Music for Mike
Here are some things off the top of my head. Once I'm home for work I can start pulling things from my archive! :P
Kurt Elling
He's a great vocalist, and one of the dominant jazz singers of our time. I don't care for some of the things that the other musicians on his albums play, but he's fantastic.
April in Paris - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQqyaJxnD60
Nature Boy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXprs8-U5nA
Cannonball Adderley
This is the guy who made me love jazz and the saxophone. Even aside from the music, he counts as one of my all-time favorite people.
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRrFWp4DUho
Work Song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYXlJMvCyqI&feature=related
Jeannine - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DMtWyrY6uI&feature=related
The Jive Samba - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHFn0vHF6-c&feature=related
Stan Getz
This guy's one of the ones responsible for the bossa nova craze. Once you get past the iconic-ness of it, it's some pretty hip music.
Medley of Disafinado and The girl from Ipanema - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gghq6pvtQHY&feature=related
So Danco Samba - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POXvY53pJcQ&feature=related
Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover had significant commercial success. Everyone's heard "Just the Two of Us", which he did with Bill Withers. He basically invented "Smooth Jazz", which actually started off alright. I *really* dig his earlier stuff with CTI, though, before he got involved with Motown. It's a totally different sound than what he was playing later on!
Mister Magic - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0RfJB41Dds&feature=related
Black Frost - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72vaUEdvbgA
Bela Fleck
Yeah, he's playing a banjo. Setting the novelty aside, he has made some great music, and plays with other incredible musicians.
Earth Jam (there's also an intro that introduces the members of the band, the music really starts at 2:00) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hus1PXbnkZ0
A Moment So Close - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngwgep97g3s&feature=related
Hoedown - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fu2s2H-hlc&feature=related
Here's Jeff Coffin going nuts, 'cause DAMN - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUMGSr3b67g&feature=related
Devil's Workshop Big Band
Honestly, I'm surprised to have found anything of theirs on YouTube. They released the "Idle Hands" album, which was a live recording, and it blew many people's minds. I cherish my copy like few things in this world. Sadly, they didn't print nearly enough, and the band has since broken up. They're all from the Richmond area, I believe.
Have a Little Faith in Me - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKaM4IyvJG4
Bobby McFerrin
This guy is RIDICULOUS. If I had his talent I'd go insane. He's also an accomplished conductor, and will often guest conduct an orchestra and perform between pieces from the orchestra
Thinkin' About Your Body - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4BhsYbXwf4
Here's a video of him performing during a concert where he was also guest conducting. Most of the audience apparently had no idea who he was when they went to their local orchestra performance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtXrKo8Btfc
Ave Maria. Not jazz, but wow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgvJg7D6Qck&feature=related
Kurt Elling
He's a great vocalist, and one of the dominant jazz singers of our time. I don't care for some of the things that the other musicians on his albums play, but he's fantastic.
April in Paris - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQqyaJxnD60
Nature Boy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXprs8-U5nA
Cannonball Adderley
This is the guy who made me love jazz and the saxophone. Even aside from the music, he counts as one of my all-time favorite people.
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRrFWp4DUho
Work Song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYXlJMvCyqI&feature=related
Jeannine - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DMtWyrY6uI&feature=related
The Jive Samba - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHFn0vHF6-c&feature=related
Stan Getz
This guy's one of the ones responsible for the bossa nova craze. Once you get past the iconic-ness of it, it's some pretty hip music.
Medley of Disafinado and The girl from Ipanema - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gghq6pvtQHY&feature=related
So Danco Samba - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POXvY53pJcQ&feature=related
Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover had significant commercial success. Everyone's heard "Just the Two of Us", which he did with Bill Withers. He basically invented "Smooth Jazz", which actually started off alright. I *really* dig his earlier stuff with CTI, though, before he got involved with Motown. It's a totally different sound than what he was playing later on!
Mister Magic - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0RfJB41Dds&feature=related
Black Frost - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72vaUEdvbgA
Bela Fleck
Yeah, he's playing a banjo. Setting the novelty aside, he has made some great music, and plays with other incredible musicians.
Earth Jam (there's also an intro that introduces the members of the band, the music really starts at 2:00) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hus1PXbnkZ0
A Moment So Close - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngwgep97g3s&feature=related
Hoedown - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fu2s2H-hlc&feature=related
Here's Jeff Coffin going nuts, 'cause DAMN - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUMGSr3b67g&feature=related
Devil's Workshop Big Band
Honestly, I'm surprised to have found anything of theirs on YouTube. They released the "Idle Hands" album, which was a live recording, and it blew many people's minds. I cherish my copy like few things in this world. Sadly, they didn't print nearly enough, and the band has since broken up. They're all from the Richmond area, I believe.
Have a Little Faith in Me - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKaM4IyvJG4
Bobby McFerrin
This guy is RIDICULOUS. If I had his talent I'd go insane. He's also an accomplished conductor, and will often guest conduct an orchestra and perform between pieces from the orchestra
Thinkin' About Your Body - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4BhsYbXwf4
Here's a video of him performing during a concert where he was also guest conducting. Most of the audience apparently had no idea who he was when they went to their local orchestra performance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtXrKo8Btfc
Ave Maria. Not jazz, but wow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgvJg7D6Qck&feature=related