Metal Reviews

Pretty noob at this still. After getting pretty familiar with Jonas Hellborg, Hiromi, and Happy Apple's discographies I've started moving through Esbjorn Svensson Trio, Keith Jarrett Trio, Max Roach and Sunny Rollins' stuff. I don't have much context as far as classics go (I've only listened to Black Saint and Love Supreme once or twice :\) so far but I've been heartily enjoying what I've heard from those musicians so I'll keep getting stuff from them unless they start to suck.

I heard a Charles Mingus song, and I loved it.

Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__OSyznVDOY

There's also a Sun Ra song that I love the hell out of.

Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Un6pmJK_ZE

Those two are not the easiest way to get into jazz but still terrific albums. If, like me, you like jazz with a little craziness to it, you should try some Ornette Coleman and Pharoah Sanders.
Otherwise, the Acoustic Masada from John Zorn are great albums.

Not really a fan of the weirder stuff yet. I'm sort of moving through it starting from the late 50s so maybe I'll get to the weird stuff and by that time will appreciate it more. Right now my main problem with it is that "avant-garde" noises from saxophones/wind instruments are really unpleasant. I do like Herbie Hancock's three Mwandishi albums and Bennie Maupin's Jewel in the Lotus though.

John Coltrane counts as jazz, no? I love me some Coltrane.

Well, I studied jazz for three years at university and still consider myself a total noob in it, so don't worry noodles.

Basically, it's pretty much endless. But let me help out a friend of mine and plug his band here; Troyka. They are a new British "power trio" (I guess you might call them) playing very heavily prog-influenced jazz. The drummer is a guy I used to play with in a band I had for several years before he made it (relatively) big.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7veyCZt6s8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PVf0yqHMpM

Also, noodles, I've recommended Gilad Atzmon about a million times in this forum, I dunno if you ever followed it up? Really great Brit/Israeli saxophone player who has done a lot of stuff heavily influenced by middle eastern folk music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtIAgMqkVYk

I don't recognize his name so I guess I never noticed those recommendations, but I will check both of those out, especially Troyka because they have a cool name.

If you want a metalhead's perspective of jazz check out Kiko Loureiro. His new album is more metal than jazz, but his previous two are definitely more jazz with some metal. http://www.myspace.com/kikoloureiro

Also I've really been digging some John Zorn. He has a few new releases this year that are worth checking out. Check him out if you haven't.

http://www.myspace.com/neuralcode Here is another band Kiko is a part of.

Someone here had Zorn's pic as a signature a long time ago, right?

On the topic: How about Al Di Meola? A colleague introduced me to his music about 2 weeks back and I was blown away.

John Zorn - Naked City. Best metal/jazz album evar

Will give it a shot, soon.

Listening to Max Roach Plus Four right now and Max Roach/Kenny Dorham/Sonny Rollins at the top of their game are ridiculous. The drum solos on this are so intense.

Sonny Rollins is the king of awesome.

Favourite jazz currently is Steve Coleman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojNh9rj-1j4