The Best of 80s Jazz Music

Looking for a taste of the best that 80s jazz music has to offer? Look no further! In this blog, we’ll be highlighting some of the genre’s finest moments. From classics to hidden gems, we’ll make sure you’ll have plenty to add to your playlist.

Introduction

Jazz music had a significant impact on popular culture in the 1980s. Whether you were listening to Miles Davis or Wynton Marsalis, the sounds of jazz were everywhere. Here is a look at some of the best jazz albums of the 1980s.

The Birth of 80s Jazz

The 1980s was a decade of great change in the world of music. Jazz, in particular, saw a new wave of artists and a new sound. The best of 80s Jazz was a blend of traditional Jazz with new styles and influences. This new sound was a perfect reflection of the changing world around us.

The Elements of 80s Jazz

Whether you’re a fan of Miles Davis or Dexter Gordon, chances are you’ll enjoy some great 80s jazz. The sounds of the 80s were heavily influenced by the post-bop and avant-garde movements of the previous two decades. This decade saw the rise of jazz fusion, which blended elements of jazz with funk, rock, and R&B. Many established artists continued to explore new sounds and directions, while younger artists brought a fresh perspective to the genre. Here are some essential elements of 80s jazz.

The sounds of the electric piano and synthesizer were widely used in 80s Jazz. Artists such as Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea incorporated these new sounds into their music, giving it a more pop-influenced feel. The use of electric instruments allowed for a wider range of expression and more complex harmonies.

Another element that defined 80s Jazz was the influence of world music. Artists like Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter incorporated African and Latin American rhythms into their compositions. This gave their music a more global appeal and helped to broaden the audience for Jazz.

The final element that helped to define 80s Jazz was the increased use of technology in the recording process. Newer recording techniques allowed for more creativity in the studio, resulting in a more polished sound. This increased use of technology also made it possible for artists to experiment with different sounds and textures, further expanding the sonic palette of Jazz.

The Key Players in 80s Jazz

There was a resurgence of interest in jazz in the 1980s, and many new artists emerged on the scene. Some of the key players in this genre during this decade include:

-Miles Davis: One of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, Davis continued to release groundbreaking albums in the 1980s such as The Man with the Horn and Tutu.

-George Benson: A hugely popular jazz/R&B guitarist, Benson had huge crossover success in the 1980s with hits like “Give Me the Night” and “Lady Love Me (One More Time).”

-Herbie Hancock: A versatile keyboardist who had been active since the 1960s, Hancock won a Grammy for his album Maiden Voyage in 1984 and continued to release acclaimed albums throughout the decade.

-Pat Metheny: A highly respected guitarist who was a member of Miles Davis’ band in the 1970s, Metheny released a number of successful solo albums in the 1980s including Offramp and Still Life (Talking).

The Sound of 80s Jazz

In the 1980s, jazz music was at its peak. The genre experimented with new sounds, rhythms, and styles, resulting in some of the best music of the decade. If you’re a fan of jazz, or just looking to get into the genre, here are some of the best 80s jazz albums you should check out.

The Influences on 80s Jazz

The 1980s were a decade of great change for the world of jazz music. Many traditionalists felt that the experimentalism of 60s and 70s had taken the music too far from its roots, while many younger musicians felt stifled by the genre’s conventions. This resulted in a wide variety of styles being developed in the 80s, as musicians sought to find a balance between tradition and innovation.

One of the most influential figures in 80s jazz was Miles Davis. His groundbreaking album “Tutu” featured electric instruments and synthesizers, giving it a very different sound to anything that had come before. Another major innovator was Ornette Coleman, who introduced “free jazz” to a wider audience with his album “In All Languages”.

However, it wasn’t just experimentalists who were making waves in the 80s. Traditionalists such as Wynton Marsalis and Oscar Peterson were also enjoying great success, with Marsalis winning multiple Grammy Awards and Peterson being awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II.

The 80s also saw the rise of smooth jazz, a genre that blended elements of traditional jazz with funk and pop music. Smooth jazz was extremely popular on radio stations across America, and artists such as Kenny G and George Benson found huge mainstream success.

The Characteristics of 80s Jazz

The sound of 80s jazz was marked by a number of different characteristics. The use of synthesizers and electric instruments was very common, and there was often a heavy focus on groove-based music. Many 80s jazz musicians were heavily influenced by funk and soul music, and this can be heard in their work.

While the traditional jazz sound was still present in many 80s recordings, the overall feel of the music was often quite different. This decade saw a real shift in the way that jazz was played, and it resulted in some truly unique recordings.

The Legacy of 80s Jazz

80s Jazz music was a time when the genre was truly progressing and expanding in new directions. Artists were taking the traditional sounds of Jazz and adding their own unique flavor to it, creating a new sound that would appeal to a wider audience. This decade saw the rise of some of the most influential Jazz musicians of all time, who would go on to shape the sound of the genre for years to come.

The Impact of 80s Jazz

The 80s were a golden age for jazz music, with many great artists and bands emerging on the scene. Some of the biggest names in jazz today got their start in the 80s, including Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Wynton Marsalis. The impact of 80s jazz can still be felt today, with many current jazz musicians citing the 80s as a major influence on their work.

The sound of 80s jazz was very different from what had come before, with a more funky and groove-based sound becoming popular. This new sound helped to make jazz more accessible to a wider audience, and the popularity of 80s jazz continues to this day. If you’re a fan of jazz music, then be sure to check out some of the best 80s jazz albums for a truly enjoyable listening experience.

The Future of 80s Jazz

The future of 80s Jazz is yet to be determined. While the music of the 80s was certainly influential, it remains to be seen whether it will have a lasting impact on the genre as a whole. Only time will tell.