All That Jazz: The All-Purpose Jazz Thread

[Adam Crocker]

I'm looking the bulk up my jazz selection in my music collection a bit and am specifically looking at work by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Coleman Hawkins. I'm specifically asking about these artists because I am interested in them, but I can't make heads or tails of their large discography (laden with reissues as it is) so I don't know where to start. (With Miles, 'Trane, and artists closer to the LP era its a bit easier to identify albums and such.) So I'm asking what works by them that are out there that are worth checking out. I'm willing to get a good compilation, though usually I'm an album man, though I'm not sure how much that format applies to many of these musicians. Your suggestions will be much appreciated.

[Punchy]

Unfortunately those guys put out so much work on smaller record labels and on singles, there really aren't specific albums of theirs available. So we mostly have compilations and retrospectives. Gillespie has a lot of work from the late 50s on that you can buy albums of, but his best stuff is before that.

I find in the case of bebop that this isn't a bad thing. I, like you, much prefer albums. But our idea of an album (a body of material representing a singular idea or period of time for the artist) doesn't really apply to bebop. I'm not sure any of their work in the 40s was even released on LP.

My advice for you would be to buy a two or three disc set of their complete works on a certain label. For example there are sets available of Charlie Parker's complete recordings for Dial, Savoy, Verve, etc. I have a good one from Gillespie, his complete RCA/Victor recordings.

There are also live recordings which you might prefer since they were usually recorded from one concert or club engagement.

Other than that here are some good records to check out. Most of the re-releases include alternate takes, extras, etc:

The Quintet (Parker, Gillespie, Mingus, Roach, and Powell) Jazz at Massey Hall
Charlie Parker Charlie Parker With Strings
Dizzy Gillespie Something Old/Something New
Dizzy Gillespie Sonny Side Up

[Adam Crocker]

Thanks Punchy. I suspected that the album didn't really apply to these guys. I'll be sure to check out the compilations out there as well as the CDs you reccommended.

[Devon C.]

Which is the better genre of music?

[literally exaggerated]

Jazz. J-pop doesn't just blow, its highly derivative of stuff which blew in the first place. Jazz basically lead to a lot of modern music, plus it has a ton of fantastic musicianship.

[d00m]

Theres nothing to debate here... jazz absolutely blows j pop out of the water man!

(though I do enjoy the Pillows and the 5.6.7.8.s ;)) but theres just no comparison.

[Sanagi]

There are J-Pop songs I like, but it's pop music, which is almost by definition a more limited genre than jazz.

That's as long as we're generalizing, of course. Genre is illusionary.

[Punchy]

I hate categorization too but is this even a legitimate question? GEEZ!

[Adam Crocker]

I hate categorization too but is this even a legitimate question? GEEZ!

That's what I was going to say, but I then I realised that I didn't have an appropriate response for what obviously must be a joke thread.

But the REAL question is, what is more evil? Norwegian Death Metal or J-Pop? :evilsmile

[The Defenestrator]

I feel J-Pop is more ironic when bludgeoning a person to death with a brick or shoe, but Jazz stylistically matches strangulation and asphyxiation better.

:evilsmile

[Rob H]

Many Jazz fans here?

I haven't heard much but I've got a bit....

My brother gave me a Charlie "Bird" Parker album when I was quite young and that kinda paved the way for my interest. I went with Miles Davis' "If I were A Bell" back towards the beginning of high school and didn't care for it all that much. A year or so ago, I picked up Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" which was fantastic. Eventually branched out to a couple of other artists; John Zorn(didn't do all that much for me but Naked City rocks) and Frank Zappa(I guess you can call him jazz). I've just recently picked up Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" which kicks major arse.

I know there're a few Miles Davis fans out there. What're you into?

[Jonathan Bogart]

My favorite period of jazz is from its slow development through ragtime and whorehouse party music to the rise of bop in the late thirties and forties. Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, Sidney Bechet, Eddie Lang & Joe Venuti, Eubie Sissle. I especially like the edges of early jazz, where it fades into show music (as with George Gershwin or Ethel Waters), or blues (as with Bessie Smith or Pinetop Perkins), or country (as with Bob Wills or the Mississippi Sheiks).

I love early jazz because it has the same youthful energy, the same something-to-prove attitude and joy in its ability to express it, that characterizes early rock & roll, the rock explosion of the late sixties, and punk.

I'm pretty familiar with the rest of jazz history, but it's a whole different kind of appreciation, less pop thrill and more disciplined listening.

[Rob H]

Out of the names listed, I've heard some Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong. I've always wanted to give Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and a little more Coltrane a try. The only exposure I've ever had to Ella is Summertime and that was to play at my "Performance platform" class back at uni.

How does Jazz fade into Country? Maybe I should give Bob Wills and the Mississippi Sheiks a listen.

[estee]

I'm a big Be-Bop fan...Miles, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Jackie McLean, all those cats.

When I started listening I heard All Blues one day on the radio and had to have it. So I bought Kind of Blue. Right off the bat I had the finest jazz album ever made.

I'm sorta sliding into Fusion now, and Latin jazz too. Its all good.

[Valmore]

I'm a heretic, because I like the Big Band sound - Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Artie Shaw - stuff like that.

[scratchie]

Charles Mingus and John Coltrane are my favorites.

[Punchy]

Did someone say jazz? HA!

Jazz music is my life, quite literally. I've been a jazz musician professionally since I got my masters degree in jazz performance a few years ago.

I love all periods of jazz but my favorites are hard-bop (Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Clifford Brown, Dexter Gordon, Lee Morgan ...), post-bop (Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ornette Coleman), fusion, and modern jazz.

Yes there are NEW jazz artists out there making great music worth listening to. Jazz music is finally being put in the context of our time instead of just re-creating what happened in the 50s and 60s. New artists are incorperating rock, R&B, and hip-hop influences. This is my favorite stuff right now. Brad Meldhau, The Bloomdaddies, Happy Apple, The Bad Plus, Jason Moran and Bandwagon, Robert Glasper, Christian McBride Band, Cassandra Wilson, etc.

