Jazz... Make of it what you will

... and that's the point after all. Jazz has been a part of my life since I was very young. My dad played Benny Goodman (B Rich on drums), Satchmo, and the incredible Louis Prima all the time. Man, did I ever have a crush on Keely Smith. Gorgeous and she could sing and be funny and hang out with real jazz guys. This post will make you think. And if you have the time (make the time) - listen to a tune or two of each of these players. Need a point to start from? Ok, try this.
Ellington: Any damn one you want.
Paul Desmond: Bill Evans "Take Five"
Wynton Marsalis: "Live at the Blue Note"
Louis Armstrong: Anything from before 1965, stuff after is good too...
Dizzy Gillespie: "Salt Peanuts"
John Coltrane: Where to begin here... I have no idea. He is one of my greatest heroes. I have everything I have found... vinyl and CD. Fan? Nope... desciple. Try "Afro Blue" or "Ballads" for an introduction. Then follow up with "Kulu se Mama" and "Expressions".
Don Cherry: find a CD with Ornette Coleman on it. Then strap in.
Charles Mingus: anything you can find.
Billie Holiday: oh my... hard to find, but nearly every recording is a gem.
Herbie Hancock: Early stuff is very jazzy... after 1970 he got a bit pop... but after about 1980 got totally into jazz again.

Presentation Zen: Jazz and the art of connecting: "Jazz and the art of connecting

NoteMost students of jazz will not go on to be professional players. And few students turned on by the creative arts in school will go on to be professional artists. And that's OK. Knowledge and understanding of the arts and the experience of pursuing excellence with, say, an instrument or a brush, etc. can teach students a lot about life and the value of focused effort, patients, teamwork, perspective, creativity, problem solving, and a million other things. All things that will serve the student well no matter what profession(s) she ends up dedicating herself to."