Talk About Your Favorite Artists

Stormcrow · June-11th-2003, 12:07 PM

okay, okay, so it's a rip-off of the "Talk About Your Favorite Albums" thread.

But, anyways, who are your favorite artists and why are they your favorites?

Ella Fitzgerald- Oh, so many reasons to list. ;-) For her incredible sense of swing, her perfect pitch and intonation, wide range, effortless delivery, and the life and happiness she brought to her work. Ella was capable of darker emotions ("These are the Blues"), but for the most part she brought a warmth and joy to her songs that you can't help but smile at.

Dave Brubeck- Another of my faves. I like him for his forceful, driving playing and his great inventiveness. Some people say that he is a second-tier pianist, but they must have cotton in their ears. ;-) His playing is both intellectual and emotional.

Thelonious Monk- His quirky yet inventive playing, which is challenging yet fun to listen to.

Sonny Rollins- His skill at incorparting elements from other types of music into jazz, and his prowess at playing unaccompanyed. I also really like his tone on the sax.

shrugs · June-11th-2003, 01:39 PM

Ran Blake

What he does with a simple brush of the keys is more than I have heard some pianists do on an entire recording.

Stormcrow · June-11th-2003, 03:23 PM

I'll have to check him out.

jazzy mary · June-11th-2003, 03:26 PM

Hey I'm listening to Sonny now! Some of my faves: Percy Heath, Tom Harrell, Dwayne Burno, Ron Horton, Anthony Wonsey, Jimmy Scott, Billie, Ella, Sarah, Dinah and Anita (never did care for Carmen too much), Miles and Trane, of course, Bill Evans, Hank Mobley, Paul Chambers, Art Blakey, Carl Allen, Leon Thomas, Joe Williams, Eddie Jefferson...........whew, I could go on!

Stormcrow · June-11th-2003, 03:56 PM

lol, I know the feeling.

I do like Carmen, but I can understand why some people would not. Kind of has an acid edge to her voice, I think.

Pete C · June-11th-2003, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jazzy mary
(never did care for Carmen too much)

Even Mary has her lapses in taste. IMO, Carmen & Anita O'Day had the two most amazing approaches to time among vocalists, and Carmen was one of the supreme interpreters of a lyric. Chopswise Ella & Sassy may be unbeatable, but for me they didn't have the emotional depth of Billie, Dinah, & Carmen.

Dr Dave · June-11th-2003, 04:56 PM

I can't do it. Too many names, too many memories, so much good music...

Stormcrow · June-11th-2003, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr Dave
I can't do it. Too many names, too many memories, so much good music...

Can't you come up with just one or two names?

Pete C, I have to agree that Carmen was incredibly powerful in her interpertation of lyrics. Sometimes she can bring a tear to my eye.

June-11th-2003, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pete C
Even Mary has her lapses in taste. IMO, Carmen & Anita O'Day had the two most amazing approaches to time among vocalists, and Carmen was one of the supreme interpreters of a lyric. Chopswise Ella & Sassy may be unbeatable, but for me they didn't have the emotional depth of Billie, Dinah, & Carmen.

I'll quote you on that one.

I agree with you entirely. That is why I listen to Billie, Dinah, and Carmen much more than either Ella or Sarah. (Not that I can't enjoy Ella and Sarah sometimes as well!)

RainyDay · June-11th-2003, 05:34 PM

Sarah, Miles, Coltrane, Garrett, Herbie, McCoy, Pharoah, Brian Blade, Ron Carter, Freddie Hubbard in his prime, and Wayne Shorter. Oh yeah, and Al DiMeola. Kenny Barron.

I just like the way they sound and they all transport me somewhere else with their music.

Bill Barton · June-11th-2003, 09:07 PM

Okay, Theo, it's a challenge limiting the list to less than a hundred or so, but here you go for starters...

Rahsaan Roland Kirk: By far my favorite artist of all time for many, many reasons. He would have a prominent place in the jazz "Hall of Fame" just for his tenor playing, but when you add all the other instruments, hang on! His spiritual energy was and is beyond category, conquering physical limitations and "disabilities" that would likely leave most of us bedridden or at least relatively limited in our interactions with other people. Add to that his encyclopedic knowledge of all the history that set the stage for what he played, and his unswerving commitment to passing on the essence of the traditions to younger players, and you have a force to be reckoned with on many levels. There was a certain thorniness to his personality that may have antagonized some listeners, but it was always tempered with an openness and sense of fun that provided some checks and balances.

