Question about specific type of jazz blues.

[JazzIdiot]

Hello, Organissimo!

New member/poster/just about everything here, and I'm a complete idiot when it comes to Jazz. I know almost nothing about it, and to be honest, it's not usually my cup of tea. However, there is one specific sub-genre of jazz/blues which I love, but which I don't know the name of. I'm hoping this community would be kind enough to teach me a few things about it and recommend a few artists to start with.

The type of music to which I'm referring is really minimalist; it's just blues piano with a stand-up bass, and sometimes someone singing along with it, (although I prefer just the instrumentals). I thought this would be a common form of jazz/blues with its own nomenclature, but I can't seem to find anything specific about it online that doesn't also include bigger bands, trumpets, and all sorts of other stuff. Does this type of music have a name? Are there any specific artists? To be honest, I'm not even sure if this belongs in a Jazz forum, but since jazz and blues seem to wash their feet in the same river, I thought I would ask. Thanks in advance for any information.

-Jazz Idiot

[dalemcfarland]

Check out pianist Jay McShann and see if that's the style you're looking for. Welcome to the forum.

[JazzIdiot]

Yes! Listening to him now on Youtube. This is exactly what I was talking about. Thank you! Any more recommendations for artists like him would be much appreciated, and thanks for welcoming me to the forums!

[Dan Gould]

Gene Harris, as leader of his own group or with bassist Ray Brown, should be up your alley.

[Harold_Z]

Check out Amos Milburn.

[AllenLowe]

Pete Brown/Joe Turner.

Jimmy Witherspoon.

Joe Williams/Count Basie small group stuff.

[cih]

A few examples I love (much toward the blues side):

Otis Spann - Nobody's Business

Roosevelt Sykes (c1940 w Sid Catlett on drums)

Little Brother Montgomery - early sixties (late in his career)

sorry all have vocals!

[mikelz777]

Red Garland

Red's Blues - Link - Red's Blues

Edited August 1, 2010 by mikelz777

[Don Brown]

Lloyd Glenn.

[JazzIdiot]

This is all wonderful, thank you guys so much! More recommendations are very welcome, as I've got the thread bookmarked and will constantly be coming back for more. Also: Gene Harris doing Summertime is maybe the best thing I've ever heard, but I've got a lot to go. Thanks again!

-JI

[kenny weir]

Try the trio and/or small band recordings of Count Basie, especially those for Decca in the late '30s/early '40s.

Edited August 2, 2010 by kenny weir

[randyhersom]

Mary Lou Williams

[AllenLowe]

well, I know it's a horn, but he's GOTTA listen to Bird - post McShann. Parker's Mood, of course, etc.

Edited August 3, 2010 by AllenLowe

[Hot Ptah]

While these pianists usually had a drummer along with a bassist, I would think that you would enjoy Ray Bryant and Bobby Timmons.

[felser]

Mose Allison!

[Guest Bill Barton]

Art Hodes

St. Louis Blues

The embed code refused to cooperate on this one... It's solo piano.

Edited August 3, 2010 by Bill Barton

[Big Beat Steve]

Sammy Price

Herman Chittison

For starters by these artists, the early post-war stuff by

Jimmy Jones

Billy Taylor

And if it's got to be a little bit more bluesish than that, don't miss

Little Willie Littlefield

and

Champion Jack Dupree

Edited August 3, 2010 by Big Beat Steve

[AllenLowe]

Jose Iturbi.

[John L]

Avery Parrish!

[clifford_thornton]

Welcome to the board, and hope you find that you can drop the "idiot" from your handle.