Styles of Jazz Music

bart said:
Sonny Rollins - The Sound Of Sonny
Qobuz 24/192

0088807201476_600.jpg



Recorded June '57, a top year for Rollins.

Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
Sonny Clark - piano
Percy Heath - bass
Paul Chambers - bass
Roy Haynes - drums
Click to expand...

A.S. said:
Indeed a super jazz album. Maybe his best.
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Very good album but ''The Bridge'' is still my favorite.
 
Viktoria Tolstoy - Stations
Qobuz 24/96

tqi83brjw80cb_600.jpg



I'm always on the lookout for good female jazz vocalists.
I know that in my lifetime, chances that we'll have another Ella, Sarah or Billie are very small, but I'm hopeful..
Meanwhile, we do have splendid singers, such as Cecile McLorin Salvant.
But the three divas I mentioned are still unequalled.

Viktoria Tolstoy is one of the good, but not great singers.
In the more poppy songs here on this album, she's very enjoyable, in the jazzy pieces, she holds her own quite well too.
All in all, I can recommend this.
Three stars and a half.

ACT is a label that has been putting out a lot of good to great albums the last years.
 
I am very much a beginner in the appreciation of jazz. I didn't have really any jazz music until 2016, when I bought a very large collection of tape safety masters, so I missed this thread until now.

I saw with interest the different classifications of jazz one of the first posts in the thread. I also saw with interest the video about the four great albums on 1959. Happens that my collection has three of the four albums, Kind of Blue and Time Out (both on 1/2" 15ips 2 track safety masters) and Ah-Um on 1/4" 15ips 2 track - with the full almost 60 minute album, instead of the 40+ album with significant cuts to several of the songs.

A few questions:

I didn't see either Miles Davis or John Coltrane mentioned in the different jazz classifications - are they generally classified in a particular jazz genre?

Are Three Blind Mice and ECM labels considered jazz - and if so what genres?

Finally, are Muddy Waters and Albert King considered jazz or something else (I have them listed as Pop/Rock in my catalogue of albums).

Thanks, Larry
 
bart said:
Viktoria Tolstoy - Stations
Qobuz 24/96

tqi83brjw80cb_600.jpg



I'm always on the lookout for good female jazz vocalists.
I know that in my lifetime, chances that we'll have another Ella, Sarah or Billie are very small, but I'm hopeful..
Meanwhile, we do have splendid singers, such as Cecile McLorin Salvant.
But the three divas I mentioned are still unequalled.

Viktoria Tolstoy is one of the good, but not great singers.
In the more poppy songs here on this album, she's very enjoyable, in the jazzy pieces, she holds her own quite well too.
All in all, I can recommend this.
Three stars and a half.

ACT is a label that has been putting out a lot of good to great albums the last years.
Click to expand...

And she is Leo Tolstoy’s niece. She does a good cover of Herbie Hancock’s “Tell Me a Bedtime Story.”
 
Muddy Waters and Albert King do/did not play Jazz. They are strictly blues artists.

As for what kind of Jazz Miles played, that depends. He was part of the movement that introduced Be-Bop. He single handedly changed Jazz with The Birth Of The Cool. Then again with Kind Of Blue (Modal Music). He also did it again with Bitches Brew. The same "depends" also applies to Coltrane.
 
astrotoy said:
....

A few questions:

.....

Are Three Blind Mice and ECM labels considered jazz - and if so what genres?

........

Thanks, Larry
Click to expand...

Three Blind Mice is not jazz.

ECM has a lot of jazz artists and recordings. That includes many Avant garde jazz musicians. ECM also have contemporary classical (music composed by Arvo Pärt for example).
 
According to Wikipedia Three Blind Mice is a Japanese label that specializes in native Japanese Jazz artists.

From Wikipedia:
Three Blind Mice is a Japanese jazz record label founded in June 1970 as a showcase for Japan's emerging jazz performers. It has produced more than 130 albums have been released since. So far they have won the Jazz Disc Award five times in Japan. Produced by Takeshi Fujii (producer) and often recorded by the Yoshihiko Kannari, TBM created jazz records by Japanese players since the 1970s and became known for its audiophile sound quality. TBM's records captured a very important, vibrant era in the development of Japanese jazz. Stars like Isao Suzuki, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, George Kawaguchi, Terumasa Hino and Mari Nakamoto recorded their very first albums with the label. Artists also include Shuko Mizuno's "Jazz Orchestra '73", Toshiyuko Miyama and Masaru Imada.

