10 Gateway Albums

People approach jazz from every musical direction imaginable, from sensitive singer/songwriter folkies and hip-hop devotees to heavy-metal headbangers. Here are some directions that will lead to jazz’s open door.

The Bad Plus
These Are the Vistas (2003)
Pianist Ethan Iverson plays like Rachmaninoff’s hip kid brother, while bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King pummel like the Led Zeppelin rhythm section. Great improvisation and heavy metal thunder, with covers of Nirvana, Blondie, and Aphex Twin.

Dapp Theory
Y’all Just Don’t Know (2003)
Pianist Andy Milne is a veteran of NYC saxman Steve Coleman’s band, but here he mixes breakneck jazz runs with the hip-hop preaching of MC/vocalist Kokayi and Bruce Cockburn’s incisive political commentary.

Al DiMeola
Elegant Gypsy (1976)
Al DiMeola was and is a genuine guitar hero. “Race With Devil on Spanish Highway” would give Clapton a run for his money in terms of blinding speed, while “Mediterranean Sundance” is a terrific blend of jazz fusion and flamenco stylings.

Mahavishnu Orchestra
Birds of Fire (1972)
In 1972, “fusion” wasn’t a bad word. Birds of Fire is guitarist John McLaughlin’s finest hour, and this album features one blazing electric solo after another. Miles Davis meets Jimi Hendrix. Oh yeah, the rest of the band is pretty great, too.

Brad Mehldau
Anything Goes (2004)
Make no mistake, Brad Mehldau is a serious jazz pianist, but he’s a big Radiohead fan as well, and he covers at least one Thom Yorke song per album. This one has “Everything in its Right Place,” a tender cover of Paul Simon’s “Still Crazy After All These Years,” and several fresh approaches to some hoary jazz standards.

Joni Mitchell
Hejira (1976)
Joni’s jazz excursions could get dicey, as the subsequent albums Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter and Mingus would prove. But on Hejira she strikes the perfect balance between singer/songwriter introspection and searching jazz improvisation. Jaco Pastorius’ bass work remains a revelation.

US3
Hand on the Torch (1993)
These hip-hop visionaries merged great beats and pointed commentary with some notable samples from the vast Blue Noteback catalog. Herbie Hancock, Art Blakey and Horace Silver sound superb in the contemporary setting, and the rappers are in prestigious company indeed.

Weather Report
Heavy Weather (1977)
More fusion magic. Joe Zawinul’s perennial hit “Birdland” will hook you with its joyous evocation of 52nd St. big band music, but his quiet, lovely ballad “A Remark You Made” will keep you coming back again and again.

George Winston
Autumn (1980)
Pianist George Winston is the missing link between introspective jazz great Bill Evans and pastoral folk music. Sneer at the “New Age” label all you like; this album remains breathtakingly beautiful after almost 25 years.

John Zorn
Naked City (1989)
Japanese speed metal, James Bond spy music, Ornette Coleman covers, spaghetti westerns, and avant-garde sax shriekfests all converge on this landmark album. What, you wanted Henry Mancini movie themes? Zorn’s got that covered too.