Building a Jazz Library: Pick Your Top Ten

xricci · June 28th, 2004, 11:29 AM

We're developing a list of recordings for the "Building a Jazz Library: Readers Picks" category.

We've published a variety of BAJL recommendations and in this instance, we're looking to compile a list of reader favorites. The titles that appear on the most lists will be included in "BAJL: Readers Picks, Volume 1".

Feel free to list your top 10-20 albums/cds.

Thanks for participating!
Mike R.

* * * * *

Note: This thread is intended for lists only. If you have comments about the BAJL thread, please post them here.

yawuh · June 28th, 2004, 12:19 PM

My revised, expanded Top 20 List:

1. Miles Davis Quintet - Nefertiti
2. Keith Jarrett trio - Live at the Blue Note (box)
3. Chick Corea - Now He Sings, Now He Sobs
4. Joe Henderson - In 'n Out
5. Thelonious Monk - Monk's Dream
6. Bill Evans - Sunday at the Village Vanguard
7. John Coltrane - Complete Africa/Brass Sessions
8. Dave Holland - Conference of the Birds
9. Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus
10. Clusone 3 - An Hour With...
11. Paul Bley - Footloose
12. Larry Young - Unity
13. Monk - Genius of Modern Music (V.1&2)
14. Jack Dejohnette - New Directions
15. Weather Report - I Sing the Body Electric
16. Keith Jarrett - Expectations
17. Mingus - Black Saint and The Sinner Lady
18. Herbie Nichols - Complete Blue Note Recordings
19. Wayne Shorter - Adam's Apple
20. Brotzmann/Van Hove/Bennink - FMP130

3pointdeli · June 28th, 2004, 02:20 PM

these have never let me down...

1. thelonious monk: "w/john coltrane"
2. eric dolphy: "out to lunch"
3. roland kirk: "i talk with the spirits"
5. sam rivers: "fuscia swing song"
6. john mclaughlin: "extrapolation"
7. art blakey: "theory of art" (i think this came out under more than one name)
8. sonny sharrock: "ask the ages"
9. larry young: "unity"
10. duke ellington: "indigos"

Seba · June 28th, 2004, 03:48 PM

1. Miles Davis Quintet- Miles Smiles
2. John Coltrane- a love supreme
3. Herbie Hancock- Maiden Voyage
4. Chick Corea- Now he sings, now he sobs
5. Brad Mehldau Trio- art of the trio vol.4: back at the vanguard
6. Wayne Shorter- Speak no evil
7. Miles Davis Sextet- Kind of Blue
8. Ornette Coleman- the shape of jazz to come
9. Bill Evans- His last concert in Germany
10. Keith Jarett Trio- Up for it

crookednumbers · June 28th, 2004, 05:00 PM

1. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
2. Charlie Parker - Complete Dial and Savoy Studio Recordings
3. John Coltrane - Giant Steps
4. Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus
5. Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um
6. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
7. Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage
8. Bill Evans - Live at the Village Vanguard
9. Horace Silver - Song For My Father
10.Lee Morgan - Search for the New Land

clifton · June 29th, 2004, 01:40 AM

1)Louis Armstrong "Plays W.C. Handy"
2)Duke Ellington "Far East Suite"
3)Coleman Hawkins "Encounters Ben Webster"
4)Charlie Parker "Jazz At Massey Hall"
5)Miles Davis "Miles Smiles"
6)John Coltrane "A Love Supreme"
7)Ornette Coleman "At The Golden Circle, Vol.I"
8)Charles Mingus "Let My Children Hear Music"
9)Art Ensemble Of Chicago "Les Stances A Sophie"
10)Dave Douglas "Strange Liberation"
These aren't necessarily my ten favorite albums. Instead, I wanted to give a new listener a miniature tour through jazz history, including the last 35 years, post-Coltrane, and a taste of the present. I wish I had room for Bix, Pres, Tatum, Monk, Dex, Cecil, Sun Ra, and a fusion record. But it was fun.

