The Good Stuff

Ray Bryant

SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE

Hyena Records    2003

Notes : "Ray's doin' just fine.  He works where he wants, when he wants and for good bread.  And the honors have even started to come in.  He's one of a handful of musicians who are part of The Smithsonian's Living Legends Oral History Archive.  And recently he was elected to the Hall Of Fame at The Institute For Jazz Studies at Rutgers University.  So few of the guys from the golden age made it to their golden years in good shape.  Ray has his cake, and he's eatin' it.  Sometimes the good guys actually do win."

The first Jazz album I ever purchased was Bryant's Slow Freight.

Take The "A" Train : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_F4Z5bodYc

Con Alma : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5dfKirFhzA

Django : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyChHo0IDrs

After Hours : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBufKYk6i5c

Jungle Town Jubilee : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymZ2AXwh1nI

Slow Freight : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIiF3UH0MXY

Cheers

Bill Evans Trio

EXPLORATIONS

Bill Evans(piano), Scott LaFaro(bass), Paul Motian(drums)

Riverside / OJC      1961 / 2011

Notes : "This Original Jazz Classics Remasters reissue of Explorations is the definitive edition of the album that captured one of Jazz's seminal bands on its final visit to a recording studio."

How Deep is the Ocean : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54_rzAdy57A

Haunted Heart : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlHg4_PJl8E

Sweet and Lovely : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SshXPDgbbfM

Nardis : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx6JhE5K22I

Cheers

Billie Holiday

BODY AND SOUL

Billie Holiday(vocals), Ben Webster(tenor sax), Barney Kessel(guitar), Harry "Sweets" Edison(trumpet), Jimmy Rowles(piano), Red Mitchell(bass), J Alvin Stoller(drums), Larry Bunker(drums)

Verve   1957 / 2002

Body and Soul : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibo-f3Q-yJQ

Come Love : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cq-EQGNfN0

Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4BfDMIRKUs

Moonlight in Vermont : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anfl_eOh0f8

Cheers

Art Pepper

ART PEPPER + ELEVEN

Contemporary   1959 / 2004     (SACD)

Notes : "In an album that laughed at the East coast vs. West coast critical arguments of the day, Art pepper in 1959 executed a masterpiece that maintains its freshness and fiber nearly half a century later."

Move : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avJDbmqfH3Y

Four Brothers : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-dYz0Loq5o

Shaw 'Nuff : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5ACQeU3Qu0

Anthropology : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwLiNPfZ9qk

Donna Lee : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx69AHOJk40

Cheers

Charles Mingus

MINGUS DYNASTY

Columbia / Sony     1959 / 1994

Notes : "Recorded in 1959, Mingus Dynasty is a fine cross section of the sort of music that endeared Mingus to Jazz followers.  Showcased here is his ability to bring seemingly disparate elements together and make even the rough edges sound natural."

Slop : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHI0rkR53Tw

Mood Indigo : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p0oWt2QtJw

Far Wells, Mill Valley : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9NOB13p_0E

Ain't what they used to be : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psccSyPoOW4

Cheers