New to Jazz: Where do you start with Duke Ellington?

[nd33]

Hi all.
I'm usually found listening to r&b, funk and a little of whatever but I feel it's time to expand my musical horizons and delve into a bit of jazz.

Reading Bruce Swediens postings about working with Duke Ellington has got me excited about picking up a couple of his albums on vinyl but......

Where do you start with an artist so prolific?

What would be considered his classic or signature albums?

What other artists should a jazz newby try?

I'm not too fussed on what style of jazz it is, I just really wanna start with some classics, but I will mention I dig some funky kind of jazz I've found such as Weldon Irvine, Willie Mitchell and Ronnie Foster.


Cheers
Nate

[Sarusan]

The Webster Blanton era was my favorite.

Steven

[Naren]

Originally Posted by nd33

Hi all.
I'm usually found listening to r&b, funk and a little of whatever but I feel it's time to expand my musical horizons and delve into a bit of jazz.

Reading Bruce Swediens postings about working with Duke Ellington has got me excited about picking up a couple of his albums on vinyl but......

Where do you start with an artist so prolific?

What would be considered his classic or signature albums?

What other artists should a jazz newby try?

I'm not too fussed on what style of jazz it is, I just really wanna start with some classics, but I will mention I dig some funky kind of jazz I've found such as Weldon Irvine, Willie Mitchell and Ronnie Foster.


Cheers
Nate

Duke Ellington had a huge career spanning decades, as you know, but you can divide it up in to the early years, the prime years and the later years. All three eras were good, but I recommend exploring the middle years first - late 1930s through the 1940s.

Sarusan got it right by recommending the Webster/Blanton recordings from the early 1940s when Duke had the best players available and was a monster arranger.

I'm a huge fan, those around me know this, so one year I got the Ken Burns Jazz Duke Ellington CD as a gift. Redundant! - I already owned pretty much of the material - but I must say that Ken Burns really made a nice collection of Duke's tunes. You could pick that up as a good survey of his career. But you say you wanted vinyl, and in that case you're kind of restricted to what's available. I'm sure good vinyl of Duke is in collectors' territory. (My own vinyl collection is long gone, unfortunately. I know longer even own a turntable.)

As for other jazz.... if you want something cool and mellow, then definitely go for Miles Davis' Kind of Blue. I believe there is a high res vinyl reissue available - do a search on this site as Greg Wells mentioned listening to it.

Charlie Parker is an obvious choice, but be warned that some of the recordings are not great quality. John Coltrane... you know all the names, there are so many that I am overwhelmed just thinking of it.

Two amazing pianists to check out from the classic jazz years are Fats Waller and Art Tatum, both with incredible chops. Sometimes Tatum overplays, in my opinion, but is always an experience.

Miles Davis' groups with Herbie Hancock (VSOP) made fabulous recordings. And Miles' late sixties records like Bitches Brew.

I know I'm mentioning all the historical stuff - I gotta admit there's not much in modern jazz that excites me.

For something more contemporary, a jazz monster is the Cuban pianist, Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Check out his album, Mi Gran Pasion, if you want to hear him with some great players (many of his records are solo piano). I love that record.

Dizzy Gillespie!

Then there are the jazz fusion years with Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever, and Weather Report especially recommended by moi.

I could type names all night, gotta stop now.

If you find something cool, come back to the thread and tell us what you think.

-Naren

[r0ck1r0ck2]

well...i'll second dizzy...

you really should check out your local public library for duke..

and yes...he's the man...

it's definately hard to pick one album to start with...but i usually start at the beginning..

listen to the punk stuff..and go from there..

but really...go to the library and check out about 5 albums..

the duke that i've got on LP is mostly from the 30's 40's golden era as mentioned..

but start with the earliest and work your way up..

it's more fun that way..

and if you're into miles please listen to "Birth Of The Cool"
that's his best by about 30 miles in my opinon....TUBA!!
and Gerry Mulligan Kicks much arrangement ass on it..

[klaukholm]

Not all Ellington albums are worth hearing. Ask an avid ellington fan for specific recommendations. His good albums were absolutely stunning.
In the category of unique is his arrangement of the Nutcracker and Peer Gynt.

My alltime favourite jazz albums are
Miles Davis "Kind of Blue"
Oscar Peterson "We get requests"

[doorknocker]

Just a few that come to mind right now:

'Getz/Giberto'

One of my absolute faves in any style. It's the birth of bossa nova and you won't find anybody swinging more efortlessly than Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto do here.


Jimmy Smith 'Back at the Chicken Shack'

Funky and swinging, bluesy and efforless. An album that always puts me in a good mood. Stanley Turrentine is an amazing and somewhat underrated tenor saxophonist with a huge tone and incredible melodic sense.


