Help me build up a jazz album collection. Can you suggest a must have album?


Just got back into analog after not having a turntable for 38 years. That was a Thorens TD 320. Now I have a VPI. Building a jazz album collection now since jazz seems to be what I enjoy now. I have barely 12 albums from Miles Davis, Art Blakey, King Curtis, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Ike Quebec and Illinios Jacquet. Can you suggest a must have album? I generally like great sax, and percussion and sometimes a good vocalist, but I am open to anything that sounds GREAT. Also, if there is a particular label, issue or type of album. Thanks in advance.

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PS: The Ella and Billie recording from Not Now is mono.  Also there were some sound quality "challenges" back in day of live recording.  But it is Ella and Billie albeit toward the end of Billie's career when her voice had developed a "patina".

Lennie Tristano and his star pupil, my teacher, Sal Mosca. Has anybody mentioned Armstrong? Not a jazz collection overall without him. Lester Young with the Nat Cole Trio will have you humming his solos all day long, and his solo on "Embraceable You" on the "Charlie Parker Jazz at the Philharmonic 1949" album is one of the greatest of all saxophone improvisations. And don’t neglect the best of the big bands and swing. As Duke Ellington said, "All the audiences are still there."

Count Basie - Basie Big Band

The Basie Big Band 20 Bit Mastering

Toshiko Akiyoshi/ Lew Tabakin Big Band - Long Yellow Road
Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band - Long Yellow Road (Vinyl, LP ...

Two sides of jazz, east coast and west coast. Two different sounds.

Many have recommended great east coast jazz albums. To add some great west coast artists:

Art Pepper, saxophone, any album any time in his great career

Chet Baker, trumpet, especially the early years

Shelley Manne, one of the great drummers and band leaders

Lastly, a brand new but going to be one of the all time great jazz singers (4 Grammy awards at the age of 24) SAMARA JOY

  -GAR