These are two soulful jazz albums I HIGHLY recommend!
Donald Byrd "Places & Spaces".
Ramsey Lewis "The Piano Player".
Donald Byrd "Places & Spaces".
Ramsey Lewis "The Piano Player".
Introducing somebody to Miles Davis via "Bitches Brew" is kind of like introducing someone to The Beatles with "Revolution No. 9"...
I'd obviously not been able to avoid hearing The Beatles' pop hits, but coming from an industrial/noise music background, "Revolution No. 9" is the song that made me delve into their catalog.
As far as jazz, lately I've been coming to grips with the vast Sun Ra discography.
There are some great suggestions and some great music in this thread, but much of it misses what the OP has clearly stated as his entry-point preference. King Crimson is not Jazz, but I think we are closer to the mark there.
I can empathize with the OP's position, as I'm someone that was seduced through the music to move from Rock to Prog to Fusion to Straight Ahead/Bop/Modern (which is where I spend a huge chunk of my listening time these days and for the last many years).
I would suggest that you decide whether the funky side of Jazz or the more progressive/Fusion side is where you want to hang. Then choose from the lists provided here accordingly.
One group that goes both ways (Funk and Progressive Instrumental/Fusion) that I haven't seen mentioned is Brand X.
Brand X has it all (if that's your thing)-- Scorching fusion guitar, great keyboards and composition, and even connections to rock with Phil Collins guesting on drums frequently, as well as a Herbie/Headhunters connection with the great Mike Clark on an album or two as well. Also, for my money, Percy Jones eats Jaco Pastorius' lunch on electric bass.
Check out Brand X.
GJ
My first jazz album was Bitches Brew. I was told by a friend that "coming from a rock & roll background, you'll get it." It worked for me. Soon after, I got Coltrane's A Love Supreme. When I started listening to Miles Davis' classic late 50s output, I could hear how Bitches deconstructed the earlier jazz. But, yeah, if I were teaching a course in jazz, there is something to be said for some sort of chronological understanding. But, of course, Bitches makes a solid argument that time and space are a cosmic Mobius strip.
I'd obviously not been able to avoid hearing The Beatles' pop hits, but coming from an industrial/noise music background, "Revolution No. 9" is the song that made me delve into their catalog.
As far as jazz, lately I've been coming to grips with the vast Sun Ra discography.
I come from the place of liking Miles pre-60's work the best.
I really need to get my digital front side going again. I've been going down the analog only rabbit hole, but I have to be selective with my funds. I might have to...GASP!...buy albums instead of gear! But loving the suggestions. Now if only the SO would slow down with this whole "We have to get the house renovated so I don't go insane and murder you in your sleep!" thing...I'd have more quality listening time.
Thankfully, not a real problem. She knows my passions and lets me indulge if it IS in fact a good deal. She was fully supportive of me spontaneously buying a McIntosh C28 I happened to see sitting on a shelf at a record store we stopped into out of town. I didn't buy it, which turned out to be a good thing as it was needing service, but the fact she outright stated she had no problem with a spur of the moment $500 purchase was very nice.I completely identify with you, as I assume most do, about this plight.
Saturday, I was poised to buy a quad sansui I've had my eye on. I went down stairs to check on something and found the carpet wet where I stepped. That's not good.
Turns out my water heater died and was pouring out water onto the floor. It just so happened the cost of the water heater is around the same as the amp. Oh well.
And the age old decision...wether to buy records or equipment? I try to bounce back and forth between the two, month by month, depending what I need.
But, when a good deal comes along, sometimes you gotta jump on it.
Try explaining that to the SO.