Any Straight-Ahead Jazz Lovers Left? Let's Talk!!

[Rezn8]

It looks like we're a dying breed in the Black community. But, this is the greatest music ever created, in my opinion, and we created it!! Who would be the members of your all-time dream quintet/sextet? Who makes your personal Mount Rushmore lists? Who are you listening to now? Let's keep the music alive!!!

ALL-TIME DREAM GROUP
Joe Henderson - Tenor Saxophone
Woody Shaw - Trumpet
Bobby Hutcherson - Vibes
Kenny Barron - Piano
Christian McBride - Bass
Brian Blade - Drums




MOUNT RUSHMORE LISTS

ALTO SAXOPHONE
1. Charlie Parker
2. Cannonball Adderley
3. Johnny Hodges
4. Kenny Garrett
5. Jackie McLean

Honorable Mention
Vincent Herring
Paul Desmond
Bobby Watson
Antonio Hart

TENOR SAXOPHONE
1. John Coltrane
2. Sonny Rollins
3. Joe Henderson
4. Wayne Shorter
5. Dexter Gordon

Honorable Mention
Stan Getz
Hank Mobley
Gene Ammons
Ravi Coltrane
Michael Brecker
Charles Lloyd
Jerry Bergonzi
Joe Lovano
George Coleman
Booker Ervin
Stanley Turrentine

TRUMPET
1. Freddie Hubbard
2. Woody Shaw
3. Lee Morgan
4. Clifford Brown
5. Wynton Marsalis

Honorable Mention
Miles Davis
Blue Mitchell
Roy Hargrove
Wallace Roney
Jeremy Pelt
Eddie Henderson
Tom Harrell

PIANO
1. Kenny Barron
2. Herbie Hancock
3. McCoy Tyner
4. Keith Jarrett
5. Mulgrew Miller

Honorable Mention
Bill Evans
Chick Corea
Geri Allen
Joey Calderazzo
Fred Hersch

BASS
1. Ron Carter
2. Christian McBride
3. Paul Chambers
4. Esperanza Spaulding
5. Robert Hurst

Honorable Mention
Stanley Clarke
Charles Fambrough

DRUMS
1. Elvin Jones
2. Tony Williams
3. Brian Blade
4. Jack DeJohnette
5. Terri Lyne Carrington

Honorable Mention
Philly Joe Jones
Carl Allen
Roy Haynes
Sonny Payne
Jeff "Tain" Watts
Buddy Rich
Grady Tate
Billy Higgins
Willie Jones, III
Dave Weckl

VIBRAPHONE
1. Bobby Hutcherson
2. Milt Jackson
3. Steve Nelson
4. Warren Wolf
5. Stefon Harris

FLUTE
1. Eric Dolphy
2. James Moody
3. Kenny Garrett
4. James Spaulding
5. Hubert Laws

Honorable Mention
James Newton
Ali Ryerson

VIOLIN
1. Regina Carter
2. Jean-Luc Ponty
3. Billy Bang
4. Noel Pointer
5. Stephane Grappelli

TROMBONE
1. J. J. Johnson
2. Curtis Fuller
3. Grachan Moncur, III
4. Steve Turre
5. Wycliffe Gordon

MALE VOCALIST
1. Johnny Hartman
2. Frank Sinatra
3. Kurt Elling
4. Kevin Mahogany
5. Bobby McFerrin

HONORABLE MENTION
Michael Franks
Pete Belasco

FEMALE VOCALIST
1. Ella Fitzgerald
2. Sarah Vaughan
3. Betty Carter
4. Dianne Reeves
5. Cassandra Wilson

Honorable Mention
Shirley Horn
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Nancy Wilson
Diana Krall

ORGAN
1. Jimmy Smith
2. Joey Defrancesco
3. Larry Young
4. Jimmy McGriff
5. Jack McDuff

Honorable Mention
Charles Earland
Larry Goldings

GUITAR
1. Wes Montgomery
2. Grant Green
3. George Benson
4. Pat Metheny
5. Kenny Burrell

