Legends of Old-School JazzJan 27 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Though there are too many to list, here are a few of the all-timers that must be mentioned. Can you really pick just one? Probably not. The early history of jazz music was populated with talent in a way that other genres can only aspire to. Where this saturation comes from, I wouldn't want to speculate, but it makes for a rich and deep well for the listener to delve into when in need of something to listen to. For this review's purposes, I'm going to define "classic" or "old school" jazz as anything before this current crop of musicians. Anything before about the 1980's (and maybe even a few of those, if the mood strikes). This isn't any sort of classification based on recognized jazz history, just on my own weird system of remembering names. That said, let's get on with it, shall we? Best of the Best -- Male: There are a few that are wrestling in my brain for this distinction, but I think if pressed, I'd probably go with Louis Armstrong. Not only did he have personality on stage and off, but he had a way of making his instrument speak that I've never really connected with in other artists. Satch could make it wail or dance, and his improvisational style was nothing short of revolutionary for the time. There can never be another like him. Coming in a close second on the male side of things would be the Duke. Duke Ellington's life was never easy, and when he wrote or performed, there was a soulful quality that can't be denied. His contributions to the medium were legendary -- bringing in influences from the world and incorporating them into his music. Nobody danced on a set of keys like Duke. Miles Davis's "Kind of Blue" was the first jazz album I ever purchased. Had I never heard anything else but this, I would have died thinking he was the best musician of all time. One of the post-bebop-split, east-coast cool cats, there's something about his music that gets under your skin and makes you sway involuntarily. It's like candy for your ears. Best of the Best -- Female: There's not even a question in my mind about this one. Ella Fitzgerald has every other female vocalist beat hands-down. Her precision and clarity were so bright and sweet that just a few notes can bring tears to your eyes. She used her voice in ways nobody else ever had or ever will -- like an instrument in and of itself, twining around the background music and nailing the tones to the ceiling. She was truly amazing. What list could there be without Billie Holiday? Her nasal, gravelly drawl hid a serious addiction to heroin and a self-destructive streak that modern-day Hollywood can't even compare with. Always in long-sleeved gloves because she was afraid the world would see her tracks, she struck an elegant figure with her earthy swaggering voice, and notched her permanent place in history with her tragic and untimely death. Nina Simone was made famous by the movie La Femme Nikita. Which is sad, since she has a rich voice that could have easily been famous on its own. (Hey, whatever gets her music exposed, I guess...) "Sugar (in my bowl)" is an everpresent song in my jazz mix tapes because of its sexy, sultry drawl and slow groove like velvet against your skin. She may not have the most pleasing voice of the jazz singers out there, but she's got SOUL, and that goes a long, long way in this business. Honorable Mentions (or those too new to qualify): For those who love latin jazz: Michel Camilo. "One More Once" will have you out of your chair. For those who are looking for new female singers: Cassandra Wilson had an album of Miles tribute songs that were fabulous a few years back, and of course there's Diana Krall, the piano-playing mistress of the soprano set. For those looking for a good primer: Get Ella and Louis' Summer Sessions album. It's mainly covers from various musicals and some jazz standards, but if you want an album that'll have you eating Ramen to support your jazz-CD-buying habits, this is the one that'll hook you. A last word: There are so many fabulous artists, past and present, that it'd be impossible to mention ALL of the jazz greats. (Hey, it took PBS something like ten HOURS of footage for the "Jazz" series, and that only scratched the surface of the genre.) Tito Puente, Al DiMeola, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Charlie Parker, Chuck Mingus, Coltrane, Chick Corea, John McLLaughlin, Stanley Clarke, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Arturo Sandoval, Kenny G. Er...oops. *ahem* Seriously, though -- we could use up all of Epinions' disk space and only touch briefly on all the ones that bear mentioning. The key is to find what you like, get recommendations from others, and listen to the greats. Hopefully, this'll help you find a few.  |
| Read all comments (2)|Write your own comment |
