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spikeskug · May 23rd, 2012, 07:42 PM

Hey all, as you can probably tell by the title I am a bit of a Jazz newb and would like to start listening to more. Of course there's a huge spectrum of different styles but I was hoping to get some suggestions on where to start. I'm currently leaning towards stuff like these songs. A nudge in the right direction would be fantastic!

You Tube

You Tube

freddyfingers · May 23rd, 2012, 07:50 PM

Same boat as you, although my taste for My kind of jazz differs, either way, its definatley an intimidating effort, if you want to do it right. There are a lot of people here that play jazz, and can offer bits of advice. I eventually found a guy named Jimmy Bruno, that offers an online course{which you will find dozens of}, but he asks you to send in clips of your lessons, and he leads you in the right direction. His style is a bit more contemporary than your examples, but there is help out there. And, whatever you do, don't let jazz snobs tell you you cant play it on a gretsch. I still suffer with the unrealistic need for the 10000 dollar 50's gibson es 175, but the reality is, you can play jazz on a kazoo, or a comb with tissue paper. good luck, and keep us updated.

spikeskug · May 23rd, 2012, 07:58 PM

First I need to start listening to more jazz before I learn how to play it :P My post was just asking about different jazz artists/bands to listen to that are close to the styles of the videos posted above. When I say I'm new to jazz, I mean I have no idea what to start listening to! Thank you for the advice though! I'll check out Mr.Bruno as soon as I learn a bit more about the genre as well as not being scared to send clips of my guitar playing online.

freddyfingers · May 23rd, 2012, 08:06 PM

Heres a link to a thread here a week or so ago. I found this guy while searching for gretsch jazz players. He is not playing older standards, but seems to be on the edge with his own sound. Not as hard as what you posted, but different. CHeck it out, and check out youtube, type in jazz, and spend a while going through all the possibilities.

http://www.gretsch-talk.com/forum/fr...tml#post382775

spikeskug · May 23rd, 2012, 08:54 PM

Thanks a ton!!!!!!

NeilSt · May 23rd, 2012, 09:31 PM

Jazz is a pretty broad term, especially if you are including sounds like those in the videos you included. Normally, I wouldn't consider either one of those jazz. The second one is much closer to classical, although that too, in this context, is pretty broad.

However, if you like the intensity and the ability in that Petrucci/Rudess sound, you might very well like some guitar work by Paco de Lucia/Al Dimeola/John McLaughlin. They are all technical wizards. Check them out on YouTube -- the live stuff is incredible. Also, if you take a shine to McLaughlin, then you might want to check out some of his fusion music from the seventies -- Mahavishnu Orchestra or Shakti (this will take you in a more opening eastern direction).

A lot of folks who like "heavy" jazz tend to lean toward the great fusion groups: Weather Report, Return to Forever, Tony Williams's Lifetime, The Pat Metheny Group (one of my favorites!), and other offshoots.

If you want more "outside" stuff, try out John Zorn's Masada or Electric Masada.

If you want to give yourself a nice history in jazz without going too far back, you could start with any of the following greats: John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Thelonius Monk, Eric Dolphy, Jack DeJohnette, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker,Chick Corea.

Obviously, the list goes on and on and on. Jazz is in the bloodstream of American music and its influences are everywhere. You don't have to look too far. It's pretty overwhelming at first, but once you dip into the water, you'll find other pathways, new rivers. Look at the players on each album, follow them. Before you know it, you'll be talking smack about who's the best.

Good luck in your journey, man!

polishbroadcast · May 23rd, 2012, 10:08 PM

If your goal is to listen to more music like above you might want to try looking for "Fusion" as a genre.

If your goal is to play jazz, i would recommend lessons. I personally don't listen to jazz but am taking jazz lessons because it places so much emphasis on reading, theory, and improvisation, which are all genre agnostic.

Whichever you are looking for, good luck.

ruger9 · May 24th, 2012, 04:42 AM

Yeah, can't help with that sub-genre of jazz. Dig the first tune tho.

I'm in the same boat (jazz newbie), and while I can't help you with recommendations, I can tell you what I have done:

1) more closely identified what styles I enjoy listening to and playing (in my case, rockabilly-western swing-big band swing-jump blues)

2) came on here asking for educational materials for said style

3) got fantastic reccs from forums, ended up with several DVDs (which I am finding easier to learn from than books at this point)...DVDs, being able to HEAR something being explained and demonstarted, is much more like a lesson, rather than just tab on a page (in a book.)

nadles · May 24th, 2012, 07:04 AM

Another Jazz newbie here. I've dabbled in the theory and educational material, but really just listened to jazz styles i liked picked out a few tunes and learned them. I've been leaning more toward the chord melody style recently. The first Jazz tune i learned was Midnight Blue by Kenny Burrell.

freddyfingers · May 24th, 2012, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nadles

Another Jazz newbie here. I've dabbled in the theory and educational material, but really just listened to jazz styles i liked picked out a few tunes and learned them. I've been leaning more toward the chord melody style recently. The first Jazz tune i learned was Midnight Blue by Kenny Burrell.

Me too!, except I wounding say i learned it yet. n i can play the lick, and the chords in the intro, but i cant fly on the scales like he does, well I can, but when i do it, it sounds bluesy, and thats not the goal.