Bright Moments!

hornplayer · June-12th-2003, 03:55 AM

Joe Williams.

He had a beautiful voice, sang blues and ballads with equal style and grace. In live performance his stage presence was always debonair but approachable and friendly. His humor, tho "blue," was never raunchy Offstage, he was as genuine and as true a friend as could have possibly been.

I never heard him perform that I wasn't transported to a "better" place. I never hear his albums now, that I don't feel better for all the happy memories.

Simply the best. Without peer, imo.

Dr Dave · June-12th-2003, 08:41 AM

O.K. one at a time:

Mulgrew Miller. People on this board know I've long been an advocate for his music. Not that he needs one. According to his official bio, he's on more than 400 recording dates--only Kenny Barron has more dates under his belt as an accompanist. He's a great bandleader, too, although a lot of his bandleading work is out of print. 32Jazz re-released "Wingspan," and I guess he has sort of reconstituted the band and is working with it now. The original was hard to beat, with Kenny Garrett on alto and Steve Nelson on vibes, Charnett Moffett on bass, and Tony Reedus on drums. Nelson is back, I know, and Steve Wilson is in the saxophone chair.

I've often heard his style described as "bluesy," but his compositions go far, far beyond blues structures. I think this characterization has stuck because he's from Memphis, and many jazz critics seem to believe that if you're from Memphis then you must be influenced by Phineas T. Newborn. I don't hear it; he sure doesn't sound anything like Harold Mabern, anyway, who claims Newborn as an influence. I hear a guy who swallowed Monk and Bud whole, then came out with something new that combines Monk's off-kilter melodies with Bud's high-speed derring-do. This is, of course, my opinion. ["According to me! Hey, everyt'ing I say is according to me!"] Your results may differ.

Anyway, he swings hard, has, as Marion McPartland memorably commented, "ferocious chops," and I keep hoping that some of his compositions will start creeping into the standards book. I just found out that Jim Rotondi has a composition dedicated to him, called "Miller Time."

If by some bizarre chance you've never heard him, pick up "The Sequel" which is a recording of his new Wingspan band. Truthfully, I'm not sure how much else of his catalogue is in print these days.

He is also, I'm pleased to say, a Nice Person. I met him back when he first signed with RCA Novus and they put him on the road to support "Hand In Hand." He came to the Regattabar on a Thursday night with an audience of about 50, and played hard! He had Tony Reedus on drums and Boston-based phenom Richie Goods on bass. I think Richie's family was there, so there was a nice, warm vibe. Anyway, Miller was clearly unhappy about the turnout, but he was completely gracious with the crowd, and certainly didn't let up on the performance. If he comes anywhere near you, go see him.

stonemonkts · June-12th-2003, 09:24 AM

I like Mulgrew Miller too (although you've obviously experienced much more of his music than me).

Do you hear any influence from McCoy Tyner in his style? Reason I ask is when I listen to Miller sometimes I am reminded of Tyner.
My layman's description of when I hear Tyner is when Miller uses his left hand in a percussive (block chord?) manner.

In any case, Mullgrew Miller is a very distinctive player who I never have a problem identifying "blind". The 32Jazz release "Chapters 1 and 2" is very satisfying, as well as his work with Benny Golson, Donald Harrison, Dave Liebman, and James Spaulding.

It's hard to discuss my jazz favorites, there are so many! Dozens from each decade.

I feel very fortunate that my tastes run the gamut style-wise, with few exceptions (not crazy about smooth, electro-funk, and have limited likes in vocal jazz) but I can feel transported as much by Bix as Brotz, so I suppose in this regard the range is fairly broad.

I tend to focus on artists in phases. I become engrossed by one and find I listen to them exhaustively for a while, if I'm lucky I find a new keeper and move on to the next. I started typing out some favorites but the list became so ridiculously long I erased it all.