BigBlue · June 29th, 2004, 08:58 AM

1. Louis Armstrong: The Best of Louis Armstrong, the Complete Hot Five and Sevens Recordings.
2. Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
3. Mingus/Roach/Parker/Gillespie/Powell: Jazz at Massey Hall (The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever)
4. Dave Brubeck, Time Out
5. John Coltrane, A Love Supreme
6. Duke Ellington, Ellington at Newport 1956
7. Thelonious Monk, Monk's Music
8. Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Collossus
9. Modern Jazz Quarter, European Concert
10. Erroll Garner, Concert by the Sea

AdamJV · June 29th, 2004, 04:04 PM

1. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
2. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
3. Keith Jarrett - The Koln Concert
4. Miles Davis - In a Silent Way
5. Bill Evans - Everybody Digs Bill Evans
6. Miles Davis - Round About Midnight
7. Miles Davis - Milestones
8. Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else
9. Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage
10.Abdullah Ibrahim - Water From An Ancient Well
...and as we're now allowed 20...
11. Miles Davis - Miles Ahead
12. John Coltrane - Coltrane's Sound
13. Miles Davis - Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
14. Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - Moanin'
15. Miles Davis - Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
16. Miles Davis - Miles Smiles
17. Lee Morgan - Search For the New Land
18. Freddie Hubbard - Open Sesame
19. Horace Silver - Song For My Father
20. Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um
I know there's a large number of Miles albums but I make no apology; these are my personal favourite 20.

Tritone Sub · July 2nd, 2004, 08:46 AM

Paul Motian - On Broadway Vol 1
Dave Holland Quartet - Conference of the Birds
Herbie Hancock - Takin' Off
Bud Powell - The Amazing Bud Powell Vol 1
Sarah Vaughan - After Hours
Billie Holiday - The Quintessential Vol 6
Charlie Hunter - Natty Dread
Bill Evans - Waltz for Debby
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
John McLaughlin - Extrapolation

dave · July 2nd, 2004, 04:25 PM

!.Benny Goodman,Live At Carnegie Hall(1938)
2.Woody Herman,The V Disc Years Vol1+2.
3.Sidney Bechet,At Storyville.
4.Stan Getz & J.J.Johnson At The Opera House.
5.Edmond Hall,Profoundly Bue.
6.Lester Young,Complete Aladdin Recordings.
7.Dave Brubeck Quartet,Jazz At Oberlin.
8.Billie Holiday,Lady In Autumn.
9.Jazz At The Philharmonic,Best Of The 1940's Concerts.
10.Louis Armstrong,At Symphony Hall(1947)

white marine pearl · July 3rd, 2004, 05:08 PM

Selecting only ten essential artists and recordings is just about "mission impossible." How about ten that we really like ? Here's some that have been around for a while and some new ones:

Miles Davis ~ "Steamin' "
Bill Evans Trio ~ "Sunday at the Village Vanguard"
Art Pepper ~ "Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section"
Sonny Rollins ~ "Saxaphone Colossus"
Milt Jackson, Joe Pass, Ray Brown ~ "The Big 3"
Dave Holland Quintet ~ "Not For Nothin' "
Chris Potter ~ "Gratitude"
Joshua Redman ~ "Elastic"
Stanton Moore ~ "All Kooked Out"
John Scofield Trio ~ "Enroute"

gregk · July 3rd, 2004, 06:24 PM

Ten for this week (unranked):

Miles Davis- Filles de Kiliminjaro
John Coltrane- Complete Live at the Village Vanguard
Keith Jarrett- Always Let Me Go
Ornette Coleman- Golden Circle, Vol 1 and 2
Herbie Hancock- Maiden Voyage
Wayne Shorter- Footprints Live!
Frank Zappa- Hot Rats
Miles Davis- Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel
Chick Corea New Trio- Past, Present and Futures
Keith Jarrett- The Cure

lorenzini · July 3rd, 2004, 11:19 PM

Keith Jarrett - La Scala
Chick Corea - Now he sings, Now he sobs
Herbie Hancock - Thrust
Jaco Pastorious - Jaco Pastorious
Keith Jarrett - Up For It
Miles Davis - Porgy and Bess
Jim Raney & Sonny Clark - Jim Raney & Sonny Clark
John Scofield - A Go Go
Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay
Bill Evans - Explorations

gdogus · July 4th, 2004, 08:47 AM

My list will be predictable and boring as a list - but it's great, great music from which to build a jazz library.

Edit - since we're now allowed to include twenty titles, I've expanded my list and resequenced it in roughly chronological order.