I also love standards vocalists, Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Billie Holiday, etc.

And anything Miles Davis or John Coltrane ever did. Even Miles's stuff in the 80s and Trane's experimental modal stuff.

[Spike-X]

Even Miles's stuff in the 80s...

Even the elevator music version of Time After Time?

[Eliot Johnson]

I adore Bitches Brew...I need to hear more jazz...

[Slam_Bradley]

I'm a pretty big jazz fan (not Punchy big, but still big). I predominantly listen to Hard Bop and Post-Bop. Huge fan of Miles Davis. Huge fan of Joe Henderson. Love Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins.

I'm also a big fan of vocal jazz and standards. Billie Holliday, Sinatra, Bennett, Dean Martin.

And I listen to a fair amount of Latin Jazz. I'm a huge fan of Pancho Sanchez and Chucho Valdes.

[Aelo]

Jazz music is indeed the stuff. I picked up some a Grant Green album the other day, along with a few Lionel Hampton and Jimmy Smith joints. Just wait until I learn how how to play the organ like Jimmy...

[estee]

I'm a heretic, because I like the Big Band sound - Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Artie Shaw - stuff like that.

Nothing wrong with Big Band...I love that big fat sound it had.

[Rob Allen]

I'm listening to the local jazz radio station now, as I do most days. I'm lucky to have a good jazz station in my area; do you?

KMHD-FM, Gresham, Oregon (http://www.kmhd.fm/)

[Adam Crocker]

How does Jazz fade into Country? Maybe I should give Bob Wills and the Mississippi Sheiks a listen.

Not familiar with Mississippi Sheiks yet, but Western Swing, whose apex was the mid forties, is the most obvious place. Bob Wills' Texas Playboys were equally adept at playing country songs as they were the big-band hits of the day. Hank Thompson was another noted practitioner, and rock'n'roll owes a fair bit to it. Chuck Berry picked up some things from Bob Wills, Bill Halely and the Comets were originally western swing (hence the solo in 'Rock Around the Clock'), and Scotty Moore got it second hand from Merle Travis. Oh damnit, and I forgot Les Paul, another great jazz guitarist who picked up a fair bit from country (bonus points if anyone can guess which two guitar virtuosos he influenced!) Chet Atkins was another great country guitarist and took the lessons of jazz to heart and spun off some great instrumentals.

Jim Campilongo's a modern practitioner of the style in the vein of Atkins but with a earthier, blusier approach. (You're better off sticking to his earlier work which is louder, wilder, and wirier.) Bill Frisell's Americana stuff is a sort of weird off-shoot of the style though it's far away from what would be traditionally labelled jazz with its lack of swing and delay drenched sound. But damnit if Nashville isn't my favourite lazy sunday record.


I picked up some a Grant Green album the other day,

Loved Grant Green ever since I borrowed Green Street from the library. (Rob, if you're interested get that album or the Complete Quartets with Sonny Clark, which is a great example of hard-bop and soul jazz.) Probably my favourite jazz guitarist besides Django Reinhardt, who deftly fused the music of Europe's gyspies with American Swing.

[Slam_Bradley]

Oh damnit, and I forgot Les Paul, another great jazz guitarist who picked up a fair bit from country (bonus points if anyone can guess which two guitar virtuosos he influenced!) Chet Atkins was another great country guitarist and took the lessons of jazz to heart and spun off some great instrumentals.



Les Paul's influence is almost incalculable across musical genres. His incorporation of C & W influences into his swing and jazz records caused a ton of cross-pollination between the styles.

Not only was he a huge influence on Chet Atkins (second only to Merle Travis), but was also a major influence on Jimmie Page and Jeff Beck.

[Ed Cunard]

Nothing wrong with Big Band...I love that big fat sound it had.

Agreed. Really, any form of jazz save for circa '80s and '90s light jazz, I'm cool with. Big band, swing, ragtime, be-bop, fusion, standards--it's all good. It probably makes up half of what I listen to these days.

[Ed Cunard]

As to more specific mentions of things I love: Thelonius Monk, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Django Reinhardt, Cole Porter, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Glen Miller, Jelly Roll Morton, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Billie Holliday, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, Edith Piaf, Diana Krall (sorry, Lone Ranger), the Gershwins, Tommy Dorsey, Roy Haynes, Artie Shaw...

I mean, I could list names all day. Loves me the jazz, I do.

[Adam Crocker]

...but was also a major influence on Jimmie Page and Jeff Beck.

*Gives Slam the bonus points*

[Jonathan Bogart]

Not familiar with Mississippi Sheiks yet, but Western Swing, whose apex was the mid forties, is the most obvious place.
Also, as I've been rediscovering lately, bluegrass (as Bill Monroe shaped it) was very jazz-inflected. I can't recall offhand exactly which bluegrass guitar player made my jaw drop the other day (he was playing so fast he was virtually tapping a la Van Halen, and on an acoustic! in the 1940s!), but instrumental virtuosity in the jazz sense is a standard requirement for a good bluegrass musician.

[heavysoul]

Many Jazz fans here? I know there're a few Miles Davis fans out there. What're you into?
My favorite Jazz eras are the late 20s and the early to mid 60s (Swing and BeBop). I dig the raw KC sound of Basie's orchestra as well... I've always considered that sound Big Band Rock'n'Roll. Tatem, Gislespie, Davis, Parker, Coltrane, Calloway, Holiday, Ellington, Simone, Fitzgerald, Armstrong all day and night long!!!

[Totoro Man]

I'm not the most jazz-savvy guy out there... but I enjoy it. my favorites are probably Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, and Bill Evans (they're all very brainy jazz musicians!)

I honestly loved Ornette Coleman's "Free Jazz" recording. it was the unbridled chaos and improvisation. besides, the bass duel/duet between Scott LaFaro and Charlie Haden pretty much makes it worth the price of the CD! he's not for everybody, but "Free Jazz" predates the "Bitches Brew" recordings by nearly a decade, and I can't imagine Miles NOT having listened to it.

