Title says it all really. I was just wondering... I'm in my school jazz band and we play lots of the old classic jazz pieces - a few that we did last week were: Hey Jude, Tequila, Kansas City, Respect, Beyond the Sea and Green Onions... and we also do a lot of Miles Davis and Duke Ellington. Oh, and some more 'old favourites' - Fly me to the Moon, It Don't Mean a Thing, Birdland... etc. Does anyone have a favourite jazz musician or band?

Edit: I'm also playing the Oscar Peterson 'Jazz Exercise' for grade 6 piano!

I really like John Coltrane and Courtney Pine.

My son's playing Tequila and Green Onions as well

Sidney Bechet - jazz composer and soprano saxophonist

...I really dont know where to start...

Miles Davis, of course

Tenor players I admire:
Coltraone, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson

Got to have some alto players:
Charlie Parker, Jackie Mclean, Ornette Coleman, Kenny Garret

a couple of other trumpeters:
Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan

Then as composers, and musicians, Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus

But I can't leave out Herbie Hancock, Duke Ellington, Lester Young, Johnny Hodges...

People I go out of my way to go and see today:
Anything the Tomorrow's Warriors crew are doing, Alan Barnes is one of the best sax/clarinet players in the country, I love hearing Gwilym Simcock play, Ingrid Laubrock is superb, Polar Bear mesmerise me, Jim Hart's vibes playing is amazing

There's so much fantastic stuff to listen to I really struggle to pick a shortlist of favourites

Louis Armstrong, Herbie Hancock, Duke Ellington, Glen Miller! all the way

We play stuff like Chameleon, Take the A train, Pink Panther, Fly me to the moon, It don't mean a thing, Tequila, My funny Valentine, El tigre, soul man, Woodchoppers etc.
Normal kinda school jazz really...

The other day we played a jazz version of the simpsons theme. Anyone heard it? Thought it sounded a bit weird but hey

My favourite jazz pianist is Monty Alexander -I have heard him about 5 or 6 times now and he is outstanding. I also have 3 of his CD's.

Barbara

Thomas 'Fats' Waller

Does Jacques Loussier count?
I love his Bach jazz interpretations...

Front room Free Stage at Queen Elizabeth hall, South Bank Centre, Friday 26th June 5.30pm..get there early if you want a seat.

Sunday June 28th The Spice of Life...1.00pm - 4.00pm

Enjoy...

I know, I know, but I'm already committed to a work thing this Friday that I really have to go to. I saw them playing the Queen's Suite in Blackheath the other week and it was wonderful.

I might try and catch Denys Baptiste playing Giant Steps at Spice on 16th July, but that week is potentially busy too, with other gigs I want to see on 13th and 14th.