Official Head-Case Essential Jazz Albums Thread

[aardvark baguette]

Ive heard a bunch of Ray Brown albums (or albums that happen to have Ray Brown). My all time favorite would have to be This One's For Blanton, but I think this selection would be a little more universally accessible to the most jazz fans. It is OOP now, so look for a used copy on Amazon or similar.

For those of you who already have This One's For Blanton, I'd recommend getting this:

The Duo Sessions

This is actually 2 Ray Brown albums (NOTE: NOT Ray Brown Trio) with Jimmy Rowles: "As Good As It Gets" and "Tasty !". Both albums are just piano and bass. One thing I love about a lot of Ray Brown music (this included) it that there is no recording hiss of any sort. Plenty of jazz albums that go way back have great sound quality, but often times there is some hiss as well. But RB material tends to be from the '70s and '80s and even '90s, so you get world-class recordings of world-class music, imo.

There is plenty of jazz that I love to death, but some are what I would consider 'focused listens', and some that I am always up for listening to. This falls into the latter category. I never tire of it .

HERE IS A SHORT SAMPLE

http://www.sendspace.com/file/90zufw

[grawk]

My serious recommendation is

It's the album that begat head hunters. It ruined miles, it started "lite jazz", but it's great.

[hungrych]

Agree on all counts with hungrych, except that there is no question Head Hunters and A Tribute to Jack Johnson are jazz.

Me too, but "purists" might disagree.

I'm pretty sure Miles wasn't "ruined" until his comeback in the 80's... the live recordings like Agharta in the 70's are the shit.

Also I guess someone should include Kind of Blue and My Favorite Things, but they're kind of obvious..

[grawk]

My understanding is Miles was crushed by the lack of response to on the corner, and then the positive response to head hunters, and all but quit making music for 10 years.

[hungrych]

I think it had more to do with drugs.

[Jon L]

[Thelonious Monk]

[thrice]

[aardvark baguette]

I am debating getting that one rasterbated in my basement.

Or this

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2390400721_2415e5b730_o.jpg

[thrice]

I am debating getting that one rasterbated in my basement.

Or this

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2390400721_2415e5b730_o.jpg

When I worked at a Borders we got a promo poster of it. I snagged it when the display came down and had it framed....it's my favorite. Someday when we buy a house I'll have a listening room with album covers, prolly old LP jackets framed...go to some used vinyl place and pick up nice covers but shitty records on the cheap.

[JBLoudG20]

When I worked at a Borders we got a promo poster of it. I snagged it when the display came down and had it framed....it's my favorite. Someday when we buy a house I'll have a listening room with album covers, prolly old LP jackets framed...go to some used vinyl place and pick up nice covers but shitty records on the cheap.

[thrice]

nice!

[JBLoudG20]

nice!

Thanks. I have my eye on a few other records to add, and also a poster or two.

[aardvark baguette]

Promo poster of Time Out = awesome

I love the idea of putting up LPs as artwork. I may do that when I have all my vinyl shipped back to me. I wonder if you can fit a record in the case with the sleeve (inside the sleeve for safe keeping)? I dont actually own a turn table, so all my vinyl will just be sitting on my shelf otherwise.

Come to think of it, I should do this in my office

I like this cover alot (though I have yet to hear the music)

[JBLoudG20]

Promo poster of Time Out = awesome

I love the idea of putting up LPs as artwork. I may do that when I have all my vinyl shipped back to me. I wonder if you can fit a record in the case with the sleeve (inside the sleeve for safe keeping)? I dont actually own a turn table, so all my vinyl will just be sitting on my shelf otherwise.

Come to think of it, I should do this in my office

I like this cover alot (though I have yet to hear the music)

Using the frames from Michael's, I put the records inide too. Double LP's are a tight fit, but it works.

[grawk]

That's exactly where I'm at. The vinyl I buy goes on my wall. Music is all 0s and 1s on my computer

[deepak]

Max Roach was a bad ass and so is this album. Top five Impulse! label albums.

[aardvark baguette]

This one really deserves a spot here. Even if no one else here has heard it yet. Its phenominal. It also happens to be a Steve Hoffman remaster on the cheap (not gold disc). Mandatory listening, as far as I'm concerned. Its from the pre-bop era though.

Pee Wee Russell - Portrait of Pee Wee

[thrice]

[aardvark baguette]

There seems to be some weird phenomenon in jazz; the uglier the cover, the more awesome the music.

I've got 2 more "ugly ducklings" to add:

Remember these?

This ugly duckling theory would also help explain the lack of interest in this aesthetic polar opposite:

[Dusty Chalk]

Opinions on these? Any of them more highly recommended than others? Any of them disrecommended?

[aardvark baguette]

I have not heard any of those myself. If you're after SQ, then I'd start with the more recent stuff. Things like Ellington may be grainy.

Personally, I'd go with the original albums before I'd go with compilations, even if that meant red book.

[aardvark baguette]

To wit

edit; no, that is a good point. I guess not all purdy jazz is bad. But so far it seems that all ugly jazz is good

[Dusty Chalk]

Anyone know what this is? I'm interested mostly in the cover, as it's not one I've seen before. I doubt the item reflects the cover -- the item itself is probably just the regular CD of In a Silent Way, but the cover is interesting -- the Voight/Night (can't read) Collection/Edition? Is that a pic from a vinyl edition, or is there an actual CD that looks like that? And, what's special about it?

[hungrych]

I have no idea about that disc, but if you want the most out of IASW you might as well just get the complete IASW box set, I borrowed it from the library and it's actually quite awesome, plus it has everything ever recorded relating to the album.