Jazz, c. 1950-1970: Recommendations (and jazz in general)

[Robert]

Trios:



Ahmad Jamal




Bud Powell Vol.2



For exquisite, half-lit trumpet:





Burning sax:





Colorful sax:





Large group:





And when springing for a box, make this Mingus/Complete Atlantic (smaller group) a priority:

TIMBERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR .....................

[jfmac]

Modern Jazz Quartet

"The Modern Jazz Quartet was established in 1952 by Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano, musical director), Percy Heath (bass), and Kenny Clarke (drums). Connie Kay replaced Clarke in 1955. Through the years the quartet had performed in several jazz mediums, including bebop, cool jazz and third stream." Source: wikipedia


Anything by the Airmen of Note (US Air Force Big Band in Wash. DC.) if you're into big band jazz. Unfortunately their CDs are  not for sale and hard to get. I have several as an educator, because the Air Force sends them for free. 

[beclemund]

The mood of the improvisation ranges widely; sometimes a very serious-sounding portion will be interrupted by humorous sounds from Eric Dolphy's bass clarinet.

You may also enjoy Dolphy's Out to Lunch and his tremendous live recording with Booker Little, At the Five Spot. If you like Dolphy's brand of jazz, Prestige Records released a nine disc set of his sessions with the label. Unfortunately, like Little, Dolphy died young, right after he achieved what many consider the perfection of his vision on Blue Note in Out to Lunch.

[Grazioso]

I have a slightly earlier edition of this guide book and have found it indispensable because of its breadth, depth, erudition, wit, and insight:



Even if you don't agree with their assessments, it makes for very entertaining reading.

A few top-flight discs of that era that may or may not have been mentioned:





(Undercurrent by Bill Evans and Jim Hall)

[beclemund]

Well, thanks to you, Heather, I now have a pile of a few hundred jazz CDs sitting on my desk that I intend to dutifully rip to MP3 and drop onto my iPod... Fortunately, I am just about through transferring my classical to hard disk.

I have no real order as the first in my pile and currently being listened to is:



From a variety of '53 and '54 sessions that were compiled on one disc during the CD revolution. As a French horn player briefly in my past, I am pretty sure I bought this disc for the presence of Julius Watkins on Let's Call This.

[mp3=200,20,0,center]http://beclemund.googlepages.com/05LetsCallThis.mp3[/mp3]

[Heather Harrison]

I listened to Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" this morning.  He was certainly taking things in a new direction with this recording, but the musicianship is up to the same high standards of his earlier recordings.  It is a fascinating recording, with rich and varied sound textures.  I wondered a bit if I would like this fusion style, but this recording convinced me that I like it and may want to look for more.

Here are the recordings of jazz singers that I bought recently.



These CDs feature Ella Fitzgerald with Duke Ellington.  The first is a 3-CD set entitled "The Duke Ellington Songbook".  The second is "Ella at Duke's Place".  With a combination like this, it would be hard to go wrong.  Ella Fitzgerald has a gorgeous voice, and Duke Ellington's band and small groups are as good in the 1950's and 1960's as they were in the earlier years (and the sound quality is a lot better).  I have a lot of Duke Ellington's recordings from the 1940's and earlier; it is nice to hear his later work.



Anita O'Day and the Gary McFarland Orchestra - "All the Sad Young Men".  This is a varied program of bebop improvisations and slow, emotional ballads.  The band is great, the arrangements are interesting, and Anita's singing is quite sensual.  (I have bought a few other CDs by Anita O'Day; they are listed in the "Purchases Today" thread.)

Finally, I took the list of recommendations from this thread, looked up a few things and prioritized the list somewhat, and went to the store and bought a few of them.  I will post my impressions of them in this thread as I listen to them, but I will post a short list here.  I was able to find some of them used, so I got quite a bit for my money.  All but one of these were mentioned in this thread.

Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else
Count Basie - April in Paris
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - Moanin'
Ornette Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come
Ornette Coleman - Change of the Century
John Coltrane - Blue Train
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
Duke Ellington - Far East Suite
Bill Evans & Jim Hall - Undercurrent
Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
Abbey Lincoln - Abbey is Blue
Charles Mingus - Complete Atlantic Recordings (6-CD box set)
Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder
Preservation Hall Jazz Band - New Orleans Vol. 2

I also have an Amazon order on the way; that order includes modern performances of dixieland and swing.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band - New Orleans Vols. 1 and 3; In the Sweet Bye and Bye
Lavay Smith & her Red Hot Skillet Lickers - One Hour Mama; Everybody's Talkin' 'Bout Miss Thing

I will post my thoughts as I listen to all of these.  I will keep watching this thread for recommendations.  I'm glad this thread has been active, and perhaps it is generating interest in this music for people in addition to me.