 ​IME ECM is a Jazz label that also does some classical.
 
Ah! There is a group called Three Blind Mice and that's what I was referring to.
I was not aware of the label. Thanks for the info!
 
astrotoy said:
Are Three Blind Mice and ECM labels considered jazz - and if so what genres?
Click to expand...


Larry,

Music from the Three Blind Mice (TBM) label is some of the best Japanese Jazz available.
In January, Chris Connaker discovered the Three Blind Mice Supreme Collection which we discussed here.

After somehow managing to get his hands on the entire collection he posted this article on AS.
https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits...llection-1500-a-treasure-trove-of-music-r880/

Which albums do you have in your collection? They are valued very highly in Asia.

Regards



.
 
astrotoy said:
I didn't see either Miles Davis or John Coltrane mentioned in the different jazz classifications - are they generally classified in a particular jazz genre?
Click to expand...

Larry,

Miles Davis and John Coltrane were responsible for bringing Modal Jazz to the forefront in '59 and the early 60s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modal_jazz

George Russell is considered the pioneer of Modal Jazz.
Bill Evans who played with George Russell was another major influence.

Miles Davis used Modal Jazz framework in "Kind of Blue" which Coltrane was a part of.
But it was Coltrane who did a lot more in stretching the limits of Modal Jazz with his quartet.

Regards



.
 
Nikhil said:
Larry,

Music from the Three Blind Mice (TBM) label is some of the best Japanese Jazz available.
In January, Chris Connaker discovered the Three Blind Mice Supreme Collection which we discussed here.

After somehow managing to get his hands on the entire collection he posted this article on AS.
https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits...llection-1500-a-treasure-trove-of-music-r880/

Which albums do you have in your collection? They are valued very highly in Asia.

Regards



.
Click to expand...

I have four TBM Titles. They are all safety master tapes (15ips 2 track).

[TABLE="width: 829"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 286, align: left"]The Big Four George Kawaguchi
Remember Martha Miyake
North Plain Eiji Nakayama
Ako's Dream Isao Suzuki

They were part of a very large (200 reel) safety master collection I bought a few years ago. More jazz than classical or rock/pop. Lots of famous titles, many in 1/2". The TBM and ECM titles were the ones that I had no knowledge of, except as audiophile titles.

Larry
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
astrotoy said:
I have four TBM Titles. They are all safety master tapes (15ips 2 track).

[TABLE="width: 829"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 286, align: left"]The Big Four George Kawaguchi
Remember Martha Miyake
North Plain Eiji Nakayama
Ako's Dream Isao Suzuki

They were part of a very large (200 reel) safety master collection I bought a few years ago. More jazz than classical or rock/pop. Lots of famous titles, many in 1/2". The TBM and ECM titles were the ones that I had no knowledge of, except as audiophile titles.

Larry[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Click to expand...


"The Big 4" and "Ako's Dream" are in the Supreme Collection and well regarded.
The other two I am not so familiar with but are probably quite well known.

It's hard enough to get regular CDs of these albums.
The fact that you have safety masters is in another stratosphere altogether.

Regards



.
 
Nikhil said:
Larry,

Miles Davis and John Coltrane were responsible for bringing Modal Jazz to the forefront in '59 and the early 60s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modal_jazz

George Russell is considered the pioneer of Modal Jazz.
Bill Evans who played with George Russell was another major influence.

Miles Davis used Modal Jazz framework in "Kind of Blue" which Coltrane was a part of.
But it was Coltrane who did a lot more in stretching the limits of Modal Jazz with his quartet.

Regards



.
Click to expand...


