Best Sounding Jazz Recordings

BobM · « **Reply #40 on:** 11 Apr 2013, 01:19 pm »

Also on ECM

- anything by Eberhard Weber
- Timeless - John Abercrombie
- any ECM Ralph Towner or Oregon album
- Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
- Miroslav Vitous - Universal Syncopations
- anything by Egberto Gismonti
- Jan Garbarek - Witchi-Tai-To

ArthurDent · « **Reply #41 on:** 11 Apr 2013, 01:41 pm »

Quote from: BobM on 11 Apr 2013, 01:19 pm

Also on ECM

- anything by Eberhard Weber
- Timeless - John Abercrombie
- any ECM Ralph Towner or Oregon album
- Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
- Miroslav Vitous - Universal Syncopations
- anything by Egberto Gismonti
- Jan Garbarek - Witchi-Tai-To

+ Terje Rypdal

neekomax · « **Reply #42 on:** 11 Apr 2013, 01:51 pm »

Thanks for the ECM reccos, Wolf, Bob, & Arthur.

So much music, so little time....

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #43 on:** 12 Apr 2013, 02:35 pm »

Quote from: BobM on 11 Apr 2013, 01:19 pm

Also on ECM

- anything by Eberhard Weber
- Timeless - John Abercrombie
- any ECM Ralph Towner or Oregon album
- Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
- Miroslav Vitous - Universal Syncopations
- anything by Egberto Gismonti
- Jan Garbarek - Witchi-Tai-To

Roberto, hi. Just wanted to add 2 cents for Witchi Tai To. The longest composition, Desireless, by Don Cherry in particular. I suppose Garbarek's playing is an acquired taste and one that fails to acquire me, but the album's trio playing- Bobo Stenson, in particular- is a diamond in the rough on this cut. Never fails to involve me.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #44 on:** 12 Apr 2013, 04:44 pm »

More ECM picks (not mentioned)...

Keith Jarrett (piano)... http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-k%C3%B6ln-concert-mw0000188364

Collin Walcott (sitar)... http://www.allmusic.com/album/cloud-dance-mw0000188793

Marc Johnson (bassist)... http://www.allmusic.com/album/bass-desires-mw0000188234

I see Anazon has a LIST.... ...nice picks as well..

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #45 on:** 13 Apr 2013, 02:47 am »

Just to add some info to my post above. The bass player on this date is Palle Danielson and the drummer is Jon Christenson. Very skilled and imaginative players of their instruments and so good together with Stenson they will mesmerize you. You should hear Desireless on your main system undisturbed or be square.

jhm731 · « **Reply #46 on:** 13 Apr 2013, 03:30 am »

Mahalo for keeping this thread going.

Agree 100% with the outstanding quality of ECM recordings, wish
they'd start putting out more of their stuff in HiRez.

Another great sounding label to check out is Smalls Live.

Here's some other new stuff I like:

Chick Corea/Eddie Gomez/Paul Motian, Further Explorations (Concord)
Dave Douglas, Be Still (Greenleaf)
Art Pepper, Blues for the Fisherman(Pure Pleasure)
Jim Hall, Live at Birdland(ArtistShare)
Brookmeyer's Standards, (ArtistShare)
Centennial: Newly Discovered Works of Gil Evans(ArtistShare)

lazydays · « **Reply #47 on:** 21 Apr 2013, 06:22 pm »

well I'm sorta stunned right off the bat that nobody said anything about Bitches Brew!!! If you don't own a copy, then get your hands on one! It's a learning experience that must be listened to for hours upon hours. Probably the single most studied recording by jazz musicians of all time.

Now I'm also a fan of Sketches In Spain, but also like Tutu. Can recommend the Mulligan/Baker recordings to everyone. Count Basie small groups are usually killers, and one can never go wrong with Duke Ellington stuff
gary

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #48 on:** 21 Apr 2013, 07:51 pm »

Quote

...and one can never go wrong with Duke Ellington stuff.

Right...

Three good ones....

"Masterpieces By Ellington"

"Money Jungle"

"Far East Suite"

lazydays · « **Reply #49 on:** 22 Apr 2013, 04:27 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 21 Apr 2013, 07:51 pm

Right...

Three good ones....

"Masterpieces By Ellington"

"Money Jungle"

"Far East Suite"

I used to have a friend that was seriously into big band music, and he'd set down with an LP and literally take it apart. Tell you about the musicians and what to listen for. Dick was kinda grouchey all the time, but knew his music. Lost him right before Christmass four years ago. Dick introduced me to another guy that was a tenor sax player with Duke, and this guy could really get it done!

