I've been into jazz these past 10 years. While, certainly not an expert, I have amassed a pretty good listening selection. (Tatum, Parker, Davis, Coltrane, Adderley, Evans,Peterson, etc. etc.) I love what I have, but the recordings are just not of the sonic quality (how can they be, given the time when many were recorded) that we're capable of today. Now here's my question: Can you give me some killer, pristine, sonic wonder, jazz recordings, (with performances to match, of course) that do it for you. Thanks in advance. You guys haven't steered me wrong yet warren P.S. Upon your recommendations I bought some female recordings by Eva Cassidy, Warnes, McKennitt, Barber, etc. Wow! I forgot how wonderful a properly miked, beautifully recorded CD can sound. My system just rocked me, more than usual. I just want to experience this with jazz, too.
Almost all recordings on Concord Jazz label are close to perfect. John Patitucci "One More Angel" and Gary Burton Astor Piazzolla reunion are two that I know of that still can impress almost like vinyl. Nonesuch label of Verve orients on folk world and jazz and also has near-perfect CD and vinyl recordings.
Any of the 180 gr classic jazz LPs available from the Acoustic Sounds or Music Direct catalogs sound absolutely pristine, deep and rich and fabulous! I have been purchasing 7-8 a year for several years, trying to get them all I guess. My favorites have been the various "Speakers Corner" LPs that you find in those catalogs. Those recordings are absolutely the quietest. But any of the 180 gram LPs offered by these outfits are quiet. I have purchased titles by Gene Ammons (Boss Tenor is one I can think of), Cannonball Adderley, Ella and Louis, Art Pepper, Wes Montgomery, Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Bill Evans (many), Shelley Manne, Chet Baker, Sonny Rollins, and others I can't think of right now.
Blue Note, excellent? Some, maybe, but not cutting edge. Pristine, is what I'm after. Sc53--I'm looking for CDs here. Keep 'em coming. I know I'll get some killer stuff from your posts.
Brubeck on sony SACD outstanding.Try mapleshade record fantastic quality recording, you can find them on the net.The jazz artists are not the classic but are pretty good.
The Verve label remasters are all excellent. I have purchased as of late Oscar Peterson "Night Train" and "On the town with...", Ben Webster "w/ the Oscar Peterson trio". All of the JVC XRCD jazz titles are excellent, especially Blue Mitchell "Blues Moods". Also, Auturo Sandoval "Remembering Clifford" (tribute of C. Brown)is a sonic dream and a performance to match.
Warrenh, I cannot recommend the recordings of James Carter highly enough. Incredible sound AND performance. For starters, try 'Chasin' the Gypsy' or 'Jurassic Classics', the former a tribute to Django Reinhardt, the latter a tribute to several of the giants, including classics by Coltrane, Monk, and Ellington/Strayhorn (Carter's version of "Take the 'A' Train" will pin your ears back).
Speaking of giants, how about Sonny Rollins' 'Silver City' or Ornette Coleman's Atlantic box released just a few years ago by Rhino entitled 'Beauty is a Rare Thing'. Although the recordings are several decades old, they sound pretty 'pristine' to me. If you have the least bit of interest in free jazz, these are essential.
I'm sure you'll get some good suggestions on newer artists. Among things I've bought lately, I especially like David Sanchez' 'Melaza' (on Columbia) and Joe Lovano's 'Flights of Fancy' (on Blue Note). Both CDs sound terrific.
I'm looking forward to others' suggestions. If we're lucky, maybe Sdcampbell will chime in. He is our resident jazz scholar and his suggestions are always spot on.
Sc53's suggestion is excellent. The best recording I have of anything is Monk's Riverside Tenor Sessions, which I bought at Acoustic Sounds. I think it's also available on CD--the vinyl is just impossibly good.
Warrenh, here are two CD's from ECM that'll keep you out of trouble for a couple of hours: Arild Andersen/If You look Far Enough (ECM 1493) and Charles Lloyd/Canto (ECM 1635).
