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

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

So, then, why are you on this thread? Just to put down a musical form that you can't understand and can't handle?

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

unfortunately, the latter verve and the a&m albums are utter dreck (or at least, I wouldn't call them jazz.)

[ggraziano]

Can't say I get A Love Supreme at all. I have it by Coltrane, and also by Santana & McLaughlin, and find it barely listenable. I nominate Coltrane's "Ballads", though. It's beautifully accessible. Other favorites: The Eddie Daniels Collection, Diana Krall's All For You (A faithful & loving tribute to the Nat Cole Trio), and Gerald Albright and Will Downing's Pleasures Of The Night. This last contains some regrettable schlock, but it is redeemed by their tour de force rendering of The Nearness Of You. Quite simply the most sensuous cover I've heard in decades. Finally, here's an obscure regional performer you'll love: Nancy Kelly's Singin' & Swingin'. Kelly, an upstate New Yorker, is a fine, pure singer, and her arrangements are wonderful.

[Lower55]

Lamers?.....I can see your of 'that' generation, so I forgive your ignorance.

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

jazz is some of the most complex music made and on top of that, you have to improv over it.

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

monk's music is a great album too.

[Lower55]

Point taken.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I just said it's not musical. It makes no musical sense.

It's not musical to YOU. It makes perfect sense to me and others on this thread. Maybe your brain is just wired differently.

Besides, I like ALL types of music. From classical to jazz to metal to world to alternative, etc etc etc. You obviously can't say the same.

[BluesDuke]

With the Verve albums, it depends. I thought Movin' Wes, Bumpin' and Jimmy and Wes (with Jimmy Smith) the best of the studio efforts; Montgomery wasn't unadaptable to some of those large orchestra settings, but he always sounded more himself with a small group. (On the other hand, you can take just "Bumpin' On Sunset" and can the rest of Tequila, not to mention canning all of Goin' Out of My Head and California Dreamin', except for the final cut on side one, the title of which I can't recall now but it has one of Wes's loveliest pieces of playing...) Which is a lot of why I hoist up Incredible Jazz Guitar or, better yet, Smokin' At The Half Note. I still sometimes wish he had worked more full-time with the Wynton Kelly Trio, those guys sounded as though they were made for each other. The A&M albums are best left unsaid.

[condolinda]

Gee it's after midnight, and I know there'll be heck to pay in the morning if I don't get off this jazz thread and get some sleep!! I'm shutting off Art Blakey on my cd player (and shutting off my computer!) and calling it a night! I'll check back in the morning.

It's great to see there's a few jazz fans here on FR!!

[BluesDuke]

The basis of all music - if it sounds good and if it feels good, it is good. - Duke Ellington.

I'd listen to that man...

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

There is a guy up here in Boston whose palying reminds me of wes. He is inventive and his solos are formed in great logic. He does a lot of octave stuff, but he is completely himself.

[Lower55]

Oh, please explain music to us O great one! I said ignorance, not stupidity. You can't be stupid if you're here at FR.

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

amen. I love that album.