Dave Brubeck, love him or hate him, wrote some good songs... and if he was good enough for Miles Davis that should count for something... a lot of earlier jazz critics can be pretty... "ethnocentric", meaning that they hate white jazz musicians when there's no good reason to!

speaking of white jazz-musicians, Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra doing "Song for Che" is one of my all time jazz recordings. the violence and anger and sorrow that comes out of that recording is a genuinely satisfying musical experience.

I don't know if the purists would regard him as "jazz" but Frank Zappa's written some great tunes that COULD be jazz standards if people played them more often.

Mingus is pretty awesome. there's too many great jazz musicians to really rattle off all at once.

well, the funny thing about "jazz" and "country" is that when you listen to Hank Williams Sr. and some of those slide guitar solos--you can hear the influence of jazz on the chords and melodic passages. I consider that to be preferable to the country - rock synthesis that's been happening more often these days.

[Rob Allen]

I recently heard a really interesting jazz/bluegrass hybrid - a quartet of mandolin (David Grisman), guitar (Jerry Garcia), bass, & drums, playing Miles Davis' "So What". Good music.

[toni_dawg]

ya so i ran across this cd by this guy named wayman tisdale at work at umg today and i have just recently gotten to jazz so i decided to check it out... its actually really good. i didnt think it would be because i knew wayman from his days on the suns in the NBA and i figured hed just be another one of those athletes turning musician. anyway to my surprise i really enjoyed it. i even went to his site to check him out some more and apparently hes coming out with a new cd at the end of the month. i listened to that one too on his site and i like it the best out of all his stuff. its really relaxing and i really like the bass so i particularly liked his riffs. so check him out if your a jazz fan or just like relaxing music- waymantisdale.com

[Punchy]

Before we go to far let me just say that Wayman is SMOOTH Jazz. I wouldn't want anyone to confuse his music with Branford Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Brad Meldhau, etc.

Being a bass player from Indiana (Tisdale started his career with the Indiana Pacers) I think it's great that he has a successful career as a bassist after his basketball career. Some of the stuff I've heard is pretty good, I'm just not into smooth jazz that much. But good for him.

Maybe I should pursue a basketball career .... HA!

[Jonathan Bogart]

Even though the original post was Astroturf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing), I was reminded of Stephen Colbert's uforgettable Hiphopketball: A Jazzebration (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pT3ynGhbMc). And Part II (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgmyaSPFSnA).

[Choreoanimation]

I've also heard that Bernie Williams of the New York Yankees is an accomplished musician as well...I'm wanting to say he plays bass too, but I'm not sure. I've never heard his stuff, but I've heard he's really good.

[Punchy]

That was a funny ass skit Jonathan.

And I believe Bernie plays nylon-string guitar.

[Pinball]

Yep, it's jazz month, and i recently watched Ken Burns Jazz, and i'm on the hunt for some jazz.

What am i looking for? Everything. All the styles, all the instruments, the more variety the better.

I guess the main thing is, the vocalists have totally taken over popular music, and i want to go somewhere where musicianship matters...

[Spike-X]

I've just recently started getting into jazz, and this is what I'm digging so far:
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000002ADT.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000AV2GCE.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000000YAL.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000197JPY.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[rick]

Miles Davis – Bitches Brew

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/183/milesbitchesac4.jpg




The Oscar Peterson Trio – Night Train

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/5650/traindi5.jpg




John Coltrane – Giant Steps

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/148/giantzk5.jpg




Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2080/sonnywh1.jpg

[Jonathan Bogart]

Some of my personal favorites, at the moment:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/jazz/2004/Apr04/Duke_ellington_cdaja5573.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000046RR.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://www.classicjazzcorner.com/scans/charles_mingus_mingus_ah-um.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000005HD4.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif

[Jonathan Bogart]

http://www.dustygroove.com/images/products/m/monk_thelon_undergrou_101b.jpg

http://image.space.rakuten.co.jp/lg01/57/0000228757/91/img06819962hvjnhs.jpeg

http://elderly.com/images/recordings/12/PROPER66.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000046QI.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif


But beyond the more or less orthodox choices above, what really fascinates me is where jazz bleeds into other kinds of music, into blues or country or rock & roll or avant-garde compositional music. Bessie Smith, Bob Wills, Big Joe Turner, and John Zorn are jazz musicians too, even if they're not filed that way in stores. And then there's Nat King Cole's taut, mellow pop with his trio before he became the black Sinatra; Eubie Blake's ragtime symphonies; Roy Ayers' jazz-funk-disco epics; and wily, difficult-to-pigeonhole people like Mose Allison, a dynamite singer-songwriter in the days when jazz, rather than rock, was the standard idiom, and who only got better from there. And one of last year's best records, Patricia Barber's Mythologies, is filed under jazz, though it could also be called an oratorio and filed in classical, or a concept album and fit right next to the mature Joni Mitchell.

Dig deeper and wider than the Ken Burns canon, is what I'm saying. Though of course you could spend a lifetime plumbing its depths too.

[DonC]

http://pacificforce.net/Merchant2/graphics/00000003/Supervillian_B.jpg

[Ed Cunard]

I don't see a single record I wouldn't second. I would also toss out:

http://www.8notes.com/wiki/images/250px-John_Coltrane-A_Love_Supreme.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00019PDIO.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Slam_Bradley]

Not a thing I'd argue with. But I would add:

http://www.lamediatheque.be/med/cov/maxi/U/A/6978.jpg

http://www.dustygroove.com/images/products/b/blakey_art~_moaninjap_101b.jpg

http://www.downintheflood.com/amazon/Newport/B0000046LR.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://www.chipin-kaiya.com/JazzKnowledge/AudioCite/No8-Photos/JoeHendersonLushLife.jpg

[scratchie]

Lotta great suggestions so far.

http://home.swipnet.se/dubmusic/in_a_silent_way_small.jpg
Miles Davis In a Silent Way
This one has held up over the years (decades) a lot more than Bitches Brew, in my opinion.

