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Who Are the Best Young Lions of Jazz Today?

The Wynton Marsalis thread got me to thinking. Some consider him the best jazz artist today. I actually don't know who the best jazz artist is today or who the best jazz artists are since I'm steeped in the past listening to Hard Bop like a mad man. The jazz I love, the musicians I love, the heroes and gods for me are guys like Miles, Monk, Sonny Rollins, Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Horace Silvers, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Fredie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, Bill Evans, Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley and others. My wife gets aggravated since I repeatedly play these giants.

I don't pay much attention to contemporary / modern jazz artists with the exception of John Scofield, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Pat Metheny, all who I've seen multiple times and love.

I've listened to Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride and have enjoyed their work. I've heard a little of Marsalis.

Who are the best of the Young Lions of Jazz? I know Marsalis is "in the conversation."
foster_9
jonsher
29 posts
 
Bill Charlap

Of all the pianists I've heard since Bill Evans, Charlap is the one who most excites me. Has two trios - Bill Chalap Trio and New York Trio - and also plays with a lot of other leading players and singers as he is in much demand.

To me he is a throwback in that he almost exclusively plays jazz standards. There is a thoughtfulness and nuance to his improv that reminds me of Evans, though without the melancholy of Evans,
dominion78
7 posts
 
Tineke Postma
Avishai Cohen (bass)
Avishai Cohen (trumpet)
Anat Cohen
Orbert Davis
Dawyne Dolphin
Justin Young
Esperanza Spaulding
Darren Rahn
Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Sean Jones
Brain Blade
Ron Blake
Sheryl Bailey

Just to name a few more. I'll be back with more. Let's not forget all those female young lionesses too.

D
mrdecibel
3,063 posts
 
It is not very new, but check out Rick Braun's Beat Street.
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 
Foster_9, I have been so unsucessful in finding anything new, that I go through my entire musical collection, and start all over again. If you discover anything, please let me know.
foster_9 OP
1,638 posts
 
Hi Orpheus10, I haven't been spending much time seeking out "Contemporary Lions of Jazz," even though it has been my intention. I continue to spin the Old school Hard Bop. But I've heard a few young guys and I can highly recommend pianist, Gonzalo Rubalcaba. He is incredible.
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