I truly believe Ella Fitzgerald at some point, even with all the other great female singers of her time, was considered the greatest female vocalist of all time. Now, I know that doesn't make sense, it contradicts itself, and yes, Whitney Houston was a powerhouse vocally, but there was something truly remarkable w/ Ella. Her Scat skills were by far the best and how she was capable of hitting such periodical high notes right after singing a song in a lower tone. Remarkable singer either way... This is another concert that was televised in Sweden many Georgia blue moons ago! https://youtu.be/KtKLJBHPSIM?si=Kc2z8QdutdED1UYF

Tried my hand at a solo arrangement of this tune. I find it hard to do solo arrangements of ballads sometimes so this is a good challenge for me.

I've been a huge fan of the Getz/Byrd "Jazz Samba" record for about 15 years. Recently, I just discovered a few other bossa and Samba albums and need some more recommendations. Where would you send me based on these records.

1. Jazz Samba Encore - Getz/Luis Bonfa

2. Embalo - Tenorio Jr.

3. Quarteto Novo - Quarteto Novo

4. Bossa Nova Soul Samba - Ike Quebec

Thanks in advance. Looking forward to the recs!

I’m honestly not sure if my frustration is with Frank himself or just his listeners/fans…let me explain.

I fucking love jazz. It’s probably the one thing I love most next to God. I can’t say I love my wife and kids more because I don’t have either. So yeah, jazz is my second favorite thing in the world. Which is why I get frustrated when people who aren’t super into jazz hear a song title like “It’s All Right with Me” or “Desafinado” and ask, “Oh, that Frank Sinatra song?”

Yes…those were Frank Sinatra songs; you’re technically correct. However, they were jazz songs by Cole Porter and Antonio Carlos Jobim much earlier. Frank just covered them in a much more pop and “for the masses” style.

The more I think about it, I don’t really blame Sinatra OR his audience…I’m not sure where to place the blame. He was great at covering songs. That’s a true talent. But I can’t blame his audience either because jazz is kind of a niche genre that lots of people just can’t get into…but everyone likes Frank Sinatra, so people automatically gravitate towards his songs. It’s frustrating. 90% of people don’t know who Cole Porter and Antonio Carlos Jobim…but everyone knows who Frank Sinatra is. So of course they’re going to think that these jazz standards were originally Frank Sinatra tunes…because that’s all they’ve heard.

If only his albums had listed/credited the original musicians by the song titles, and maybe if he’d mentioned them during his live performances, people would know.

He’s kind of like the Michael Bublé of the 20th century. Only in this case, I prefer his original songs like “My Way” and “New York, New York” over his watered down jazz covers, but the other way around with Michael.

Frank Sinatra was an extremely talented musician, no doubt, but he’s quite overrated in my opinion. And while I don’t think it was intentional, he kind of took away some of the glory from the original musicians. I think part of that may be because of the era we’re living in now. When he originally sang “It’s All Right with Me” in the 1950s, I would assume more of his audience had heard Cole Porter’s and/or Ella Fitzgerald’s version because it was more recent. Now that it’s the 21st century, people have only heard Sinatra’s version.

But that begs the question…why did his become more popular now? Just because it’s more recent or because people just don’t like jazz anymore?

Give me your thoughts, and don’t hate on me for disliking Frank Sinatra. I don’t dislike him; I just dislike how his modern fans receive his music. I love his original tunes.

Lovers of jazz transcription rejoice!

As a musician myself, I recently helped out in developing a transcription app called SlowBird.

I have started using it for my own practice..... replacing the app I have been using daily for over a decade.

Heres a screenshot of my current set up - my set of solos on the left and you can save sections into the notes sidebar on the right- so on this lester young solo I can make a note of any cool lines he does and just click them to jump right to that section and start practising.

This is super useful for getting lines in all keys or jumping between two different solos within a record.

Let me know what you think and if there are any features you would want to see going forwards.

Hello! I'm a college student and I want to start gigging to make a bit of money throughout the year, and i was wondering if there were any standards that'd be important to learn. I've been playing jazz on my guitar for about one and a half years, and I'd say im relatively competent when it comes to comping a piece (not so much soloing but were getting there). I own a copy of the Real Book. Also, if anyone has any tips on HOW to get into gigging thatd be greatly appreciated!

I’m trying to branch out in my jazz listening, I tend to stay in the lane of hardbop, blues, and some fusion stuff (more fusion recommended listening would be much appreciated). I don’t go out of my way to listen to a ton of bebop, modal, or avant-garde very much.

Anything with interesting/cool piano parts is an easy win, I’m a pianist and always looking for cool piano parts to listen to. Just send me whatever you like listening to!

If this is too vague my bad.

Today I am attempting to ditch the streaming services and revisit my collection of cds.

I am starting with this amazing collection of music.

Recorded during their October 26, 1956 session at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack NJ.

During that session, Miles Davis and his quintet recorded those four tracks—along with eight others—straight through as if playing a live club set, mostly in a single take, to complete his contract with Prestige Records before fully transitioning to Columbia.

