jazz....?

ive never gived it a try, but so many people in here, some of the wisest like jazz.. i figured out there must be something special in it. what is it?? is it understandable to an ignorant such as i am??

Ignorance can be fixed ;)

I wouldn't say jazz is any more special than other genres of music, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to learn some. I think a lot of people are scared away by jazz because it comes off as very technical, when in reality it's all about expression. Likewise, any jazz theory you learn can easily be applied to other genres of music, and vice versa.

Jazz is really a philosophy, and it's all about freedom and self-expression. Anybody who understands that can play jazz. Theory is very handy, but I've always felt that in order to be a real musician, you need to know how to break the rules, so to speak.

Jazz just explains how to venture out of scales, to learn the rules and then break them, be free to say what you want in any means. It helps you to comprehend every other style and understand why they all work. It’s free flowing.

But if you don't like Jazz, and you don't enjoy the feel of it, I wouldn't look into it, there's no point in doing something you don't really like. It won't make music as fun as it should be.

Personally I love Jazz, and find it the most educational genre there is. (As well as Classical). But with me, the music I make are so many other styles, from Trance, to Classical, to Jazz and more. I just learn Jazz to understand everything else. It works like a charm.

basically all what foogered/jazzMav said, and Jazz(generally but not just or in the no way the most "bebop") is "more hands on" (for lack of a better term) then other types of music. Noticeably when learning to play the changes. so it's the best way(i feel and not the only way) to learn music theory.

But do what you want to do and be yourself. the whole point in music(if you ask me) is to express yourself with sound and no one can tell you or teach you how to do that or what is the right way to do it. even with all the theory and knowledge of everything in world. A man making music with rusty spoons and no sense of rhythm can be more expressive then a deadpan 20,000$ a night cellist with a 10,000$ cello playing the new "intellectual mans" Mozart transcription that changes every week.

this is of topic(i hate how it gets that way here) but ever seen "Good will Hunting" (haven't seen it in a long time so forgive me) when he gets into a argument with some snob at the bar and tells the guy what he is going to say before and even says it and then tells the man his new opinion will be when the next up and coming bestseller hits. i loved that part. [thats what i mean by "intellectual man"

the bebop thing seem confusing so I'm going to explain it again. I was just saying that Bebop is one of the more "hands on" forms of just but not the only and certainly not the most look at Modal jazz.

also what jazz said(she got there before me)

any jazz artist youll recommend to your buddy?

if your looking for some jazz guitarists i'd recomend George Benson, Al Di Meola, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, Jim Hall, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrel, Pat Martino, Pat Metheny, Tal Farlow, and Wes Montgomery.

That should get you started. most of this is i think called bebop jazz you may want to get into fusion but everyone recommends getting into bebop and big band style first.

In the past 12 months I have seriously been turned onto jazz, mostly because when you find yourself using the same boring chords and scales you want something that will give a different flavour, something more exotic and special, which jazz does. My favourite sub-genre is contemporary jazz and I'm not afraid to admit it; I know how many jazz devotees say that contemporary isn't 'real' jazz and they're all posers. Frankly I don't care because I LOVE it! Favourite artists are Kenny G, Fourplay, 3rd Force, Solar Wind, Larry Carlton, Pat Metheny, Johnny A, Chick Corea and Eric Marienthal.

Afro

Thelonious Monk, one of the best. don't worry to much if they play the guitar worry more about the music they make.

Well, one thing I like jazz is its diversity. If you dont like traditional jazz, you may well like smooth jazz or groove jazz forexample... I think in every man and woman have their own "Jazz inside"... how it come out, its always interesting to hear.

Cheerio!
Empirism

Tele, George Benson is more smooth and crossover Jazz, John McLaughlin is pretty versatile and I'd list a number of genres within his playing.

Afro, great choices there!

List of some Jazz guitarists you might not have heard of:

Acoustic Alchemy
Scott Henderson
Charlie Christian
Grant Green
Wes Mongomery
Django Reinhardt
Pat Martino
Kenny Burrell
Pat Metheny
Charlie Byrd
Herb Ellis
Joe Pass
Jim Hall
Duke Robillard
John Scofield
Mundell Lowe
Gene Bertancini
Tal Farlow
Stanley Jordan
Ed Bickert
Aaron "T-Bone" Walker
Martin Taylor
Earl Klugh
Bill Frisell
Barney Kessel

Those are only the guitarists. Wait until you come across the other musicians!!

