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Thad Jones

While listening to Pandora in the backgroud...this killer trumpet playing caught my attention.  I walked over to the player to see that it was the Thelonius Monk album 'Five By Monk Five'.  I looked up the album on Wikipedia to see what musicians were on the session. It listed Thad Jones as the trumpeter.  He was killing it.  I'm 65 years old and have been listening to jazz for 46 years and have never heard any music by Thad Jones.   I'd seen his name a few times over the decades while reading about jazz, but nothing ever stood out.  I retrieved the album on Napster and played it.  Excellent album.  Cat can play.

Can anyone recommend any Thad Jones recordings that you think are some of his best work?

On a trivia note, .....pianist Hank Jones and drummer Elvin Jones are his brothers.
128x128mitch4t
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t OP
1,611 posts
 
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Thanks for the suggestions frogman...I'll check them out.

I'm particularly interested in his playing in a quintet or sextet setting.
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jond's avatar
jond
5,847 posts
 
Thanks for mentioning Thad Jones just queued up Village Vanguard on Tidal!
wharfy's avatar
wharfy
334 posts
 
This is a fun thread! Thanks for starting it mitch4t.

The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, Live at the Village Vanguard, has two incredible bands. One of the musicians, Bob Brookmeyer played valve trombone, and boy can he swing.

If anyone is interested, give Kansas City Revisited as listen. You won't be disappointed.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,745 posts
 

Another +vote for the Village Vanguard set w/ Mel Lewis and The Magnificent Thad Jones.

Happy Listening!

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi Mitch4t,
As a fellow jazz aficionado I’m somewhat surprised you’ve just recently discovered this outstanding trumpeter. He was every bit the talent equal of Miles, Clifford Grown, Fats Navarro etc. As usual Frogman is spot on.

Small combo settings,
"Mean What You Say"
"Keeping Up With The Joneses"
"After Hours"
"The Fabulous Thad Jones"
"Detroit-New York Junction"
Thad could flat out play, yes indeed 😅.
Charles
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