We all post our lists of jazz sounds that we are listening to on the jazz threads here and every once in a while I will see someone listed who is not jazz....like The Who on post the other day. It got me to wondering just what everybody here takes the time to listen to when they don't have jazz in CD/mp3 players.

For myself I am all over the place. Jazz and most often what we call smooth jazz makes up the largest part of my own collection. But I also listen to a great deal of blues, a bit of country here and there, get the feel for rock now and again and lately have been spinning of lot of young pop singer/song writers who I have found enjoyable.

How about the rest of you? I am assuming that jazz is a major focus for most of us or why else be here, but is it your primary source of music? What else do you all listen to and why?

Curiosity has gotten the best of me.

Jazz of various sub-genres is by far my favorite. My favorite jazz sound is a mid-size band with a trumpet and tenor sax blending on the melodies, common but not limited to Latin jazz.
Next would be 1970s pop, rock, funk and soul. Blues is up there, along with classical, some '50s and '60s music, a handful of orchestral movie soundtracks, Latin, Brazilian, African beat.
And on the occasion I can hear "Thistle and Shamrock" on NPB, I find much of the Celtic music enchanting, especially with the women singers.
Post 1980, I can't say I'm a fan of any of the vocal genres except for the blues, but I do enjoy quite a few individual selections from pop, rock and R&B - mostly Rob Thomas, U2, Maroon 5, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dido, Michelle Branch, Kelly Clarkson and a few others. I still listen to mainstream radio specifically to hear this type of music, which is not represented in my collection.

Gospel (Fred Hammond, Andrew Gouche, Deitrick Haddon, J. Moss, etc.), contemporary R&B (Stargate, Underdogs, Tricky Stewart, Ryan Leslie, R. Kelly, The Dream, Akon, etc.), dance/electronica (Deadmau5, Chromeo, Moto Blanco remixes), and top 40. I'll listen to country.

First choice for me is always "pop instrumental" - what we all used to call smooth jazz. Especially drawn to the guitar-driven stuff; Peter White, Rippingtons, and of course Acoustic Alchemy.

My second choice is mostly pop. Enjoy current girl singers like Lady Gaga, Orianthi Panagaris (who is amazing on electric guitar BTW), Kelly Clarkson, Duffy, Leona Lewis, and even Beyonce occasionally. Boy singers I like include Ne-Yo, Usher, Michael Buble, but all in smaller doses than the girls.

I subscribe to a music service and regularly download rock stuff from there. Yesterday I got Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood live at Madison Garden. Also recently got Jack Bruce / Robin Trower new release - he's probably the greatest bass player of rock era IMO.

Anyway, I guess I listen to an eclectic mix. Thanks for asking the question.

Steve C.

I love jazz but my first love is Funk music. I listen to quite a lot of funk and old school R&B/Soul music. I love Latin/Caribbean (My Jamaican heritage) and World Music as well. Anything with a good melody, good groove and nice chord progressions, I'll listen to it. I even listen to 80's and 90's pop (Phil Collins, Sting, Eagles, etc.)

I mostly listen to various forms of jazz: straight-ahead, fusion, smooth/compemporary. I also listen to instrumental rock, progrock. a little vocal rock, and country (my wife's favorite). Since I play praise and worship at church, we also have lots of that and listen to it.

Peace and goodwill.

Mark, you might to take a listen to Robert Randolph. He got to rock by way of gospel and sacred metal. Fabulous steel guitar player. Opened for Eric Clapton on tour a couple years ago as Robert Randolph and the Family Band. Very interesting fusion of styles.

Best,

Steve C.

Thanks! I saw him on one of those Crossroads Guitar Fesival DVD's. So much good music, so little time and bucks. peace and goodwill.

I listen to myself since music making is my hobby. I'll listen to just about any form of music. Check out one my creations:

TR808 - Matisyahu - One Day Remix

It's sort of an electro, house, heavy metal, and reggae fusion. Listen for the original during the Olympics.

Hilarious!

For those of thus that are older....

The band "YES" is playing a couple sold out shows local next week and they had a big story on them in the paper this last Friday.

Chris Squire is the only remaining member but what cracked me up was the new singer that replaced Jon Anderson is a guy by the name of Benoit David. (not David Benoit) LOL!! The keyboard guy is Rick Wakeman's son, Oliver Wakeman. They started the year the Beatles broke up (1968). I loved their early stuff when I was in H.S.