Temple of Blues Agora : Jazz and Blues

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Topic: Jazz and Blues

delreds
Blues Worshipper
Member # 31

posted February 05, 2001 09:54 AM

Knowing this forum is really about blues music, I wonder how many of you also play Blues, "Kissin' cousin"... Jazz? And if you do, which came first.. Blues or Jazz... Do you find yourself adding Jazz licks to your blues stuff, and visa versa..

I think some of the best stuff I have come up with (which isn't alot!) is when I mix the two.. Keeps me from sounding too much like anyone particular..

Anyone else playin' the cousin?

delreds

Posts: 12 | From: Dallas center iowa | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

JaZZer
Blues Worshipper
Member # 4

posted February 08, 2001 05:59 PM

Let's get something going here...
I don't play, I just listen. Tried playing guitar but I'm not cut to play.

I listen to jazz...a lot. My favorite artists are from the Bee Bop era like Jazz God Miles Davis. The question I ask is, do you feel blues trickled down from jazz or the reverse? Early blues/jazz artists spawned from the same school and wanted to experience a form of music that would reflect the soul. I think in their own way, blues and jazz reach that objective. As a form of communication, they both are magnificient when played with emotion, guts and talent.

Posts: 17 | From: Montréal, Québec, Canada | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

delreds
Blues Worshipper
Member # 31

posted February 09, 2001 08:51 AM

Actually, jazz is an off shoot of blues.. Blues a result of field hollars and work songs of the south.. Jazz took on a life of it's own when it moved north to Chicago...

If you want to hear a perfect combination of both.. blues and jazz and get a better understanding of the influences they have on each other, then a "Must Listen" is Wynton Marsalis, Majesty of the Blues..It's an older CD, but the impact of the blues heritage as it mixes with Jazz is phenomenal.

One thing jazz has done for me is to have a better understanding and an 'ear' for the subtle differences in the same styles or genre of music. No longer do I 'clump' all blues players in the same pot and I try to pull a little from them all..

Also, the more I listen and understand jazz, the more I DON'T want to sound like another player.. Influenced by? absolutely, but when it's said and done, I want my playing to be mine and those who hear it say, "I'd never thought of playing it that way.. I LIKE IT !"

your thoughts?

delreds

Posts: 12 | From: Dallas center iowa | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

Brownie
Blues Worshipper
Member # 24

posted February 11, 2001 11:09 AM

Hi deldreds and JaZZer
I'd like to think that my style of playing falls mainly in the Blues but ventures into Jazz at times a la Robben Ford, SRV, Brian Setzer.
A couple of questions: What do you think constitutes a Jazz player (I put in licks over changes: diminished runs, superlocrian over altered dominants etc, and use a larger vocab of chords than your average Blues guitarist but am I just a Blues player who knows a bit of Jazz or a wannabe Jazzer).
Also can anyone suggest some artists that fall into this category as much Jazz leaves me feeling strangely lacking in any ability to play the guitar?

Posts: 23 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

Slim Lively
Blues Worshipper
Member # 16

posted February 11, 2001 04:14 PM

If you're interested in guitarists than can both swing and still be considered blues, take a look at these for sure: T-Bone Walker - the master of them all; Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - not always jazzy, has some country style to his playing, too; Colin James; PeeWee Crayton; Little Charlie Baty (Little Charlie & the Nightcats); Dave Spector, Clarence Hollimon. This is a short list, but there's many, many more.

Slim

Posts: 98 | From: Portland, Oregon, USA | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

Slim Lively
Blues Worshipper
Member # 16

posted February 11, 2001 04:18 PM

For jazz players, check out folks like Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell or George Benson and don't ever forget about Charlie Christian.

Slim

Posts: 98 | From: Portland, Oregon, USA | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

mild7
Blues Worshipper
Member # 7

posted February 12, 2001 09:06 AM

Hi everyone! My first post here.

About jazz... It's mainly jazz guitar that I enjoy listening to. Not really much into horns etc.. unless they're being used as support instruments, or if it's in a big band setting.

I used to dig Montgomery quite a bit, but really, almost every other jazz guitarist seems to play pretty much like him... he was very influential after all.
What's spinning in my player nowadays though is Joe Pass.. I like the brazilian/bossa-nova overtones in his playing as well.

Posts: 4 | From: | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

Slim Lively
Blues Worshipper
Member # 16

posted February 12, 2001 06:52 PM

Ah, yes. How did I miss Joe Pass?

Even worse, how can I even mention jazz guitar without including the name Django Reinhardt?!?!? This is an offense totally inexcusable!!

Slim

Posts: 98 | From: Portland, Oregon, USA | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

eBuddha
Blues Worshipper
Member # 3

posted February 14, 2001 12:18 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mild7:
Hi everyone! My first post here.
(snip)
What's spinning in my player nowadays though is Joe Pass.. I like the brazilian/bossa-nova overtones in his playing as well.

Ahhh... listening to Ella singing
Georgia on my Mind as I write... with Joe Pass accompanying. What beautiful music. What a voice, ...

eBuddha dizzy with ecstasy from these fine sounds

Posts: 116 | From: Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

mild7
Blues Worshipper
Member # 7

posted February 14, 2001 03:38 AM

Well... here's something interesting, at least to me that is.

When I'm in the mood for listening to something soothing.. that is, when I'm having the blues, Joe Pass and his other contempararies do the job very well for me.

But when I'm hyped up and happy about something, Buddy Guy seems to elevate this 'happiness'.

Kind of wierd? I always felt that it should be in the reverse order...
I guess you you just can't put the blues in a box, it really is for all occasions.

Posts: 4 | From: | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

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