Who was your first


What was the first jazz artist that got you hooked on jazz? I was in a high end audio store and the salesperson put on Dianna Krall All or nothing at all on a pair of B&W's and ever since then I was hooked. And that is what led me down this never ending audio addiction.
128x128mlawitm
Ir was my first experiences with good audio circa 1980 that got me out of listening to only pop and rock music, and I too enjoyed Spyro Gyra, Weather Report, John Klemmer and Herbie Hancock.

About 20 years later, I took some jazz piano lessons some years ago, by a very old school musician/composer/professor who asked me what kind of jazz music I liked.

I mentioned a few things which others have mentioned above, including Vince Guaraldi.

I will never forget the embarrassment I felt when he looked at me and said: "That's NOT jazz!"

Since his remark, I discovered and more thoroughly explored Miles Davis and in particular Kind of Blue.

I also enjoy my audiophile classics which I now understand to be "contemporary instrumental music."

For a more profound understanding of what "jazz" really means, check out the DVD of Herbie Hancock collaborating with pop stars including Christina Aguilera and John Mayer.

It is a mesmerizing thing to watch, and during various interviews, Herbie explains that Miles said it was OK to practice, but just make sure that they did NOT do whatever they did practicing when they were on stage.

Anything rehearsed also was not "jazz".

cheers,

cwlondon
Great thread ... Cwlondon, a second to your comment about understanding "jazz". Kind of Blue was done with little preparation in a single take.
Mapman , I had the pleasure of meeting Al Hirt at Moms in New Orleans about 20 years back.
I listen to Coltrane "My Favorite Things about one a month and each time I listen I still hear and learn something new from this recording.
I also have Mangione's Feels So Good I loved it when it first was released.My wife still enjoys it but I have to leave the room when she wants to hear it.Funny how things change over time.
Now,back to the question.1955 Count Basie "April In Paris"