Jazz for aficionados
****FINALLY true maestro gets Grammy!**** I appreciate your enthusiasm for Spalding; but, really? Finally? http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&field_nominee_work_value=&year=All&genre=16 Regards. |
Being the Gentleman that I am, ladies First. Billie Holiday -- Songs for Distingue Lovers Harry 'sweets' Edison / Ben Webster Her voice is beginning to go. BUT, Billie on her worst day is better than 99% on their best day. I visualize her looking me right in eyes as she forms the words. Moonlight in Vermont. WOW! Sarah Vaughan -- How Long has this Been Going on Oscar Peterson quartet (louie bellson) She just puts on a display of what she can do with her voice, which is anything she wants to. I like the title track most. Member of the Top Three. More mellow / laid back than Ella. Ella Fitzgerald -- A Perfect Match Count Basie Orch I love it when she says 'thank you, thank you, between numbers. She sounds just like a little girl. I just don't have the words to do her justice. If you don't smile when she is singing, you have a problem. The perfect voice. And she loves to sing! Dee Dee Bridgewater -- Love and Peace Horace Silver / Jimmy Smith This is what you call a Tour de Force. Brilliant Jazz vocals to go with brilliant Jazz music! What they call cooking or smoking Jazz. Listening to all this wonderful music leaves me sort of sad. We will never see / hear the likes of them again. Cheers 4 down, 996 to go. just kidding hahahah |
Although being mired in the past is not atypical of jazz heads, I offer some current faves: Brad Mehldau kills me, as well as Bill Charlap's trio (I mixed one of their live shows recently)...John Scofield, Frisell's "Beautiful Dreamers" band are one of the most movingly soul stirring live acts on the planet...Jeremy Pelt...etc. |
My favorites: "Jazz at the Pawnshop" Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio "Midnight Sugar" Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio "Autumn in Seattle" Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio "Misty" Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio "What a Wonderful Trio" Grover Washington, Jr. "Prime Cuts" Stanley Turrentine "The Story of Jazz" Sarah Vaughan "Sarah+2" Sarah Vaughan "After Hours" Sarah Vaughan "How Long Has This Been Going On" Sarah Vaughan "Crazy and Mixed Up" Anything by Patricia Barber |
With the 60's and earlier days covered so well, I'd like to make a few suggestions, mostly in a 70's/80's vein, and heavy on guitar influence: any of the albums by Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass--there are a handful of them, and they shouldn't be hard to find. John McLaughlin: The Inner Mounting Flame (Mahavishnu Orch.) My Goal's Beyond (side 2--the first side will not be everyone's cup or tea, but the rest will make it worth your while) Live at Royal Festival Hall (with trio) Jim Hall: Jim Hall Live! (with trio) Gary Burton and Chick Corea: Crystal Silence |