Honorable Mention
Ed Cherry

BAND LEADERS
1. Miles Davis
2. Art Blakey
3. John Coltrane
4. Charles Mingus
5. Wayne Shorter / Joe Zawinul

ORCHESTRAS / BIG BANDS
1. The Duke Ellington Orchestra
2. The Count Basie Orchestra
3. The Billy Eckstine Orchestra
4. The Charles Mingus Orchestra
5. The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra

SMALL GROUPS
1. The Miles Davis Quintet (1960s Edition)
2. The John Coltrane Quartet
3. The Miles Davis Sextet (Late 1950s w/ Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans)
4. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers (Mid 1960s w/ Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter and Curtis Fuller)
5. The Modern Jazz Quartet

Honorable Mention
The Standards Trio
(Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette, Gary Peacock)

COMPOSERS
1. Duke Ellington
2. Thelonious Monk
3. Wayne Shorter
4. Charles Mingus
5. Billy Strayhorn

Honorable Mention
Quincy Jones
Herbie Hancock

CLASSIC RECORDINGS (ALBUMS)
1. Kind of Blue -- Miles Davis
2. A Love Supreme -- John Coltrane
3. Maiden Voyage -- Herbie Hancock
4. Giant Steps -- John Coltrane
5. The Complete Dial Sessions -- Charlie Parker

Honorable Mention
 ESP -- Miles Davis
Sweet Rain -- Stan Getz
Saxophone Colossus -- Sonny Rollins
Speak No Evil -- Wayne Shorter
Moanin' -- Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
In 'N' Out -- Joe Henderson
The Koln Concert -- Keith Jarrett
Brilliant Corners -- Thelonious Monk

CLASSIC RECORDINGS (SINGLES)
1. Milestones -- Miles Davis
2. Maiden Voyage -- Herbie Hancock
3. Song for My Father -- Horace Silver
4. Take Five -- Dave Brubeck
5. The Sidewinder -- Lee Morgan

Honorable Mention
The Girl from Ipanema -- Stan Getz
All Blues -- Miles Davis
Compared to What -- Eddie Harris and Les McCan
Blue Bossa -- Joe Henderson
Bumpin' on Sunset -- Wes Montgomery
Chameleon -- Herbie Hancock




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Hope I'm not alone here. Looking forward to hearing lots of opinions!!!

​

 

[big enos burrnet]

great post....two years ago here at the detroit jazz fest i got a chance to see herbie hancock,,jack dejonette.,,chic corea,,stanley clark on bass,,pat
metheny on guitar kamasi washington on sax...then swaped out for esperanza on bass then swapped again was ron carter on bass and regina
carter on fiddle then swapped out with robert glasper on keys and wayne shorter on clarinet all on stage together...shit was bananas..... it was a great passing the torch moment for the the jazz heads keeping it going....

 

[yasky777]

Good stuff I’ve been learning

 

[PsiBorg]

My Dream Team:

(1) Dexter Gordon (Tenor Sax)
(2) Eric Dolphy (Flute)
(3) Lee Morgan (Trumpet)
(4) Charles Mingus (Bass)
(5) Philly Joe Jones (Drums)
(6) Herbie Hancock (Piano)
(7) Jimmy Smith (Organ)

These guys here: MONSTERS

This is my kind of thread here O.P.

One day, people are going to look at Jazz musicians like they look at Classical musicians. People talk about Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, and Mozart. Soon, it's going to be Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, and Charlie Parker.

 

[yureeka9]

Wait, what kind of greatest trumpeters list doesn't include Dizz, Miles or Satchmo?!?

 

[yureeka9]

great post....two years ago here at the detroit jazz fest i got a chance to see herbie hancock,,jack dejonette.,,chic corea,,stanley clark on bass,,pat
metheny on guitar kamasi washington on sax...then swaped out for esperanza on bass then swapped again was ron carter on bass and regina
carter on fiddle then swapped out with robert glasper on keys and wayne shorter on clarinet all on stage together...shit was bananas..... it was a great passing the torch moment for the the jazz heads keeping it going....

Wow! Now that's a REAL jazz festival! These days jazz festivals only have jazz in the titles it seems. Everything else is just local bands, a few mainstream headliners and a bunch of indie music.

