nooby question

[maomao]

what is the first thing you need to know

when u want to play jazz

[Deacon Blues]

Hmmm ... maybe you NEED to choose what instrument to play jazz on? ...

[progressive_pilipinas]

huh?

Hmmmm..

C D E F G A B C?


of course after you have chosen what instrument youd like to play jazz.
 

[psychic_sushi]

You also have to know WHY you want to play jazz.

It is not enough to just WANT to play it, you have to desire it, and allow it to take you. You have to think jazz. Its all in the mind, and how your mind programs your passion.

[pinoymusika]

For instrumentalists I think you have to know the blues first.... the blues scale (flatted thirds and fifths), blues progressions, and how to improvise over blues progressions. That would probably be the basic.

For drummers, you gotta know how to swing - and that is swing as a groove and a feel (the dotted triplet feel) as opposed to the lock step in traditional 4/4 rock drumming.

[darnel]

try to undestrand the form of a particular tune..  

listen, listen and listen

find someone that inspires you

practice your scales and patterns..

finally, devote a lot of time in practicing.. there's no shortcut to playing jazz..  

[PaoloB]

know at least some of the "jazz standards" inside out. (like i got rhythm, body and soul, etc...)
of course, some jazz theory lessons would help.

[deltaslim]

what is the first thing you need to know

when u want to play jazz

first thing?  know and understand what you like about the jazz music you listen to.  is it the overall groove, the inventive melody, the syncopated rhythms, the broken chords?  what about them?

then imitate, assimilate, then innovate!

good luck bro!