Jazz/Soul album suggestions

dozicusmaximus · #1 02-14-2011, 06:24 PM

Well recently I've been listening to stuff I usually don't listen to, or never have before. Which I try to do. But I usually stay close to the genres that I'm most familiar with. Metal/Rock/Punk. And now I'm in uncharted territory and need some guidance

I remember going on a jazz kick a year ago. Miles Davis Bitches Brew was my favorite out of the few albums I listened to. I can't remember the other albums I listened to... Probably the most popular stuff you can think of

Was this sort of experimental? Whatever it is I like it. Anything else I should be on the lookout for?

And yesterday I listened to, Marvin Gaye "What's Going On"... 5 times. Wow that is a great album. I know I've heard a track here or there. I guess I always associated him with baby making music. But the album flows nicely and the music is great.

Soul wise what should I be looking for? I heard alot of stuff on the radio growing up. I always pictured 4 dudes in suits clapping there hands spinning around. I'm not really looking for super upbeat happy stuff. At least not right now. I mean I like some funk here and there too. Maybe I just don't know what the hell I'm talking about? haha

Well any tips would be great.

ducknturtle · #2 02-14-2011, 06:34 PM

Soul wasn't really an album oriented genre. You would do well to look for "best of" packages. A few suggestions: Wilson Pickett, the Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, James Brown, Booker T & the Mg's, Sam and Dave and one of my little known favorites, Irma Thomas.

J. Montgomery · #3 02-14-2011, 06:46 PM

'Bitches Brew' is about as experimental as it gets. Its probably categorized as 'fusion' jazz. Its not a typical jazz record by any stretch of the imagination.

Check out Jimmy Smith's album "Root Down: Live" or King Curtis' "Live at the Filmore"

For a more current band that you can see live look into Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (the Dap Kings were the backing band for Amy Winehouse's record).

jerry · #4 02-14-2011, 06:57 PM

Check out some Stax records compilations, awesome grooves from Albert King to The Staple Singers.

James Hart · #5 02-14-2011, 07:00 PM

bass12 · #6 02-14-2011, 07:02 PM

Good for you for opening up to other styles of music. It's nice to see. Definitely check out Donny Hathaway's "Live" album (the one that ends with "Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)". It's a classic album and Willie Weeks' solo in that last track is a lesson in how to build a good solo! Al Greens' "I'm Still In Love With You" is another classic. One of my favourite soul acts was Sam & Dave, so check out some of their stuff ("Wrap It Up", "Soothe Me", "Hold On I'm A Comin'", etc.). Isaac Hayes had some great albums ("Hot Buttered Soul" is one) so check him out. I'm short on time right now but I'll get back to you with some others...

TripleDouble · #7 02-14-2011, 07:04 PM

More on the jazz side of things, there was a movement in the late 60's known as Soul Jazz, artists like Stanley Turrentine, Grant Green, Hank Mobley, Art Blakey, Cannoball Adderly...basically, all the jazzers burnt out on complexity and exploration, and decided to shake it, and shake it they did. Thick grooves, really honest, melodic solos. There is a series of compilations called "Blue Break Beats" that is AWESOME for this stuff, I bought it about 15 years ago and still listen to it all the time.

dozicusmaximus · #8 02-14-2011, 07:11 PM

Awesome guys

I was hoping ya'll would jump all over this!
Well I do recognize a good number of names so that is good

James Hart thanks for the samples. That first clip of Grover Washington is freaking awesome! And that bass tone is sick. Still working on the other samples.
Keep 'em coming! Let the games begin. I love to research music.

diglo · #9 02-14-2011, 07:24 PM

To me, most of the 70's Blackplotation Film Soundtracks is Soul Music. Shaft, SuperFly, Cleopatra Jones, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss, Coffy and Black Caesar.

SOUL: Any of Marvin Gayes albums from the 70's...Let's Get It On, After the Dance, Trouble Man Soundtrack. Curtis Mayfield's SuperFly Soundtrack. Shuggie Otis, Isaac Hayes, Joe Simon.

JAZZ: Anything from the Creed Taylor/KUDU label...Grover Washington Jr., Idris Muhammad and Bob James. Roy Ayers is another great artist

chuck norriss · #10 02-14-2011, 07:36 PM

Yea can't go wrong with Marvin Gaye or Bill Withers.
For free jazz--some crazy ****--I recommend Sonny Sharrock's album, Ask The Ages. Rare & $$$$ in print, but normal price by itunes.
Michael Jackson, Off The Wall is a good album you may have heard of.
Miles' The Man With The Horn with Marcus Miller on bass is a good older album. Not far out like Bitches Brew.
Trilogue live in Berlin (w/ Jaco) is very kick ass. jazz 3-piece

aguacateojos · #11 02-14-2011, 09:32 PM

Man, combine the two and listen to Grant Green or Dr. Lonnie Smith! Soul Jazz is the ****.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLBTSrD42QY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTKCE...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEVZ9...eature=related

dozicusmaximus · #12 02-14-2011, 09:59 PM

Wow the guitar on that Lonnie Smith track in insane! I'm diggin the suggestions on the soul jazz too guys

faulknersj · #13 02-14-2011, 10:20 PM

Check out:

Lee Fields and the Expressions album 'My World'.

