Jazz in mainstream music

We have an excellent band here in Sweden, who take jazz and latin grooves and translate them into great pop songs, called Bo Kaspers Orkester. You've probably never heard or even heard of them, but they still are a great example of what you're looking for.

 

Joni Mitchell's stuff is close to Jazz.
Shadow & Light even has Jaco on bass.

 

Yes - "The Dry Cleaner from des Moines" has got a pretty "Jazzy" Jaco bassline on the studio version on "Mingus"!!

So Joni Mitchell's studio albums from "Hissing of Summer Lawns" show an increasing Jazz influence. On that album "Harry's House" moves effortlessly into straight ahead Jazz. The following three albums have Jaco and more Jazz influences, while retaining Joni's songwriting and ear for popular song : "Hejira", Don Juan's Reckless daughter" and "Mingus", which is the most Jazzy.

"Shadows and Light" is the live album from this period.

For UK based artists - "Hue and Cry" the Scottish band made early albums with US session players like Marcus Miller as did Scritti Politti - on the latter's album "Provision" - Miles Davis actually plays on one track - presumably through their connection with Marcus Miller and it was a hit single in the UK (don't know about US) - it was called "Oh Patti".

Hue and Cry have made a more recent album which uses all British Jazz artists from the Linn record label - called "Next Move" - it is basically sophisticated pop songs played by Jazz Musicians.


If you want to go further back, there was a Jazz/Pop crossover in teh 60s in Canterbury which involved bands like Soft Machine - who had singles in the psychadelic era. Their drummer Robert Wyatt has always retained a loyalty to Jazz musicians, but since being confined to a wheelchair has concentrated on singing more and had a hit single with the song "Ship Building" written by Elvis Costello.

I could go on but that's enough for now!

 

Radiohead's newer music can be very jazzy at times.

And I always thought that Pink Floyd could be pretty jazzy, especially Dark Side of the Moon.

 

Thanks Bruce!

How could I forget the Dry Cleaner From Des Moines?!?

I even have the Mingus album on vinyl.

 

Some of Ben Folds Five music was quite jazzy. Also, there was some of the Stray Cat stuff that was jazzy in its own right.

Bjork has some music that's also very much in a jazz light.

Unfortunately, not much else is coming to mind right now.

 

Oops, I forgot!

Al Jarreau is cool.

 

Steely Dan is an obvious one.

Also check out a new up & coming band called The Gabe Dixon band (www.gabedixonband.com). They do a nice blend of rock/pop/jazz.

 

Right on Stingray5! I was scrolling down quickly to add Steely Dan when I saw your post. They are the quintessential "pop" band that always utilizes jazz progressions and harmony in their arrangements. Jazz purists might argue, but then again jazz purists often argue.

 

...Craig's back?!


I just got Full Moon's debut album in the mail today; I have wanted this record since about '75(?)...anyway, found it as an import @Tower. Definitely "jazzy" in an R&B-ish/Gospel-esque vibe(Dave Holland guests on one track, 'regular' bassist Freddie Beckmeier sounds, at times, like Jamerson...especially rhythmically(not so much 'melodically').

The obvious mainstream choices to me(in addition to Joni & the Dan)-
Chicago and Blood, Sweat, & Tears...in particular, their EARLY STUFF!

FWIW-
These guys aren't mainstream per se-
Stuff with a Rock edge & a Jazz sense MAY include-
Tony Williams Lifetime
Miles Davis' ELECTRIC bands
Ornette Coleman's Prime Time
Screaming Headless Torsos
Sonny Sharrock(Ask The Ages)
Jeff Beck(Blow By Blow & Wired)
Robben Ford
Andy Summers(Last Dance Of Mr. X)
Aquarium Rescue Unit
Derek Trucks Band
The Allman Bros. Band(check out "Stormy Monday" from the classic Live @The Fillmore East...there's a chorus that 'swings' in 6).
Dave Matthews Band...especially LIVE?

Maybe I'll think of more, I'm really kinda blanking out, too...

 

some old stuff that i think has some pretty jazzy bass lines would be blood, sweat and tears and super sessions. it might be kinda hard to find the cd's for super sessions but if you do it's pretty sweet.

 

Bert is evil, you mad man.

 

How about Ozomatli? Do they count?

 

A lot of Van Morrison's material has jazzy bass lines. "Moondance" is probably the best known example.

 

Forgetting Eric Johnson?

I don't about you guys, but I sure wouldn't call any of the Doors' music jazzy!

 

I don't know, Angus. An argument could be made that the Doors were one of the first mega-popular "rock" bands to incorporate jazz-like chord progressions into their music. Give a listen to "Light My Fire" (especially the intro) and "Riders on the Storm". Densmore was definitely a jazzer and it's apparent in his style, especially his cymbal work (example - "Break on Through"...is that the right title?). Kreiger (sp?) and Manzarek too. The bass lines are fairly repetitive, but then again Manzarek was playing all that stuff left-hand (I know, I know...except for the L.A.Woman album). Certainly the majority of their stuff was not the same old 1-4-5 good-time rock'n'roll.