20 Jazz CDs to start a collection

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 23 Mar 2004, 03:32 am »

Anyone have any tips here? If you were to recommend 20 discs to someone just getting into Jazz, what would they be?

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Mar 2004, 03:48 am »

Jazz is a pretty varied genre. Anything in specific in mind or in general?

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Mar 2004, 04:11 am »

Not really. It's sort of hypothetical- in my own case, I really like modern jazz-ish vocalists (Krall, Micheal Franks, Monehiet, Harry Connick Jr), but I'm also starting to really like a few of the old standards (Miles Davis, Brubek, Rollins, Monk). I don't at all care for Armstrong & the like.

I'm more just saying if someone that was getting into jazz and wanted to experience a variety of things to see what he/she liked, give your recommendations. Sort of like the Basic Reportoiry of Classic- you Basic Jazz. Alternately, the 20 discs you'd keep if that's all you could have.

Of course, nowadays I guess it's more like "The 20 Gigs You'd Keep On Your I-Pod."

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Mar 2004, 04:40 am »

Oh gee, that makes it a lot harder for me...I'll shut my yap until someone else chimes in first. I'm finding it hard to come up with 20 killer discs

Jon L · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Mar 2004, 05:19 am »

Well, I'll throw in some discs that "I" like (with attention to sonics):

Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz "Diz and Getz" remaster

Hank Mobley "Soul Station" remaster

Art Blakey "A Night At Birdland" remaster

John Coltrane "Blue Train" remaster
John Coltrane "Love Supreme"
John Coltrane/Johnny Hartman
John Coltrane "Timeless"--collection of early works

Cannonball Adderley "Something Else" remaster
Cannonball Adderley "Takes Charge" remaster
Cannonball Adderley "Poll Winners"
--pretty much any Cannonball Adderly remaster is awesome

Dextor Gordon "Go" remaster

Sonny Clarke "Cool Strutting" remaster

Clifford Brown "Memorial Album" remaster
Clifford Brown/Max Roach "at Basin Street" remaster
Clifford Brown/Zoot Simms "Jazz Immortal" remaster
--pretty much any Clifford Brown remaster is awesome. Clifford Brown
--is the reason I do not listen to Miles Davis anymore

Herbie Hancok "Maiden Voyage" remaster

Kenny Dorhan "Una Mas" remaster

Chet Baker "She was too good to me" Japan remaster

Brubeck "Time Out" remaster

Art Pepper "Timeless"

"Gets/Gilberto"

For Vocals:

Peggy Lee "Mink Jazz"
Peggy Lee "Peggy at Basin Street East" remaster

Stacy Kent "Dreamsville"

Chet Baker "Sings"

Ella Fitzgerlad "Mack the Knife"
--remaster still sounds bad

Jacintha "Autumn Leaves"
Jacintha "Lush Life"
--Jacintha is really for sonic candy, not deep jazz

Helen Merrill "Parole e musica" French remaster
Helen Merrill any Japan remaster
--she is God

Julie London "London by night" Japan remaster
Julie London "All Through the Night" Japan remaster
--these Japan remasters, especially the Mono "London" is incredible

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Mar 2004, 05:48 am »

Ok, now I feel less exposed

SuperBass2 with Ray Brown, John Clayton, and Christian McBride

Chico O'Farrill Heart of a Legend
Chico O'Farrill Carambola

Just about any authentic Duke Ellington remaster, some being
Money Jungle with Max Roach and Charles Mingus
The Duke Ellington Legacy (these later recordings sound alright for what they are)
Duke Ellington meets Count Basie (either redbook or sacd)
Duke Elllington and John Coltrane
-if I ever get a TT system set up, Ellington vinyl is at the top of my to buy list

Bill Evans Trio - Sunday at the Village Vanguard

Regina Carter - panganini: after a dream (my favorite jazz take on classical material)

John Coltrane - Giant Steps
John Coltrane - My Favorite Things

Bucky Pizzarelli - Swing Live (just for the opening track)

Stan Kenton - Artistry in Rhythm

The Bad Plus - Give

Eliane Elias - She only has a few discs out, all pretty good

dogberry · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Mar 2004, 03:32 pm »

I like Miles, so I'll throw in:

Sketches of Spain
Kind of Blue
Relaxin'
Cookin'
Steamin'

Gene Ammons - Boss Tenor (also check out Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins)
Charles Mingus - Blues & Roots
Charles Mingus - The Clown
Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um

On the Mapleshade label is the great Larry Willis on piano. Incredible sonics:

Sunshower
Solo Spirit
Sanctuary

Same label, female vocals:

Sunny Sumpter - Sunny
Kendra Shank - Afterglow

Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, DInah Washington, Billie Holliday.

