Jazz for Newbies: The Piano

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

A friend wrote recently asking if I would provide a list of albums for readers who know little about jazz but want to hear what all the fuss is about. I was a little hesitant at first, since I never could bear those survey albums when I was a kid that were designed to introduce young people to the history of jazz in one sitting.

So I thought about a different approach—a periodic series starting with the piano, since the keyboard is at the heart of jazz's soul. I figured that this format would provide an easy-going introduction to jazz and jazz artists using a step-by-step trail to an understanding. The result would be more of an ongoing seduction than a crash-course.

If you don't know much about a jazz or you know someone who has asked how to get started listening to the music, the following 10 albums serve as a friendly entry point. The albums I've chosen from my collection provide a nice spectrum and will help listeners fall in love with the music and discover their own taste. Of course, there's no such thing as a definitive list, and plenty of worthy piano albums are not included here. But I guarantee that the list below will make you or someone you know very happy. Best of all, the listener will become curious, which is my goal...

Art Tatum—Solo Masterpieces Vol. 1 (go here).

Teddy Wilson—Play 'Gypsy' in Jazz (go here).

Bud Powell—Strictly Bud Powell (go here).

Horace Silver—Horace Silver Trio (go here).

Marian McPartland—On 52nd St. (go here).

Ahmad Jamal—Chamber Music of the New Jazz (go here).

Dodo Marmarosa—Complete Studio Sessions (go here, here, here, here and here to hear tracks; the double-CD is here).

Billy Taylor—Trio at Town Hall (go here for the CD, go here for a track).

Bill Evans—At Town Hall (go here).

Bobby Timmons—This Here Is Bobby Timmons (go here)

Used with permission by Marc Myers