Louis Armstrong - The Complete Hot Fives & Hot Sevens (JSP box)
Duke Ellington - Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band
Charlie Parker - Complete Savoy and Dial Master Takes
Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners
Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus
John Coltrane - Blue Train
Ella Fitzgerald - Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook
Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
Bill Evans - Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers - At the Jazz Corner of the World, Vol. 1-2
Miles Davis - Miles Smiles
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch
Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage
Chick Corea - Now He Sings, Now He Sobs
McCoy Tyner - Enlightenment
Wynton Marsalis - Black Codes (From the Underground)
Joe Lovano - From the Soul
Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette - Whisper Not

shawn·m · July 4th, 2004, 12:03 PM

01. Louis Armstrong – The Complete Hot Five & Hot Seven Recordings Vol. 1
02. Count Basie – The Essential Count Basie Vol. 1
03. Billie Holiday – Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday
04. Duke Ellington – Duke Ellington and His Orchestra 1940-41 (still in print?)
05. Charlie Parker – Best of the Complete Savoy & Dial Studio Recordings
06. Clifford Brown & Max Roach – Brown & Roach
07. Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus
08. Charles Mingus – Pithecanthropus Erectus
09. Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue
10. John Coltrane – Giant Steps
11. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – The Big Beat
12. John Coltrane – A Love Supreme
13. Ornette Coleman – The Shape Of Jazz To Come
14. Miles Davis – Highlights From the Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel
15. Jackie McLean – One Step Beyond
16. Art Ensemble of Chicago – A Jackson In Your House
17. Ed Jackson – Wake Up Call
18. Ellery Eskelin – Kulak 29 & 30
19. Peter Brotzmann – The Wels Concert
20. Quartet Out – Welcome To The Party

June 28th, 2004, 11:29 AM	#1
xricci AAJ's Barrel Roller Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Lansdale, PA Posts: 10,427	Building a Jazz Library: Pick Your Top Ten We're developing a list of recordings for the "Building a Jazz Library: Readers Picks" category. We've published a variety of BAJL recommendations and in this instance, we're looking to compile a list of reader favorites. The titles that appear on the most lists will be included in "BAJL: Readers Picks, Volume 1". Feel free to list your top 10-20 albums/cds. Thanks for participating! Mike R. * * * * * Note: This thread is intended for lists only. If you have comments about the BAJL thread, please post them here.

June 28th, 2004, 12:19 PM	#2
yawuh Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 550	My revised, expanded Top 20 List: 1. Miles Davis Quintet - Nefertiti 2. Keith Jarrett trio - Live at the Blue Note (box) 3. Chick Corea - Now He Sings, Now He Sobs 4. Joe Henderson - In 'n Out 5. Thelonious Monk - Monk's Dream 6. Bill Evans - Sunday at the Village Vanguard 7. John Coltrane - Complete Africa/Brass Sessions 8. Dave Holland - Conference of the Birds 9. Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus 10. Clusone 3 - An Hour With... 11. Paul Bley - Footloose 12. Larry Young - Unity 13. Monk - Genius of Modern Music (V.1&2) 14. Jack Dejohnette - New Directions 15. Weather Report - I Sing the Body Electric 16. Keith Jarrett - Expectations 17. Mingus - Black Saint and The Sinner Lady 18. Herbie Nichols - Complete Blue Note Recordings 19. Wayne Shorter - Adam's Apple 20. Brotzmann/Van Hove/Bennink - FMP130 Last edited by yawuh; July 19th, 2004 at 06:19 AM. Reason: Expanding List to 20

June 29th, 2004, 08:58 AM	#7
BigBlue Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 6	one man's top ten list (in order) 1. Louis Armstrong: The Best of Louis Armstrong, the Complete Hot Five and Sevens Recordings. 2. Miles Davis, Kind of Blue 3. Mingus/Roach/Parker/Gillespie/Powell: Jazz at Massey Hall (The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever) 4. Dave Brubeck, Time Out 5. John Coltrane, A Love Supreme 6. Duke Ellington, Ellington at Newport 1956 7. Thelonious Monk, Monk's Music 8. Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Collossus 9. Modern Jazz Quarter, European Concert 10. Erroll Garner, Concert by the Sea

