Associated: Saxophone

Most like to hear: Piano/Keyboards

Favorite instruments for jazz:

1) Saxophone, usually tenor or alto

2) Trumpet

3) Piano

4) Guitar

5) Drums

6) Bass

7) vocals

Note: when depending on public support then move "vocals" to position #1, for example listen to WBGO-FM, a publicly supported radio station which plays at least 50% vocals day in and day out.

Sax, for sure!

i am equally inspired by saxophone (where my references are Joe Henderson or John Coltrane etc) or piano (reference: Bill Evans).

But guitar (Wes Montgomery, George Benson or these days Norman Brown or Paul Brown), trumpet (Rick Braun), flugel (Chuck Mangione) can also be equally memorable. Oh let's not forget bass (listen to Marcus Miller's rendition of "I'll be there" on his latest, pristinely recorded too). Some of the stuff Jef Kearns does with flute is pretty awesome too.

So I guess the essence of jazz is change. :)

But if you think about entirely solo, acoustic performances, prolly only piano and guitar are bearable without a band to back them up.

On recordings where the drums and cymbals are done really well that sets the tone and timing for me. Other recordings where the timing is driven by something other than the drums I tend to follow it. I think I associate a different instrument every night with Jazz, cause I'm sitting here listening and changing my mind every solo :)

michael green
MGA/RoomTune

.....nothing says 'JAZZ' more than the emotive primal, soul-stirring rhythm set down by the four strings of the double stand-up acoustic bass.

The emotional connection to any music starts with a rock-solid foundation.

Bill - on the Hill
Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
- just an “ON” switch, Please –

But, my favorite is piano.

I want to hold my hand up for this one as well. Foundation and staging.

michael green
MGA/RoomTune

Yes, piano -Bill Evans.
Saxophone- Coltrane
Trumpet- Miles davis