Jazz Recs for Classical Music Fan - Challenging


Having acquired 1000s of classical CDs (probably more than I could ever listen to), I think that it is time to start with some Jazz. I know there are a lot of forums, websites, and books that give much great advice on how to approach the subject. However, I am looking for more particular recommendations. Perhaps some fellow posters with classical tastes in the Romantic and Modern eras could give some recs that would nicely bridge the gap. I've tried to make my way into Jazz a couple of times, but haven't been successful to date. Perhaps someone here can help me make the breakthrough.

Here are some of the things I am looking for:
1) Decent recordings. This probably means something from the 60s, forward. A little tape hiss is OK, but excessively remastered or noisy recordings are not what I'm looking for. I know that many of the great recordings are from the 30s through the 50s, and I have ordered a couple of those.
2) Naturally recorded. No amplification, no over-miking, good engineering. Vocals should be minimally or not amplified. Soundstage needs to be realistic. The venue should be apparent. No 50 ft clarinets and vocals eminating from the entire soundstage.
3) Acoustic instruments. I do not like electronic music.
4) No divas-come-lately. I don't care to hear the latest 22 year old with a big voice, amplified and electronically filtered to 'perfection', a pretty album cover, and a marketing campaign to tell me how great she is.
5) Emotional content. Not just for tapping your foot or for background music.
6) Great performances. Not just something that came out last month with high recommendations in the press.
7) Probably smaller ensemble pieces. Vocals, piano, quartets, etc.
8) There may be some labels that have classical and jazz recordings that overlap (?ECM).

Thanks,
Rob
rtn1

Showing 2 responses by marakanetz

One of my dear friends who lives in Israel plays professionally classical piano and had been granted a very large gift from God.
She's very skeptic listening to jazz except when it comes to Chick Corea no matter whether it's acoustic or electric band.

ECM label is mainly oriented on neo-jazz and neo-classical directions so it might be very interesting to research for classsical music listener:
Terje Ripdal(Vitous DeJonette), David Darling, Pat Metheny, Charlie Mariano, Jasper Van't Hoff etc...
European jazz masters such as Jan Akkerman with Focus also had previousely studied spanish classical guitar had an influence of the middle-age serenades in his compositions.
Check out also Pekka Pohjola.
Rob It's me who's totally abstract or even 'off the wall' sunk onto the underground staff but the list I gave you isn't abstact and has lots in common with classical music.
Unfortunally you less likely will get these at BMG for $2.99 sale...