Seb Rochford: my jazz-for-beginners playlist
Friday, November 13, 2015
The Polar Bear drummer and bandleader offers a playlist of the jazz artists that sparked and nurtured his love of jazz "Even though my mum played me jazz growing up, the big change came when she forced me to go and see an Andy Sheppard concert with her.
Billie Holiday – Fine and Mellow
"I loved Billie Holiday the first time I ever heard her, she moves me in a way no one else does. I started listening to her going through my mum's collection after she passed away."
Thelonious Monk – Lulu's Back in Town
Duke Ellington – Caravan
"At my first piano lesson at college, my teacher Kevin James asked us all to write a piece of music. On listening to mine, he was very positive and said "you should listen to these people, I think you would like them". The next week he brought me some Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington. These records suddenly gave me a connection to swing that had always seemed evasive to me. I loved the melodies, the deep groove, dynamics and unique sense of harmony. This was like a door into a lineage of jazz I'd been looking for."
John Coltrane – Afro Blue
"The first time I heard John Coltrane was on a live recording of A Love Supreme. I always remember feeling it was like a spacious and beautiful whirlwind that I was drawn to so much. I have never heard drums express things the way they did when Elvin Jones played."
Miles Davis – So What
"With Miles Davis, I waited. His records were in my house, I knew some of his sound and that he was super famous but decided to check out other people first and come back when I felt it. And when I did, I was blown away. He is someone that constantly inspires me, not only for his music but in the way he was fearless about change and vision. I've met so many people who have said they can't get into jazz but love his music."
Ornette Coleman – The Good Life
"Ornette Coleman's music feels so earthy and beautiful to me. And when I saw him live I was taken aback at the beauty of it even more."
Visit www.polarbearmusic.com for more information.
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