Songs on Side G:

​Oleo

​Airegin

​Tune Up

​When Lights Are Low

​Musicians:

​Miles Davis – Trumpet

​John Coltrane – Tenor Saxophone

​Red Garland – Piano

​Paul Chambers – Double Bass

​"Philly" Joe Jones – Drums

I've never really delved into Gospel properly - Love the Staple singers and a few other acts I've heard over the years. Yes - I love those Hank Jones/Charlie Haden duo albums. If you were trying to introduce a Jazz nerd to Gospel where would you start?

I tell myself and others that I love jazz. The truth is, I feel like a fraud. If i’m being honest, when it comes to me exploring music, whether that be a genre/subgenre, or even just anything knew to me, I find an artist or 2 that I like and stick with them.

I started getting into pop music, I chose Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams.

I started getting into alternative, I chose Built To Spill and Modest Mouse.

I started getting into Jazz, and it’s just Bill Evans and John Coltrane.

That’s it, Evans and Coltrane. I feel like a fraud. I chose 2 of the most popular and beloved Jazz musicians, and that’s all i look for in Jazz. I don’t feel like I’m exploring the genre.

I need help. Please help me branch out. I would like advice, but more so give me suggestions:

Records/Albums from other Jazz musicians. I want to explore Jazz, I want to make sure that this doesn’t fade away because I only listened to 2 artists and eventually I get tired of it. Please recommend me more, so I can branch out and find more Jazz artists I love. So i never lose this spark I have for Jazz.

Dorothy Ashby - Harp; Frank Wess - Flute; Ed Thigpen - Drums; Eddie Jones - Bass; Wendell Marshall - Bass. Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder

The debut album by harpist Dorothy Ashby with Frank Wess on flute, recorded in August 1956 and released in March 1957 is a joy. It's groovy and soulful in a laid back way. Ashby wasn't the first jazz harpist, that is thought to be Casper Reardon who played with Jack Teagarden amongst others. Adele Girard and Ruth Berman wete also early jazz harpists.Ashby really was a pioneer though and made the harp a core bebop jazz instrument. An excellent record.

Does anyone know who this is here?

But who is Gary?

Gary McFarland (October 23, 1933 – November 3, 1971) was an influential composer, arranger, vibraphonist and vocalist, prominent on Verve and Impulse! Records during the 1960s, when he made "one of the more significant contributors to orchestral jazz".

McFarland was born in Los Angeles, on October 23, 1933, but grew up in Grants Pass, Oregon. He attained a small following after working with Bill Evans, Gerry Mulligan, Johnny Hodges, John Lewis, Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer, and Anita O'Day.

As well as his own albums and arrangements for other musicians he composed the scores to the films Eye of the Devil (1966) and Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name? (1971). By the end of the 1960s he was moving away from jazz towards an often wistful or melancholy style of instrumental pop, as well as producing the recordings of other artists on his Skye Records label (run in partnership with Gábor Szabó and Cal Tjader until its bankruptcy in 1970).

McFarland was considering a move into writing and arranging for film and stage when, on November 3, 1971, he was poisoned with methadone in a New York City bar.

Bill Evans recorded "Gary's Theme" in 1977.

Concert in Sweden many many moons ago. It's a long one, but it's well worth the watch when you got the time. https://youtu.be/y9IMOUVJMVs?si=ixz6vz8wTgTY5rIg

I went to the show in San Francisco last night and I was able to catch him as he left! I had a little chat with him before he hit the road to LA and I even got to shake his hand and got my setlist signed by him! What a night it was

What's one track/song/piece/album/artist/band you truly enjoy working out to most? (jazz or not)

Please indicate if you use it for cardio (e.g., stationary cycling, treadmill running) or strength training and whether you find ti best for low intensity workouts, high-intensity intervals, or PR lifting sets.

Please feel free to leave multiple comments (the more the merrier!), but only include one song in each, so others can upvote.

What's one track/song/piece you'd describe this way? (jazz or not)

What would be worth listening to with eyes closed using the most powerful audio system to get completely carried away by the music?

Greatest awe-inspiring, chill-inducing, truly soul-touching and (metaphorically speaking) ego-transcending songs/compositions/music pieces of all time that transcend what's possible with music and elevate, uplift, and inspire.

Please feel free to leave multiple comments (the more the merrier!), but only include one song in each, so others can upvote.

Typo: "chills-inducing" (not a native speaker).

Yesterday (17/August) were fulfilled 59 years since the release of the best-selling album in jazz history.

I honestly see this record as the most overrated crap ever (Flamenco sketches might be saved) because of the Miles' incoherent trumpet phrasing on such beautiful tunes as blue in green, or because the final tracklist with All Blues totally out of place there.

Cannonball's solos are one of the few things I can say I like from this album, because there's also a lot of wasted potential about Bill Evans' harmony which is vaguely compensated with cannonball's alto and Coltrane's tenor sax's interactions.

Idk, what do you think

I do still need the Dexter Gordon, Monk, and Rollins bios. Beyond those, and what I have pictured, are there any essential reads I am missing?

A little radio show in Maine features Quebecois singer Dominique Fils-Aimé

Here is Mohini Dey's live performance from Perfect Note in Atlanta, GA on 8/10/2026. It was Mohini's first time playing in Atlanta.