Fun Stuff > BAND

Essential Jazz

(1/7) > >>

Merkava:
Though I love jazz and happen to think that jazz drumming is the greatest thing to happen to music ever, I have realized that I don't really have much of a collection. I thought, since there are some enthusiasts here, that someone may point me to some superduperfabulous jazz albums.

Garcin:
My all-time favorites:

-- The Marsalis Family - A Jazz Celebration (All five of the musical Marsalises: Ellis, Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo, Jason; playing in a septet, shortly after a momentous reconciliation between Wynton & Ellis);
-- John Coltrane - Giant Steps;
-- Complete Jazz at Massey Hall (The legendary set featuring Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus and Max Roach at Massey Hall, Toronto in 1953.  Legend has it that Charlie Parker played on a plastic alto saxophone, Powell was drunk as a skunk, and the hall was half full.  Often referred to as the "Best Concert Ever");
-- The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out.

Looking forward to what other people recommend.  Thanks for a good thread idea :)

MilkmanDan:
For the love of all things holy, get Mingus, Ah Um by Charles Mingus. It's the best Jazz album I've ever heard. While far from a jazz buff, I've heard a fair amount, and Mingus Ah Um wins. Coltrane - Giant Steps and Miles Davis - Bitches Brew are kinda obligatory. Other than that, I'm a big fan of Ornette Coleman.
Basically though, you want Inlander on the case. That's who I went to for Jazz Recs, and I'm thankful I did.

Garcin:
Bitches Brew deserves a warning though -- it's one of the big jazz fusion bibles/progenitors, so if you're looking for so-called "classical" jazz, you might be in for a bit of a surprise.

If you're looking for a nice Ella Fitzgerald starting CD, Fine & Mellow is a pretty sweet place to start.  'Course, it's hard to go wrong with Ella.

sjbrot:
Coltrane is a big one here. I'm partial to A Love Supreme if only because of Elvin Jones' drumming or Meditations.

Also, Albert Ayler is another great saxophonist who deserves to be checked out. Spirits Rejoice is really good.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page