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/507076.jpg
John Coltrane - Afro Blue Impressions
A great live album from (IMO) Coltrane's most creative period.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000005H7D.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
John Coltrane - Blue Train
For his first album on the prestigious Blue Note label, Trane really brought the goods.

http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/amg/pop_albums/6/0/6/d60034omd6g.jpg
Art Tatum - Solo Masterpieces
Tatum is universally acknowledged as one of the most creative piano players ever to play jazz. All of the volumes of the Solo Masterpieces are pure treats, as he takes standard pop songs and show tunes and reinvents them harmonically.

[scratchie]

http://www.soundspaces.com/catalog/images/John_Scofield_En_Route_L.jpg
John Scofield - Enroute
Scofield is one of the most brilliantly creative improvisers working today. I would recommend any of his albums from the last 10-15 years (which range from straightahead jazz to funk) without reservations, but this live album features a particularly killer group.

http://abstractlogix.com/xcart/files/master/cd_covers/t_19676.jpg
Bill Frisell - Gone, Just Like a Train
Another brilliant contemporary guitarist, Frisell's style combines jazz with elements of country, folk and what is often called "Americana" these days to form a truly unique and distinctive style. Plus, he often has the inimitible Jim Woodring paint his album covers. His album with Elvin Jones and Dave Holland is incredibly good as well.

http://store.acousticsounds.com/images/as201JPG/ATP-022A.jpg
Bill Evans Trio - Portrait in Jazz
Evans was another hugely influential and harmonically creative pianist. The interplay on this album between him and his bassist, Scott LaFaro, is legendary.

http://www.in-sieme.it/jazz/immagini/dolphy3.jpg
Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch
Dolphy was a brilliantly eccentric multi-instrumentalist who played with Mingus and Coltrane, among others. This is my favorite solo album by him, and probably his most popular album overall.

Some other random selections:

Old-time jazz:
There are great, cheap boxsets out there from Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian (the latter with Bennie Goodman and Lionel Hampton) which are essential.

Post-Bebop:
Among the many albums already mentioned, I love
Way Out West and
Tenor Madness by Sonny Rollins

Like Sonny and
Impressions by John Coltrane

Mingus in Europe and
Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus by (guess who) Charles Mingus (I think Dolphy is on both of those).

Fusion/Electric Jazz:
Some of my favorites are
Sextant by Herbie Hancock (Headhunters is his most famous album from this period but I prefer Sextant)

Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy by Return to Forever

My Spanish Heart by Chick Corea

Birds of Fire and
Between Nothingness and Eternity by Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Enjoy!

[Kaiju]

Great suggestions so far. I'll add:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00005614M.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000002AGN.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000000XDJ.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Punchy]

Yep, it's jazz month, and i recently watched Ken Burns Jazz, and i'm on the hunt for some jazz.

What am i looking for? Everything. All the styles, all the instruments, the more variety the better.

I guess the main thing is, the vocalists have totally taken over popular music, and i want to go somewhere where musicianship matters...

Good to hear you're eager to check out jazz after watching the Burns documentary. That show focuses on early jazz quite a bit, it's good but it doesn't give you the entire picture.

The problem with these kinds of threads is that you end up getting so many suggestions you really don't know where to start. I get asked this question quite a bit, I always like to give a definitive record or two from the titans of jazz along with some records by new artists since, contrary to popular opinion, jazz is still alive and well.

Louis Armstrong-The originator of the jazz language. The aforementioned Hot Fives and Hot Sevens is a great one. The Hot Five and Hot Seven were the names of his bands back then. A young, fiery Armstrong swinging his ass off.

Charlie Parker-The bebop innovator. He modernized the jazz sound. The thing to remember with Armstrong and Parker is that when they were recording there were time constraints on how much music could be put down. It's best to just get a Best Of since most of the music was released on 78. I like Bird's Best Bop on Verve.

Miles Davis-The stalwart. Miles had a long career with many different bands, he was always at the forefront of what was happening in music. It's tough to recommend only one Miles record so I'll second the previously mentioned A Kind of Blue and throw in Miles Smiles and In A Quiet way the latter two being much more adventurous.

John Coltrane-The spiritualist. He really opened up the possibilities of jazz, instead of improvising over songs he would improvise over one scale/harmony leaving a lot of room for creativity and turning the songs into intense meditations. I recommend A Love Supreme or Transition.

There you go. As far as young artists check out anything by Brad Meldhau (particularly Art of the Trio Volume 4), Branford Marsalis (Crazy People Music) or The Bad Plus (These Are Vistas).

[Punchy]

http://pacificforce.net/Merchant2/graphics/00000003/Supervillian_B.jpg

Me?!?

You sir are much too kind.

[Rob Allen]

You should check out the left-hand side of the FM radio band in your area; that's where the jazz stations tend to be. Or you can listen online to a station like www.kmhd.org .

[i_mmmchocolate]

I know you said you weren't particularly interested in vocals, but I'm going to post this recommendation anyway because it's a fine album.

George Shearing & Mel Torme
http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0000006GS.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS500_.jpg

[Aggie]

i think everyone pretty much covered the biggies... though i must reiterate "kind of blue" simply because it's miles and 'trane together and it's one of the jewels in my collection...i'd kill to have that on vinyl...i would also like to recommend alice coltrane's "journey in satchidanada" it's a wild blend of jazz and transcendental eastern sounds...and if you change your mid about vocals...give nina simone a whirl...

[Punchy]

It's funny, Miles' autobiography he says he wasn't pleased with the way Kind of Blue came out. He said he was going for a much different thing. There are a few other records with Miles and Trane that I like more (Stella By Starlight: '58 Sessions for one) but KoB is one of the most easily accessible jazz records ever, that's why it's good for new listeners. There's is a reason why it's the best selling instrumental jazz record ever.

