Recommend some artists to a new listener

[defunkt]

First of all, Hi

Jazz never appealed to me much until lately. I listened to 'Bitches Brew' by Miles Davis, liked some parts of it and so now I'm looking for something similar. There's a few parts on there that are quite chilled/relaxed yet a bit sort of dark and repetetive, featuring deep bassy lines and soft percussion that I really liked. Trombone and vocals aren't really my thing when it comes to such a genre so more traditional jazz doesn't really appeal to me.

Completely arb question but I'm trying my luck, can anyone recommend anything similar?

Edited June 17, 2008 by defunkt

[JSngry]

[Aggie87]

You might check some of Miles' other period recordings - like In a Silent Way, and Jack Johnson. Your comment about wanting something "similar to Miles Davis" is a bit deceptive though, because his style changed so many times over the years, from the 40's through the 80's.

Also, "traditional jazz" isn't really all about trombone and vocals.

[7/4]

You might check some of Miles' other period recordings - like In a Silent Way, and Jack Johnson. Your comment about wanting something "similar to Miles Davis" is a bit deceptive though, because his style changed so many times over the years, from the 40's through the 80's.

But defunkt is specific:

I listened to 'Bitches Brew' by Miles Davis, liked some parts of it and so now I'm looking for something similar.

Check out On The Corner by Miles. Get yer toes wet with just the album, go wild with with the box...

Also, "traditional jazz" isn't really all about trombone and vocals.

There's the banjo and tuba to consider too.

[Hot Ptah]

"Bitches Brew" is in some ways a nearly unique album, in terms of its moods, size of group and choice of instrumentation, sound textures, overall feeling.

There was a lot of electric jazz which followed it, especially for about six or seven years after its release, some of which was pretty good, but not much of it sounded like "Bitches Brew."

If you want to investigate the electric jazz that Miles Davis and others released in the 1970s, that is a topic which could generate dozens of recommendations. But few to none of the albums would really sound much like "Bitches Brew."

You say that you like the chilled, relaxed, dark, repetitive aspects of Bitches Brew. I agree that the Miles Davis "On The Corner" box set, "Bitches Brew Sessions" box set, "In a Silent Way" box set, and "Jack Johnson" box set, might give you more of that, in places. Herbie Hancock's "Crossings" album also comes to mind--but no other Herbie Hancock, really.

Edited June 17, 2008 by Hot Ptah

[BillF]

If you like Bitches Brew you'll probably like Jack Johnson and it would take you one step further into jazz.

[Nate Dorward]

Henry Kaiser & Leo Smith have been doing albums in tribute to Miles's fusion period--Yo Miles! &c. & also you might find Spring Heel Jack's collaborations with improvisers on the Thirsty Ear label relevant too.

[Nate Dorward]

Also, if you like In a Silent Way or Jack Johnson, try The Necks' Hanging Garden.

[B. Clugston]

Miles at Fillmore East is a good Bitches Brew follow-up. None of the sessions on the "Complete" Bitches Brew box approach the real thing.

Beyond Miles, there's Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi, Crossings, and Sextant.

Arni Cheatham's Thing kind of has a Bitches Brew vibe to it.

Bitches Brew is unique. There's a lot of albums out there that people claim are "So-and-so's Bitches Brew" (such as Woody Shaw's Blackstone Leacy) but sound nothing like the real thing.

[Chas]

You might enjoy parts of Donald Byrd's album Kofi , in particular the third cut , Perpetual Love .

[Guy Berger]

The first two Weather Report albums have moments reminiscent of Bitches Brew.

I would also say that out of all Miles albums, In a Silent Way is the most similar stylistically to BB.

Guy

[Bright Moments]

similar to miles hmmmmm, well there is this guy named wynton something.....

[7/4]

similar to miles hmmmmm, well there is this guy named wynton something.....

except none of his music sounds like Bitches Brew.

[Alexander]

Woody Shaw's "The Blackstone Legacy" would be a good place to go. Maybe check out Herbie Hancock's "Headhunters," The Mahavishnu Orchestra's "The Inner Mounting Flame," and Lifetime's "Emergency."

[Dan Gould]

There's a lot of albums out there that people claim are "So-and-so's Bitches Brew" (such as Woody Shaw's Blackstone Leacy) but sound nothing like the real thing.

Woody Shaw's "The Blackstone Legacy" would be a good place to go.

Mileage indeed does vary.

[AndrewHill]

Perhaps Larry Young's Of Love and Peace or Mothership.

[porcy62]

Donald Byrd "Electric Byrd" on Blue Note

[JSngry]

...chilled/relaxed yet a bit sort of dark and repetetive, featuring deep bassy lines and soft percussion that I really liked....

No, it's not "like" Bitches Brew, not literally, but still, the vibe can take you to a much-similar place if you don't get hung up on that lack of literallity.

[Niko]

what about woody shaw's song of songs?

[Guest Bill Barton]

You might give Eric Truffaz or Russell Gunn a try.

Your description : "...chilled/relaxed yet a bit sort of dark and repetetive, featuring deep bassy lines and soft percussion that I really liked...." reminds me of their approaches.

Or Jon Hassell maybe? His Power Spot on ECM may appeal to you.

Edited June 19, 2008 by Bill Barton

[PHILLYQ]

Try this one by Terje Rypdal:

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7016873

Vossabrygg is the title, very much in the vein of BB, really an homage to that recording.

[7/4]

Some of Bill Laswells music is/was influenced by that era of Miles. I can't think of anything specifically, there's a Yahoo list you could check with.

There is a "remix/reconstruction" of some of that music PANTHALASSA - THE MUSIC OF MILES DAVIS 1969-1974 by Laswell.

[BruceH]

Dupree Bolton