A few classics to consider:
Cannonball Adderley,Somethin' Else
Dave Brubeck Quartet, Take Five
Lee Morgan, Sidewinder
Stan Getz and Jao Gilberto, Getz/Gilberto
Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny
Stan Getz, Anniversary, Serenity, People Time
Chet Baker, The Last Concert, Live in Tokyo
Sonny Rollins, Saxaphone Colosus, The Bridge |
Rok,
My copy of Jimmy Scott's "All the Way" arrived today. Sounds great. I liked it so much, I ordered a couple more of his CDs.
Another recommendation for folks haven't heard it-Ahmad Jamal Trio, "The Awakening" |
Others you could put in the West Coast camp at one time or another are Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Bud Shank and Stan Getz. |
Jazzcourier,
I second the appreciation mention of Warren Vache. I am always looking for overlooked jazz players and I plan to take a listen. There are just a lot of good players that are overlooked. I got turned on to French sax player Barney Wilen about a year ago, who recorded a couple of albums with Miles in the late '50s in Europe, including the Elevator to the Gallows soundtrack, and also with Art Blakey. He has some excellent recordings on the Venus label as a leader. |
Charles1dad,
Clifford Brown was amazing; died way too young. Although I am usually not a big fan of the "with strings" types of albums, Clifford's is great. Dexter Gordon was great too. Very smooth and silky. I have heard of Sonny Stitt numerous times, but for whatever reason, never listened to him. Because of your post, I plan to change that. Also plan to listen to Victor Feldman. One piano player I really like is Kenny Barron. He had a real musical connection with Stan Getz. |
I play the trumpet, was in my university's Jazz band in the '70s, and out of that experience began to love and explore Jazz. I love the West Coast cool sound. I also have to admit that I often prefer to listen to Paul Desmond over Charlie Parker and Chet Baker over Miles Davis, even though admittedly both Parker and Davis made larger contributions to the development of Jazz. I like Stan Getz's sound more than John Coltrane's. That is not to say that I don't like Coltrane, Davis and Parker (I do quite a bit), just that I like the sounds of the others more. As a trumpet player, I have always admired Chet Baker's sound, phrasing and improvisation. While hardly a technical virtuoso (e.g., he rarely approaches the top register), Chet Baker was able to create such a beautiful sound, almost flute-like, from his instrument. His ability to convey emotion with a sparsity of notes is amazing. His instincts when he improvized was exceptional. You can listen to 20 different recorded versions of one of his songs (e.g., My Funny Valentine) and each one is unique in a creative way. Was he the trailblazer that Miles was?--absolutely not--but both made contributions to Jazz and music in their own ways. I don't think we have to say they are on the same level in order to appreciate both. |
Rok,
You from Kansas City? No wonder you are standing up for Bird. (He was definitely a great one!) So, do you like Count Basie too (another Kansas City likes to claim as its own)? I saw the Count twice, once at Fulton College in Missouri in '74 (I went to Mizzou) after he was coming back from receiving the keys of the city from Kansas City. He had alot of his former stars playing that night-Harry "Sweets" Edison, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Al Grey to name a few--and the band was in great form. A few years later, I saw Count Basie at the Willowbrook Ballroom near Chicago. Different band and experience, but during a break, the Count was standing on the side of the stage and I walked up to him and said hello. I was fresh out of college at the time. He was very gracious and we talked for a couple of minutes. Great memories. |
Kenny Barron was on several albums with Stan Getz-Anniversary, Serenity, People Time, and Bossas and Ballads. They had a real connection musically. Kenny is on a lot of stuff as a sideman and has done a lot of stuff as a leader. |
Rok,
Really like Elian. Your mention of Jarret spurred me to mention his Koln Concert album, which I have loved since college. It was the perfect album to put on the turntable at 4:00 a.m. after coming home from a party. |
Orpheus10,
Agree with your assessment of Lee Morgan-he was a great player. One of my favorites. I have the XRCD version of Candy and the sound is excellent. I was listening to his Tom Cat album yesterday, also the XRCD version, and it is very good. |
I would agree that most Jazz musicians are serious practitioners. As a horn player, I can speak from experience that you cannot develop the chops needed to play without practicing-talent only gets you so far. Recall the story of Sonny Rollins, who took a three year hiatus from performing to practice 10 plus hours a day on the Williamsburg bridge (apparently he practiced there so he would not disturb his landlady) because he was unhappy with his playing. Extreme example but many other Jazz players had rigorous practice routines. Art Farmer and John Coltrane come to mind. |
Agree we should be listening to our current crop of Jazz artists, not just the greats that have passed on. I'll start by throwing out a few suggestions. I have been listening a lot to Eric Alexander lately. Nice sounding tenor sax player, who has recorded some nice stuff on the Venus label. Roy Hargrove is someone I like a lot. Just got Charles Lloyd's new CD, Hagar's Song. He has a lot of great albums. Enrico Rava has some very interesting stuff. |
Based on someone's recommendation in this thread to consider Jimmy Giuffre,I just got the album "Jimmy Giuffre 3, 1961", 180 gram vinyl reissue by ECM, which combines the "Fusion" and "Thesis" albums both recorded in 1961 on the Verve label. Personnel was Jimmy Giuffre on clarinet, Paul Bley on piano and Steve Swallow on bass. Some of the songs, including Ictus, were composed by Bley's then -wife, Carla Bley. Amazing stuff! I am the first to admit I am not fond of most free verse stuff. However, this is accessible, at times very melodic and very beautiful sounding. A lot of use of space. The recording is first rate. It also is available on CD. Thanks for the recommendation. |
Rok, I thought the following comment you made was thought-provoking and very true:
"I am sure Miles et al. knew guys who deserved to be as great as they were, and I am sure they thought of them on their way to the bank. It's always been that way and it always will."
This is not mean as a criticism of Miles--he was a Jazz great. But there probably were other Jazz musicians of his time who might have been revered on the same level if they had just received the backing and freedom provided to them by a major record label like Miles was. A lot of these guys recorded for minor labels for peanuts and if they would have proposed projects like "Porgy and Bess" or "Sketches of Spain," the record companies would have laughed at them. Miles certainly deserves the praise he receives, but who knows who else might have similarly flourished with the resources he had. |
Listening to a recent purchase - John Coltrane, "Soultrane." Just a regular reissue on vinyl on Prestige label. Never heard this recording before. It is excellent. Some really tuneful ballads and John plays marvelously. Recording is excellent too. |
Frogman,
I do not disagree with your assessment. I did not intend to imply that outside forces are the only or even key reasons for success. Agree that Miles "constantly forward-looking attitude" is a character trait that contributed to his greatness. A lot of musicians did not have that attitude and it wouldn't have mattered what outside resources were available to them. |
I have to listen to that "Mellow Fellows" CD. I think Branford's Eternal CD is excellent. It is a mix of original and standard (but less familiar) ballads, with Branford playing both soprano and tenor sax. Dedicated in memory to people in Branford's life, some famous, one a childhood friend. Usual quartet. Absolutely beautiful music. |
I have to listen to that "Mellow Fellows" CD. I think Branford's Eternal CD is excellent. It is a mix of original and standard (but less familiar) ballads, with Branford playing both soprano and tenor sax. Dedicated in memory to people in Branford's life, some famous, one a childhood friend. Usual quartet. Absolutely beautiful music. |
Thanks for recommendation on Jimmy Scott. After doing a bit of research on his life, I ordered the CD and can't wait to take a listen. |
Sorry to see that Jimmy Scott passed away. R.I.P. |