[mattx110]

It's funny, Miles' autobiography he says he wasn't pleased with the way Kind of Blue came out. He said he was going for a much different thing. There are a few other records with Miles and Trane that I like more (Stella By Starlight: '58 Sessions for one) but KoB is one of the most easily accessible jazz records ever, that's why it's good for new listeners. There's is a reason why it's the best selling instrumental jazz record ever.

well, i don't think miles davis would ever have said "i liked this album" about anything he did unless he'd know it would piss off the record-buying population.

and i like scratchie's list, get some guitarplayers in there. i've got this terrible fear that guitarplayers might get stuck only playing to other guitarplayers and the pianists will be off in their own world.
also, les paul, joe pass or herb ellis w/ oscar peterson, joe passs w/ ella fitzgerald, most of whati would suggest is variations on other peoples suggestions (ie: i like this album better).
and for someone that kinda came into jazz sideways but definitely left an impact, is lenny breau. his live recording with bassist dave young is terrific.

agh, and joey defrancesco. he started out at like 16 or 17 with miles davis, and has played with almost literally everyone else in jazz (including personal favorite danny gatton). his dad john defrancesco is pretty good too and a bit less bebopy if you like the more classic stuff.

edit: and punchy, i don't wanna have any left over animosity from the last thread, i think we could probably find more to agree on than disagree on in the subject of music, and you really do seem like the kinda person i'd be friends with in the "real world."

edit again: i agree with everyone who mentioned louis armstrong. he's the bridge to everyone else. and he always kept the melody going, even when the trend was to forget the melody and play as fast as you can over the changes. he wanted something in there to reach an avergage audience

[scratchie]

i think everyone pretty much covered the biggies... though i must reiterate "kind of blue" simply because it's miles and 'trane together and it's one of the jewels in my collection..There's no question that Kind of Blue is a classic, and one of the all-time great "gateway" jazz albums, but as Jonathan was pointing out, it's important to get away from the "obvious" choices if you really want to experience the best that jazz has to offer. Kind of Blue is a wonderful album, but if you really want to know the music of Miles and Coltrane, it's just the tiniest scratch of the surface, and, in a lot of ways, nowhere near their best work (especially for Coltrane, IMO).

Kind of Blue was recorded at the end of Coltrane's time in Miles's band and in a lot of way it was just a warm-up for both guys. Subsequently, Miles would recruit one of his all-time classic groups with Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Ron Carter, and they would explore the terrain of "modal" jazz much more thoroughly (and, IMO, interestingly) than the earlier group ever had. Bill Evans, another KoB veteran, would also put together his all-time classic group (the one with Scott LaFaro that I mentioned earlier) just after this album.

Coltrane, of course, headed off into the wild blue modal yonder and never came back. His career after Kind of Blue consisted of an ever-expanding push to the outer boundaries of jazz, trying to get out all the music he had inside him. The period after he left Miles' band (ca. 1961-1964) is my all-time favorite, when he had dispensed with chord changes and traditional solos but not (yet) with rhythm and melody altogether, culminating in A Love Supreme, which is one of the ultimate transcendent jazz albums of all time. My main point being that all of it is significantly more exciting than Kind of Blue.

Finally, looking backwards, if I just want to hear Miles and Trane blowing together and ripping it up, I would prefer any of these over Kind of Blue, which is, in a lot of ways, an album that I love much more in theory than in practice.

Round About Midnight
Cookin With the Miles Davis Quintet
Steamin With the Miles Davis Quintet
Workin With the Miles Davis Quintet
Relaxin With the Miles Davis Quintet

[Punchy]

You know the latter four records were recorded in just a couple of days as Miles was getting out of his contract with Prestige and had more records to release before he could sign with Columbia.

[Pinball]

Thanks guys, that's some interesting stuff. I've got a few fusion records already, an outgrowth of my metal years.

Okay, i see some n'orleans, and swing, and bop and cool and fusion...i see trumpets n trombones, clarinets n saxes, acoustic n electric guitar, acoustic n electric piano, vibes, synth . . . what about organ? is Jimmy Smith jazzy enough?

And did i give the impression that i didn't want vocals? I suppose i'm just tired of what today's vocalists are, mainly thinking of themselves as poets or something, trying to write the next "Subterranean Homesick Blues", stuffing as many words as they can in there. Which is not a knock against rap, mind you; great rapping is a fine thing. Trouble is, these singers aren't great rappers. And it seems to me they aren't great singers, either. I could definitely go for someone who understands the ART of singing...who think of themselves as musicians, too.

Oh, that reminds me, i heard there might be some hip-hop styled jazz out there? i know Gangstarr and the Roots made inroads into that field, and i happen to have a Miles Davis tape of such stuff...

[Aggie]

i totally get what you're saying scratchy...and i believe have those other recordings too...but there is just something about Kind of Blue that just resonates...maybe because it has that "ease" to it...i hate to use the word...but there's this synergy that you can feel when you listen to it...you mentioned bill evans, who is brilliant pianist and you throw cannonball adderly into that mix...it's just smooth, and sensual...i don't know anything about chords or measures or anything remotely technically related to music, so anything i say can be taken w/ a grain of salt...i'm just glad there's a place where people are actually talking about this kind of music...:)

[Punchy]

what about organ? is Jimmy Smith jazzy enough?

Of course he's jazz, he was the main staple of Blue Note Records for a long time.

Check out Back at the Chicken Shack and Smokin' at the Half Note.

[elheffe]

My favorite jazz record right now:

http://blog.tilos.hu/irodalmile2/4aee124128a0fdba62b14010.L.jpg

[Spike-X]

I'm really loving the Cannonball Adderley Quintet at the moment. There's something really joyful about their playing.

[Punchy]

My favorite jazz record right now:

http://blog.tilos.hu/irodalmile2/4aee124128a0fdba62b14010.L.jpg

Is Slam Stewart playing bass on that?

[elheffe]

Is Slam Stewart playing bass on that?
Yeah. Good stuff. A bit goofy but good stuff.