In a similar vein.....'Aligator Boogaloo' by Lou Donaldson

Also on Blue Note (you can't really go wrong with any Blue Nore record from the 50ies and 60ies) . Featuring a young George Benson and one of my fave ever drummers, Idirs Muhammad, then still known as Leo Morris.
This album was a big influence on the more recent Acid Jazz, Groove movement.


Charles Mingus 'Mingus Ah Um'

Bluesy, funky with some of his best compositions. 'Modern' jazz that is very visceral, daring but never high-brow. Mingus always played with strong blues and funk roots.


John Mc Laughlin 'Extrapolation'

Done in England before he started his US career with Miles Davis. This album pretty much sums 'spirit of the 60ies' to me. Heavily Coltrane-influenced and with Mc Laughlin playing in a more restrained and searching way than on his later work.


Rashaan Roland Kirk 'The Inflated Tear'

Stunningly beautiful and intebse late 60ies document.


'Jaco Pastorius'

His incredible solo debut. Besides all his innovations and unbelievable technique, Jaco was a died-in-teh-wool R+B player. Featuring Same + Dave on one cut.


.....and so many more, happy hunting!

[xj32]

I will second Kjetil,\

Everyone (not just jazz fans) should have Miles Davis "Kind of Blue"!

PAul

[themaidsroom]

i need to start with duke myself pretty soon.....i probably only have 5 records


far east suite
black, brown and beige
money jungle

what else ?

that's a big undertaking, but worth it.......black, brown and beige is pretty
amazing with duke compositions and mahalia jackson singing.....

more later......

- jack

[max cooper]

I've been buying Duke records out of second-hand bins for a while now.

There are a lot of what are called "stomp" records. They were sort of the equivalent of house music today. I don't know the genesis, but they were dance hall things with really strong one and three.

Not very good listening.

But that being said, nobody beats Duke.

[soultrane]

Originally Posted by nd33

Hi all.
I'm usually found listening to r&b, funk and a little of whatever but I feel it's time to expand my musical horizons and delve into a bit of jazz.

Reading Bruce Swediens postings about working with Duke Ellington has got me excited about picking up a couple of his albums on vinyl but......

Where do you start with an artist so prolific?

What would be considered his classic or signature albums?

What other artists should a jazz newby try?

I'm not too fussed on what style of jazz it is, I just really wanna start with some classics, but I will mention I dig some funky kind of jazz I've found such as Weldon Irvine, Willie Mitchell and Ronnie Foster.


Cheers
Nate

hi;

here are my top 10 ellington albums (not necessarily in this order);

1) ellington uptown

2) ellington indigos

3) afro-eurasian eclipse

4) duke ellington and john coltrane

5) three suites

6) black brown & beige

7) anatomy of a murder

8) his mother called him bill

9) 'ellington '55 (incredible sonics...)

10) ella at duke's place

[George Necola]

cool, I will go to the store an look for Oscar Peterson "We get requests"

thanx for the tip!

[George Necola]

cool, I will go to the store an look for Oscar Peterson "We get requests"

I bought it!!
what a grat RECORD!! the drumplaying is incredible.. very nice songs:D

[patshep]

there is a 3 cd set of the blanton-webster years that is great.. also try the 'tribune' series, which looks like a newspaper.. may be a european import? i also love duke/johnny hodges play the blues 'back to back' and the far east suite.. some of dukes' best was with billy strayhorn
also... a great, great album is thelonious monk plays duke ellington... a must have!

[Dzoing]

Originally Posted by George Necola

cool, I will go to the store an look for Oscar Peterson "We get requests"

I bought it!!
what a grat RECORD!! the drumplaying is incredible.. very nice songs:D

Peterson "We get requests" is absolutly GREAT. Oscar Peterson (p), Ray Brown (b), Ed Thigpen (dr), is one of the best jazz rythmic section ever. Check out some of their oher recordings, such as "Night Train": just pure swing...

[Dzoing]

As far as Ellington... one of his BEST record playing trio: "Money Jungle", with Max Roach (dr), Charlie Mingus (b): OMG !!!
So GREAT, though not representative of Ellington as a big band arranger, rather Ellington just as a pianist.

[rush]

Originally Posted by nd33

What other artists should a jazz newby try?

In addition to Ellington here's some biggies to start you off:
Louis Armstrong (West End Blues)
Count Bassie (One O'clock Jump)
Billie Holiday (My Man)
Sidney Bechet (Shake it and Break it)
The Dave Brubeck Quartet (Take Five)
Miles Davis (Flamenco Sketches)
Charlie Parker (Ko-Ko)
Benny Goodman (Sing, Sing, Sing)

[donsolo]

Jazz Newbie, here's a fun topic and just my take as must-have stuff across a whole range of jazz sub-genres:

Jaco Pastorious - Jaco Pastorious

Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis - Sketches of Spain
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
John Coltrane - My Favorite Things
John Coltrane - Giant Steps

Oregon - Out of the Woods

Pat Metheney - New Chataqua
Pat Metheney - Bright Size Life

Wes Montgomery/Wynton Kelly - Smokin at the Half Note

Shakti w/John McLaughlin - Shakti
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Anything

Dave Brubeck - Time Out
Dave Brubeck - Anything else you can get your hands on

Weather Report - Heavy Weather

Anything from the Lounge Lizards
Anything from Brad Mehldau

Duke Ellington with John Coltrane is my favorite Duke Record though.

