I`m not his mom, and i`m not getting any commission on that, but I strongly recommend you to buy the DENYS BAPTISTE album "Let Freedom Ring". He`s a UK tenor sax player.
This really is a wonderful piece. The best I`ve heard for ages.
There are 4 tunes (long tunes though) in it and 3 made me cry.
The theme is a tribute to Martin Luther King and the struggle for freedom. It uses spoken word from Nigerian poet/writer Ben Okri.
The blend between the voice, the alto sax, tenor sax, cello, trumpet, trombone, guitar drums and the voice is simply mind blowing.

The album should be available on the internet if u live outside England, on Amazon or www.dunejazz.com or www.denysbaptiste.com

I would suggest Keith Jarrett. He`s done lots of solo work on piano, and some trio stuff (drums bass and piano). Some of his stuff is a little crazy but he plays really nice ballads and his trio, with Gary Peacock and the drummer, but I can`t remember his name.
Also, Bill Evans is great, as well as Herbie Hancock.

Try Scott Hamilton (tenor sax), Chet Baker, on the standards. Their interpretations of the standards will sharpened your understanding of jazz.

i started listening to jazz this past summer. I would suggest listening to John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Dave Burbeck. Also check out the song Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Cannonball Adderley. and this website - www.jazzartsstudio.com they have a resoure page with links to tons of great performers, and songs.

I second Keith Jarrett (his drummer is Paul Motian, by the way). Jarrett is amazing, he even sings along while he plays. Louis Armstrong is also one of my favorites. To get a lot of standards by Armstrong, go for the Ken Burns Jazz album. Kind of Blue is also a classic (although Stan Getz and Art Blakely are NOT on it, as previously suggested.) The Modern Jazz Quartet are fascinating, and for some amazing vocalese, I would recommend Lambert, Henricks and Ross.

right now for me the music i play along to, play, listen to is for sax david sanborn and dave koz and for piano, harry connick jr, the piano in his songs is so cool

I truly approve the last suggestion, especially for Cannonbal Aderley. By the way the song ``Mercy, Mercy, Mercy`` can be heard on a wonderful, slightly funk, album of his called ``Phenix``. It`s featuring also cornet player Nat Adderley ( Julian`s brother).
Someboydy also mentionned Lambert, Hendricks & Ross wich is great for vocal arrangements and performance. Related to this branch is a vocal band called Manhattan Transfer. They did some good pop stuff, for example a kick-ass version of Weather Report`s hit ``Birdland``, but i do prefer they doo-wop sound.
One thing I remarked in you guys` suggestions is that there`s is no Big Band at all. I`m a big fan of Duke Ellington (hear his movie score for "Anatomy of a murder"), Buddy Rich (this drummer could push a Big Band like nobody did, and so far. The most energic jazz drummer ever, IMO),Stan Kenton, and some contemporary jazz bands like Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter newest stuff and I`m now looking for a Maria Scneider album ( she`s a composer and a great focked-up and perfectionnist arranger).
Don`t be afraid to include less-known jazzmen, and jazzwomen, I`m dying to discover new stuff.

cobalt, u should really get this cd called "keith jarret - The Koln Concert". it has a song called Part 1 on it and he improvises on it, and it really is amazing what he can do. trust me, get that song [might be too big to download cos it lasts 26 mins].

Dave Brubeck is also really cool, especially take five and blue rondo a la turk. u should listen to a song by miles davis too called Right Off, its more funky. also bitches brew by miles davis is really cool.

so, my top 5 jazz musicians are:
Brubeck,Jarret,Coltrane,Davis and Mingus.

I love the Kind of Blue albom. It is absolutely brilliant. Blue in Green is the best( solos are amazing, including piano).
Try Mood Indigo by Duke Ellington, Song for my father, by Horace Silver(who`s awesome by the way) and anything by the great Louis ArmstrongIf you ever want to try something upbeat, try Dizzy Gillepsie(Manteca or Barcelona).
Hope I could help.

My favorites

Freddie Hubbard
Gordon Goodwin`s Big Phat Band
JJ Johnson
Michael Brecker
Randy Brecker
Arturo Sandoval
Miles Davis
Maynard Ferguson
Stan Kenton
Tommy Dorsey

wow... the list is getting kind of long. i think I`ll stop, but there`s still more!

Looking for you know that sort of slow jazz song you hear in a restaurant for relaxing..dunno what its called.. can somebody tell me..Thanks..Please reply to jocw@hotmail.com. Thanks

Hi guys,

It`s been great looking through all your posts, given me some great information. Just thought I would add this little extra bit of information: heres a link to a small (275k) mp3 on a web server - its only a little taster, but if I could get similar it would be great. Feel free to download an impart any gems of wisdom you may have

http://www.azimuth.eclipse.co.uk/music/out2.mp3

hello, i reccomend wynton marsalis he is VERY good (im not sure if he plays jazz though, lol)also pat metheney, hes awesome and also one of the best guiatarists i think. his band has been very influential to me (they helped me get a better appreciation for jazz) good luck!

Yeah,
Pretty much what I would suggest has been said but somethings bugging me. The artists on `Kind of Blue` are...
Miles Davis: Trumpet
John Coltrane: Tenor Sax (somebody got Stan Getz!)
Cannonball Adderley: Alto Sax
Wynton Kelly: Piano (on Freddie Freeloader)
Bill Evans: Piano (on all others)
Paul Chambers: Bass
Jimmy Cobb: Drums
-Another GREAT jazz CD is `Giant Steps` by Coltrane
~Mojo~

I found this site real helpful =when i just started to play jazz check it out. www.petethomas.co.uk/