If I sat down and started to make a list of must haves in jazz, I'd be there all day! Some are kinda obscure and some are well known. I really like the Pablo jazz series recordings, and just have not found a bad one to this very day! And trust me they did some serious stuff! ECM redordings are generally excellent, and worth the listen. My favorite ECM recording is Standards in Norway Vol. II. Good stuff! I also like Chick Corea, and just about anybody that plays with him. My favorite clairnetest with out a doubt was Alvin Batiste (New Orleans). Didn't record much, but could he play. The best current clairnetest is Frank Glover by a long mile. My drummer would be Brian Blade of the current crop, but Elvin was better. I've got the chance to listen to a lot of good bass players over the years, but my favorite is still Marc Johnson just for the way he attacks the neck alone. The best was Scott LaFaro.
gary

tonyptony · « **Reply #50 on:** 22 Apr 2013, 06:46 pm »

Quote from: lazydays on 22 Apr 2013, 04:27 pm

I really like the Pablo jazz series recordings, and just have not found a bad one to this very day! And trust me they did some serious stuff!

+1

LeeH · « **Reply #51 on:** 3 Jun 2013, 07:41 pm »

One of my Favourites on the ECM label, a superb live recording

BobM · « **Reply #52 on:** 3 Jun 2013, 08:28 pm »

How about these:

Jim Hall - Concerto
Ralph Towner - any of his solo stuff
Michael Hedges - Strings of Steel
Philippe Saisse - Valerian (a bit electronic, but very well done)
Miles/Gurtu - very electronic, but amazingly good musically and sonically

vrtube · « **Reply #53 on:** 14 Aug 2013, 02:46 am »

One of my favorites...

Burt Bacharach
Casino Royale [1967] [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

amazing dynamics

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #54 on:** 14 Aug 2013, 04:44 am »

Must mention a couple of live in the studio Mapleshade CD's: "Sound Roots" by Andy McKee and NEXT, and "Datevik", a Russian jazz singer who can bring it with the Larry Willis quartet shoveling the coal. Nobody recording digitally gets more live-in-the-room sound than this recording engineer and label owner, Pierre Sprey. You must buy direct at the Mapleshade website. And, turn these muthas up! I don't think you can distort them.

S Clark · « **Reply #55 on:** 14 Aug 2013, 05:00 am »

The Andy McKee and the Casino Royale just mentioned are top notch, audiophile recordings.
I also recommend the Manhattan Jazz Quintet's Autumn Leaves for amazing dynamics.

rodge827 · « **Reply #56 on:** 14 Aug 2013, 12:08 pm »

Here are a couple of my favorites,

ESaudio · « **Reply #57 on:** 15 Aug 2013, 02:51 am »

rodge827 · « **Reply #58 on:** 15 Aug 2013, 04:36 am »

Here's another that I was literally weened on by my parents in the mid 1960's on an old tube base consul that we tossed in the trash sometime in the late 70's/early 80's.

Come to think of it these are the first jazz recordings that I ever herd. Must be why I love the genre so much!

simoon · « **Reply #59 on:** 17 Aug 2013, 12:26 am »

More ECM releases worth getting:

Art Ensemble of Chicago - these guys are more on the avant-garde side of jazz, with a bit of free jazz, so they may be an acquired taste, but they are recorded great.

Full Force and Nice Guys are the ones to get. Many fans consider Full Force their most accessible, so this might be the one to start with.

The opening track of Full Force begins with a few minutes of various persuasion instruments that can be used for evaluating soundstage and imaging. Really impressive 3d stuff.

I agree with anything by Eberhard Weber. The Colours of Chloe is close to genius.

Enrico Rava - The Pilgram and the Stars. With the great John Abercrombie on guitar. This one kills!

Ralph Towner - old Friends, New Friends. Great lineup on this one. Kenny Wheeler on trumpet, Eddie Gomez on bass, David Darling on cello.

Azimuth with Ralph Towner - Depart. Norma Whinstone's wordless singing makes for a tranquil but eerie listen.

I really also like Terje Rypdal's stuff. 'Whenever I Seem to be Far Away' with the Sudfunk orchestra is a personal favorite, but it is not exactly jazz. It sounds more like King Crimson inspired prog in the context of 20th century classical.

Same with Keith Jarrett's 'The Celestial Hawk'. Not really jazz, more like 20th century classical. but great nonetheless.