Heather

[beclemund]

Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else
Count Basie - April in Paris
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - Moanin'
Ornette Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come
Ornette Coleman - Change of the Century
John Coltrane - Blue Train
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
Duke Ellington - Far East Suite
Bill Evans & Jim Hall - Undercurrent
Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
Abbey Lincoln - Abbey is Blue
Charles Mingus - Complete Atlantic Recordings (6-CD box set)
Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder
Preservation Hall Jazz Band - New Orleans Vol. 2

I also have an Amazon order on the way; that order includes modern performances of dixieland and swing.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band - New Orleans Vols. 1 and 3; In the Sweet Bye and Bye
Lavay Smith & her Red Hot Skillet Lickers - One Hour Mama; Everybody's Talkin' 'Bout Miss Thing

Looks like a fantastic haul, Heather.

[Heather Harrison]

Here are my first impressions of a few of them.



Count Basie - "April in Paris".  I have heard many of Count Basie's earlier recordings, and it is nice to hear that he is still in top form in the 1950's.  This CD is mostly old-style swing, but the advances of the 1950's are present.  It is nice to hear some very good swing music in hi-fi.



Art Blakey - "Moanin'".  I thoroughly enjoyed this one; the combo is great, and Blakey's drumming adds to the excitement.  The title track is quite familiar; I can't think of where I have heard it, but it does seem to get around.



John Coltrane - "Blue Train".  This is very accessible and easy to appreciate, and Coltrane's playing is beautiful.  From what I have read, Coltrane went off in more experimental directions after this recording; I will have to check out some of his later work.



Bill Evans & Jim Hall - "Undercurrent".  This is a very mellow combination of piano and guitar - great listening for a relaxing evening.  Evans and Hall play so well together that it almost feels like one person is playing one instrument.



Preservation Hall Jazz Band - "New Orleans, Vol. 2".  This is some good old-fashioned dixieland jazz; the style hasn't changed much since the first jazz record was issued in 1917, but the recording quality is a great deal better.  I have enjoyed this style of jazz for years, and I have many recordings by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.  The performances here compare well in quality to those old recordings.

I'll continue to post my thoughts about these as I listen to them.  So far, they have all worked out well.

Heather

[Bogey]

Art Blakey - "Moanin'".  I thoroughly enjoyed this one; the combo is great, and Blakey's drumming adds to the excitement.  The title track is quite familiar; I can't think of where I have heard it, but it does seem to get around.

I love this cd, however the others I have test driven from Blakey do not grab me as much as this one.  Maybe I just need to dig deeper.

[Bogey]

John Coltrane - "Blue Train".  This is very accessible and easy to appreciate, and Coltrane's playing is beautiful.  From what I have read, Coltrane went off in more experimental directions after this recording; I will have to check out some of his later work.

[

"Very accessible" is a perfect discription of this effort.  I would put it in the category with his Giant Steps album.  Spin your Love Supreme and you will get yet another phase of Trane....which may be its own capsualted phase standing alone.  However, I must say that I am yet to find a phase of Trane that I did not thouroughly enjoy.

[Heather Harrison]

Two more:



Ornette Coleman - "The Shape of Jazz to Come".  This is thoroughly enjoyable, with some incredible solos by Coleman and Don Cherry.  It is rather more accessible than "Free Jazz" but it is still rhythmically and harmonically complex in a similar way.  This probably is a better introduction to Coleman than "Free Jazz", but given my previous experiences with "difficult" music, jumping right in to "Free Jazz" worked out fine.  This CD is a great complement to it, and if I am in the mood for complex music like this, but want something a little easier than "Free Jazz", this one will be the perfect choice.



Herbie Hancock - "Head Hunters".  This is Hancock's original foray into funk, and it is quite interesting and complex, but also a lot of fun.  This is music that I could have playing in the background if I want something energetic, or I could listen intently; it works either way.  The great jazz solos over a funk beat make for a good combination.

It's time for bed now, but I will have plenty of time tomorrow to listen to more of these CDs.