Check out some old school Count Basie, and Ellington (Three Suites, The Count [Basie] Meets the Duke, Money Jungle, any of the old concerts at... series).

A great tribute album to Duke (but all original material) is Wynton Marsalis - Big Train.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Mar 2004, 04:15 pm »

I throw a few of my faves out there that haven't been mentioned:

Classics:
Wes Montgomery (guitar) - Full House
Bill Evans (piano) - Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Jimmy Smith (Hammond organ) - The Sermon
Stan Getz (saxophone) - Jazz Samba
Sonny Rollins (saxophone) - Saxophone Collosus

Modern/Fusion:
Weather Report - Black Market
Stanley Jordan - Magic Touch
John McLaughlin/Al Dimeola/Paco de Lucia - Friday Night in San Francisco

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 12:45 am »

Oops, edited my Bill Evans entry to say "Sunday"

The mentions of the Marsalis tribute to Ellington reminded me of Portraits by Ellington - Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. There wasn't a clear indication that this album was played by the LCJO, so I remember listening to it again and again and being astounded by the good recording quality! Then I realized it wasn't Ellington's band and I was even more amazed

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 12:52 am »

Wow! You guys gave me enough to keep busy for awhile. I love the SACD of "Time Out." The remastered "Kind of Blue" is sooo cool that I may have to get the SACD of that, too, although given the age of the recording I don't know if the SACD can really eke out much more detail that the stellar sounding CD.

What would be the best recording of Peggy Lee or Lena Horne for a newbie to buy?

And I really like the Sonny Rollins I've heard- besides "Way Out West," what are his best albums from a sound quality standpoint? (I love good music, but I just can't listen to a horrid sounding recording no matter how good the music).

Thanks all!

PhilNYC · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 01:24 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

Wow! You guys gave me enough to keep busy for awhile. I love the SACD of "Time Out." The remastered "Kind of Blue" is sooo cool that I may have to get the SACD of that, too, although given the age of the recording I don't know if the SACD can really eke out much more detail that the stellar sounding CD.

Rob,

Which remaster of Kind of Blue do you have? There are a bunch of them out there...my absolute favorite one is the 2000 master from Sony Japan (March 24, 2000). In the original recording, apparently there were multiple mics used, and some were out of phase with the others. The 2000 Sony Japan remaster is supposedly the first that actually corrects this at the re-mastering level. To me, it is the best remastered version out there.

You can get it from HMV Japan;
http://www.hmv.co.jp/Product/Detail.asp?sku=677875

...or from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004U56N/qid%3D1080091223/103-2398887-4217412

Quote

And I really like the Sonny Rollins I've heard- besides "Way Out West," what are his best albums from a sound quality standpoint? (I love good music, but I just can't listen to a horrid sounding recording no matter how good the music).

The 20-bit remaster version of Saxophone Collosus sound great. Note that this is a mono recording, but it is "there" from every other perspective:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000K0YC/103-2398887-4217412

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 01:26 am »

I think I have the newest one- the liner notes mention that all past versions had inadvertantly been played back at the wrong speed, resulting in some pitch errors. I'll have to look again, but I was thinking the new one I have is SBM remastered. Sounds damned good in any event.

I also saw a remastered box set of 5 or 6 Brubek CD's. I should get that too.

dogberry · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 05:28 pm »

The nice thing about the SACD mastering of the 50s material, is that the background noise is GONE. You can turn it ALL the way up and you hear no tape hiss, no artifacts, nada.

Some of the best Sonny Rollins' stuff is on the XRCDs. Saxophone Colossus is also a real winner. Any of the K2 releases on fantasy are worth picking up for their sonics, too. Sharing much of the same qualities of the SACDs, they have virtually no b.g. noise.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 05:36 pm »

Quote from: dogberry

Some of the best Sonny Rollins' stuff is on the XRCDs. Saxophone Colossus is also a real winner. .