Pete C · June-12th-2003, 10:03 AM

My real appreciation of Mulgrew Miller came when I saw him in a duo with NHOP. He proved himself a worthy successor to Kenny Drew & Tete Montoliu in that context, and displayed a great musical sense of humor.

jazzy mary · June-12th-2003, 10:54 AM

Mulgrew is great. Add Freddie(my all time fave trumpet player)and KD to my lists, Herbie and Wayne, Tony, Kendra Shank, Frank Kimbrough (an absolutely wonderful, truly beautiful and deep player), Michael Kanan, Joe Locke, Bobby Hutcherson, Steve Nelson (utterly fantastic--not appreciated nearly enough), Monte Croft (ditto), Gene Ammons, Joe Henderson. And-- tah-dah-- the artist who hooked me on this music the first time I heard him when I as 14 on the soundtrack of Louis Malle's film "Souffle au Couer"---Charlie Parker!!

hornplayer · June-12th-2003, 12:13 PM

Mulgrew is a monster, but the only recordings I have of him is as sideman. Other pianists that I enjoy on a regular basis are OP, Norman Simmons, Kenny Barron, Benny Green, Renee Rosnes, Michel Petrucciani.... AND, the Count of Basie, the master of "less is more."

For trumpet, Miles and Diz, and lately, Roy. Been listening to Pops a lot recently. Bone, JJ, JJ, JJ!!! still in a class by himself.

Sax, Dexter, Ben Webster, Eddie Johnson and Joshua Redman. Not sure why I really prefer tenor to alto, but I do, by a lot.

RainyDay · June-12th-2003, 12:18 PM

Joe Henderson. I used to see him play a lot in the 1970's and will probably remember him from that time when my friends used to play in his band. He has a deep, soulful quality in his music and he will always have a special place in my heart.

Dr Dave · June-12th-2003, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stonemonkts

Do you hear any influence from McCoy Tyner in his style? Reason I ask is when I listen to Miller sometimes I am reminded of Tyner.
My layman's description of when I hear Tyner is when Miller uses his left hand in a percussive (block chord?) manner.

Damn. I used to hear Mabern called "a poor man's McCoy Tyner" for his use of the sustain pedal on block chords. Mulgrew DOES do that, and Newborn did it. Has nothing to do with being "bluesy" but that's a good observation.

HLJ · June-12th-2003, 09:51 PM

Theo my friend I'm a Wynton Marsalis Man.I really dug his early stuff with Branford on Tenor,Kirkland on piano and Watts on drums.Discs like "J-Mood","Think of One" and one of my all time favorites "Black Codes From The Underground".I just copped a vinyl 2 album set "The Herbie Hancock Quartet " with Hancock on piano,Ron Carter on bass,Tony Williams on drums and a young Wynton Marsailis on trumpet blowing his ASS OFF!!Wynton with Miles Davis's rhythm section man that shit is THE TRUTH!!Peace and all that.

fncll · June-14th-2003, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hornplayer
Bone, JJ, JJ, JJ!!! still in a class by himself.

Curtis Fuller!!

Tanager · June-16th-2003, 08:06 PM

Eric Dolphy. A font of boundless creative energy and one of the truly unique instrumental voices. One can only imagine what might have been.

Stormcrow · June-16th-2003, 09:21 PM

Someone I left out: Paul Desmond!

I love the dreamy, airy sound he has (had) on his sax. It was just so... different. Listening to him play you can picture yourself on some distant tropical beach, watching the sun set. Beautiful.

steve(thelil) · June-21st-2003, 09:39 PM

These aren't NECESSARILY the greatest, but people I have a personal attachment to. In order of random braincell firings :

