How about some Jazz ,,. Keyboardist and long time Mother, George Duke ... And drummer not mentioned much in drum threads Billy Cobham .. Hang in there for the drum solo .. He's in the Monster catergory ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2ikhatPxNE

Last night on PBS they had the 2008 Newport Jazz festival on.....

Those cats can play Karl ,, very cool ..More Jazz ,, bring it people .. I like lots of little notes ..

Ok you got me started. This guy my mom used to go see in Boston all the time when she was young. She told me about him now i got just about everything he put out. Not from RI like I thought. I am a real big fan of the large band sound and this band is awesome. He was different.
Stan Kenton. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Kenton



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3EkI3ISz28&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnXiETfa_fw&feature=related

two guys laying the foundation for every note jazz musicians will play from the time they cut their first records

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKiyq1VoAZs

The best album out there. oh yeah , IMO, A must own
Considered one of the best jazz albums ever put out. Was Duane Allmans favorite album I remember reading. Miles Davis Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderly, Coltrane, etc.... Just a really nice album to listen too even if you are not a big fan of Jazz.
Read these http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1343
http://www.jazzitude.com/miles_kindof.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeECkXU_xEA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEC8nqT6Rrk&feature=related

So many styles and sounds in this category. This guy was an awesome arranger and under the radar

Billy Strayhorn
Duke got most of the credit but he was just asimportant to the band. A gerat PBS show on him a few years back. Very informative.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPBeTUnw5c4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjc7mu9leYw&feature=related

this guy is fantastic too. Jimmy Heath. I really like this big sound the most of all the styles. Has a great album out called Turn up the heath

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al_wGwEbJMU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSbtHE_VBCs&feature=related

Dig this guy too and the Lincoln Jazz Orchestra

Wynton Marsalis. The whole family is so very talented and a New Orleans icon right on down from his father, Ellis, who died a few years ago, to all his brothers.
Here is some info on them http://www.sbgmusic.com/html/teacher/reference/performers/marsalis.html



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZEbCHidsJM&feature=related

Bill Evans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBqdxjHg4C0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEIQ6bc3nJE&feature=related

Wes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY01v3cWt5U&feature=related

turn this up LOUD

Listen to the drum roll and then into the first few measures of the Lee Morgan's trumpet solo, man if that dont get you going nothing will.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrixa8mKcF8

Coooooooooool man. I'm snapping my fingers as I type. I got to tell you I really enjoy the piano more than any of the instruments in this category.

A more modern guy Scott Whitfield. Has a couple great albums all big band. Not much on You tube. His own band is much better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEa9KRn-phg

something more contemporary George duke in here Ed with one of the best guitar and bass players being Lee Ritenour and Marcus Miller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0binvI54kQ&feature=related

Hey Paul ,, guys ,, I'm loving it but how about some names .. no this guy ,,that guy ,,these guys .. I don't know who I'm listening to ... Might want to get some of this ..

the first I posted was Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie
Next was Moanin by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

Ed I got tons I would be more than happy burning a little for you. It is so varied and such a large category. There is some I don't like too. I am no expert, learning all the time. I will go back and list them. Thanks

If you like Jazz we have the best Jazz show anywhere around on WGBH called Eric in the Evening on every weeknite from 8 till 12. I have been listening to it for many years and is where I have discovered most of what I like in the realm of Jazz. Give it a listen some nite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-p6b-y5T9w&feature=related