Comment by mrleiter | Hacker News Reader

Comment by mrleiter | Hacker News Reader

As it is always the case, determining when something is a paradigm shift or something truly great cannot be told instantly. It takes time. As a jazzdrummer myself (professional training and self-taught), I like what bevinahally said: that Jazz is not Mozart and Beethoven, and it doesn't have to be reproduced perfectly. Jazz is alive and sparkling. Especially London is a growing scene.

In my view, this time will be viewed as a paradigm shift, because you can see a lot of young and really talented players mixing up what is known as jazz with influences from techno and hip-hop (huh, what a fun twist). Yes, if you are looking for jazz as you are taught in school (say Coltrane), that still exists, but it's to me boring. Has been done.

I want to give you some examples to listen to, and you will hear what I mean. The drums use ghost notes quite heavily, 7th chords are turned into 11th and 13th chords, there are less changes in tonality. Rhythm is more straight, tighter. It get's you going!

Yussef Kamaal - Calligraphy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g826StJhLk)

Yussef Dayes X Alfa Mist - Love Is The Message (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwVtIPeYIeQ)

Nihilism Live @jazzrefreshed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTlZEv9V35o)

Ezra Collective - Enter The Jungle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGkZM6wjIwk)

Richard Spaven - The Self feat. Jordan Rakei (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YattHO96UzI)

Enjoy :) jazz is for everyone

Thanks for these recommendations. I already really like Yussef Kamaal, and from a short sampling these other artists will definitely make it into my rotation.

I feel I should also point out that Coltrane went much further than the sort of jazz that would be considered "academic" in his later years, as he got freer and more avant-garde. I particularly like the last year or so of his classic quartet (1965), as they stretched musical forms into very intense, dissonant directions, while still maintaining a masterful group cohesion. Take this performance[1] of My Favorite Things, for example, and compare it to the version released four years before--it's worlds apart.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWYWgda5f0I

You are very welcome. Thanks for your excellent recommendations down below!

You are correct! Thanks for that version. John Coltrane was extravagant in this regard, just like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker or Art Blakey. You can really tell whether you are listening to an early or late Davis/Bird/Blakey. Ornette Coleman was also a genius in switching and developing different styles [1][2].

Also, I really find the experimental music of JoJo Mayer & Nerve intriguing. Just heard him live few weeks back, and it was truly an amazing experience. Their newest album is the most "harmonic" and more easily accessible. It's a wonderful take on classic jazz by extremely good musicians. [3] Their other works are also great, but may be a bit difficult to listen.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNbD1JIH344 (1959)

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEikZrO2Cus (1982)

[3] https://nerve.bandcamp.com/album/after-the-flare

Any tips for folks like me who enjoy the sounds and grooves of your examples, especially the first two, but want more cohesive songs?

There's many different directions to go in.

On the more jazzy/instrumental side:

BADBADNOTGOOD - Confessions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWF2jHFkNpk

Rob Araujo - Nineteen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3J11saZ1TU

Binkbeats - Little Nerves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfpSn7ZYC0A

Jaga Jazzist - Animal Chin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVIFUQV20NM

On the hip-hop/R&B side:

Otis Junior + Dr. Dundiff - Me vs Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Aqqv6kQnbw

Woo Park - Boom Bap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTLRUG5k1HY

April + Vista - Beasts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLb-swDzbv0

The Internet - Under Control: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSlnd4YnmGI

Other artists that are all over the place, and have lots of jazz influences:

Hiatus Kaiyote - Mobius Streak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCvMtQSdCXo

Taylor McFerrin - Already There: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY-MZ0bL1Gc

Anderson .Paak - The Season/Carry Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v5-0caYfqc

Thanks, time to surf youtube :)

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