[leonaozaki]

I don't know if they're essential or not but I've had a great time listening to Miles Davis's Tribute to Jack Johnson and Sketches of Spain. I really dig John Coltrane's My Favorite Things as well.

rob

[glutton138]

http://www.turntablelab.com/images/content/1/5/15813.jpg

Sun Ra-Heliocentric Worlds=free jazz

http://www.turntablelab.com/images/content/7/1/7185.jpg

Kool & The Gang-S/T 1st Album=jazz/funk

...i heard there might be some hip-hop styled jazz out there?

http://www.turntablelab.com/images/content/5/6/5644.jpg
http://www.turntablelab.com/images/content/6/4/646.jpg

Yesterdays New Quintet is a pseudonym for a Hip-Hop producer named Madlib(Lootpack,Quasimoto,Madvillain). As YNQ he plays the vibes, various keyboards, various synthesizers and lays samples over drums he plays and programs. "Their" first album is called Angles Without Edges and "they" have also put out an album of Stevie Wonder covers called Stevie. The "members" of YNQ have also put out solo EPs as Monk Hughes, Joe McDuphrey, Ahmad Miller and Sound Directions. All on Stones Throw Records wich I can't suggest highly enough.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

I'm no Jazz expert, but I'd suggest Coltrane by John Coltrane and Trio 64 by Bill Evans Trio.

[glutton138]

...i heard there might be some hip-hop styled jazz out there?

http://www.turntablelab.com/images/content/6/3/637.jpg

Another Hip-Hop producer making quality jazz music is El-P with his album High Water. He wrote compositions and gave them to six musicians to improvise to. He then took the results and turned them into structured songs.

[Eliot Johnson]

i don't know about essential, but the twenty-five jazz records i enjoy the most are:

1. Ornette Coleman - Free Jazz
2. Art Ensemble of Chicago - Les Stances a Sophie
3. Pharoah Sanders - Karma
4. Lawrence D. "Butch" Morris - Conduction #11, Where Music Goes
5. George Russell - Ezz-thetics
6. Albert Ayler - Spiritual Unity
7. Charles Mingus - Black Saint & the Sinner Lady
8. Don Cherry - Mu, first part
9. Roland Kirk - The Inflated Tear
10. Peter Brotzmann - Machine Gun
11. Anthony Braxton - 3 Compositions of New Jazz
12. Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch
13. Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidinada
14. Cecil Taylor - Unit Structures
15. Otomo Yoshihide - Tails Out
16. Sonny Sharrock - Ask the Ages
17. Ornette Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come
18. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers - Moanin'
19. Miles Davis - In a Silent Way
20. Thad Jones - The Fabulous...
21. Archie Shepp - Attica Blues
22. Thelonious Monk - Underground
23. Jackie McLean - New and Old Gospel (features Ornette on trumpet)
24. Sun Ra - Atlantis
25. Coltrane / Cherry - The Avant-Garde

[Pinball]

Yes, yes, there we go...
Now all i need is some latin jazz and i shall be set for a while.

[Punchy]

Latin Jazz covers a really broad spectrum.

The two main types of latin jazz come either from Cuba or Brazil (bossa nova), do you have an idea of which type you like better?

[scratchie]

Here's a great Cuban album by the bassist from the Buena Vista Social Club:

http://www.querfunk.de/sendungen/orsino/2001-07/3.jpg

Whereas most of the BVSC material has been very traditional, this album is a modern fusion of jazz, hip-hop and other styles. Very highly recommended.

[Eliot Johnson]

As far as bossa nova goes, a great place to start is with Getz/Gilberto, which should be on my list.

I still need to go deeper into that scene, myself.

[Jonathan Bogart]

For Latin jazz, it's hard to beat Eddie Palmieri. Just about anything the man's released will do, but try this for starters:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000EMGK62.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_V45783016_AA240_.jpg

[Slam_Bradley]

I'm a pretty big fan of Afro-Cuban Latin jazz.

I definitely agree with Tages' rec.

Mongo Santamaria was absolutely electrifying in concert. It's hard to pick a single disc that does justice to his live work. Maybe 1962s Watermelon Man.

http://www.soft-tempo.com/records/dt/images/jackets/MONGO_SANTAMARIA_Watermelon_Man.jpg

Cal Tjader's Monterey Concerts is a true classic.

http://www.npr.org/music/bjrl/tjader200.jpg

Pancho Sanchez is one of the best working today. I highly recommend his album Papa Gato.

http://www.shumtoh.org/bbs/data/albums/Poncho_Sanchez___Papa_Gato.jpg

[Punchy]

Excellent suggestions Slam.

Other Latin Jazz artists I'd suggest who are more jazz than latin are:

Danilo Perez
Dafnis Prieto
David Sanchez
Chucho Valdez


I still need to go deeper into that scene, myself.

I'm starting a bossa band and have really been getting in to this music lately. Some artists to check out are:

Chico Buarque
Dori Cayimi
Rosa Pasos
and of course Antonio Carlos Jobim

[i_mmmchocolate]

Hello? Tito Puente.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Hello again? Eddie Palmieri and Poncho Sanchez.

[Punchy]

Slam already mentioned Palmieri and Sanchez.

I'm not a huge Tito Puente fan.

[scratchie]

I'm not a huge Tito Puente fan.
http://examinedlife.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/invasion.jpg

[Slam_Bradley]

Excellent suggestions Slam.

Other Latin Jazz artists I'd suggest who are more jazz than latin are:

Danilo Perez
Dafnis Prieto
David Sanchez
Chucho Valdez




I feel bad that I didn't mention Chucho Valdez.

[Devon C.]

If I was looking for some older stuff, say, 50s or 60s, with whom/where should I start?

[mattx110]

arturo sandoval does things with a trumpet that couldn't be done before him.

[Jonathan Bogart]

If I was looking for some older stuff, say, 50s or 60s, with whom/where should I start?
Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck, Charles Mingus.

[i_mmmchocolate]

I'm not a huge Tito Puente fan.
Why not?
_

[Punchy]

If I was looking for some older stuff, say, 50s or 60s, with whom/where should I start?
most of the stuff mentioned earlier in the thread is from those decades

Why not?
_

Because he sucks.

