Top 10 Jazz recordings ever

In addition to all of the above, Cassandra Wilson, "Blue light Til Dawn" is a good one. She is the only female vocalist in my collection, that I see before me when she sings. Not because she is the most beautiful, or has the most beautiful voice; but because she is the most unique and "authentic". Every album say's "Hello world, here I am; can you dig it?"

I posted on the wrong thread. I would agree with most of the others.

The best jazz recording ever is "Somethin else" by Cannonball Adderly. It features: Cannonball on sax; Miles on trumpet; Art Blakey on drums; Hank Jones on piano; and Sam Jones on bass.

Let us contrast this LP with "Kinda Blue" by Miles. Cannonball and Miles are on both LP's. We have Coltrane as an additional sax, plus Bill Evans on piano; Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums.

In regard to the musicians, the albums are equal; the difference is the music. The music on "Something Else" is prettier and more lyrical. That's the judgment I made a long time ago. It's quite possible that if you listen to both LP's, you will make the same judgment.

Although I like Miles and Coltrane as much as you, "Somethin Else" is still my favorite LP. Do you have it? "Lift to the Scaffold" sounds exactly like someone would expect it to sound, it's about as "dark" as Miles could get. I like it when I'm in that mood.

Glad to hear from you, "Have a Happy New Year"!

I cant't believe I'm agreeing with Rok2id, that's twice this year.

I saw "Trane" live, and not only did he lose me; but he lost the rest of the musicians he was playing with.

Towards the end, Miles thought his farts sounded melodic.

Wynton Marsalis might be the worlds best trumpet player, but he's one of the worst "music makers"; only aficionados understand that contradiction.

Wynton is the master of the his instrument, but I don't like his music. Post a "youtube" of your favorite music by Wynton so that I can hear it.

Wynton is a sideman, he was fantastic with Blakey; but his creative juices are lacking. I agree with most of the other BS you Wynton fans laid down.

As bad as I hate to admit it, you got good taste in jazz; I have all of the artists and most of the albums.

Rok2id, whatever it was, it's no longer worth mentioning.

I just recently bought this LP with Gene Harris and the "Three sounds".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPbVVSAWcRI&feature=related

Do you have Oscar Pettiford in your collection? He is the best bassist ever. While Charles Mingus is the best "music maker", Pettiford is the best bassist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMaqzjSx7a4

In my opinion, this is his best LP.

By the way, I am absolutely not in that CD, LP debate. It just so happens that the music I seek is only available on high priced LP's. Recently, some of those "high priced LP's" became available on normally priced CD's. I would have no objection to purchasing them if I didn't already own the LP.

This qualifies for "best of the best". It was first posted by Foster_9. What makes this so unique is the fact that it was never recorded on an LP. I bought the LP with "Senor Blues" on it, and this is different and much better. Something happens in a live performance that can never be duplicated. When you look at this you are witnessing an incredible slice of jazz history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOu5iWhexE0

Jazzerdave, normally I preface a statement like that with "in my opinion"; however, I believe OP is the best bassist ever. I make this statement after listening for many years to the other "best bassist" in jazz.

These "Youtube" examples will give you a micro sample of why I think he is the best ever. Listen to how beautiful his "Stardust" is, it takes me away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut6LinT-DJI

Next is "Oscalypso"

http://www.yahoo.com/?r875=1327617038

This is followed by "Titoro"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unI3cfCdZps

Jazzerdave, any album you see him on as a sideman, when you like the leader. His LP's are used and expensive. He's a sideman on a few Chris Connor CD's, I like her. My favorite LP is the one shown with those cuts on it.

Rok2id, there you go again. You didn't even make a comment on that Horace Silver post, and now you're telling me what I should post. Since what I'm thinking would be inappropriate to post *&&^^%^$#@, I'll refrain from any comment.

In regard to the Horace Silver video, you just proved your inability to appreciate something special and Oscar Pettiford is still the "best bassist ever" as far as I am concerned.

Jafant, I think there should be a big 4. That would include "Something Else" led by Cannonball Adderly and Miles.

Rok, I'm sure you and Rockadanny have "Anita O'Day Sings The Winners"?

If there was ever a "jazz singer" it's Anita O' Day. Not only does she sing jazzy, but every move she makes is jazzy. I know you both have checked her out at Newport. Her name should be preceded by "Cool and jazzy" Anita O' Day.

I'm glad you saw her at Newport, that's when she was at her peak. "Early Autumn" is my favorite, for sentimental reasons. I saw Coltrane do "My Favorite Things" live with that same group, it was unforgettable.

Although I don't have CAT WALK, you certainly won't go wrong there. I'm familiar with everyone except the bass player, but the rest of that cast are stars in their own right.

Enjoy the music.

Rok, jazz aficionado that I am, I never heard of the bass player either. I discovered that he played with "Basie". I bought that record ages ago, and as long as it's been in my collection, I never knew that I didn't know the bass player. Learn something new every day, even when it's old.

Rok, the explanation is rather long and convoluted. It only applies if you have TT and phono pre that can do those tricks.

RIAA equalization is a form of pre-emphasis on recording and de-emphasis on playback. A recording is made with the low frequencies reduced and the high frequencies boosted, and on playback the opposite occurs. The net result is a flat frequency response, but with attenuation of high frequency noise such as hiss and clicks that arise from the recording medium. Reducing the low frequencies also limits the excursions the cutter needs to make when cutting a groove. Groove width is thus reduced, allowing more grooves to fit into a given surface area, permitting longer recording times. This also reduces physical stresses on the stylus which might otherwise cause distortion or groove damage during playback.

