The amount of recommendations here is very impressive. I've been referring to it constantly, and have started to acquire a small collection of Jazz myself through the many suggestions. If you have more suggestions, please continue to share them!
Initially I am trying to listen to those that performed earlier in the 20th century.. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and most recently Benny Goodman. I am not familiar with where they all "fit" chronologically, and right now am just enjoying listening to their music, while trying to be able to differentiate their styles from one another. It's a very enjoyable process overall.
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Originally Posted by warrrreagl
From a long-time jazz player's perspective, I can't understand why anybody would want to simply listen to jazz. Unless you play it yourself, I don't see how you could possibly relate to what you're listening to.
I know that's probably not a very popular opinion, but it's mine.
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I don't agree with this, but I'm curious as to why you feel this way?
I love reading, but I've never fully understood, or gone through, the process of publishing a book. Similarly, I really enjoy viewing art, but am by no means an artist, even on the most basic level. I seek out these things because they allow me to be more cultured, and I get great enjoyment out of exposing myself to them.
I would think that if one limited their interests strictly to things they were intimately familiar with they would have a very sheltered and limited experience of life and culture.
When I attempt to relate to your comment, I use violin/viola as comparison, as I played both through high school, was in various orchestras, and performed. I enjoy listening to classical music as well, but my exposure to it through playing only makes me appreciate the technical skill/ability required to perform the pieces at the level they are played, but does not directly add to my enjoyment of a particular classical piece.
Jazz is appealing to me because I find it to be truly unique and enjoyable music. On a technical level, I am truly impressed by the musicians' ability to do the things they do with their instruments, specifically the brass and wind instruments.
That being said, I am curious why you feel one must be intimately familiar with jazz in order to enjoy and appreciate it as music?