checking out -- there's a sample vid in there.

[timmay9]

On the topic of easing people from one kind of music to another, how can I make my flatmates change from classic rock and Metallica to something... better. Folk would be nice and mean I could listen to my own music without hearing thundering guitars blasted through their huge speakers.There's absolutely nothing wrong with classic rock.

[Lolicat]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with classic rock.

I am sick of hearing AC/DC and Aerosmith when I'm trying to listen to my post-rock soundscapes or introspective folk. 'I f*cked a woman and now I hate her 'cause she left' is not conductive to the mood :(

[timmay9]

I am sick of hearing AC/DC and Aerosmith when I'm trying to listen to my post-rock soundscapes or introspective folk. 'I f*cked a woman and now I hate her 'cause she left' is not conductive to the mood :(If it's AC/DC, then I can see your pain. They're a bit on the repetitive side.

[Lolicat]

If it's AC/DC, then I can see your pain. They're a bit on the repetitive side.

Lots of blues-based rock and Metallica is always going to annoy me. Then again, they mustn't enjoy the Bjork or Blonde Redhead. Not that I have powerful enough speakers for to hear from ther rooms.

[theantkid12]

Ok guys, I talked to him today. He didn't know King Crimson or Steely Dan but when I said Frank Zappa he knew him.

He wasn't very fond of him, he said that he doesn't like how he is basically playing random notes to create a melodic beat.

I am so confused on what to do now.

[Alright_Computer]

Ok guys, I talked to him today. He didn't know King Crimson or Steely Dan but when I said Frank Zappa he knew him.

He wasn't very fond of him, he said that he doesn't like how he is basically playing random notes to create a melodic beat.

I am so confused on what to do now.

Make him bow to the power of Zappa.

But really, just show him a Steely Dan or King Crimson song and see if he likes it. If he does, then get him the album. If he likes the album, then your work is done.

[Gowienczyk]

Mahavishnu Orchestra >>>>>>>>>>> Steely Dan

[Hungryfreak]

Make him bow to the power of Zappa.

But really, just show him a Steely Dan or King Crimson song and see if he likes it. If he does, then get him the album. If he likes the album, then your work is done.

Yes. He must have been overwhelmed by Zappa's awesome. It could also depend on what your friend heard. Zappa's range is eclectic to say the least, haha.

[DethBoxx]

The Grand Wazoo is another great (underrated IMHO) Zappa album for jazz/fusion fans. Awesome stuff.

[OldFogey]

Make him bow to the power of Zappa.

But really, just show him a Steely Dan or King Crimson song and see if he likes it. If he does, then get him the album. If he likes the album, then your work is done.

The title track from Aja is a great place to start for a real jazz fan. Wayne Shorter blows a great solo on it.


Mahavishnu Orchestra >>>>>>>>>>> Steely Dan

Apples and Oranges, dude. MO is jazz -- jazz fusion , but jazz nonetheless. The Dan is rock with jazz flavorings. Cross genre comparisons like that make no sense to me. Like saying NY Philharmonic >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mahavishnu Orchestra.

(Oh and wouldn't Oranges be a great name for a moderator????)

[Quinarvy]

You might also want to check out the Alex Skolnick Trio. I put up a thread on here about them called Jazz/Metal or Metal/Jazz that could be worth checking out -- there's a sample vid in there.

Unless you're my band teacher, who's opinon is that the Alex Skolnick Trio isn't jazz...its plain old rock.

I was not amused.

Back Story: Every week at Jazz Band we can bring in listening...that's approved...I wasn't allowed to bring in The AST...but others were allowed to bring in these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgV0sZ5I_30

*Cant Find Video*: 3 Minute long dialouge from a movie of a swing version of yankee doodle dandy. Swing version lasts about...20 seconds.

But this ISN'T jazz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDnMJ-0xNBI

[OldFogey]

Unless you're my band teacher, who's opinon is that the Alex Skolnick Trio isn't jazz...its plain old rock.

I was not amused.

Back Story: Every week at Jazz Band we can bring in listening...that's approved...I wasn't allowed to bring in The AST...but others were allowed to bring in these:

*Cant Find Video*: 3 Minute long dialouge from a movie of a swing version of yankee doodle dandy. Swing version lasts about...20 seconds.

But this ISN'T jazz

Here's hoping you get a new band teacher. :p

Next time bring in Herbie Hancock playing All Apologies.

[DethBoxx]

Hey they used to say Charlie Parker wasn't jazz, LOL.

[Oscar-Rio]

Tell your friend to check out Le Scrawl.