Essential Jazz Albums

Pieterland · #1 07-14-2008, 01:37 PM

Hi everyone...!

i'm trying to start a jazz collection, and i wanted to know wich ones are for you those recordings that are "essentials"...

and i mean jazz in all of its extension, from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day...

And not only "bass albums"... all kind of intruments are welcome...

in return i'll give you some day a list of ten unknown pearls that jazz gave us in the last 20 years...

Thanks!

AlphaMale · #2 07-14-2008, 01:40 PM

Head hunters - Herbie Hancock
Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
A Love Supreme - John Coltrane

**baba** · #3 07-14-2008, 01:49 PM

I could bomb you with albums, but these are two of my favorite that I consider essential as well as very accessible:

Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus
Miles Davis - Milestones

**baba** · #4 07-14-2008, 01:51 PM

Can't resist, here's a favorite collection -

Charlie Parker - Yardbird Suite

Ridiculously good.

varunkapahi · #5 07-14-2008, 01:58 PM

a kind of blue by miles davis? actually thats the only jazz i have EVER heard i sure be missing something could some one recommend some groovy jazz if there is any?

palm grease · #6 07-14-2008, 02:02 PM

Eric Dolphy- Out To Lunch
Return To Forever- Light As A Feather

**baba** · #7 07-14-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

a kind of blue by miles davis? actually thats the only jazz i have EVER heard i sure be missing something could some one recommend some groovy jazz if there is any?

What do you mean by "groovy" jazz. Jazz is a big word and encompasses everything from big band to bop to free to fusion and beyond.

If by groovy you by chance mean funky, check out the above Headhunters suggestion.

**baba** · #8 07-14-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palm grease

Eric Dolphy- Out To Lunch

Great album, but Dolphy might scare away a newcomer to jazz.

Mark Latimour · #9 07-14-2008, 02:07 PM

John Zorn (Naked City) - Naked City

Its not for everyone, but its essential.

palm grease · #10 07-14-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baba

Great album, but Dolphy might scare away a newcomer to jazz.

well Sun Ra was my third suggestion, but i backspaced!

jweiss · #11 07-14-2008, 02:24 PM

Here are some "straight ahead jazz" albums that are considered classics (in addition to those already mentioned):

Bill Evans - Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Bill Evans - Portrait in Jazz
Joe Henderson - Page One
John Coltrane - Giant Steps
John Coltrane - Blue Train
Miles Davis - Something Else
Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil
Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage

Pieterland · #12 07-14-2008, 06:56 PM

i agree with wayne shorter - speak no evil...
it's great!

thanks a lot guys...

JimK · #13 07-14-2008, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baba

Great album, but Dolphy might scare away a newcomer to jazz.

In its day, Out To Lunch was considered 'out'...IMO, 40+ years after the fact, it is pretty accessible, even to new Jazz ears.
I would say I like Out To Lunch's "companion album", Andrew Hill's Point Of Departure, even better.

Another Blue Note album from that era that kinda falls into the same vibe is Lifetime by Tony Williams...considered 'out' & Avant Garde at the time of its release...maybe not so much now.

JimK · #14 07-14-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palm grease

well Sun Ra was my third suggestion, but i backspaced!

Sun Ra has his share of Straightahead things.
Want to try a blindfold test on someone?
Play 'em Jazz In Silhouette.

JimK · #15 07-14-2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baba

What do you mean by "groovy" jazz. Jazz is a big word and encompasses everything from big band to bop to free to fusion and beyond.

Agreed, "Groove" Jazz could be Lee Morgan (Sidewinder), Eddie Harris ("Freedom Jazz Dance"), Cannonball Adderley ("Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"), Horace Silver, any of the organ-based trio stuff (Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff), any of the nameless faceless Contemporary Jazz things out there, etc.

JimK · #16 07-14-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

John Zorn (Naked City) - Naked City

Its not for everyone, but its essential.

Not bad...although if you really wanted to hurt someone-
How 'bout Last Exit?

Kyon` · #17 07-14-2008, 09:14 PM

Well in my opinion, the crowning prince of recorded jazz is still Coltrane. I've loved everything by him.

Charles Mingus' Ah Um, Charles Mingus presents Charles Mingus, and The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

Buddy Rich Big Band's Big Swing Face

Miles Davis' On the Corner(well I liked it

) and Birth of the Cool

Ornette Coleman with Free Jazz: A collective improvisation

Armstrongs and Ella's Louis and Ella

Pretty much anything but Duke Ellington

There are many more but those are some I hold dear in my heart at least

BassChuck · #18 07-14-2008, 09:38 PM

Just cause I love 'em:

Song X - Pat Methany, Ornette Colemen, Charlie Haden

Sketches of Spain - Miles

Anything by Gil Evans

Anything by Bill Evans

Changes One, Changes Two (two different albums) Charles Mingus

Anything by the Don Ellis Big Band

deaf pea · #19 07-14-2008, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassChuck

...Anything by the Don Ellis Big Band

Thanks for the mention . . .

and I'd like to add "Money Jungle" by Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Max Roach!

TMacATK · #20 07-15-2008, 12:22 AM

I started exploring jazz through Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and their respective rhythm sections. Call it a two prong approach.

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

Herbie Hancock (piano for Miles Davis) - Maiden Voyage
McCoy Tyner (piano for Coltrane) - The Real McCoy

And you can keep branching and branching...those two played with a LOT of musicians.