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

I second most of @gfguillot recommendations in the smooth/ contemporary genre with a many more tasty morsels listed below...

The Rippingtons- Curves Ahead

Acoustic Alchemy -Red Dust & Spanish Lace/ (all albums are great)

Special EFX -Double Feature/Global Village

Warren Hill

Earl Klugh

Steve Cole

Larry Carlton- Discovery

Norman Brown- After The Storm

Gregg Karukas ...any album

Tim Bowman-"Sweet Sundays" (killer kut!)

Brian Simpson...any album

Joyce Cooling...any album

David Benoit- Freedom at Midnight

Brian Savage

GOTA - It's so different here

Kim Pensyl- Pensyl Sketches

Jeff Lorber

Freddie Ravel

Four80East

FATTBURGER- Good News "The Doctor"

Chuck Loeb

Paul Jackson Jr.

Peter White

Jeff Kashiwa -Hyde Park

NILS

ThreeStyle

Tom Grant -Mango Tango

Jonathan Butler

Alex Bugnon

Bobby Lyle - Tropical

Chieli Minucci

Dan Siegel

Dave Grusin

Michael Lington

U-Nam

And soo many others just ask...Enjoy! from MoonCrikit

And for a killer visual experience, try on YouTube...

Brian Culbertson feat Michael Lington Full Concert Jazz Burghausen 2004 

3.2K views7 months ago

Jazz Fusion Funk&Soul

 

@devinplombier -- You are very welcome my friend.  I hope you enjoy Bohren as much as I do.  Listen to their entire catalog, it is a wonderful treat.  Watch their multiple live YouTube videos -- I'd love to catch them live, their shows look surreal.  Like a "quiet version" of a Godspeed You! Black Emperor concert 😆!

 

I believe  "Shoegaze Jazz" is a perfect description of Bohren.  If you like Shoegaze rock, I'd suggest a new band from NYC called Gift.  The keyboardist went to High School with my youngest son.  They have released 2 very good albums.

 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mtQMJsQuuxSQnnUdfVmQJF9aK3QBL4Xz4&si=7LWTFQ_1PRTtIOoR

@tyray

Now Stevie Wonder, after his albums Talking Book, Music of My Mind and Innervisions to me he and his music were uncategorizable and completely Transcendental.

I think of S. Wonder generally as R&B infused with Jazz harmonies. But, as he’s not only unique but also a genius, he’s in his own category! I love those 70’s recordings, too. 

@allenf1963 

Funny you mention GYBE, my kid just caught them live in Montreal. He loved it. He texted me he loved opening act BIG|BRAVE too, so I took a delve and I liked what I heard a lot. Reminds me of an Acid King / Melvins mashup, if that makes any sense. Interestingly they started off as an acoustic folk act. Here is one song I like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1S-xH_3-qQ

Thanks for the tip on Gift, I'll check them out

@devinplombier -- My GY!BE show on Nov. 17th in NC was postponed. One of the founding members, Efrim Menuck, became ill, causing them to cancel the shows in Nashville, Knoxville, and Atlanta. The night before my show was supposed to happen, they attempted to play Charleston, SC, but quit after about 70 minutes. I got an email the morning of my show saying it was off. Alan Sparhawk (of the fabulous band Low) played his set as a "pay what you can". GY!BE postponed all remaining shows except for the last 2 -- in their hometown of Montreal. I opted to keep my tickets to be used when they reschedule hopefully in the Spring.

 

If you ever get a chance to see them live...do it. It is an experience you’ll never forget. At their shows, I feel like I enter a trance -- the sound and visual effects are reminiscent of 1960’s Pink Floyd concerts. Every album is a must listen, but this is a great start: "Lift Your Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven"

 

https://youtu.be/JMDmaUO4hno?si=swE9zM25Si-S33dT

 

I also heard BIG|BRAVE was wonderful at those Montreal shows. I did a deep dive as well.