 

[big enos burrnet]

Wow! Now that's a REAL jazz festival! These days jazz festivals only have jazz in the titles it seems. Everything else is just local bands, a few mainstream headliners and a bunch of indie music.

And its free...this year it went virtual so you can go onto the Detroit jazz fest site and go threw the video archive ...Robert glasper did
A nice set....

 

[man-machine]

My Dream Team:

(1) Dexter Gordon (Tenor Sax)
(2) Eric Dolphy (Flute)
(3) Lee Morgan (Trumpet)
(4) Charles Mingus (Bass)
(5) Philly Joe Jones (Drums)
(6) Herbie Hancock (Piano)
(7) Jimmy Smith (Organ)

These guys here: MONSTERS

This is my kind of thread here O.P.

One day, people are going to look at Jazz musicians like they look at Classical musicians. People talk about Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, and Mozart. Soon, it's going to be Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, and Charlie Parker.

Some folks already do...

 

[Bounty Killah]

Johnny Hartman and James Moody....

I start my days with...

 

[Rezn8]

great post....two years ago here at the detroit jazz fest i got a chance to see herbie hancock,,jack dejonette.,,chic corea,,stanley clark on bass,,pat
metheny on guitar kamasi washington on sax...then swaped out for esperanza on bass then swapped again was ron carter on bass and regina
carter on fiddle then swapped out with robert glasper on keys and wayne shorter on clarinet all on stage together...shit was bananas..... it was a great passing the torch moment for the the jazz heads keeping it going....

I'm jealous of you fam!!! That sounds like a once in a lifetime event. You got to see jazz history right in front of your eyes!!! It's sad that most concerts I go to now, there aren't many black faces to be found at all, either on stage or in the audience. I know you'll cherish seeing that slice of music history.

 

[Rezn8]

​

My Dream Team:

(1) Dexter Gordon (Tenor Sax)
(2) Eric Dolphy (Flute)
(3) Lee Morgan (Trumpet)
(4) Charles Mingus (Bass)
(5) Philly Joe Jones (Drums)
(6) Herbie Hancock (Piano)
(7) Jimmy Smith (Organ)

These guys here: MONSTERS

This is my kind of thread here O.P.

One day, people are going to look at Jazz musicians like they look at Classical musicians. People talk about Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, and Mozart. Soon, it's going to be Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, and Charlie Parker.

That's a rock solid list you've got there family!! It was hard leaving Philly Joe off of my drum list. What I never knew was that he was almost as good on piano as he was on drums!!! I also didn't know that Jack DeJohnette is a classically-trained pianist!!! All these years I've been seeing him playing with Keith Jarrett and never knowing that he's damn near as good on piano as Keith!!! Most of these guys are all-around MASTER musicians. You're also very correct about the comparisons with classical composers. To be honest, in Europe, Japan, and other areas of the world, they already do equate our jazz icons with the classical composers. We just don't appreciate them here. Very glad to see your opinions!!!

Philly starts talking about his piano playing at about the 43:00 mark.

​

 

[Tito_Jackson]

Jazz....true black music. In my house,, my family and I listen to jazz every Sunday via Pandora when we eat breakfast. Its our "thing." My kids call it horn music. Lol!!! Surprisingly, it has a really good selection and Playlist.

But, about your list.........Not one mention of Lionel Hampton??!! This list is kinda suspect. Also, I appreciate Winton, but I would never have him on a all time Trumpet list before Miles. Never.
Anyway, enjoy one of my favorite recordings.

 

[Rezn8]

Wait, what kind of greatest trumpeters list doesn't include Dizz, Miles or Satchmo?!?

The idea was for people to post their personal lists, which may not coincide with the historical norms. For example, any official piano list really should probably start with Art Tatum before anyone. You are right that historically, you can't leave any of these guys off of an OFFICIAL greatest of all time trumpet list. A list like that would also have to include Roy Eldridge, who rarely gets credit as a critically-important player who was the main link between Satch and Dizzy in the evolution of jazz trumpet playing. These lists aren't meant to be official but strictly for fun and discussion. However, on the horn I've always viewed Miles as a very good but not great trumpeter. As a pure player, I'd put anybody on my trumpet list above Miles for technical facility on the horn. Just my opinion.

