Jazz Music

[Nina Kay]

Well, this is the first time that I have posted in this forum. So I hope it's okay. This is going to sound silly probably, but I wanted to share my little thrill. I am now 50 years old, which has really thrown me off in so many negative ways. My age used to never be that big a deal to me. It's like I just crossed a line that says I'm on my way out or something..................

Anyway, this morning, I was surfing the channels on TV and came across the JAZZ channel. Instantly it grabbed my heart. I LOVE IT !!!!!! Who would've thought that I wouldn't have found this wonderful music and realized the pleasure that it gives me, until I was 50 !!!! That is such a positive new thing for me to begin to realize about myself at this age. I thought there were no more new beginnings for me that would be real, and not forced on my part. Does anyone else here love JAZZ music?

[nocellphone]

Big jazz fan here!

[Let me qualify that by specifying any jazz but "smooth" jazz. For me, jazz should not be smooth. Bowel movements should be smooth!]

The jazz I like best has angles, edges and rough spots. It has names like 'Trane, Mingus, Miles and Duke...

What I find interesting is that my alcoholic/addict stepfather was a jazz fanatic, but he used his music as a sort of torture device to fill our home with a soundtrack for his rage. Consequently, I despised jazz until well into my adulthood (and my recovery), as the very sound of it was enough to raise my blood pressure and my anxiety level.

Now that I've experienced some healing from those trying times, I realize that his taste in jazz was superb and I find myself digging exactly what he dug in that musical vein!

Sadly, I received news tonight that his cancer is untreatable and that the end of his life is very near. Thanks to Al-Anon, the 12 Steps and my Higher Power, I can listen to his music... my music... our music... and feel compassion and love for the man rather than dwelling in the negativity I carried for so many years.

Thanks, Nina. Your post helped me process some feelings tonight...

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Ahhh,

nothing better to listen to then jazz while sailing.

Country takes me back to sallons. There's not too much in the way of today's rock that suits me but jazz, now that can just set my soul to ease.

I knjow, a lot of people don't care for Kenny G but, I love his music. David Sanborn is great if, you like sax.

Music, fits the moods. jazz seems to make my mood mellow. That's where I want to be today

[Justme57]

Hi Nina

A big YES to your question! Since I am now sober, the last 12 months I too have discovered that I LOVE jazz! Isn't it funny, I never played any music when I was a practicing drunk lol

HUGX
Lee

[Nina Kay]

Thanks Everone for your replies. I'm so excited about my new love for Jazz. I haven't really learned singers and group names, yet, but I'm sure that I'll be able to pinpoint my favorites soon. Hey Captain, I do know that I love to listen to Kenny G, though. Nocellphone, I was really fascinated about the story of your Dad's love for Jazz becoming yours too. It's so funny how life goes in circles. Sounds like a negative in your life ended up being such a positive. It's hard to imagine that he used it in connection with rage. It is so relaxing to me and just really is so pleasant. I immediately find myself feeling happy and lighthearted.
Lee, I love Country Music too and I say that because I thought that most drunks listened to Country. But then I'm from Texas............

[Justme57]

Country music sure is great to drink to, specially if you are having a "pity party" at the time lol

HUGX
Lee

[dizzyj]

Hey Nina I dont think we should let George Strait, Kenny Chesney,and above all GARTH Brooks that!!!!!

[Dan]

Jazz is an intensified feeling of nonchalance.
Françoise Sagan.

[historyteach]

Yup! LOVE it.
And I just turned 50 this year too... And exploring my options for more in life....

Shalom!

[Nina Kay]

Hey Lee, You are just so right.
dizzyj, Kenny Chesney is my all time favorite Male country singer.
Dan, You may be right and that may be exactly one of the reasons I liked it so much. With all of this extreme drama I've endured for the last 10 years, nonchalance is very inviting. However, it mostly tends to bring an instant smile to my face and lifts my spirits and I sure need that.
Teach, I'm tickled to hear that you love it too and that you and I are the same age. That's surprising to me. Have you listened to it long? I just realized by chance yesterday how much I really enjoy it.

[dizzyj]

Nina,

If your favorite is Kenny Chesney, he sings a song called Thats Why I'm Here - from his Tribute to Kenny Chesney CD - youd love it.