Charlie Parker
Kenny G
Four Play
Dave Brubeck
Thelonous Monk
Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
Jimmie Lunceford
Benny Goodman
Fletcher Henderson
Ella Fitzgerald
The Andrews Sisters
Vic Schoen
Lionel Hampton
Louis Jordan
Betty Hutton
Paul Weston
Roy Milton
His Solid Senders
D!ck Haymes (won't let me type it properly, no wonder!)
Roy Brown
Ray Anthony

Ok I'll stop now... there's loads. That should keep you busy for quite some time!!

Check out the list on my profile should you want to listen to more versatile artists.

Wow, quite a list... (*browsing youtube*) ^_^

jazzy, dear jazzy, the list you wrote was.. insane.... i must say i think you really love jazz... i had already heard of ocoustic alchemy, thnks to dylan, he told me you recommended it to him.

ill see as much as i can in my dayly basis of 24 hours of free time

haha I contained myself from going even further :P

Hope you like them. Also, check out Hiromi an AMAZING female Jazz Pianist, who astounds me. She's just so epic.

My favorite jazz artist is Michael Buble, though not many of his songs use guitar

Buble is very easy on the ears though if you're new to Jazz. He's got a great voice.

Trust me. learn some jazz chords:) its so fun to play around with and they sound beautiful!

please dont get into jazz through KENNY G!

he should be illegal, sorry guys

I always recomend the album "Kinda Blue" by Miles Davis.

I just remembered. Joe Pass. Get the best of Joe Pass. Great solo jazz guitar!

WHAT ABOUT GUTHRIE GOVAN! Or I really like Steve Vai's jazz particularly the song Tender Surrender.

i cant believe you guys left out the yellow jackets!!! or jaco pastorious, fourplay, jimmy bruno and chik corea

DSC, it's a matter of opinion. Plus, you don't really have any right to criticize his work, since he has made it out there in the world. He has fans, so he's obviously not crap.

I wouldn't class Steve Vai as Jazz, he's merely versatile. But Guthrie Govan is awesome.

Chick Corea's also on my profile, so I didn't bother typing it on here. And Afro already mentioned it above :P

I know, but KENNY G!

I just didnt think two moderators on a great guitar site like this could possibly be Kenny G fans

Sorry, I'll keep my opinions to myself about Kenneth G now, consider me told.

A couple new fusion bands I like - Jazz Pistols and Garaj Mahal

kenny g should be illegal. but for some reason i havent seen anybody mention john coltrane or bill evans. the two best jazz artists. why is this? or medeski martin and wood are amazing also. check them out. they play with scofield a bunch.

Because we listed Jazz guitarists.

And Kenny G is a legend. You can't mock anyone until you've made it into the music world. It's also down to personal opinion on who's good and who's not.

yeah jazzmaverick, duke ellington and louis armstrong were definetly jazz guitarist. you got me. and when you said "It's also down to personal opinion on who's good and who's not."..... is like someone asking you to point them in the direction of a good rock band and you replying with "check out nickelback." im just saying there were better musicians to tell this kid about than kenny g.

Again, define 'better'?

Afro

Kenny G sounds like elevator/doctor's surgery musak to me. If I listen hard enough, I can hear people coughing in the distance!

Free jazz?

So George Pritchett.? Was a Milwaukee legend. He died, in 1987 at the age of 56. His kids have put together a website about him including some LP rip's of his two albums.

George Pritchett
for info

George Pritchett the tunes for the Music.

Enjoy

talking about free jazz you need to hit up

SUN RA

one of the best musicians of the 20th century in American pop music. has influenced so much it's Immeasurable

That and i love "medeski martin and wood" differently a place to start if you never listen to jazz but no where near the end and if you do stop there your missing a lot.

on Kenny G however, i argue the whole opinion thing too and would never say anything bad unless directly asked for an opinion but come on defending Kenny G like this is a little ridiculous and i agree there better musicians to recommenced in the way of thinking that you'd recommend some one more influential or if removed would change the face of music. for Example if asked about the British invasion you'd say Beatles, Rolling stones, Kinks, ect. not The Dave Clark Five.(a very bad example but hopefully you get the point that when thinking of jazz Kenny G isn't the first thing that should come to mind)