Pristine Jazz

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!

The Philadelphia Experiment...great funky/fusion jazz grooves...and a stellar recording...

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.

Hi Warrenh:

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.