Jazz and "Americana"

[BlueMiles]

I’ve been developing an ever-stronger interest in “Americana.” This is certainly not an easy type of music to categorize. I guess we’d have to call it “roots music,” which in itself is not easy to define. I tend to associate it with artists like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson; with folk music in general; with the blues; with Bluegrass; and with rock artists at times (Dylan, Fogerty, The Band, Neil Young, John Mellancamp). Of course, jazz is in the mix too, perhaps most prominently with much of the work of Bill Frisell. Also artists like Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden seem to have a strong strain of Americana: see “Missouri Sky” by these two and “Steal Away” by Haden and Hank Jones.

I’ve been creating Americana playlists for the computer and CDs, mixing everything together. But I’m now starting to put together one that spotlights only jazz. Of course, what is Americana? We all know that jazz is America’s greatest contribution to music. Or is it blues? Anyway, I start with Dizzy playing the National Anthem (surprisingly straight) from the first Monterey festival, move on to Monk, then to Duke, then to Miles playing Gershwin, then to Bela Fleck, Jimmy Giuffre, Frisell, etc. I figure you have to represent plenty of jazz greats, but especially with tunes that have a particularly American quality or feeling. Toward this end, I will probably include a lot of Gershwin tunes.

I appreciate your thoughts on Jazz/Americana and specific recommendations.

[clinthopson]

It all comes from the blues.

I don't know how authentic you want to be or just to give a feeling.

Obviously the pioneers like Armstrong, Morton and Ellington and their contemporaries would be one place to go but I'm not sure what you want to demonstrate.

[Uli]

I suggest some Lester Bowie. The Great Pretender for example. Or some of his renditions of pop songs like "My Way" or "Blueberry Hill".

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

One of my favorite sub-genres of jazz!

This one from Tom Varner is tremendous:




Two great albums of Dylans songs from Michael Moore, Lindsey Horner, & Michael Vatcher:




I liked this one from Joel Harrison:




And of course you've already mentioned Frisell and Haden:




Frisell does a lot of this (East West is another good one), and there's a new compilation of Frisell's "Folk Songs", which I didn't get because I have everything on it on the original albums.


Giuffre's The Train and The River is a great one.

[BlueMiles]

Not really trying to demosntrate anything, just looking for good stuff with a certain vibe or resonance.

The album of Dylan covers sound interesting. By the way, I've always enjoyed how Frisell plays Dylan.

Lester Bowie...yeah, there's an interesting artist.

Here's a partial list of records I have that which pretty much maintain an Americana sound.

Frisell: Gone Just Like a Train, Have a Little Faith, History/Mystery, and quite a few more

Haden and Metheny: Beyond the Missouri Sky

Haden and Jones: Steal Away

(I do need to check out new one by Haden)

Marc Johnson: Sound of Summer Running

Jimmy Giuffre: The Train and the River

Metheny: Bright Size Life

[Pete C]

Uri Caine did a concept album for Winter & Winter of early Tin Pan Alley songs, with ambient effects added.

http://jazztimes.com/articles/10751-...lley-uri-caine

[clinthopson]

You may want to check out Gerry Mulligan's Age of Steam.

[Pete C]

Ellington-New Orleans Suite
Carla Bley-Looking for America

And this one featuring my old friend Dick Miller on piano:

http://www.worldsrecords.com/pages/a...tra_56843.html

[Gentle Giant]

Definitely Fleck and his contemporaries, Edgar Meyer, Mike Marshall, and the amazing Mark O'Connor, among others.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by Pete C

Uri Caine did a concept album for Winter & Winter of early Tin Pan Alley songs, with ambient effects added.

http://jazztimes.com/articles/10751-...lley-uri-caine

I LOVE that album!! An acoustic movie, a carriage ride to various musical venues.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

David Murray with Fontella Bass, doing gospel songs -- and now that I remembered it I'm going to play it!

[BlueMiles]

Just wanted to add that Metheny's "Two Folk Songs" from 80/81 is, for me, the epitome of Americana jazz. In addition, to the deep, deep groove and resonance, these could be the very finest moments from each of the 4 musicians: Brecker, Metheny, Haden, and DeJohnette.

[Walt Davis]

Air: Lore
Don Byron: Bug Music
Definitely the Bowie Brass Fantasy version of "Crazy"
and just about anything by Eugene Chadbourne :-) except maybe the Bach for banjo. :-)

[Bill Barton]

Thomas Marriott - Crazy: The Music of Willie Nelson

[ormsbop]

Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band(?) I guess it's the inclusion of the pedal steel that gives an 'Americana' vibe to me.

[Captain Hate]

Originally Posted by Walt Davis

and just about anything by Eugene Chadbourne :-) except maybe the Bach for banjo. :-)

Nothing says Americana like "Achey Rakey Heart" by Dr Chadbourne and Evan Johns

[me wag]

Good Grief: some of my favorite music of the past 20-30 years here:



Junk Genius - The Ghost of Electricity & Erik Friedlander - Block Ice & Propane




Jerry Granelli - A Song I Thought I Heard Buddy Sing (regards Michael Ondaatje's book about Buddy Bolden)

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Then there's John Carter's Roots & Folklore series of albums comprised of Dauwhe, Castles of Ghana, Dance of the Love Ghosts, Fields & Shadows On A Wall which are all beyond great.