July 2nd, 2004, 04:25 PM	#10
dave Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SE London,Kent,UK. Posts: 1	Top Ten !.Benny Goodman,Live At Carnegie Hall(1938) 2.Woody Herman,The V Disc Years Vol1+2. 3.Sidney Bechet,At Storyville. 4.Stan Getz & J.J.Johnson At The Opera House. 5.Edmond Hall,Profoundly Bue. 6.Lester Young,Complete Aladdin Recordings. 7.Dave Brubeck Quartet,Jazz At Oberlin. 8.Billie Holiday,Lady In Autumn. 9.Jazz At The Philharmonic,Best Of The 1940's Concerts. 10.Louis Armstrong,At Symphony Hall(1947)

July 3rd, 2004, 05:08 PM	#11
white marine pearl Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Indian River, Michigan Posts: 14	Just Ten ? Selecting only ten essential artists and recordings is just about "mission impossible." How about ten that we really like ? Here's some that have been around for a while and some new ones: Miles Davis ~ "Steamin' " Bill Evans Trio ~ "Sunday at the Village Vanguard" Art Pepper ~ "Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section" Sonny Rollins ~ "Saxaphone Colossus" Milt Jackson, Joe Pass, Ray Brown ~ "The Big 3" Dave Holland Quintet ~ "Not For Nothin' " Chris Potter ~ "Gratitude" Joshua Redman ~ "Elastic" Stanton Moore ~ "All Kooked Out" John Scofield Trio ~ "Enroute"

June 28th, 2004, 02:20 PM	#3
3pointdeli Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: atlanta Posts: 2,113	these have never let me down... 1. thelonious monk: "w/john coltrane" 2. eric dolphy: "out to lunch" 3. roland kirk: "i talk with the spirits" 5. sam rivers: "fuscia swing song" 6. john mclaughlin: "extrapolation" 7. art blakey: "theory of art" (i think this came out under more than one name) 8. sonny sharrock: "ask the ages" 9. larry young: "unity" 10. duke ellington: "indigos"

June 28th, 2004, 03:48 PM	#4
Seba Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Belgium Posts: 351	1. Miles Davis Quintet- Miles Smiles 2. John Coltrane- a love supreme 3. Herbie Hancock- Maiden Voyage 4. Chick Corea- Now he sings, now he sobs 5. Brad Mehldau Trio- art of the trio vol.4: back at the vanguard 6. Wayne Shorter- Speak no evil 7. Miles Davis Sextet- Kind of Blue 8. Ornette Coleman- the shape of jazz to come 9. Bill Evans- His last concert in Germany 10. Keith Jarett Trio- Up for it

June 28th, 2004, 05:00 PM	#5
crookednumbers Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 26	1. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue 2. Charlie Parker - Complete Dial and Savoy Studio Recordings 3. John Coltrane - Giant Steps 4. Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus 5. Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um 6. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme 7. Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage 8. Bill Evans - Live at the Village Vanguard 9. Horace Silver - Song For My Father 10.Lee Morgan - Search for the New Land

June 29th, 2004, 01:40 AM	#6
clifton AAJ's Birdologist Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Clifton Hts., Pa Posts: 2,550	1)Louis Armstrong "Plays W.C. Handy" 2)Duke Ellington "Far East Suite" 3)Coleman Hawkins "Encounters Ben Webster" 4)Charlie Parker "Jazz At Massey Hall" 5)Miles Davis "Miles Smiles" 6)John Coltrane "A Love Supreme" 7)Ornette Coleman "At The Golden Circle, Vol.I" 8)Charles Mingus "Let My Children Hear Music" 9)Art Ensemble Of Chicago "Les Stances A Sophie" 10)Dave Douglas "Strange Liberation" These aren't necessarily my ten favorite albums. Instead, I wanted to give a new listener a miniature tour through jazz history, including the last 35 years, post-Coltrane, and a taste of the present. I wish I had room for Bix, Pres, Tatum, Monk, Dex, Cecil, Sun Ra, and a fusion record. But it was fun.