[dizzyj]

Something to add --- i think it should be the theme song for AA

[Nina Kay]

dizzy,
I really like that song. I have all of Kenny Chesney's CDs, except the newest one. I just think that every song that he has ever sung is just a great song. I do think you are right about that being the theme song for AA. I don't know the story behind it though. I don't think that he is an alcoholic, but maybe one of his parents were. I know that he does write most of his own songs, if not all.

[CarolD]

As a child I started with Dixieland...New Orleans style.
Beiderbeck...Armstrong...Teagarden.
Scratchy old 78' spun each night on the radio.
Live nameless bands from the French Quarter mixed in.

Then came Be Bop! The Bird and Fitzgerald's scat...Kenton
Disconnected and yet soaring.

The newer musicans in NY and DC...Progressive Jazz inovaters. Peterson... Getz..and I adored Ramsey Lewis' Trio.

Then along came Joe Williams...Dinah Washington..Shirley horn... the Marsalis family.

Birdland and the clubs in Village in NY...Cellar Door and Blues's Alley in DC...haubts of mine for years.

Thanks youngsters for the trip down memory lane....
Yes...I do like Jazz!!

[cwohio]

i've rediscovered jazz in my later years after having been brought up with it. my dad was really into it - stan kenton, getz, the old jazz singers. i don't care if it's smooth or edgy - it does soothe the soul when you tune it in.

[Nina Kay]

Thanks Carol and CW, for giving me some names as I'm new to really listening to Jazz. I know that I've grown up listening to alot of the songs without really paying attention to who sang them or without even realizing that it was Jazz music I was hearing. In Texas, most people seem to either listen to Country or Rock, so that's all I've really paid much attention to. Just now at this age I am realizing that I just love Jazz. It's interesting and exciting to uncover this new side of myself. I really needed something like this right now, that is so effortlessly pleasurable.

[Dan]

Short anecdote...

I was a stagehand at a concert venue in Toronto in the early eighties. Perfect summer job for the young punk I was. An outdoor stage, on the shores of the lake, part of a now defunt provincial tourist trap

Anyway, some pretty big names came to play.
Miss Ella Fitzgerald and her band took the stage one night.
Now, aside from the fact that I stood no more than fifty feet away from her and these incredible musicians for the entire show, after the last encore, she took the time to say a word of gratitude to all of us grunts, for helping her do her thing, as she called it.
Jazz artists are hip.
I'll never forget that night.

[Nina Kay]

Hey Dan,
Thanks for sharing that. It sounds like a very exciting and memorable summer. Thanks for another name to watch for. If you think of some really big names, let me know. I am also learning about the styles of Jazz and haven't really gotten those sorted out. This is really all so interesting to me. I am so enjoying exploring this new avenue of interest. Jazz just makes me feel so happy. Who would've thought?!

[CAPTAINZING2000]

http://www.wssm.com/

THOUGHT I'D TURN YOU ONTO WHAT MY BUDDY AND I LISTEN TO UNTIL HE GOT A SATTLELITE RADIO ON HIS SAIL BOAT

[Jazzman]

Originally Posted by CarolD

Cellar Door and Blues's Alley in DC...haunts of mine for years.

Been to both clubs many times... My favs range from Brand X to Four Play...
Anyone ever heard of Brand X? (just curious)

[Nina Kay]

Thanks Captain,
I added that site to my favorites. I'm excited about doing some searches on it.

Hey Jazzman,
Thanks for a couple more names to keep a look out for. What style of Jazz or category are Brand X and Four Play?

[Dan]

Here's a good resource for educating yourself about Jazz and its many styles...
http://www.apassion4jazz.net/index.html
Extensive links library, there too

Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Dave Brubeck, Osar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Oliver Jones, Wes Montgomery, Stephane Grappelli, Sarah Vaughan, Toots Thielemans...
Some of my favorites.

I love jazz too!! My favorite is contemporary jazz. Big band jazz is ok, but I really like Glen Miller.

Here's a brief list of a few faves;

Checkfield, Russ Freeman & the Rippingtons, Keiko Matsui, Paul Hardcastle, The Jazzmasters, Billy Cobham...

[CarolD]

Ken Burns produced a TV series on Jazz that is excellent.

A Grandson borrowed it last year....
I guess I have "passed it on"

Dan...Really interesting link TX