 

[Rezn8]

Charlie Parker in his own words. One of the interviewers is Paul Desmond, Dave Brubeck's saxophonist.

​

 

[Tito_Jackson]

Wait, what kind of greatest trumpeters list doesn't include Dizz, Miles or Satchmo?!?

I'm just as confused as you. They don't even have Lionel Hampton mentioned anywhere.?????

How Sway??

 

[yureeka9]

It looks like we're a dying breed in the Black community. But, this is the greatest music ever created, in my opinion, and we created it!! Who would be the members of your all-time dream quintet/sextet? Who makes your personal Mount Rushmore lists? Who are you listening to now? Let's keep the music alive!!!

​

A dying breed indeed and I completely agree that this is the greatest music ever created. Jazz is the father of all modern music and we're losing it a little bit more with each generation. We should keep the discussion flowing in this thread.

 

[yureeka9]

An all-star ensemble for me would have:

• Tenor Sax - John Coltrane
• Trumpet - Clifford Brown
• Piano - Herbie Hancock
• Drums - Joe Morello
• Bass - Charles Mingus
• Wes Montgomery - Guitar
• Male Vocals - Johnny Hartman
• Female Vocals - Ella Fitzgerald

I'd have this ensemble doing songs by Johnny Mercer with arrangements and production from Nina Simone and Quincy Jones.

 

[furlough]

dope thread op

 

[papi68]

I’ll have to come back because I have to gather my thoughts.

 

[ronmch20]

My all star jazz ensemble:
Trumpet - Miles Davis
Alto Sax - Cannonball Adderley
Tenor Sax - Eddie Harris
Guitar - Wes Montgomery
Piano - Bill Evans
Vibes - Milt Jackson
Drums - Joe Morello
Organ - Jimmy Smith
Violinist - Stephane Grappelli
Female Vocalist - Ella Fitzgerald
Male Vocalist - Jon Hendricks

 

[Tito_Jackson]

Something that happened to me a few months back.

We were at a heathcare professionals mixer. It was a family type of event so wives and kids were there. We were at the table with this physician I know very well and his family. They had a local jazz band and they were playing the standards. Straight, No Chaser etc. My friend's son and daughter start going on this little rant about "why are they playing all of this bougie white people music?" Then his wife said, "yeah, I know right?" I almost fell out of my seat. Sadly, most black kids today to not associate jazz as being black music.

 

[Rezn8]

A dying breed indeed and I completely agree that this is the greatest music ever created. Jazz is the father of all modern music and we're losing it a little bit more with each generation. We should keep the discussion flowing in this thread.

Great points, fam!!! A few years ago, I saw a master class on jazz improvisation being taught by Barry Harris who is one of the last living bebop-era musicians on the scene. It was awesome hearing him share his knowledge on the music -- until they panned the camera around. Even though they were in a large lecture hall, it quickly became apparent that the only black face in that entire room was Barry's. A while later, I saw a Q & A session between college music students and Sonny Rollins. All of the students asking questions were white. FINALLY, a young black woman came up with a question for Sonny, so I started to get excited. But, as soon as she started speaking it was obvious that the young woman is British. I don't know any young African-Americans who listen to or know much about Blues. Sadly, it looks like jazz is going in the same direction. Who is the young late-teen or twenty-something up-and-coming African-American jazz star today? Remember, Wynton was eighteen when he came on the scene. If they're out there, I don't know who they are. I'm afraid we're rapping our culture away. And BTW, your dream band would be a killer!!!

 

[papi68]

 

[yureeka9]

Something that happened to me a few months back.

We were at a heathcare professionals mixer. It was a family type of event so wives and kids were there. We were at the table with this physician I know very well and his family. They had a local jazz band and they were playing the standards. Straight, No Chaser etc. My friend's son and daughter start going on this little rant about "why are they playing all of this bougie white people music?" Then his wife said, "yeah, I know right?" I almost fell out of my seat. Sadly, most black kids today to not associate jazz as being black music.