June 29th, 2004, 04:04 PM	#8
AdamJV Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 110	1. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue 2. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme 3. Keith Jarrett - The Koln Concert 4. Miles Davis - In a Silent Way 5. Bill Evans - Everybody Digs Bill Evans 6. Miles Davis - Round About Midnight 7. Miles Davis - Milestones 8. Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else 9. Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage 10.Abdullah Ibrahim - Water From An Ancient Well ...and as we're now allowed 20... 11. Miles Davis - Miles Ahead 12. John Coltrane - Coltrane's Sound 13. Miles Davis - Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet 14. Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - Moanin' 15. Miles Davis - Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet 16. Miles Davis - Miles Smiles 17. Lee Morgan - Search For the New Land 18. Freddie Hubbard - Open Sesame 19. Horace Silver - Song For My Father 20. Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um I know there's a large number of Miles albums but I make no apology; these are my personal favourite 20.

July 2nd, 2004, 08:46 AM	#9
Tritone Sub Have a Little Faith Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Merry Land Posts: 1,150	Paul Motian - On Broadway Vol 1 Dave Holland Quartet - Conference of the Birds Herbie Hancock - Takin' Off Bud Powell - The Amazing Bud Powell Vol 1 Sarah Vaughan - After Hours Billie Holiday - The Quintessential Vol 6 Charlie Hunter - Natty Dread Bill Evans - Waltz for Debby Miles Davis - Kind of Blue John McLaughlin - Extrapolation

July 3rd, 2004, 06:24 PM	#12
gregk Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 537	Ten for this week (unranked): Miles Davis- Filles de Kiliminjaro John Coltrane- Complete Live at the Village Vanguard Keith Jarrett- Always Let Me Go Ornette Coleman- Golden Circle, Vol 1 and 2 Herbie Hancock- Maiden Voyage Wayne Shorter- Footprints Live! Frank Zappa- Hot Rats Miles Davis- Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel Chick Corea New Trio- Past, Present and Futures Keith Jarrett- The Cure

July 3rd, 2004, 11:19 PM	#13
lorenzini Matt Lorentzen Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 613	Keith Jarrett - La Scala Chick Corea - Now he sings, Now he sobs Herbie Hancock - Thrust Jaco Pastorious - Jaco Pastorious Keith Jarrett - Up For It Miles Davis - Porgy and Bess Jim Raney & Sonny Clark - Jim Raney & Sonny Clark John Scofield - A Go Go Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay Bill Evans - Explorations

July 4th, 2004, 08:47 AM	#14
gdogus Beyond Category Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 772	My list will be predictable and boring as a list - but it's great, great music from which to build a jazz library. Edit - since we're now allowed to include twenty titles, I've expanded my list and resequenced it in roughly chronological order. Louis Armstrong - The Complete Hot Fives & Hot Sevens (JSP box) Duke Ellington - Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band Charlie Parker - Complete Savoy and Dial Master Takes Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus John Coltrane - Blue Train Ella Fitzgerald - Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um Miles Davis - Kind of Blue Bill Evans - Sunday at the Village Vanguard Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers - At the Jazz Corner of the World, Vol. 1-2 Miles Davis - Miles Smiles John Coltrane - A Love Supreme Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage Chick Corea - Now He Sings, Now He Sobs McCoy Tyner - Enlightenment Wynton Marsalis - Black Codes (From the Underground) Joe Lovano - From the Soul Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette - Whisper Not

July 4th, 2004, 12:03 PM	#15
shawn·m tulip or turnip? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: woodinville, wa Posts: 1,842	01. Louis Armstrong – The Complete Hot Five & Hot Seven Recordings Vol. 1 02. Count Basie – The Essential Count Basie Vol. 1 03. Billie Holiday – Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday 04. Duke Ellington – Duke Ellington and His Orchestra 1940-41 (still in print?) 05. Charlie Parker – Best of the Complete Savoy & Dial Studio Recordings 06. Clifford Brown & Max Roach – Brown & Roach 07. Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus 08. Charles Mingus – Pithecanthropus Erectus 09. Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue 10. John Coltrane – Giant Steps 11. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – The Big Beat 12. John Coltrane – A Love Supreme 13. Ornette Coleman – The Shape Of Jazz To Come 14. Miles Davis – Highlights From the Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel 15. Jackie McLean – One Step Beyond 16. Art Ensemble of Chicago – A Jackson In Your House 17. Ed Jackson – Wake Up Call 18. Ellery Eskelin – Kulak 29 & 30 19. Peter Brotzmann – The Wels Concert 20. Quartet Out – Welcome To The Party

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