I'm sure there's a bunch I'm missing because I'm not sitting next to my records but some of that is pretty far from the spectrum in terms of what's already been discussed...I suggest previewing as your tastes may not love everything on the list

[boojum]

All good, all good. I prefer Brubeck Jazz Goes to College and Jazz Goes to Junior College for old fashioned, straight ahead jazz. Here is a sleeper from the land of the Midnight Sun and a great jazz pianist who met an untimely death in an auto accident, Jan Johannson, Jazz på Svenska which means, I think, Jazz from Sweden. He had several records but this is a classic statement of his skills. I believe he had a funny way of tuning his piano, too. Any Swedes who can help out on this wonderful artist??

And Fats Waller, the foundation of what I learned in jazz as a wee lad on my father's knee. A great stride piano man was Fats, also an untimely death but due to immoderate habits

[king2070lplaya]

My recommended chronology

Louis Armstrong Hot 5s and 7s
Jelly Roll Morton
Fletcher Henderson
James P Johnson
Fats Waller
Early Basie
Early Ellington
Tommy Dorsey
Benny Goodman BB and Quintet
Billy Eckstine BB
Roy Eldridge
Charlie Parker
Dizzy Gillespie (40s tracks)
40s miles
Blakey messengers (w/ Clifford brown
Brown and Max Roach quintet
Coltrane - Giant Steps
Miles "birth of the cool"
Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan
Miles w/ Coltrane/Chambers/Jo Jones
(his first ____tet)
Miles - kind of blue, miles ahead, sketches of Spain, porgy and bess)
Stan Kenton 50s-60s records
Basie - Chairman, April in Paris, Atomic Basie, at the Sands
Middle Blakey/Messangers records (w/ Dorham, Morgan, Shaw on trumpet)
60s Blue Note records (by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Donald Byrd)
60s Ornette Coleman
Trane - favorite things, live at the vanguard, love supreme, late stuff (stellar regions etc)
Miles quintet 2 (miles smiles, ESP, silent way)
Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay
Miles - Bitches Brew, live evil, at the Isle of Wight, well all 70s records
Herbie Hancock - headhunters
Weather Report - Sweetnighter, Heavy Weather
Chick Corea/return to forever - 70s records (light as a feather etc)
Woody Herman - Thundering Herd (70s) and Giant Steps
Keith Jarrett - 70s albums and live stuff
VSOP live

I'll stop there. Ive left some things out, I know, but these are my favs/are the most important to my understanding of jazz. Hope you like em

[panatrope]

Given Miles' generous tribute to Satchmo ("there's nothing I can play that he hasn't played already" -but that was before his more substance-fuelled electric days), you may find it interesting to spend some time listening to music from the '20s, '30s and '40s that influenced what was played from the '50s.

If you are interested in vinyl, you might like to chase up copies of the legendary Time-Life series "Giants of Jazz" from the late '70s -early '80s. No.1 was Louis, no.2 was Duke, No.3 was Billie -- up to No.28 Bessie Smith, with Fats, Tatum, Basie, Hawk, Prez and many other influentials in between. There could be found eBay in the '90s from deceased estates, etc., but I think they may have genuine collectable status by now. They have great liner notes with them if you are interested in learning ...

Jazz in the '20s and '30s was about making people happy. A golden and ground-breaking era. Oh, and listen to how recording techniques developed as well, and how good a lot of that stuff was.

[Daniel Stark]

****And His Mother Called him Bill****
****Far East Suite****

Nuff said.

[hsal]

+1 to Jan Johanson

great record with another pianist who leaves who has alot of "space" in his playing:
Ahmad Jahmal "At the Pershing: But Not for Me"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg7-B3FvdHk

the groove starting at 2.15 is magical

[Ozpeter]

What on earth has caused this very old thread suddenly to be resurrected in this incorrect forum? Weird.

[boojum]

Originally Posted by Ozpeter

What on earth has caused this very old thread suddenly to be resurrected in this incorrect forum? Weird.

New moon??

[Jack Luminous]

I'd start with "Money Jungle" then "Duke Ellington and John Coltrane". For the others, Miles Davis "Kind Of Blue", John Coltrane "Love Supreme", Bud Powell "the Amazing Bud Powell", Wes Montgomery "Smokin' at the Half Note", Freddie Hubbard "Red Clay" etc. etc.