Alot of good recommendations so far. If you're into trying some less mainstream but still amazingly well recorded discs, here a few that you might like :
Michael Wintsch/W-H-O, or Trilogy Rich Halley/Coyotes in the City Glen Moore/Nude Bass Ascending Christoph Marguet Trio/Resistance Poetique Jean Derome/Carnets de Voyage or Navre Erik Friedlander/Topaz Jerry Granelli/Another Place Lucky Four/Lucky Four Marty Erlich-Ben Goldberg/Light at the Crossroads Alain Brunet/Dominus Claudio Pontiggia/Espoir Kamikaze Ground Crew/The Senic Route Joey Baron/Crackshot Eric Boeren 4tet/Joy of a Toy Nils Wogram/Speed Life X-Legged Sally/Slow Up Umberto Petrin/Ellissi Jim Black/Alasnoaxis White Widow/White Widow
There are a lot of good suggestions above, so I will add only more idea in response to your desire for jazz recordings that also offer top audio quality. There is a new Japanese-based label named "Eighty-Eights", which is owned and operated by Yasohachi Itoh, who was the guy that owned the East Wind label that did some stellar audiophile, D-to-D jazz recordings in the late 1970's. Itoh has already released a group of about 10 recordings by some of the best musicians in jazz, such as Max Roach, Clark Terry, etc.
The releases on the "Eighty-Eights" label of available (in most cases) on LP, CD, and SACD. The master tapes for the recordings are made with all-tube gear and taped at 30" ips, with lacquers cut direct from the master tape and the digital versions mastered with DSD.
I recently bought the release titled "Friendship", featuring Max Roach and Clark Terry, and can attest that the audio quality of this album is top-notch. Whether you will enjoy all of the music, however, is a matter of taste. I like and admire both Roach and Terry, but there are a few of their duets on the LP that don't quite engage me fully. About 1/3 of the tunes feature Roach and Terry in a quartet setting, with Don Friedman on piano, and Marcus McLaurine on bass. To my ear, the quartet numbers are more successful musically, but maybe that's just my taste...
Anyway, if you are interested in hearing good jazz that is very well recorded, I suggest you at least look at the releases on "Eighty-Eights". Acoustic Sounds is now the distributor for the label, and the label has a very nice Web site that you can access at: http://www.village-records.com/88/e/
Hi Warrenh, I recently got my hands on a DCC jazz cd of Art Peppers intensity and Wes Montgomery's Goin' out of my head. Both are taken from the master tapes and include original artwork. Very nice! You also may want to check out npr jazz for blue nights. This cd was recorded via hdcd. I found this on a site from Daedalus books and music but npr has there own web site. Good hunting!
If you're feeling adventurous and have never heard John Zorn's Madada definitely check them out. They were by far my favorite acoustic jazz band of the 90s. An awesome Klezmer/Jazz quartet (sax, trumpet, bass and drums). Since their recording are relatively recent they are much better recorded then the classic recordings and their live recordings really capture their electricity. They are stunning live.
And if you're still feeling adventurous check out Trevor Watts' Celebration Band release (my favorite new find). He's a wonderful British Sax player who (who's been around since the late 60s) is a great free improviser but who also plays in composition based units (like this one) that swing like no one else i know playing today. This band is in some ways an extension of his Moire Music band which integrates top notch african percussion with western jazz (and we're not talkin' wishy washy neo-colonial "world music" here). This band features 4 saxes, electric guitar, electric bass, drummer and two african percussionists (if memory serves) and the occasional piano also from Watts. A wonderful release.
In the more traditional vein i also like the recent live Wayne Shorter alot. A very hot band and it's great to hear Shorter playing good stuff again.
Maybe not the "style" that you are seeking (maybe so, though), but I also enjoy LP's under the Prairie Home Companion label. The ones that I have are "Ragtime" (it's slow and rolling Ragtime, the way that it should be).
The LP's are from the 70's and hopefully they were later available on CD. First rate musicians and quite good live recordings.
I second the suggestion of Waltersalas, above, regarding James Carter's "Chasin' The Gypsy." I mentioned this recording (on Atlantic) on another jazz thread. It is phenomenal, not just for the musicianship and artistic creativity, but also for the quality of the recording. I generally listen to jazz on vinyl, but I think Atlantic did a great job on Carter's disc.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