Heather

[Grazioso]

Two more:



Ornette Coleman - "The Shape of Jazz to Come".  This is thoroughly enjoyable, with some incredible solos by Coleman and Don Cherry.  It is rather more accessible than "Free Jazz" but it is still rhythmically and harmonically complex in a similar way.  This probably is a better introduction to Coleman than "Free Jazz", but given my previous experiences with "difficult" music, jumping right in to "Free Jazz" worked out fine.  This CD is a great complement to it, and if I am in the mood for complex music like this, but want something a little easier than "Free Jazz", this one will be the perfect choice.

The same should apply to

I love this cd, however the others I have test driven from Blakey do not grab me as much as this one.  Maybe I just need to dig deeper.

A few of the best:


An absolutely smokin' live set from the Messengers' triumphant 1958 European tour, featuring the same band as Moanin'. Available in a variety of different releases--make sure to get a full two-disc version. There are many other wonderful live Messengers discs from Europe around that time.



Blakey and friends just before the official Messengers bands got started. Unforgettable live sessions featuring the late, much-lamented Clifford Brown, one of jazz's greatest, most influential trumpeters, who died very young in a car accident.



From the somewhat under-appreciated and under-documented Griffin/Hardman Messengers line-up. Instantly memorable tunes played with fire.

It's true that the Messenger's sessions could be formulaic, but what a great formula! And of course, next to Miles Davis, Blakey was known as jazz's premier talent scout, surrounding himself with incomparable sidemen like Wayne Shorter and Lee Morgan over the years. It's hard to go wrong with any of his work, afaik. (I've probably heard about 30 Blakey leader discs so far.)

[toledobass]

I love this cd, however the others I have test driven from Blakey do not grab me as much as this one.  Maybe I just need to dig deeper.

Live albums my friend,  live albums.


Allan

[Bogey]

Live albums my friend,  live albums.


Allan

You know the I prefer my jazz albums to be "live concerts", but even the Birdland albums did not grab me when I sampled them at the used shops in town,

[toledobass]

Then there is no hope for you......


HAHA just kidding


Allan

[Bogey]

Then there is no hope for you......


HAHA just kidding


Allan

Oh, my wife could have told you that.   And since W. Marsalis is back on the GMG radar, is this the recording you recommended many moons ago Allan (though post 70's)?

[toledobass]

Yeah,  That's a fun album,  one of my favorite Wynton for the casual jam session like vibe and awsome playing.  Check out some of the clips on youtube from that recording.  I'd love to hear jazz in that venue.  No mics or sound reinforcement or anything they just set up and go. Search for videos posted by Houseoftribes and enjoy.


Allan

[Grazioso]

You know the I prefer my jazz albums to be "live concerts", but even the Birdland albums did not grab me when I sampled them at the used shops in town,

Don't sample them, really listen to them

[Robert]

Here are my first impressions of a few of them.



Count Basie - "April in Paris".  I have heard many of Count Basie's earlier recordings, and it is nice to hear that he is still in top form in the 1950's.  This CD is mostly old-style swing, but the advances of the 1950's are present.  It is nice to hear some very good swing music in hi-fi.

Top form....You should check out Atomic Basie, great arrangements by Neil Hefti....My favorite Basie album...



Art Blakey - "Moanin'".  I thoroughly enjoyed this one; the combo is great, and Blakey's drumming adds to the excitement.  The title track is quite familiar; I can't think of where I have heard it, but it does seem to get around.

familiar for sure.  addicting for sure....a great beginning for a great album....



John Coltrane - "Blue Train".  This is very accessible and easy to appreciate, and Coltrane's playing is beautiful.  From what I have read, Coltrane went off in more experimental directions after this recording; I will have to check out some of his later work.



Bill Evans & Jim Hall - "Undercurrent".  This is a very mellow combination of piano and guitar - great listening for a relaxing evening.  Evans and Hall play so well together that it almost feels like one person is playing one instrument.

they also made part two...



Preservation Hall Jazz Band - "New Orleans, Vol. 2".  This is some good old-fashioned dixieland jazz; the style hasn't changed much since the first jazz record was issued in 1917, but the recording quality is a great deal better.  I have enjoyed this style of jazz for years, and I have many recordings by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.  The performances here compare well in quality to those old recordings.

I'll continue to post my thoughts about these as I listen to them.  So far, they have all worked out well.

Heather

[Robert]

Gil Evans

Out of the Cool

Into the hot

Two of my favorite Gil albums....