Damn! How old was the wife?!? She had to be old enough to know better.

 

[Tito_Jackson]

Damn! How old was the wife?!? She had to be old enough to know better.

Mid 30's

My friend was embarrassed as hell.

 

[Rezn8]

My all star jazz ensemble:
Trumpet - Miles Davis
Alto Sax - Cannonball Adderley
Tenor Sax - Eddie Harris
Guitar - Wes Montgomery
Piano - Bill Evans
Vibes - Milt Jackson
Drums - Joe Morello
Organ - Jimmy Smith
Violinist - Stephane Grappelli
Female Vocalist - Ella Fitzgerald
Male Vocalist - Jon Hendricks

Strong list!!! Glad to have your opinion!!! Also, glad to see someone mention Eddie Harris, one my all-time favorites.

​

 

[Rezn8]

One of Trane's final interviews before his passing.

​

 

[yureeka9]

Since we've got a bunch of jazz heads in here I'm hoping someone can help me with this. I first heard this recording back in the 90s and it completely blew me away. Joe Morello's version of Theme From Mission Impossible has this crazy drum solo that sounds like multiple drummers at the same time. The song only credits him as the drummer. Can someone tell me definitively if this is a single session/recording and if only one man is doing all of this percussion at the same time?!?



Produced by Joe Morello and Tom Jung

Joe Morello ~ Drums
Greg Kogan ~ Piano
Ralph Lalama ~ Saxophone/Flute
Gary Mazzaroppi ~ Bass

 

[yureeka9]

One of Trane's final interviews before his passing.

​

Speaking of Coltrane. Here's a narrative of his legendary collaboration with Johnny Hartman set to It's Easy To Remember. Some nice history in this.

 

[the artist]

Great Thread! I work in the jazz world and know or have gotten to know many of the artists named here. I also work with the Detroit Jazz Festival.
FYI, Kenny Garrett has a new one coming out next year. I just received his Refs to listen to.

When i was younger I used to think of jazz as old man music. My dad tried to get me to listen. Guess I'm officially an old man now.

 

[yureeka9]

Charlie Parker in his own words. One of the interviewers is Paul Desmond, Dave Brubeck's saxophonist.

​

Bird is the very definition of innovation and improvisation. Gotta wonder what he would have produced had he lived a full life. I visited his grave in Kansas City a few years back. Shit was depressing. Hard to believe such a jazz titan was laid to rest in such a non descript way.

 

[Mo-Better]

I just scanned the artist listed so far and it doesn't matter how many legends are listed somebody is going to add a few like I'm about to do.

Lets mellow out with a little Jimmy Smith's Flamingo

 

[Rezn8]

Bird is the very definition of innovation and improvisation. Gotta wonder what he would have produced had he lived a full life. I visited his grave in Kansas City a few years back. Shit was depressing. Hard to believe such a jazz titan was laid to rest in such a non descript way.

I've got a feeling Bird would have been a lot like Miles in that he probably would have been one to constantly push the music forward into unknown territories. People remember him so much for his obvious demons. Yet, this man was a BRILLIANT and sophisticated man who could hold his own intellectually with anyone. BTW, there's an awful lot of black history in Kansas City. The jazz history of Kansas City alone is amazing. Throw in its history with Negro League Baseball, and you've got a place that's a must-visit location for anyone interested in our history.

 

[Wobble Wobble]

Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus!

 

[Rezn8]

Great Thread! I work in the jazz world and know or have gotten to know many of the artists named here. I also work with the Detroit Jazz Festival.
FYI, Kenny Garrett has a new one coming out next year. I just received his Refs to listen to.

When i was younger I used to think of jazz as old man music. My dad tried to get me to listen. Guess I'm officially an old man now.

The beautiful thing about jazz is that it is TIMELESS!! At some point, a lot of people will tire of the regular pop/R & B/ hip-hop stuff that doesn't always stay fresh. And if they happen to somehow stumble onto jazz, Miles, Trane, Bird, Monk, and Herbie will be waiting for them, and a whole new world will open up for them, just like it opened up for all of us!!