I kid, just personal preference. I could probably stand to listen to more of his stuff but I like my clave' and salsa a little harder hitting.

[i_mmmchocolate]

I kid, just personal preference. I could probably stand to listen to more of his stuff but I like my clave' and salsa a little harder hitting.

Don't hate, B! Salsa is a sauce.

I can definitely tell you haven't listened to his complete RCA recordings.

[i_mmmchocolate]

PS How do you feel about the Buena Vista Club?

If you hate 'em, then you leave me no choice but to hate you.

[Punchy]

Don't worry, I totally dig Buena Vista.

It's not jazz however, but its still really great music. I used to play in a latin jazz band that did some of those tunes, it was a lot of fun.

And you could never hate me ....

[dodger50]

Wow, nice thread. I've written down so many albums I'll be buying them for years.
Bill Evans and Dizzy are my favorites. Anything by either of them.

[Rob Allen]

When it comes to Latin jazz, I've always liked Cal Tjeder. I heard on the radio the other day that he was a Swedish-American from St. Louis, but somehow he got into the Latin groove.

[Punchy]

good call, there's a record called The Cal Tjader Latin Concert that is one of my favorites

[TheLazy]

A bit of fusion for you

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd700/d758/d75817l1298.jpg

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf500/f555/f55502zhvt1.jpg

and some swing

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd200/d291/d29121om086.jpg

:)

[wtnrradio]

After a short hiatus...One of the fastest chart climbing I-net radio shows returns!!

Zartan & Friends(Z&F) is back on the air! With all new episodes !
Today's show includes tracks by:
Sly & the Family Stone
Al Hirt
Mable John
Gladys Knight
Galt MacDermot
J.Dilla....and a whole list of 'ish you probably never heard before.

So tune in, while your at work or just home surfing the web.
Perfect Movement for any Occasion or your money back ,guaranteed .

wtnrradio.com
Z&F Thursday 6am to 6pm

[Punchy]

Now I admit to not being real music savvy, but weren't the opening chords/bars to Dazed and Cofused a simple blues chord progression?
Not at all but I can see why you might say that. I'm assuming you're talking about the chromatic bass line which does sound a little like the blues scale.

Just as an exercise in contrariness...

Miles Davis helped to popularize the idea that great artists should be assholes and junkies.

There's good and bad in all things. Every decision has a postive outcome and a negative one, every road taken is a road not taken, every gain is someone's loss.

And I hope that all it is IS an exercise in contrariness and you don't actually have this pessimistic opinion of these artist's influence. None of the things you list was the intent of the artist and you can point to numerous other musicians who helped these notions along as well (namely Charlie Parker the first junkie/hero of jazz music who employed Miles early in his career). Its also worth noting that Miles was a junkie in the 70s, his least popular decade as far as musical output and one that saw him take a hiatus from music because of his addiction.

[Punchy]

And definitely lessened the importance of pure techical profiecieny for jazz trumpeters... even musicians as a whole. Which is kind of a mixed blessing.
Don't know if I agree with this. Miles was a fantastic technical player which is evident in his work in Charlie Parker's band. He was also a student of Juliard. His 'voice' on the trumpet simply wasn't one that required fast, technical playing. It was much too soulful for that.

[jesse_custer]

Yeah, Miles was technically great. However, he differed from others in his willingness to do anything for the jam. I mean, when you listen to A Tribute to Jack Johnson, he plays great technically in some parts, and other parts he's just doing whatever. But it all fits. McLaughlin's guitar playing on that album is similar in its undulation.

[Complaint Man]

I am just now really catching on to jazz, so this is a part of the conversation that will go over my head. :)


I downloaded A Love Supreme by Coltrane a couple weeks ago and was blown away.

"This guy is the shiiit" I believe were my words.:D

[Reptisaurus!]

Don't know if I agree with this. Miles was a fantastic technical player which is evident in his work in Charlie Parker's band. He was also a student of Juliard. His 'voice' on the trumpet simply wasn't one that required fast, technical playing. It was much too soulful for that.

Or you could look at it that way. :) His tone quality was as good as, well, pretty much anyone ever. But he didn't have the speed and (especially) didn't have the ability to play super-high notes that many of the trumpet greats do/did.

[Jonathan Bogart]

McLaughlin's guitar playing on that album is similar in its undulation.
There's a rumor that some of the more impressive guitar parts on Jack Johnson were played by an uncredited Sonny Sharrock. Sounds about right, from what I've heard of Sharrock's and McLaughlin's solo work.

[Punchy]

I downloaded A Love Supreme by Coltrane a couple weeks ago and was blown away.

"This guy is the shiiit" I believe were my words.:DGood man. Now for a totally different side of 'Trane check out "Blue Train".

Or you could look at it that way. :) His tone quality was as good as, well, pretty much anyone ever. But he didn't have the speed and (especially) didn't have the ability to play super-high notes that many of the trumpet greats do/did.
Out of curiosity, trumpet greats like who?

[Jonathan Bogart]

Out of curiosity, trumpet greats like who?
I'd be thinking Dizzy Gillespie and Arturo Sandoval, mostly.

[Buried Alien]

A home for Jonathan and Punchy, and other music fans who prefer woodwinds and brass to electric guitars and turntables. :)

Buried Alien (The Fastest Moderator Alive!)

[Slam_Bradley]

I'd be thinking Dizzy Gillespie and Arturo Sandoval, mostly.


Maybe. But I'd rather listen to Miles' tone over Sandoval's technical brilliance. Dizzy...I do love Dizzy.

[Jonathan Bogart]

A home for Jonathan and Punchy, and other music fans who prefer woodwinds and brass to electric guitars and turntables. :)
Grr. It's not a matter of preference, just open-mindedness. Guitars and turntables make great music too.

[Reptisaurus!]

Out of curiosity, trumpet greats like who?

