what would you play them ? [One album only]

Since you asked , mine would be Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - Soul finger, mosaic, et all.

Paul

Well it's such a huge genre I doubt any one record exists to encompass all of it.

So I'd play them four:

- Louis Armstrong, Hot Fives and Sevens (a cheat, since it's a box set, but I wouldn't play them all of it, honest)

- Duke Ellington, Newport 1956

- Coltrane, Complete Village Vanguard Recordings (another box set cheat)

- Peter Brotzmann, Fuck de Boere

If I really had to choose just one, it'd be Armstrong. Or Brotzmann if I didn't like them.

-- Ian

Originally posted by sideshowbob
Or Brotzmann if I didn't like them.

Ahh, the truth is out...

Mine would be Blues and Roots by Mingus. All jazz and all life is here.
From the roots to the future of jazz, and the whole range of recordable emotion.
The album also swings like nothing else ever recorded (IMMHO) and you can just give yourself up and dance away.
The new wave of folk dance :D

Alice Coltrane's Journey in Satchindananda (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70307171343&sql=A0k9sa93gy23u).

It's a great album in its own right and it's a great transition album as it's not "pure" strain of jazz, though it introduxces jazzy concepts and sounds.

Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else

Or Miles Davis - In A Silent Way

Or Herbie Hancock - either Empyrean Isles or Maiden Voyage

Call me a boring old traditionalist if you like.

AG

PS - cue several replies saying 'you are a boring old traditionalist'.

Ooh no, Empyrean Isles is great. Again it's not so hardcore jazz, a little funky and a little classical as it is.

I find Gerry Mulligan and/or Dave Brubeck to be a good place to start. Almost all of the 'Cool' style of jazz should be considered -Stan Getz, Bill Evans etc.

Did someone mention Alice Coltrane? <shiver>

Kit, I suspect you sometimes wear an afghan and purple loon pants.

-- Ian

Yeah, I'd likely go for Somethin' Else, or Moanin'.

A safe bet would be one of the Blue Note samplers - gives a broad taste, rather than limiting a newbie to a particular flavour of Jazz that may not strike the sympathetic chord, or awaken the "decding mechanism" in the prospective's brain.

Rico

Somethin' Else or Kind of Blue.

The Summit / Together Again

Yes, great life-affirming stuff. Should be subtitled ' The Joy of Jazz'

Must admit a better choise than the Messengers.

Paul

Tomorrow is the Question - Coleman

If your imaginary neophyte doesn't get that - there is no hope.

MarkW

Throw 'em in at the deep end I say...
Echo by Dave Burrell should blow anybody's mind