Jazz n00b needs some recommendations...

[SpikeTheCat]

I've recently developed a taste for bebop jazz...is it still called "bebop?" I'm finding that the smaller the group, the better I like it, especially the piano, bass and drums trios. My request to you good folks is: Would you recommend some recordings of interest in this genre?

Thanks for your time!

Spike

[TomSauter]

There's a million great piano trio records out there. Here's a bunch that I really like:

Oscar Peterson--Night Train, We Get Requests, Sound of the Trio, The Trio Live in Chicago

Phineas Newborn, Jr.--World of Piano, Great Jazz Piano

Wynton Kelly--anything with Paul Chambers on bass

Red Garland--anything with Paul Chambers on bass

Sonny Clark--Sonny Clark Trio

McCoy Tyner--Nights of Ballads and Blues, Reaching Fourth, Inception

Hampton Hawes--The Trio Vol. 1, The Trio Vol. 2, Everybody Likes Hampton Hawes

Ray Brown--Something for Lester

The Three Sounds--anything

There's many other great piano trios that are bebop-oriented too. You should listen to Bud Powell, all his trio records that I have are on tape and I don't know the titles. Same with Thelonious Monk. If you want some more modern piano trios, check out these:

Bill Evans--Waltz for Debby, Sunday at the Village Vanguard

Chick Corea--Now He Sings Now He Sobs

Keith Jarrett--Standards Vol.1 and 2, Standards in Norway

Kenny Kirkland--Thunder and Rainbows (if you can find it)

Mulgrew Miller--Work, Keys to the City, Live at Yoshi's 1 & 2, Live at the Kennedy Center 1 & 2

Brad Mehldau--Art of the Trio series

There's so many more great ones which I'm sure other people will add. Also, don't limit yourself to trios! John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, etc. are all great

[SpikeTheCat]

Thanks, Tom. That is a wealth of information! I've been picking my way through iTunes and Lala and have found some excellent material by Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and of course, Charlie Mingus. I'll be sure and check out your suggestions.

once again, thanks!

[relacey]

Originally Posted by SpikeTheCat

Thanks, Tom. That is a wealth of information! I've been picking my way through iTunes and Lala and have found some excellent material by Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and of course, Charlie Mingus. I'll be sure and check out your suggestions.

once again, thanks!

Don't overlook emusic as a source of a lot of these older jazz sides. They have most of the jazz labels from the 50s-60s with the exception of Blue Note. Or better yet, look for used CDs on Amazon or at your local seller. I don't know if Corpus Christi has anything like that but up here in Bryan I've scored an occasional decent jazz CD at Hastings or Half Price Books. The real challenge is deciding what to buy, there are so many good jazz albums out there. I like the Penguin Guide to Jazz as a starting place to get a feel for how the different albums stack up.

Also to build on Tom's suggestions, try the Miles Davis quintets from the 50s. Relaxin', Workin', Cookin', and Steamin'. And arguably the single best jazz record of all time, Kind of Blue.

[Jake]

Don't forget about Ron Carter. Check out his playing with Miles Davis on My Funny Valentine/Four & More, E.S.P., Miles Smiles, Nefrititi. Also, Alone Together with Ron and Jim Hall.