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Who Are the Best Young Lions of Jazz Today?

The Wynton Marsalis thread got me to thinking. Some consider him the best jazz artist today. I actually don't know who the best jazz artist is today or who the best jazz artists are since I'm steeped in the past listening to Hard Bop like a mad man. The jazz I love, the musicians I love, the heroes and gods for me are guys like Miles, Monk, Sonny Rollins, Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Horace Silvers, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Fredie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, Bill Evans, Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley and others. My wife gets aggravated since I repeatedly play these giants.

I don't pay much attention to contemporary / modern jazz artists with the exception of John Scofield, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Pat Metheny, all who I've seen multiple times and love.

I've listened to Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride and have enjoyed their work. I've heard a little of Marsalis.

Who are the best of the Young Lions of Jazz? I know Marsalis is "in the conversation."
foster_9

Showing 5 responses by foster_9

foster_9 OP
1,638 posts
 
Jazzcourier, I guess I should have said "Contemporary" Lions instead of Young Lions.
foster_9 OP
1,638 posts
 
03-18-10: Duanegoosen
The question seems to ask who is rehashing the old young lions. Hope I'm wrong about this since it's a lot more interesting to hear artists who are stretching themselves and finding something that works.
No, not a rehash of the old lions. In my opinion, what they accomplished cannot be duplicated. What I'm interested in are the talented players of today that are producing straight ahead jazz at a higher level; Jazz in the purest sense, not this popular and artificial "pseudo-jazz" that has been coined "smooth jazz." You know, Dave Coz and the like. And thanks to all the jazz lovers who posted.
foster_9 OP
1,638 posts
 
Jerico, I do listen to Kenny Garrett. Would love to see him in concert. Jerico have you heard Gonzalo Rubalcaba? He's pretty incredible at the piano too.

I will check out the Ahmad Jamal album Grimace.
foster_9 OP
1,638 posts
 
Hi Orpheus10, I haven't been spending much time seeking out "Contemporary Lions of Jazz," even though it has been my intention. I continue to spin the Old school Hard Bop. But I've heard a few young guys and I can highly recommend pianist, Gonzalo Rubalcaba. He is incredible.
foster_9 OP
1,638 posts
 
Orpheus10, "Discovery Live at Montreux." From there you can try others, but that will get you started.

I also really like the tone of Kenny Garrett, who played with Miles near the end, but I have not heard a disc by him yet that really blows me away. But then too I have not heard all his stuff either.
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