Fred Wesley and the JB's

Anything Maceo (sax player, composer, arranger, for James Brown)

If you can find a tune called Con Funk Shun by the Nite Liters on I Tunes you will flip on the bass line dude!

Otis Redding...did I mention Otis?

So much great Soul music out there man!

onionpuzzle · #14 02-14-2011, 10:25 PM

If you never heard Tower of Power (I think that's the album name too...) the one that starts with "What is Hip ?" highly recommend.

or Marcus Miller "Silver Rain"...diverse album with delicious bass work.

dozicusmaximus · #15 02-14-2011, 10:44 PM

Tower of Power, is that Lenny Williams? Cause I Love You is one of the greatest love songs I ever heard. Thanks Kings of Comedy hahaha

raymondl3 · #16 02-14-2011, 10:53 PM

Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin

**DougD** · #17 02-14-2011, 11:20 PM

Here are some of my favs with tasty basslines
Al Greene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COiIC3A0ROM
Barry White: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0I6m...eature=related
The Manhattans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_VpjSv_4QM
The Floaters:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT_9O...eature=related
Some funk for ya

Ray Parker Jr. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo4Bf...eature=related
Interesting info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRKDr...feature=fvwrel
and the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slldMEPvUqA

JimK · #18 02-15-2011, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

For free jazz--some crazy ****--I recommend Sonny Sharrock's album, Ask The Ages. Rare & $$$$ in print, but normal price by itunes.

...and Ask The Ages is one of his more "in" recordings. Elvin & Charnett Moffett were there to anchor things...sorta.

More "outside" would be his work with Last Exit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Exit_(free_jazz_band)

BTW, if Ask The Ages floats your boat, check out Blood Ulmer & The Music Revelation Ensemble.

JimK · #19 02-15-2011, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dozicusmaximus

I remember going on a jazz kick a year ago. Miles Davis Bitches Brew was my favorite out of the few albums I listened to.

In this time frame, Miles was definitely stretching the preconceptions of what "Jazz" was supposed to sound like. Another one from that era, On The Corner, was geared towards fans of bands like Sly & The Family Stone, James Brown...fans of Funk.
In fact, check out Sly & The Family Stone.

Quote:

And yesterday I listened to, Marvin Gaye "What's Going On"... 5 times. Wow that is a great album.

In that time frame, Motown was putting out great Soul/Funk/R&B albums "with a message"...some of it may fall under the 'psychedlic Soul' umbrella & may have even been performed by "4 dudes in suits, clapping their hands & spinning around"- (Good one, BTW).

Cloud Nine- The Tempatations
Psychedelic Shack- The Temptations
All Directions- The Temptations

Quote:

I mean I like some funk here and there too. Maybe I just don't know what the hell I'm talking about?

Brick is a '70s R&B/Funk band that gets way overlooked.
Average White Band...the earliest albums had a nice blend of Soul & R&B. Same goes for Rufus.

steve f · #20 03-01-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faulknersj

Check out:

Lee Fields and the Expressions album 'My World'.

...

So much great Soul music out there man!

I picked up Lee Fields and the Expressions after seeing it in your sig. I am LOVIN' it! Great grooves - easy to play. Love Lee's passion and the Menahan Street band kicks a$$.
Thanks for the heads up.

Some other stuff that I've been listening to in the R&B/Soul spectrum -
Adele (Pino plays bass on her new release - 21)
Al Green
Alicia Keys
Amy Winehouse - Frank and Back to Black are brilliant albums
Corinne Bailey Rae
Erykah Badu - especially Mama's Gun (Pino killin' it on bass)
Four Tops
Isley Brothers
Jazmine Sullivan
The Meters - Cissy Strut is a classic
Marvin Gaye
Wilson Pickett
Terence Trent D'Arby - esp his first album

One last suggestion - not anything to do with jazz or soul.
I became totally hooked on a Brazilian band called O Rappa (pronounced Oo Hoppa).
Sounds like a fusion of rock, reggae, funk, with a little samba tossed in.
Give it a try if you don't mind Portugese lyrics.
Best discs - Lado B Lado A (Side B Side A), 7 Vezes (7 Times), O Silencio Q Precedo O Esporro (The Silence Before the Blast)