Thanks. The safety masters have a heavy concentration of Miles Davis, almost all 1/2" tapes, and a fair number of John Coltrane. Here is a list of the Miles Davis tape titles - all are 1/2" safety masters:


[TD="width: 543, align: left"]Cookin' (mono)[/TD]

[TD="align: left"]Relaxin' (mono)[/TD]
[TABLE="width: 543"]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Bitches Brew
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Four and More[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Kind of Blue + Alt Take and Extras[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Miles Smiles[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Milestones[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Olympia:Coltrane and Stitt[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]On the Corner[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Round Midnight[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Davis appears to exhibit a wide range of styles. Some are quite attractive to me, others are very difficult. Similar comments to my experiences with Coltrane. Our fearless leader Chris visited a couple of years ago and chose (IIRC) his favorite album to play - Relaxin'.

Here are my Coltrane safety masters- two are 1/2". I also have John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman which I think is wonderful - just a tape not a safety master.
[TABLE="width: 543"]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]
A Love Supreme
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Blue Train
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Settin' the Pace
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Soultrane[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]The Avant-Garde[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Here are my Bill Evans safety masters:
[TABLE="width: 543"]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Intermodulation[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]At Shelly's Manne-Hole
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Sunday at the Village Vanguard (also have the Tape Project Waltz for Debby)

I find Bill Evans' albums much more accessible than much of Davis and Coltrane.

Thanks, Larry
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
astrotoy said:
Thanks. The safety masters have a heavy concentration of Miles Davis, almost all 1/2" tapes, and a fair number of John Coltrane. Here is a list of the Miles Davis tape titles - all are 1/2" safety masters:


[TD="align: left"]Cookin' (mono)[/TD]

[TD="align: left"]Relaxin' (mono)[/TD]
[TABLE="width: 543"]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Bitches Brew[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Four and More[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Kind of Blue + Alt Take and Extras[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Miles Smiles[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Milestones[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Olympia:Coltrane and Stitt[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]On the Corner[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Round Midnight[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Davis appears to exhibit a wide range of styles. Some are quite attractive to me, others are very difficult. Similar comments to my experiences with Coltrane. Our fearless leader Chris visited a couple of years ago and chose (IIRC) his favorite album to play - Relaxin'.
Click to expand...

Miles Davis music changed drastically over the years in an effort to stay current over his long career.
Do consider watching the Netflix documentary "Miles Davis: The Birth of the Cool" to get an idea.
https://www.netflix.com/watch/80227122?source=35

Miles' influence on Coltrane and other musicians is nicely shown as well in the movie.

"Cookin" and "Relaxin" are from Miles Davis' Hard Bop stage when he was with Prestige/Blue Note.
Here is the Miles Davis discography to give you a timeline of the albums if you haven't looked it up already.

I think it goes without saying that anything to do with Miles is eminently collectible.
I have no doubt that your albums (specially "Kind of Blue") will be highly sought after by jazz enthusiasts.


Regards



.
 
astrotoy said:
Here are my Coltrane safety masters- two are 1/2". I also have John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman which I think is wonderful - just a tape not a safety master.
[TABLE="width: 543"]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]A Love Supreme[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Blue Train[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Settin' the Pace[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Soultrane[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]The Avant-Garde[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Click to expand...


Coltrane might just be the most influential of all jazz musicians ever.
He was instrumental in stretching the genre into what is now called Modal jazz, Free jazz and Avant-garde jazz.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Coltrane

For the purposes of this thread, arranging your albums per release date and jazz type

Blue Train (January 1958, Hard bop)

Soultrane (October 1958, Hard bop)

Settin the Pace (December 1961, Hard bop)

A Love Supreme (January 1965, Free jazz, Modal jazz, Avant-garde jazz, Post bop)

The Avante-Garde (1966, Free jazz, Avant-garde jazz)

Information on each album is available in the links but the standout album is "A Love Supreme".
Once again these are all fantastic albums and highly sought after in the jazz world.

Again for context do consider watching "Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary" on Netflix
https://www.netflix.com/watch/80147403?source=35

Regards


.
 
This video came up on my Youtube feed today.
Thought it would be interesting for @astrotoy (if you have seen it already)




.
 
Nikhil said:
This video came up on my Youtube feed today.
Thought it would be interesting for @astrotoy (if you have seen it already)

.
Click to expand...

Great stuff, Nikhil! I don’t read or write music, but still found the video very entertaining and informative. Well worth the time.
 
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