In respecting the tradition of jazz through your study, you are obliged to listen to the music extensively. Since most, if not all, of you will be playing in a big band, you should spend significant time listening to big bands. All of us will concern ourselves with stylistic playing and with improvisation. Therefore, we must all listen to jazz in different styles: swing, latin, funk, contemporary, etc. And we must all improvise. Improvisation is the main ingredient of all styles of jazz. The following lists will help you direct your listening. They are in no particular order: all artists and bands are worth listening to extensively. Playing along with recordings is how jazz education began and is encouraged. Other sources such as play-along recordings and Smart Music, are also recommended. Through this level of study, you will understand the language of jazz. You will learn how to hear it, how to speak it, how to understand it, and someday, how to write it. Recommended Jazz Listening (this is only a BEGINNING): Big Bands Saxophone Trombone Trumpet Piano Bass Guitar Drums Count Charlie JJ Johnson Louis Count Charles Wes Mont- Gene Krupa Basie Parker Armstrong Basie Mingus gomery Duke John Kai Winding Dizzy Bud Powell Ray Joe Pass Buddy Rich Ellington Coltrane Gillespie Brown Rob Sonny Rob Miles Thelonious Jaco Charlie Louis McConnell Rollins McConnell Davis Monk Pastorius Christian Bellson Stan Stan Getz Bob Clifford Wynton Charlie John Jeff Watts Kenton Brookmeyer Brown Kelly Haden McLaughlin Maynard Phil Woods John Woody Red Stanley John Billy Higgins Ferguson Fedchock Shaw Garland Clarke Scofield Gordon Wycliffe Lee Chick Paul Pat Mel Lewis Goodwin Mulligan Gordon Morgan Corea Chambers Martino GRP Michael Trombone Freddie Bill Evans Ron Stanley Ed Brecker Shorty Hubbard Carter Jordan Shaugnessey Buddy Cannonball Jim Pugh Wynton McCoy Victor Joe Negri Elvin Jones Rich Adderly Marsalis Tyner Wooten Louis Branford Steve Turre Roy Ellis Christian Russell Max Roach Bellson Marsalis Hargrove Marsalis McBride Malone Bob Ben Bill Watrous Terrell Herbie Slam Pat Art Blakey Mintzer Webster Stafford Hancock Stewart Metheny
In respecting the tradition of jazz through your study, you are obliged to listen to the music extensively. Since most, if not all, of you will be playing in a big band, you should spend significant time listening to big bands. All of us will concern ourselves with stylistic playing and with improvisation. Therefore, we must all listen to jazz in different styles: swing, latin, funk, contemporary, etc. And we must all improvise. Improvisation is the main ingredient of all styles of jazz. The following lists will help you direct your listening. They are in no particular order: all artists and bands are worth listening to extensively. Playing along with recordings is how jazz education began and is encouraged. Other sources such as play-along recordings and Smart Music, are also recommended. Through this level of study, you will understand the language of jazz. You will learn how to hear it, how to speak it, how to understand it, and someday, how to write it. Recommended Jazz Listening (this is only a BEGINNING): Big Bands Saxophone Trombone Trumpet Piano Bass Guitar Drums Count Basie Charlie Parker JJ Johnson Louis Armstrong Count Basie Charles Mingus Wes Mont- gomery Gene Krupa Duke Ellington John Coltrane Kai Winding Dizzy Gillespie Bud Powell Ray Brown Joe Pass Buddy Rich Rob McConnell Sonny Rollins Rob McConnell Miles Davis Thelonious Monk Jaco Pastorius Charlie Christian Louis Bellson Stan Kenton Stan Getz Bob Brookmeyer Clifford Brown Wynton Kelly Charlie Haden John McLaughlin Jeff Watts Maynard Ferguson Phil Woods John Fedchock Woody Shaw Red Garland Stanley Clarke John Scofield Billy Higgins Gordon Goodwin Mulligan Wycliffe Gordon Lee Morgan Chick Corea Paul Chambers Pat Martino Mel Lewis GRP Michael Brecker Trombone Shorty Freddie Hubbard Bill Evans Ron Carter Stanley Jordan Ed Shaugnessey Buddy Rich Cannonball Adderly Jim Pugh Wynton Marsalis McCoy Tyner Victor Wooten Joe Negri Elvin Jones Louis Bellson Branford Marsalis Steve Turre Roy Hargrove Ellis Marsalis Christian McBride Russell Malone Max Roach Bob Mintzer Ben Webster Bill Watrous Terrell Stafford Herbie Hancock Slam Stewart Pat Metheny Art Blakey