Introduction
Jazz music has always been about breaking boundaries and evolving with the times.
Swing, bebop, modern, fusion– each new era of jazz brings a unique sound and the best jazz vocalists who push the envelope. In this blog, we’ll understand what modern jazz is and also look at the 5 best contemporary jazz artists in today’s time.
What Is Modern Jazz?
Modern jazz is an umbrella term that refers to a variety of styles that developed in the early to the mid-20th century. It can be hard to define because it’s constantly evolving.
But if you had to categorize it, you could say that modern jazz is a blend of classical, blues, and gospel music—with a healthy dose of improvisation thrown in for good measure.
The best thing about modern jazz is that it’s always evolving. Artists are constantly pushing the boundaries and coming up with new ways to play and express themselves. If you need to become more familiar with modern jazz, we recommend starting with some of the artists listed below. You won’t be disappointed.
1. Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding, a Berklee School of Music graduate, won a Grammy for her third album, Chamber Music Society, which was a critical and commercial success and broke the Top 40 on the Billboard 200. As her solo career gained momentum, she started writing songs and singing more frequently.
2. Brad Mehldau
Early in the 1990s, Brad Mehldau made a splash on the New York jazz scene. At the New School, he had classmates like guitarist Peter Bernstein and pianist (and future jazz club owner) Spike Wilner.
Mehldau’s jazz background as a pianist is undeniable; his early work particularly shows an intense study of straight-ahead keyboard greats like Red Garland and Wynton Kelly. Additionally, while still a student, Mehldau played in Jimmy Cobb’s band (Cobb was the drummer on Miles Davis’ iconic Kind of Blue).
3. Vijay Iyer
Vijay Iyer, the Indian American artist, has collaborated with performers from a wide range of genres and cultures, recorded a number of CDs with his piano trio, which also includes bassist Stephan Crump and drummer Marcus Gilmore, and authored a number of articles.
Iyer worked as a sideman for M-Base saxophonist Steve Coleman during one of his early gigs, and Coleman’s strong and avant-garde rhythmic technique was definitely influenced by him.
4. Kurt Rosenwinkel
From being a jazz enthusiast’s and students’ favorite “musicians musician,” Kurt Rosenwinkel has evolved into a sort of guitar hero who has worked with Eric Clapton. Before starting a successful quartet of his own, he made early appearances in the bands of jazz greats Gary Burton, Joe Henderson, and Paul Motian.
He eventually signed with Verve Records as a result of his band’s successful engagement at Smalls. This Greenwich Village jazz club also included Mark Turner on tenor saxophone, Ben Street on double bass, and Jeff Ballard on drums.
5. Sylvia Brooks
Dangerous Liaisons, Brooks’ dazzling career debut from 2009, was a smash hit. The album was included in Bob Parlocha’s list of the top 50 jazz albums of 2009 because it attracted attention internationally and heralded the debut of the best jazz singer in LA.
She went even further into the shadows on the highly acclaimed follow-up film Restless from 2012. The record, a collaboration with Grammy-nominated Kim Richmond, was played on San Francisco’s KPOO, the first Black-owned station on the West Coast, and was included on a number of top ten jazz radio stations’ lists.
Conclusion
Now that you know a little bit more about modern jazz go and check out some of the artists mentioned in this article. You might find your new favorite musician!