Monk. Mulgrew. Gary Bartz. Sonny Fortune. Elvin. Jug. Clifford Brown. Art Farmer . Trane. Miles. John Hicks. Art Pepper. Dolphy. Mobley. Ella. Sarah. Duke. Terence Blanchard. Greg Osby. Matt Wilson. Nick Payton. Donald Harrison. Joe Lovano. Paul Motian. Santi Debriano. Cedar Walton. Kenny Barron. Steve Wilson. Avishai Cohen. Cecil McBee. Stanley Turrentine. Houston Person. Phil Grenadier. David Sanchez. Lewis Nash. El Negro Hernandez. Kurt Rosenwinkle. Larry Goldings. Bill Frisell (when he swings). Larry Young. Grant Green.Charlie Hunter. Anita O'day. Lee Morgan. Chico Hamilton. Joe Locke. Ravi Coltrane. David Berkman. Chris Potter. Scott Robinson. Brad Mehldau. Michelle Rosewoman. Jonny King. Phil Grenadier. Rodney Kendrick. Geoff Keezer. Xavier Davis. Brian Patneaude. Aaron Goldberg. Ray Brown. Roy Haynes. David Kikoski. Josh Redman. Roy Hargrove. Fathead. Doc Cheatham. Dizzy. Donald Byrd. Ike Quebec. Cannonball. Yusef Lateef. Rahsaan. James Carter. Andrew Hill. Joel Frahm. Uri Caine. Kenny Burrell. John Scofield. Victor Lewis. Tom Harrell.
Stanely Cowell. Kenny Garret. Steve Nelson. Dave Holland. JJ Johnson. Robin Eubanks. Steve Davis. Joe Zawinul. Sonny Rollins. Nick Brignola. Scott Amendola. Eric Reed. Stephen Scott. Sharman Irby. Lee Konitz. Bill Evans. Patricia Barber. Paul Desmond. Johnny Griffin. Reuben Rogers. Danilo Perez. John Pattitucci. Herbie Hancock. Arthur Blythe. James Clay. George Coleman. Fred Hersh. Eric Alexander. Herb Ellis. Billy Kilson. Larry Coryell. John McLaughlin. Sco. Bobby Hutch. Arnett Cobb. Teddy Edwards. Harold Land. Red Mitchell. Red Garland. Doc Cheatham. Ron Carter. Jimmy Heath. Horace Silver. Dexter. Satchmo. Jackie Terrason. Leon Parker. Russell Malone. Susannah McCorkle. Jimmy Smith.

I've left out too many

walto · June-21st-2003, 09:54 PM

I just wanted to mention a couple of female instrumentalists I'm particularly fond of: Zeena Parkins and Joelle Leandre.

willy · June-21st-2003, 11:14 PM

Bill Evans, Albert Ayler, Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, William Parker, Hamid Drake, Larry Nagel, Jeff Beck, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Lenny Breau, Grant Green, Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Wynton Kelly, Sonny Clark, Peter Brotzmann.

Just a few of my favs.

steve(thelil) · June-22nd-2003, 06:10 PM

I think I left out Yoron Israel, Kenny Davis, Kenny Washington, Peter Washington, Kenny Kirkland, Ben Allison, Mal Waldron, Dave McKenna, Mark Turner, Roy Hargrove, Tony Williams, Russell Gunn, Larry Coryell, Christian McBride, Jack DeJohnette, Jaco Pastorious, Doctor John (Yeah, he plays jazz, too), Kenny Dorham,
Jason Moran, Stefon Harris, Art Barron, Branford Marsalis, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins, Shelly Manne, Phineas Newborn, Jr. Red Mitchell, Blue Mitchell, Red Garland, Red Rodney, Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Sun Ra, Frank Wess, Zoot Sims, McCoy Tyner (not with his too usual trio), Bucky Pizzarelli, Stephane Grappelli, JD Allen, Cindy Blackman, Jimmy Greene, Jason Lindner, Antonio Hart, Maceo Parker, Tito Puente, Chucho Valdes, Jane Bunnett, the pianist in her band who's name escapes me, Vijay Iyer, his Sax Player with the initials RM whose name I never quite learned, Moutin Brothers, Marial Solal, Han Bennink (although you gotta be in the mood), Mark Whitfield, Ingrid Jensen, Virgina Mayhew, Allison Miller (who I fell in love with), DD Jackson (not the fusion stuff),Gregory Tardy (though I can't stand his first solo album), Philly Jo Jones, Art Blakey, Louis Hayes, Eddie Henderson, and (one of my absolute favorites, so I wonder who else I've left out, Steve Turre.

Oh yeah. Regina Carter. Miri Ben-Ari. Horace Tapscott, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Ira Sullivan, Mike Stern, Myron Walden, Pat Martino, Randy Brecker, Benny Golson, Larry Grenadier, Bill Stewart, Sylvester Stewart (more influence on 70's electric jazz than any other individual), Harold Mabern, and a few others.

bluenoter · August-27th-2003, 10:13 PM

The thread called "Rave About Your Fav-orite Musicians" is here.