An Entry Point to Jazz for Those Who Don’t Like It, But Want To!

Part 5 of 5

Great! You made it this far. You are certainly developing your sophisticated ear.  At this point, you are enjoying the many components of jazz; the vocal narratives, melody, improvisation of various instruments, and the wonders of an ensemble.  Jazz is not elusive for you.

Singer’s singer Rachelle Farrell is as good as it gets!

I’ll make this quick so as not to take up too much of your listening time.  At this point, take the time to combine all the elements of listening to and understanding jazz-its narrative, its melody, its improvisation, and the workings of the ensemble albeit in equal parts.  Take a listen to singer and pianist Rachelle Farrell’s “Bye Bye Blackbird.”  Farrell combines all the elements at a high level.  Her talent shines through.  Be Careful, this is an advance listen so, turn it up as loud as you can!

And for your final listen, sit back and take in Gregory Porter’s “Be Good (Lion’s Song)”  Enjoy this with your new and burgeoning sophisticated ears!

In the end, jazz is a musically powerful language that has spoken to many and spoken for many.  It is the U.S.’s original art form.  It is classic! So continue to listen and explore the many genres of jazz such as Bebop, fusion, afro-Cuban, avant-garde, and smooth jazz to name a few.  You now have found your entry point to jazz!

Click highlighted genres for great examples.

Black Music Month Pt. 3 of 4: Jazz

Jazz is by far the most influential music ever created.  I know this is a bold statement, but it is true.  Jazz music has a critical global influence.  I would wager there is no place in the world anyone can travel and not hear some form of Jazz.  There are no pages left in Jazz’s passport.  The genre has never had any problems making its way through customs.  Jazz music, once known as jungle music, and music of the savage, capable of corrupting minds of the most pure soul, and inherently evil, ascended out of the brothels of Storyville, danced its way through the mean streets of St. Louis and Chicago, learned to swing in Harlem, and took flight across The Pond with all the sensibilities of the Black American struggle, was ultimately embraced by the world.

Jay McNeely corrupting the minds of the pure

Jazz, also known as American Classical Music, carries with it the entire narrative of the Black presence on American soil.  It is truth, it is emotion, it is literate, it is pompous, it is fresh, it is uncontainable, and it is love all at the same time.  Jazz is universally appealing and has the ability to change lives.

As the Jazz genre emerged out of the turn of the century, it shifted and transformed its style, rhythm, and movement to accommodate the changing cultural and social tides in America.  Today, moreover, through it all it has been sincere in its production and its message to the masses.

Continue to celebrate this BMM and listen to as much Jazz as you possibly can.  Check out the origins of Jazz in the recordings of Scott Joplin and Buddy Bolden.  Listen to the role of the Blues in the formation of Jazz with W. C. Handy, and Jelly Roll Morton.  Dive deep in to the era that placed Jazz on the map and check out the work of Louis Armstrong.  Learn about swing through the bands of Count Basie, Cab Calloway, and Duke Ellington.  Listen to amazing and classic voices (singers struggle to emulate today) of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Johnny Hartman.

Unmatchable voice

Find out what all the fuss is about Bebop by listening to Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Bud Powell.  Listen to the magic of Jazz through Miles Davis and John Coltrane.  Groove to the descargas of Afro-Cuban Jazz y escuchan a Chano Pozo, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Dizzy Gillespie (yes him again), Eddie Palmieri.  Then be reminded Jazz is still hot today and check out the new lions such as Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove, Gregory Porter, Esperanza Spalding, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Robert Glasper.

For now, listen to 4 of my favorites.

Gregory Porter: Your Sunday iPod Add 5/13/12

Welcome to the first Sunday iPod add.  This is a weekly* series that I moved from my Facebook page to my blog.  The purpose of the Sunday iPod add is to introduce and/or remind music lovers of what I feel are seldom-heard great music, songs, and artists.  Your Sunday iPod add will center on new under the radar music and artists that I believe have been missed by the general public aka “slept on.”  In the end, I’ll always encourage you to add these songs to your iPod (or whatever device you are using) and in doing so you will graciously thank me later.

So here is your first Sunday iPod add­–Gregory Porter’s “Be Good.” Porter is the real deal.  If you ever wanted to truly know what a soulful voice sounds like then take a listen.  This Grammy nominated and onetime football player headed to the NFL is billed as a jazz singer but, Porter is capable of singing anything he damn well pleases.  The tone of his voice is mesmerizing and perfect in every way.  His lyrics are indeed a breath of fresh air.  He uses music to tell a story with perfect inflection and cadence.  The way it should be done.  You are most likely not going to hear his music on the radio (too bad for radio).  This is good music y’all!  Add this song to your iPod and you will thank me later.

I’m making plans now to see him at the Mint this September.

For more on Gregory Porter: http://www.gregoryporter.com/

(* I might miss a week here and there)

Take a listen:

Here is an bonus song to add to your iPod. Hold onto you socks for this one!