Disappearing Jazz?

@bigquery

I’m confused as to whether you only listen to vinyl. If so, I can’t help. If you listen on CD as well, read on.

During the 80s and 90s there was quite a renaissance of Jazz reissues on CD but that has subsequently fallen off. One need only look at the current Blue Note catalogue to recognize this. There are still small specialist labels that continue to seek out and release previously unknown/unreleased recordings by major players.

If you don’t mind buying used as well as new, there is plenty of excellent Jazz available on CD. Are you familiar with discogs? However, if you are seeking to collect the complete catalogues of particular artists, then you are bound to be disappointed. I don’t see why this should bar you from exploring the riches that are still to be enjoyed but this is of course for you to decide.

As far as Jazz CD guides, none are perfect. The All Music Guide offers the valuable feature of listing both in print and out of print releases. I found this extremely useful as were the stylistic overviews that helped me put artists and recordings into a more organized context. At the same time, it has many reviewers, which means you must learn which reviewers’ tastes are consistent with your own. There is an online version with sound samples that I still utilize.

The Penguin Guide has been very popular. Although they can be rather idiosyncratic in terms of what they include and leave out, they review many Jazz classics that most will want in their collections. For this reason, I found the Penguin very useful when starting out. Unfortunately, they only list titles that are available in the UK at the time each edition is printed.  

RE: whether there is anyone to take the place of past "giants", musical development is cyclical as is the case in all the arts. There are periods of exceptional creativity crowded with particularly gifted talents and periods that are less dramatically so. But there are plenty of excellent players still walking the earth. Unfortunately, the number of venues where one can hear live Jazz has become very small, indeed.

I hope this helps.

@bigquery

If you give us a better idea of what you’re looking for, we can make specific suggestions in terms of contemporary Jazz artists.

Spotify (free, with ads) is an excellent resource for exploring unknown artists. 

@fuzztone Why collect? At this point it is a matter of equipment - my best reproduction is on Vinyl or CD.  Streaming is still in my future budget.  Very possible but I am reluctant to introduce another variable which doesn't have the same level of investment as I have made otherwise.

@stuartk - At the moment I'm busy collecting horn (Ruby Braff) and piano (Roland Hanna, Art Tatum and Dick Hyman) as well as some big band - Billy Strayhorn (love the Dutch Jazz Orchestra recordings).

I'm not opposed to collecting more vinyl (just picked up Dick Hyman playing variations of Thad Jones - A Child Is Born which is only available on vinyl) - however I already have a basement full of vinyl which I am trying to clean so I'm not trying to make that mountain any higher.  I do love the sound quality of vinyl.

Again - what is troubling for me is that so many of the recordings I find interesting for the artists I've mentioned are only on vinyl.  I am encouraged to read of the recent reissues but still wonder if these are available via streaming.  Anyone have an answer on that?

Here's another artist I collect - Marian McPartland.  I was a big fan for her radio shows right up until it stopped due to her passing.

Discogs - Marian McPartland 

Fortunately Concord reissued some of the early albums - but what of the others?  Will this music just fade into history unless it is found in a collector's basement like mine?

I prefer CD and LP too...but i do have a couple of nice streamers, and they do save you money , as you can know better what you want to buy...also great now for you with all the Best of Year lists and new releases coming out for holidays...you can simply explore on phone, computer or...I just picked up a Sonos Connect for $50 and it sounds ok for exploring (though running through an external DAC)...not getting into which is best argument, just that streaming doesn’t work for all of us as main listening format...

If you are looking for some ideas, why not tune in to Tampa Bay Smooth Jazz?