Jazz Talk At The Lair

  Am I being heretical.  Should Grumpy burn me at the stake.  When I see a new album that is completely comprised of Standards or stuff from the American Pop songbook, I generally pass.  I don't find there's much new to explore anymore 

New artists to watch, new releases that are essential ... list them here 

  Whether it be hard bop, soul jazz, spiritual jazz or something more on the edge, where are the brightest spots to find it.  

Who are those jazz who have a tone or sound that is immediately recognizable.  To borrow from the cinema term for a legendary director, I'd call these players jazz "auteurs". Like Cinematic icons Bergman, Kurosawa, Scorcese or Hitchcock who had or have a distinctive look, these jazz musicians have a distinctive sound or tone in their playing.  

I created the following list for a jazz tyro. It's more hard bop centric - but that's the sound they wanted  Ahmad Jamal – Ahmad’s Blues  Andrew Hill, Black Fire Andrew Hill, Point of Departure Anthony Williams, Spring Art Blakey – A Night in Tunisia Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - Complete Blue Note Recordings Art Blakey, A Night at Birdland Volume 1 Art Blakey, A Night at Birdland Volume 2 Art Blakey, Free For All Art Blakey, Mosaic Art Tatum - Capital Music collections Bill Evans, “The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961” (Riverside, 2005). Billie Holiday – Lady in Satin Bobby Hutcherson Happenings Bobby Hutcherson, Components Bobby Hutcherson, Total Eclipse Bud Powell, The Amazing Volume 1 But Powell, The Scene Changes Cannonball Adderley Quintet – Somethin’ Else Cannonball Adderley, Somethin’ Else Cassandra Wilson, New Moon Daughter Cassandra Wilson, Traveling Miles Charlie Mingus - Ahh, Um Charlie Parker – Charlie Parker With Strings Charlie Parker & Dizz...

As the title goes, how did you get into jazz. What age, what artists, what sub-genres of the art?