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Comment by frabcus | Hacker News Reader

This seems a good place to ask...

How do I get into jazz?

I can listen to it and find it pleasant. But I'm missing something - I'm not spotting the patterns. It all sounds the same and empty.

What is a good route in?

In contrast I get and like any pop/rock, if I dance I like anything ravey.

I'm into the swirling moods of Ludovico Einaudi, and the harsh to accept beautiful patterns of Philip Glass.

I struggle with Classical as much as jazz, but I don't care that I do.

I feel like I need some kind of course - tests what I get, and helps me find the next thing which is more complex (not just a bland repetition of) what I like now, but still on the edge of accessibility to me.

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I'd be curious to know why you want to "get into" jazz. The world is brim-full of music, so you don't need to listen to something you find 'the same and empty'.

Anyway, that aside, I'll make 2 suggestions:

- the real magic of jazz is in its live performance. There really is nothing like it. If you have live jazz going on where you live, go and listen. If any of what you hear appeals, well that gives you a starting point for finding recordings.

- for recorded music, start with crossover or fusion jazz that shares a musical border with stuff you already like. Perhaps Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert might be worth a try (solo piano with lots of ostinato passages - not 'like' Glass, but perhaps appealing to some of the same impulses). Jazz isn't the hermetically sealed thing it used to be, and you'll find it merges off in all directions.

I started paging through encyclopedias 25 years ago, and got hold of recordings that sounded interesting. I started to pick out more and more in the music as my brain got attuned. The love affair is still going strong. I highly recommend these:

- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz - Case, Britt & Murray

- Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music - Donald Clarke (Editor)

Donald Clarke in particular has an infectious enthusiasm. The first Jazz album that really grabbed me was one of his recommendations: "Blue and Sentimental" by Ike Quebec.

swirling moods makes me think of Brad Mehldau, Ben Monder, Pat Metheny Groups "The Way Up", maybe some of the Chris Potter Underground or Donny McCaslin records.

You should try listening to noir jazz or spy jazz. Those subgenres might be your edge of accessibility now.

For Classical music, just listen to all the works that have been used in movies endlessly.

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