Can you recommend Jazz for some one that doesn't like Jazz?


Let me explain, I have tried to like jazz for over 30 years. I rarely find something I like. To me it sounds too disjointed, like everyone is trying to out do the others and they are all playing a different song. I know there has to be some good instrumental smooth jazz artists I am missing. If you have any suggestions of whom to try let me know. Some that are on my Jazz playlist is Pat Metheny-"It's for you"   Bill Frisell _"Heard it through the grapevine"  Holly Cole, George Benson... for an example of things I do like.

 

I'd love to have a 100 song Jazz playlist. So what'ch got for me?

Thanks

128x128fthompson251

Here’re some accessible jazz musicians to try. I suggest "accessible" because you can more easily discern and learn to appreciate theme and variation which, as described above, is central to jazz. None of my suggestions are Big Band, Avant Garde, raucous, cacophonic, etc. You can find more music by any of the musicians I mention simply by going to Wikipedia and searching. For each artist, there should be a "Discography" section that describes each disc. WARNNG: I looked at this list after drafting it and realize it’s a little top-heavy with Charlie Haden:

1. Solo piano/piano with one other instrument: Fred Hersch (he also has trio recordings), but look for his solo recordings (e.g., "Solo" from 2020); Marcus Roberts (e.g., "Alone with Three Giants"); Keith Jarrett (many, but try "Last Dance" with bassist Charlie Haden); Hank Jones (his solo recordings and especially is albums with bassist Charlie Haden, "Steal Away" and "Come Sunday"; Bill Evans ("Alone" or his other solo works); Scott Joplin’s music played on solo piano (e.g., Marvin Hamlisch’s playing for "The Sting"; Thelonious Monk "Solo Monk."

2. Solos or two instruments or trios: The bassist Charlie Haden had several -- in addition to the ones I mentioned above, try "Beyond the Missouri Sky" with guitarist Pat Metheny and "Charlie Haden/Jim Hall."; Bill Evans’ "Live at Village Vanguard".

3. New Orleans, i.e., Dixieland music: Evan Christopher’s "Clarinet Road" (there are 3 volumes) and "Delta Bound";

4. Quartets and larger: "Silence" by Charlie Haden and Chet Baker; "Kind of Blue" by Miles David (don’t try this one first); Ben Webster ("King of the Tenors"; "Soulville"; "Jazz Round Midnight");

I could go on and on and even find some recs without Charlie Haden (!), but I’ll stop for now and let some more knowledgeable folks take over. And there are some great suggestions, above. Good luck!

If you've been trying for 30 years and you just don't get, then why keep trying.  It's not like anything going to change.

Some very knowledgeable posts here already.  I'll just add my 5 recommendations -- you mentioned "smooth jazz," so here are some well recognized albums:

Breezin by George Benson

Duotones by Kenny G

The In Crowd by Ramsey Lewis

A Day in the Life by Wes Montgomery

Mister Magic by Grover Washington, Jr.

@fthompson251

I’m right there with you. It’s like I’m supposed to like Miles Davis but the music is just meh to me. I appreciate the technical ability but it all just sounds like people playing scales.

That said I do find myself drawn to the quite a bit of it just not all the hard core

Cannonball Adderley Nancy Wilson
Oscar Nelson Blues And The Abstract Truth
Paolo Fresu Alma
Paolo Fresu Mare Nostrum
Lady Blackbird
Sidsel Endresen, Bugge Wesseltoft Out Here. In There (which gets kinda out there but grows on you)
and then classic jazz singers Ella, Sara, Dinah Washington and not really jazz but has to mentioned Etta James

 

This is great everyone and thank you for all the suggestions, I got some homework to do! I should have not described my wishes as smooth jazz, that isn't correct. Some I have already added to the Jazz playlist are Kenny Burell, Wes Montgomery, Ron Carter, Stanley Turrentine and Bob Brookmeyer. THANK YOU!