I agree...however, I noticed that Saxophone Colossus is no longer listed in the www.xrcd.com catalog...perhaps they are no longer available?

bboplive · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 08:02 pm »

I think you will find it here:

http://205.231.187.178/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?page=2&subcat=14

The Art Pepper Landscape and Besame Mucho XRCD2's are rewarding sonically as well as musically.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 11:13 pm »

This title probably won't make many top 20 lists, but you might like Terence Blanchard's "Film" CD. He interprets various themes from movies--you'll recognize the bits from "Chinatown" or "Taxi Driver."
http://www.sonyclassical.com/music/60671/
Blanchard is a great trumpet player (he did Denzel's playing in "Mo' Better Blues.")

One recognized jazz classic that hasn't been mentioned is Oliver Nelson's
"Blues & the Abstract Truth."

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 Mar 2004, 01:47 am »

I have that Terence Blanchard cd, but for some reason, it collects a lot of dust. I don't dislike it, so I'm not sure why I never listen to it. I'll be sure to give it another listen now.

JoshK · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Mar 2004, 04:09 pm »

Based on this thread I decided to pick up a number of these albums, seeing as I am not really a jazz fan but just sort of getting my feet wet. This is a great reason to join BMG. I selected the following for my free 7 cds:

1 Wes Montgomery Full House (Remastered)

2 Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus (Remastered)

3 Dave Brubeck Time Out (Remastered)

4 Sonny Clark Cool Struttin' (Remastered)

5 Santana Shaman

6 Buena Vista Social Club Buena Vista Social Club

7 Diana Krall Live In Paris

When you figure in the shipping & handling and the purchase price of one CD you get 12 CDs for $54 or about $4.50/cd. Not bad, and this gave me an excuse.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Mar 2004, 04:45 pm »

Here's a great link for Jazz picks --> http://www.counterpoint-music.com/links/recommend.html

bboplive · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 Mar 2004, 03:26 am »

Here is the essence of the Penguin Guide to Jazz "Five Star" crown selections boiled down to what I think are the essential 20, all of which I currently own :

1.   Louis Armstrong:
·   Hot Fives And Sevens
JSP LOUISBOX 100 (4CD) (1925-30)
2.   Count Basie:
·   The Original American Decca Recordings
MCA GRP 3 611-2 (3CD) (1937-39)
3.   Betty Carter:
·   The Audience With Betty Carter
Verve 835684-2 (2CD) (1979)
4.   John Coltrane:
·   A Love Supreme
GRP/Impulse! IMPD 155 (1964)
5.   Miles Davis:
·   Kind Of Blue
Columbia/Legacy CK 64935 (1959)
·   Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Sessions
Columbia CXK 67397 (6CD) (1957-68)
6.   Bill Evans:
·   Sunday At The Village Vanguard
OJC 140 (1961)
·   Waltz For Debby
OJC 210 (1961)
7.   Art Farmer:
·   Blame It On My Youth
Contemporary CCD 14042-2 (1988)
8.   Stan Getz:
·   The Complete Roost Recordings
Roost/Verve 859622-2 (3CD) (1950-54)
9.   Dizzy Gillespie:
·   The Complete RCA Victor Recordings
Bluebird 66528-2 (2CD) (1937-49)
10.   Herbie Hancock:
·   Maiden Voyage
Blue Note 46339-2 (1964)
11.   Joe Lovano:
·   From The Soul
Blue Note 7 98363 (1991)
12.   Shelly Manne:
·   At The Blackhawk, Volumes 1 - 5
OJC 656 - 660 (1959)
13.   Charles Mingus:
·   Mingus Ah Um
Columbia CK 40648 (1959)
14.   Thelonious Monk:
·   The Complete Riverside Recordings
Riverside 022 (15CD) (1952-1960)
15.   Lee Morgan:
·   The Sidewinder
Blue Note 95332 (1963)
16.   Charlie Parker:
·   *The Legendary Dial Masters: Volume 1
Stash STCD 23 (1945-47)
17.   Sonny Rollins:
·   Saxophone Colossus
OJC 291 (1956)
18.   Sun Ra:
·   Jazz In Silhouette
Evidence ECD 22012 (1958)
19.   Sarah Vaughan:
·   Sarah Vaughan
Verve 543305-2 (1954)
20.   Bobby Watson:
·   Love Remains
Red 123212-2 (1986)

If you purchase all of these you will have a instant killer jazz CD collection. There are others, but you cannot go wrong with these. (Some artists have more than one selection, so it is actually more than 20). Note that Duke Ellington is missing here - this is a huge oversight.