Roy Elderidge, (Eldridge? I always forget how to spell it) first. He basically invented Bop Trumpet, just spitting out a shitload of notes in double time. And after that everyone tried to play like Dizzy, which is just impossible. Kenny Dorham almost could.. (Kenny Dorham could do anything.) Benny Bailey was Dizzy's second trumpet for a few years and he had an *insane* range, too.

I've heard Fats Navarro was up there, but I'm not super familiar with his stuff... And what I've heard didn't have the same insane speed and range, although he was a really creative soloist. (I've heard people say that the reason Miles became the most influential trumpeteer of his era is 'cause Navarro died young and never got the chance to expand his style.)

On a related note: I've heard Miles actually ended up taking Dizzy's spot in Charlie Parker's band and just could not keep up... he just wasn't physically fast enough. So one of the reasons Davis became the most well known trumpet player over DIzzy (who's quite a bit better, technically) is he worked in/invented a style other people could actually play and expand on.

But, yeah, when you're talking trumpet players post Louie Armstrong and Pre-Miles Davis it's pretty much Dizzy and a buncha hanger onners.

[Punchy]

I'd say Dorham was as influenced by Miles as he was by Dizzy.

And Dizzy was indeed one of the greatest technical players. You know who is a close second or at least in the top 5? Wynton Marsalis.

But to say that Miles isn't one of the trumpet greats because he didn't have as much technical facility as only a handful of players is a bit misguided. I doubt you would meet any jazz trumpet player at any age who wouldn't call Miles one of the greats.

[Punchy]

And what is this? The jazz ghetto?

Its all music man, why a seperate thread?

[Reptisaurus!]

I'd say Dorham was as influenced by Miles as he was by Dizzy.


Yeah, eventually. (I tried to allude to that a little bit.) But unless my memory completely fails me, Dorham's career started a year or two before Davis'. (And he seems more at home with really complex material than Miles.)


And Dizzy was indeed one of the greatest technical players. You know who is a close second or at least in the top 5? Wynton Marsalis.


I think he has really, really, good tone, and he's speedy. Doesn't have the insane range of, like, Maynerd Ferguson. (At least from what I've heard.)

I completely disagree with almost all his opinions on jazz, of course. But he is a very good musician.


But to say that Miles isn't one of the trumpet greats because he didn't have as much technical facility as only a handful of players is a bit misguided. I doubt you would meet any jazz trumpet player at any age who wouldn't call Miles one of the greats.

I SAID best tone quality ever, didn't I? An' I was pretty much defining greatness by speed and range. (And I was only listing guys from the bop era. I can certainly rattle off another fifteen - twenty players who were an obvious step above Miles in technical playing post-bop, and I'm not hardly an expert. I'm sure there's at least a good hundred of 'em.)

But yeah, his tone, creative soloing, career musical development, influence, popularity and writing/arranging/bandleading would certainly rate him as one of the greatest 20th century trumpet players.

My original point was simply that extrordinarily technically flashy trumpet playing went outta style post-Miles. (Example A: Kenny Dorham.) And with it the drive to be extrordinarily (again, technically) good, at least a little bit.

[Buried Alien]

And what is this? The jazz ghetto?

Its all music man, why a seperate thread?

Not "ghetto"; more like "sanctuary."

I'm an organization man.

And really, I was getting a little tired of every other rock thread getting hijacked into jazz discussions.


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Punchy]

Yeah, eventually. (I tried to allude to that a little bit.) But unless my memory completely fails me, Dorham's career started a year or two before Davis'. (And he seems more at home with really complex material than Miles.)



I think he has really, really, good tone, and he's speedy. Doesn't have the insane range of, like, Maynerd Ferguson. (At least from what I've heard.)

I completely disagree with almost all his opinions on jazz, of course. But he is a very good musician.



I SAID best tone quality ever, didn't I? An' I was pretty much defining greatness by speed and range. (And I was only listing guys from the bop era. I can certainly rattle off another fifteen - twenty players who were an obvious step above Miles in technical playing post-bop, and I'm not hardly an expert. I'm sure there's at least a good hundred of 'em.)

But yeah, his tone, creative soloing, career musical development, influence, popularity and writing/arranging/bandleading would certainly rate him as one of the greatest 20th century trumpet players.

My original point was simply that extrordinarily technically flashy trumpet playing went outta style post-Miles. (Example A: Kenny Dorham.) And with it the drive to be extrordinarily (again, technically) good, at least a little bit.

Well you'd mentioned something about Miles and 'the trumpet great' which made me think you didn't consider him to be one.

Let me just say that there are two types of jazz trumpet players: soloists and lead players. Soloists are improvisers and lead players play all of the really high notes. This distinction dates back to the big band era but exists to a point today. Rarely has a trumpet player played the screaming high notes and improvised with real quality. The only two that come to mind are Armstrong and Dizzy.

[DrewTheXenocide]

I'm only sort of wading in the gigantic ocean that is jazz, and was wondering if anyone can recommend Jazz records with some really sick-awesome drumming.

[Jonathan Bogart]

I'm only sort of wading in the gigantic ocean that is jazz, and was wondering if anyone can recommend Jazz records with some really sick-awesome drumming.
Depends on what else you want. For straight-up swing, try Buddy Rich (Big Swing Face is probably his best-known record). For stuff that's more adventurous, I'd go with anything Max Roach recorded as a leader. But I'm not a big drums guy; I defer you to those who are.

[mattx110]

I'm only sort of wading in the gigantic ocean that is jazz, and was wondering if anyone can recommend Jazz records with some really sick-awesome drumming.
Ummm... I guess anything with Max Roach, who's one of the big guys. Bill Evans let some drummers have free reign a bit. If you're into piano the Live at Town Hall is amazing, and I can't remembr what album, but "Night and Day" was the song where it was the drummer's band.

[jesse_custer]

On Michel Camilo's self-titled album, there is a song, "Suite Sandrine Part 1," where the drummer unloads big time.

Also, download or find Steely Dan's "Aja." It features Steve Gadd, said to be the most recorded drummer ever at 600 albums, and he cuts loose about 5 minutes in and then later on at the very end of the song. That shit will blow you away.