When were your first introduced to Jazz and what is your best memory in jazz!

[Norvell A. Molex Jr.]

Not to explain what I mean my first real introduction to jazz was when I was 22 years old and I was on my way with my father to see family in Milwaukee Wis. This was my first time being back in Milwaukee as an adult the lat time I was there I was 18 years old and a senior in high school. Now I was a young father of two… anyway back to the music in the cassette player was the tape in my opinion the best Yellowjackets album ever made “The Four Corners” album. That along with “Pieces of a Dream,” around midnight that was my first real introduction to jazz all the way there and back! After that I was hooked I actually went to the local record store and purchased David Benoi’ “MWA” Musicians With Attitude.


-Norvell A. Molex Jr.

[Mike Edging]

I was 16 and Sonny Rollins was my first jazz hero!!!

[Celestio]

I would say my first introduction in jazz is quite a long story, but in short I'll say a lot of musicians did infuence me quite a lot in my earlier days.

To single out a certain jazz artist who influenced me it'll be a great mistake, some do have those particular artists who influenced their music or their interest in jazz.

Please good people I've left two songs on my page which you can access, so do comment as I would love to hear your commentry, either positive or negative every commentry is welcomed.

Cheers!!

[Mike Edging]

I found the counterpoint melody good--as a producer I would say that if I were mixing, I would more carefully weave those two instruments so as not to distract from one another. Other than that it seems okay to me.

[Celestio]

I would say that was quite unexpected, thank you so much for your response especially for the other song.

[Mike Edging]

I try to be honest and frankly, that is just one opinion. You are doing a good job but that was just my thought when listening.

[Lisa Marie Glover]

I was introduced to jazz as a child by my grandfather. When we would visit them he would only allow my sister, cousins and I to listen to 'reel-to-reel' recorded jazz. We would ask to listen to the radio over and over and his reply would be "listen and appreciate because when you grow up it will give you a great appreciation for good music when you hear it." Those words have held true to this day!

I was blessed to be raised by family members who appreciated all types of music from Afro-Cuban, to Latin, to Calypso, to Reggae, to Classical, etc.

I love Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Nate King Cole, Nancy Wilson, Joe Sample, The Rippingtons, Pat Methany, YellowJackets, Al Jarreau, David Sanborn, too many to continue (but I believe you get the just).

Now I try to impart these words of wisdom on to my god-children in hopes it will stick eventually. There is an evolution to the true appreciation of 'good music"

[Julius "Julio" Veal]

My first introductions to jazz that I can remember was hearing ray Charles "on The Road" as a little boy 5 or 6 years old playing on one of those new (at the time) protable record players singing georgia on my mind. But the true Jazz experience came from hearing les McCann and Quincy Jones' "Mellow" madness when me and my neighbor got curious enough to ask what his dad was listening too all the time. We were P funk do or die till we expanded our musical interests. The evolution took me into George Duke and the fusion of Chic Corea and Jon Luc Ponte. Ramsey Lewis and Earth Wind and Fire was a joyful ride into the realms of Jazz also Tower of Power and a little bit of buried treasure was a group known as "Mandrill" 'Positive thing' was our mantra jazz piece. "Solongo" by Ramsey Lewis is a piece of treasure "God make me Funky" by the headhunters (herbie handcocks band) was a production which propelled the cross-over-ability of jazz to the pop genre. I listened a lot to these folks for composition ideas

[Ed Zentera]

My Dad is a retired music professor and active cornetist. In my youth, I came across an album in his collection - Don Ellis 'Soaring'. I dropped the needle on the vinyl and my world changed. Wild rhythms, exotic harmonies and effects. Usually people are introduced to jazz by more "mainstream" artists. I listened to this album over and over again - putting it to tape so I could take it to school and share it with my buddies through a hand held player with a lousy 2" speaker on it. "Wait... wait... listen to this upcoming sax solo... Isn't that AMAZING?!?!?!?". I think some of my friends thought I was nuts and they were right in some ways. "Sure, Zentera... pretty wild stuff..."

So anyhow - that was my jazz discovery and 30 years later I still drop the needle on that vinyl and relish every crackle, pop, and echo-plexed matrix of notes and textured musical poetry.

Ed Zentera
www.EZmpc.com

[DJ TONI G]

Aw man... I was introduced to Jazz by my grandmother's husband, he is/or was a Jazz drumer in Los Angeles named Eddie Williams in the late 70's. He worked at Radio Shack in the day, and had this huge record collection, and a awesome sound system in our living room and I would get curious and play some of his records.

I really fell in love with Jazz when I heard Bob James "Theme From Taxi in '78?" I loved that song and went out and bought my first Jazz album!

[MochaLynnSTL]

My Father was the Musical Director at his Church for over 25 years. He started when he was a teenager. So my life was filled with music from the time I can remember...all kinds of music. He would take me to local record shops and thrift stores and just buy music; then we'd go home and listen to what we's found. Some was great and some was not. One day I remember him pulling out a 78 it was Billie Holiday...I was hooked from that day forward. My favorites change from day to day...Today my favorite is Michael Franks...Passionfruit.

[MochaLynnSTL]

My best memory in Jazz was seeing Grover Washington Jr. in the Westport Playhouse Theater(STL). This was the early 90's and his percussionist was the best I had ever heard. That concert moved me almost to tears. I will never forget that concert....

[ren]

I'm probably the youngest person here, 27 years old...so my first memory is my parents playing Kenny G, most likely. The CDs they had, I didn't realize they were "jazz" or "smooth jazz." But I look at their collection now and see that a lot of the CDs they have and used to play are smooth jazz. Unfortunately, I don't have a best memory yet...not even a concert (my parents keep going and not telling me).