I've been listening to some jazz lately and want to get more into it. I like smooth Jazz, rather than bebop or acid etc. Some of it sounds cheesy, but I still like it.

Anyway, I've been listening to a few David Benoit albums. The early 90s and 80s stuff are a bit too cheesy with the synths etc, but the later stuff is pretty classy.

Can someone with knowledge of jazz point me in the right direction of some good smooth jazz, preferably focusing on piano but can incorporate other instruments like a piano trio or even an orchestra if done correctly. I'm just not interested in the synth stuff that keeps on popping up

Thanks

honestly there is SO much fucking smooth jazz out there that the best thing to do is to go on pandora or just look up smooth jazz radio

and then listen until you find something you like. you might be surprised by how amazing kenny g is though so watch out

but then the thing is I mostly just like funky music and a lot of smooth jazz has a pretty funky groove so I just plug in and jive along

that said you must check out Chuck Mangione. You gotta do 'Feels So Good', 'Hill Where the Lord Hides' and 'Children of Sanchez Overture' because he is pretty much the man (his albums are rather difficult to get through but he has some epicly funky latin/old southwest type shit goin on and honestly is one of my favorite smooth-type jazz musicians period

While not necessarily smooth jazz, Gene Harris has some really good stuff imo. He's the creator of soul jazz, which combines elements of blues and gospel and (i think) an inkling of smooth jazz. It's pretty mellow and the Harris's piano skills are wonderful. I recommend the album 'Funky Genes' and more specifically the piece 'The Problem with Hello is Goodbye.'

edit: yeah i'm completely wrong about soul jazz's connection to smooth jazz. It's still good stuff imo but I don't know if you'll like it.
edit 2: and yeah gene harris didn't make soul jazz. that's what i get for depending on wikipedia and misreading!

if you like piano jazz just look up bill evans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WISX#Smooth_Jazz_WJJZ detailing the prosecution of Smooth Jazz Fans in our intolerant world

I already said this in the other thread, I can't stand this shit!! I thought I hated jazz for the longest time because this is all my parents would ever play.

I was listening to the smooth jazz radio station today and I heard this guy:

http://www.myspace.com/ericdarius

listen to "Goin' All Out" it is the funkiest most badass song ever

hmm not really my sort of thing.

Bill Evans sounds really good, I'm listening to some of his stuff now

I recently bought a vinyl of Eliane Elias- Cross Currents, which is really awesome.


This isn't off the album and it isn't exactly like this. The album I have is just a trio of piano, double bass and drums, but yeah

mm that stuff is pretty boring imo. seems more like muzak than anything else

I only like smooth jazz if it is 1) super funky 2) really sax heavy 3) hilarious 4) baby-makin music

I swear I've heard that in a supermarket before

I like those chords in the beginning of the song.