Jazz Recommendations

I don't have anything to add to the incredible and huge list already mentioned here in terms of recordings. There is a book that I've read awhile back, however, that has helped me understand and enjoy jazz immensely and it might be worthwhile for those who are new to check it out. The book is Jonny King's "An Insider's Guide to Understanding and Listening to Jazz." King's knowledge and prose combined with his enthusiasm make for a quick and entertaining read. Higly recommended.

Stan Getz - Getz/Gilberto
Abbey Lincoln - You Gotta Pay the Band
Phineas Newborn - The Great Jazz Piano of Phineas Newborn
Rahsaan Roland Kirk - The Inflated Tear
Horace Silver - Song For My Father
Abdullah Ibrahim - Ekaya
Jimmy Scott - All The Way
John Coltrane - Giant Steps
Sarah Vaughn - No Count Sarah
The Bad Plus - Here Are The Vistas
Betty Carter - The Audience With Betty Carter
World Saxophone Quartet - Revue
David Murray - Ming
The Modern Jazz Quartet - Farewell Concert
Joe Pass - Virtuoso
Thelonius Monk - Alone, In San Franscisco
Clifford Brown and Max Roach - Vol.1
Miles Davis - Birth of the Cool
Hampton Hawes - Hampton Hawes Trio, Vol. 1
Terry Gibbs - Latin Connection
Art Ensemble of Chicago - Les Stances A Sophie
Buddy Rich - The Roar of 74
Wes Montgomery - Live at Tsubos's
Mongo Santamaria - Sabroso
Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage
Woody Shaw - Stepping Stones
John Zorn - Masada 8
Wynton Marsalis - Black Codes Form the Underground
Branford Marsalis - Trio Jeepy
Jimmy Smith - Organ Grinder Swing
Larry Young - Unity
Oscar Peterson - West Side Story
George Benson - Bad Benson
The Crusaders - Free As the Wind
Count Basie - Atomic Basie
Duke Ellington - Money Jungle
Coleman Hawkins - Hawk Flies High
---outta time, but the list is endless...really

I'm a relative novice, having just begun to explore the world of Jazz. Of the 50 or so titles I now own, by far,and by a wide margin, the best selection is Wayne Shorter's JU JU.

unless i missed other posts,their is some out-standing material out on the ecm label.

To be totally contentious :)...

Although I like many of the recordings mentioned in the previous posts I find MANY of them boring, repetitve, and, to be frank, out of date. What was cutting edge 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago is no longer. This is not to say I don't like that music. My SACD of Stan Getz, Jobim, and Gilberto gets lots of late night airplay, as well as recordings by Miles, Mingus, Coltrane, Red Garland, Wynton Kelly..etc., etc., etc..

However...! Here are a few more comtemporary suggestions:

Dave Douglas "Freak In" And "The Infinite"
Laurent de Wilde (killer!) Stories
Brad Meldhau (any recording)
Tomasz Stanko Soul of Things
e.s.t. Somewhere Else Before
Jacky Terrason Smile and A Paris...
Jon Abercrombie (almost any recording) Tactics...best live performance I've ever heard, with Pat Martino and Joey Defrancesco Live At Yoshi's a close second
Lonnie Plaxico Melange
Charles Mc Bride Vertical Vision
Dan Wall Of The Wall (he plays Hammond Organ for John Abercrombie)
Anything by a Canadian group called Metalwood

And check out the DVD Audio recording of Medeski Martin and Woods Uninvisible. Also check out John Scofield.

IMO, although much of the older stuff is revealing of jazz's history, and possessed of much good playing it is no longer cutting edge and innovative. It is certainly the wellspring and body of work which must be mastered by anyone hoping to "play jazz" but I believe that the essence of jazz does not lay in the past, but in the present (or future), and very much in the hands of young technically accomplished musicians who mine tradition for technique but who are also fired up by more current musical trends.

BTW I offer these observations and suggestions in the spirit of friendly controversy. I mean no offense to the "trad jazz" fans.

Doug

PS anyone know the origins of the word "jazz"?