The New Standards

[Solitaire]

I am so digging this band right now. I'm not sure how many of you are willing to give Jazz a chance, must less stripped down group consisting of a piano, bass, and vibraphone covering the Clash, Postal Service, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but you HAVE to check them out!

I haven't had a chance to listen to their first two albums, but the new one, Rock and Roll, is ... I can't stop playing the damn thing.

[ACESLOWMAN]

I actually like them in a weird way. Im a huge rock fan, but Im very open minded to all music, so thanks for posting this. Rock and Roll is great. First minute i thought... no...
But by the end I really liked it. Funny to hear some of this, like Hey Ya, they sound great playing pop stuff like that. Not something that I would listen to on a regular basis, but amazing to hear anyways. There is too much of the same right now! Jazz is new again?

EDIT: Such Great Heights is amazing!

[Solitaire]

ACESLOWMAN wrote:

EDIT: Such Great Heights is amazing!

I totally agree about Such Great Heights. Also really love Maps and Bring It On Home To Me.

Interesting fact, their bassist was also bassist for Semisonic (that band that played "Closing Time").

[OnaZ]

I wouldn't really consider this band to be 'jazz.' The instrumentation is closer to a jazz group than a pop group. Improvisation is limited and basic.

If you'd like another option for a jazz group covering songs you'd know, I'd suggest The Bad Plus.

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[Solitaire]

OnaZ wrote:

If you'd like another option for a jazz group covering songs you'd know, I'd suggest The Bad Plus.

I've got the new The Bad Plus album, For All I Care, and I don't really care for it. I love Jazz. However, I can't stand it when the band devolves (or evolves as some might put it) into free-jazz, which is what most of that album is. It makes the end song completely incomprehensible and impalpable to my ears.

Another group to try, if you think the New Standards are too poppy for your is the Wave Mechanics Union. A bit of the traditional jazz flavor to 'em.

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[ACESLOWMAN]

NO WAY, I love Semisonic, just listened to Closing Time a bit before I went to your link. Weird. I thought the guy looked a bit familiar.

[Boston George: Ten Speed]

Soulive and Medeski Martin and Wood < Jazz, Funk, Fusion music

If you want to listen to some funky jazz stuff, they throw down =D

PS: They have been compared to the Bad Plus

[Solitaire]

Boston George: Ten Speed wrote:

Soulive and Medeski Martin and Wood < Jazz, Funk, Fusion music

Think you've got your greater than, less than sign backwards Boston.