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.

[Vince Wilson]

My first "formal" exposure to Jazz began in high school when I was a member of the Jazz / Rock Ensemble and my interest in groups like Spyro Gyra, Steely Dan began in addition to the traditional musicians and composers like Count Basie, etc. This interest carried over into college when I was a disc jockey for a local radio station as well as performing in the Jazz Band in college.

[Bridgett]

My first real introduction was when I was a freshman at Fisk University in the fall of 1983. There was a young lady on my floor (Faith Moore) that was older than us and pretty much kept to herself. I think she felt we were too young or maybe too inmature for her. Maybe she was just focused. She was so classy and she would sit in that room studying and playing jazz all day many times with her door open . I remember one day I heard this melodic voice coming from her room..that voice lifted me . I asked her who it was and she said Michael Franks". I told her that I really liked her music and asked if I could borrow some of her tapes. She did let me borrow a few and I've been hooked since. Maybe it helped that I also was her "homegirl" You know homies get privilages that others don't sometimes get. It was that same year during Christmas break that I came home and went to my first jazz club..The Back Room. I have been going to The Back Room since.

Thanks Faith for my introduction to Jazz.

[Cheryl Coleman]

As a child, who's mother was an opera singer, and godmother was one as well, I was introduced to jazz as well, listening to Billie Holliday and Noel Pointer, that was the first time that I heard of an electric violin, I was so fascinated by his playing that my godmother bought me an album , I was 11years old. That inspired to play the violin .

[K. Washington]

I was first introduced to contemporary jazz in 1975 at the age of 15. In my sophmore year of high school I had a sociology teacher that taught us how to use our social skills by experiencing activities; one of which was listening to jazz music. The first jazz album I purchased (wow ALBUM that's a blast from the past) was Pressure Sensitive by Ronnie Laws and the second jazz album I purchased was Breezin' by George Benson. Just from those two albums I was able to learn a lot about contemporary jazz and about the artists that impacted the music, which has since changed its name to smooth jazz.
One of my best memories of jazz, was buying the albums and then when I got home, listening to the music while reading the liner notes off the album cover...MAGIC.

[Tracy Pierce]

A co-worker in the 80's would bring in cassettes of various performers. I've always liked Benny Goodmans quartet so
it wasn't hard to like it. Bob James and David Sanborn's cd Double Vision is the first cassette I bought and I still enjoy it.
Spyro Gyra's Morning Dance is another favorite.

[Steve Clarke]

My first had to be at home from my oldest brother who played sax.I was about 10, and I can remember thinking "how can he listen to this one song, that was 24 min. long on one side of a album over & over again ? " Now I do the same ... lol
As a matter of fact I have most of his records !

[JWhite]

I was introduced to Jazz at about age 15. I had been playing sax for about 5 years at that time, and my dad had a Kirk Whalum CD laying around. I picked it up and started listening to it, before I knew it, I was listening to that CD everyday, and learning all the songs. I believe it was the CD, "Forever". That was probably my first time getting into cover tunes and learning how to do a remake on the horn. Prior to listening to Kirk, I was trying to study Parker, Gordon, and cats like Coltrane to understand "straight ahead" more. However, I will say, studying Kirk at that time really did introduce me to Jazz and opened my eyes, and gave me the idea that, while technicality is important, playing from the soul and actually connecting with people through the horn is the MOST important.

[Mode Purple]

I became interested in Jazz towards the end of the "Disco" era when there were a lot of Jazz Fusion sounds about. I was about 18 and remember hearing tracks such as Lonnie Liston Smith's "Expansions",Azymuth's "Jazz Carnival", and Charles Earland's "Let the music Play" (probably my favourite of that genre). This sort of music had the most exciting sound I'd ever heard in my life and I rapidly sought out other examples and since then I have been hooked on the Jazz Sound. I like All kinds of Jazz, to me it is the King of Music.

Ultimately I have become a Jazz Artist, though in the early stages. Please visit my page to have a listen to some demos. Would be glad to meet some new friends.

[Ed Alsip]

I ran the lights for a rock band in clubs during the 70's. During breaks George Benson's album "Breezin'" was often played on the sound system. "This Masquerade" put a hook into me. That is where I got my first exposure.