What are the best jazz albums?

me ^ | now | me

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

my choices in no particular order:

miles davis - kind of blue
charles mingus - black saint and the sinner lady
john coltrane - a love supreme
duke ellington - the webster-blanton years
the quintet - live at massey hall
sonny rollins - saxophone colossus
bill evans - live at the village vanguard

[SwankyC]

What are the best jazz albums?

I didn't know there were ANY good ones. Hehe flame away

[Spaulding]

Oh! Can't Resist.

Sonny Rollins - "The Bridge" with Jim Hall and others (Looks like it is now called "The Best of Sonny ...: The Complete RCA Recordings"
"Coltrane with Ellington" or "Coltrane with Johnny Hartman"
Jimmy Giuffre 3 (With Bob Brookmeyer and Ralph Pena)
Coltrane - "Cresent" (with sublime Lonnie's Lament)
Miles - "Jazz Track" (Now available as "Stella" with amazing Cannonball cadenza on Fran Dance), Or
Miles "In a Silent Way" with Wayne Shorter, Hancock, Vitous, McLaughlin, ...
Gonzalo Rubalcaba - "Inner Voyage" (If you've never heard the name, and liked Evans, Corea, Jarrett, Hancock - trust me, a musician's musician)
Bill Evans "Waltz for Debby" with Scott LaFaro

[dfwgator]

Anything by Pat Metheny.

Well, anything other than "Zero Tolerance for Silence"

[Lower55]

The answers to your questions are in the same book you got them out of. If you like music played from a book, you musn't like jazz. Jazz cannot be played the same way twice. I feel sorry for your 'students' for having to even know you. If you are a music teacher, then that could explain it. Those who can't play, talk about it. I can take a small child and tell within 30 seconds if music could be in their future. It's cruel to 'teach' music to untalented individuals by untalented individuals. Talented ones need not be taught. Especially by those who teach instead of play. ..........Your defense of jazz reminds me of the dung beetle. What is pure sh/t to most, is a God-send to those who enjoy sh/t. I guess if sh/t makes you happy, consume all you want. I know sh/t when I hear it, smell it, and respond to it. Best of luck to your students. They'll need it..........so long newbee.

[Lurking Libertarian]

A great list; I would add Louis Armstrong's "Hot 5" and "Hot 7" sessions, and Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage."

[habs4ever]

John Coltrane's Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings
Miles Davis's Miles Ahead

Both a pleasure

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I doubt you'd want to compare your resume to mine.

LOL - I'll bet I would! (Snicker.)

[tallhappy]

Mingus Ah Um

[martin gibson]

Can't say I get A Love Supreme at all.

Dude, that's what makes the world go 'round, isn't it? A Love Supreme opened my ears like nothing else I had heard before or since.

Granted, its not the disc I would want to run home and give a listen to the first thing in the door every day....but there are there have been times in my life when circumstances called for NOTHING LESS.

This is probably the reason I dig Kind of Blue, and can't listen to Bitches' Brew.

peaceloveandharmonydude.....

[Mr. Jeeves]

I'll second the Metheny nomination. Pat's music is beautiful; too much of what is called "jazz" sounds like ugliness for its own sake.

[Wm Bach]

Marcus "Marthaniel" Roberts - "The Truth Is Spoken Here".
Louis Armstrong playing Fats Waller - "Satch plays Fats"
Art Tatum - "Piano Starts Here"
Stephan Grappelli - "Greatest Hits" (there all hits, and great)
and
Jean Luc Ponti - "A Taste For Passion" (just to infuriate the purists)

[Atticus]

I found "A Love Supreme" to be one of the most spiritual albums I've ever heard. I listen to it late at night. It's like listening to a prayer. Very passionate and intense.

Two thoughts: One, I believe John Coltrane said toward the end of his life that 90% of his playing is prayer. Second, the last 10 minutes or so of A Love Supreme is a prayer. Coltrane literally plays the words to the prayer that is printed in the album liner. I believe it starts, "Thank you, Lord." My favorite of Coltrane's post-Love Supreme works is "First Meditations."

Another great Jazz album is Freddie Hubbard's Live at the North Sea Jazz Festival. Unfortunately, only parts of the music from the original Pablo double-album are available on CD.

[ventana]

Nothing by McCoy Tyner? Dizzy? Some Chick Corea early stuff was kinda nice. And Freddy Hubbard had a record or two of note. And Ella had an instrument of quality. In fact I like Ella and Louis doing Porgy and Bess. Django Reinhart? Well,anyway, you do have excellent knowledge, just tweaking you. I actually like Coltrane's My Favorite Things a lot, especially at this time of year. And Jobim and Getz. Not to mention the Don Sebetsky orchestra--just kidding. V's wife.

[tom paine 2]

Bump for later reading