A potential drawback of the system is that rumble from the playback turntable's drive mechanism is amplified by the low frequency boost that occurs on playback. Players must therefore be designed to limit rumble, more so than if RIAA equalization did not occur.

RIAA equalization is not a simple low-pass filter. It defines transition points in three places: 75 µs, 318 µs and 3180 µs, which correspond to 2122 Hz, 500 Hz and 50 Hz.[2] Implementing this characteristic is not especially difficult, but is more involved than a simple amplifier. In the past almost all hi-fi preamplifiers, integrated amplifiers, and receivers had a built-in phono preamplifier with the RIAA characteristic, but it is often omitted in modern designs, due to the gradual obsolescence of vinyl records. Add-on phono preamplifiers with the RIAA equalization curve are available; these adapt a magnetic phono cartridge to an unbalanced −10 dB consumer line-level RCA input. Some modern turntables feature built-in preamplification to the RIAA standard. Special preamplifiers are also available for the various equalization curves used on pre-1954 records.

Digital audio editors often feature the ability to equalize audio samples using standard and custom equalization curves, removing the need for a dedicated hardware preamplifier when capturing audio with a computer. However, this can add an extra step in processing a sample, and may amplify audio quality deficiencies of the sound card being used to capture the signal.

Rokadanny, on that DVD "Jazz On A Summer's Day", you are witnessing some historic music. Jimmy Guiffre and Bob Brookmeyer are playing "West Coast" jazz. It's a genre that I thought was boss, and it's hard to find. Unfortunately, the very best examples of this music could be heard on movie soundtracks at that time. The movies were forgettable, but the soundtracks were boss. I remember me and another "jazz aficionado" going to the movies at Lackland AFB and grooving to the soundtrack without even knowing what the movie was about. All of my best "West Coast" jazz is on LP's that are too scratched and noisy, but that's the genre I'm trying to presently acquire.

Enjoy the music.

Rok, I picked "Summertime" by Gene Harris with Ray Brown on bass. Gene is a musician, as opposed to someone who plays music. His version digs deeper into the emotion of the tune, than most.

"House Party" by Jimmy Smith is when he was in his prime, I liked every last note. I especially like the way he makes the organ "squeel". "Baby Face Willette" could make an organ squeel like no other player I've ever heard. He was a friend of mine and I drove him to a lot of his sets. I told another organ player how great "Face" was, but couldn't find any recordings to back it up. So when you have the recorded talents of the artists, such as those on "House Party", enjoy them. All of "Face's" best sounds are in my head, and nowhere else.

There's more jazz talent on "House Party" than there is in many people's entire collection.

Enjoy the music.

Rok, not all records, or CD's are created equal. This CD will give you everything the "analogers" rave about, and I'm sure you'll like the music. Grover Washington, Jr. Prime Cuts The Columbia Years 1987 -1999.

Rok, "Soulful Strut" came from Young Holt/ Unlimited, which was a break off group from Ramsey Lewis. Drummer Isaac "Red" Holt and bassist Eldee Young, formerly members of Ramsey Lewis' jazz trio, formed a new outfit called the Young-Holt Trio with pianist Don Walker in 1966. In 1968, the group renamed itself Young-Holt Unlimited, and replaced Walker with Ken Chaney. Under their new name, the group scored a number three Hot 100 hit with "Soulful Strut".

"Those were the days my friend, I thought they would never end".

Enjoy the music.

Rok, I was just listening to one of my CD's that would fit in your collection. "Dizzy Gillespie duets with Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt". It's from an LP that was on verve. If you don't got it, get it.

Enjoy the music.

Rok, close but no cigar. This is the 5 star edition with the same cast.

1."Wheatleigh Hall" - 8:48
2."Sumphin'" - 10:26
3."Con Alma" [alternate take] - 9:08 Bonus track on CD reissue
4."Con Alma" - 9:26
5."Anythin'" - 10:29 Bonus track on CD reissue
6."Haute Mon'" - 10:38 Personnel Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet
Sonny Stitt - alto saxophone (tracks 3, 4 & 6)
Sonny Rollins - tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 2 & 5)
Ray Bryant - piano
Tommy Bryant - bass
Charlie Persip - drums

I'll second Dee Dee Bridgewater. She did a fantastic job of putting Horace Silver's music to words and song.

Enjoy the music.

Rok, on a ratings from 1 to 5 stars, this is a 6. "Milt Jackson and Coleman Hawkins, Bean Bags", with Tommy Flanagan piano; Kenny Burrell, guitar; Eddie Jones, bass; Connie Kay, drums.

Sandra's Blues is my favorite on this CD.

Enjoy the music.

Rok, you were right about Anita. She went through phases in her long career, and some of it was pop, "A gal had to make a living". My philosophy is "select the best and leave the rest". She's wasn't the same kind of artist like the other jazz vocalists you have in your collection.

I'm going to start a new thread "Jazz for aficionados" in which I'll play a record and review each individual cut. This will begin with the records I consider "must haves". If I find a record that's not on CD, I won't review it. If I find a CD that's clearly inferior to the record, I wont review it. So far I've only found one CD that's clearly inferior to the record. I mention this to let you know, I don't consider not having analog a loss; going halfway is a waste of money, and going all the way is tedious and very expensive.

I'll look for you on "jazz for aficionados"

Enjoy the music.