Jazz ♫ Music only | In the now, or recently, or that you love...

[ExPerfectionist]

Interesting list, I'm checking these out at the moment:

The 7 Best Jazz Vinyls that You Must Own

Are you an avid jazz fan who just got your first record player and wants to know which jazz vinyls would be the best to buy first? Look no further; for today, I will be offering up some of my favorite jazz records for you to flick through with the guarantee that they all sound fine when spinning...

notesonvinyl.com

1. In a Silent Way – Miles Davis
2. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady – Charles Mingus
3. Astigmatic – Krzysztof Komeda
4. Your Queen is a Reptile – Sons of Kemet
5. The Nubians of Plutonia – Sun Ra
6. The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording – John Coltrane
7. Out to Lunch! – Eric Dolphy

 

[MoreWatts]

Good choice!

From AllAboutJazz: "Isaiah J. Thompson is one of the leading pianists of his generation... This live album, The Power of the Spirit will certainly put him on an even steeper trajectory as a performer, composer and bandleader.

The album features Julian Lee on tenor saxophone, a powerhouse performer in his own right and superb throughout this set. Phillip Norris on bass is excellent and with TJ Reddick on drums moves the changing rhythms around with controlled power. Thompson shows original solos, smart comping and the versatility to move the tempos up to red hot before cooling them smoothly and efficiently. This is a quartet at the absolute top of their game that just deliver.

This is an impressive album for lovers of soul-jazz played in a contemporary style... highly recommended."

The video is the short official album teaser. Please enjoy this 25 year old's ~4th album as a leader.

Isaiah J. Thompson, The Power of the Spirit, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

AllAboutJazz: “Guitarist Dave Askren and saxophonist Jeff Benedict collaborate on their 4th album as co-leaders on the Denver Sessions, an exquisite 10-piece set. The leaders have played together for around 30 years in the LA area, and added vibeist Ted Piltzecker, drummer Paul Romaine and bassist Patrick McDevitt.

The sax-guitar-vibes frontline has been featured throughout jazz history, and ... the music here is …. forging new ground on the hollowed landscape. The sound is upbeat, hard-driving and boppish to the core.”

Please enjoy a nice new album recorded in The Mile High City, Colorado, USA. [Whose 'fat point guard' led their team to the NBA Championship!]

Dave Askern & Jeff Benedict, Denver Sessions, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

Juan Garcia-Herreros is a Colombian 6-string electric contrabassist also known as The Snow Owl. He’s led ~4 albums since 2006, leads his band ‘Totem Warriors’ on film and game scores, and records and tours with film composer Hans Zimmer, recently on the new ‘Dune’ film score.

The moods swing from frenetic to introspective on his 2013 album Normas. A sextet, of guitar, trumpet and tenor, play with an array of percussionists, with the result a Latin Grammy Best Jazz Album nomination. Way more melodic overall than the 1st tune would have you expect. A very nice prog-Latin-jazz fusion.

Snow Owl, Normas, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Here’s the 4th post for ‘Friday 50’, albums from 50 years ago, or 1973. Previous recommendations were (title links to post upthread): Dave Brubeck We’re All Together Again For The First Time; Gato Barbieri Bolivia; Elvin Jones Mr. Jones.

Trumpeter Donald Byrd’s Black Byrd was Blue Note’s biggest selling album for a while . Allmusic: “Sure, maybe the electric piano, sound effects, and Roger Glenn's ubiquitous flute date the music somewhat, but that's really part of its charm. Black Byrd was state-of-the-art for its time, and it set a new standard for all future jazz/R&B/funk fusions… Black Byrd stands as his groundbreaking signature statement.”

The album certainly kick-started the electric phase of his career. He released ~50 albums from 1955 to 1991, this was his ~35th release. Turn up the volume, to properly feel that funk bass groove -- which seems buried a bit in the mix.

Donald Byrd, Black Byrd, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

The new Bobby Sanabria Mulitverse Big Band album Vox Humana is simply ‘unfettered upbeat joy.’ Vocalists featured are Jennifer Jade Ledesna, Antoinette Montague, and Janis Siegel of The Manhattan Transfer.

AllAboutJazz: “While the intention of this album seems to be to feature vocalists, the instrumental soloists and the big band as a whole all shine with tight arrangements and inspired solos.” A live show with fine sound. The 12 minute close-out ‘Mi Congo’ is a party in itself.

His 2008 Grammy nominated Big Band Urban FolkTales was recommended upthread, with a nice video.

Seems like a nice one for a Saturday night. Please enjoy, unfettered.

Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band, Vox Humana, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

Algorithm (and me) suggests Ike Quebec Heavy Soul, from 1962. Allmusic: “Thick-toned tenor Ike Quebec is in excellent form… His ballad statements are quite warm, and he swings nicely on a variety of medium-tempo material. Organist Freddie Roach, bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Al Harewood are typically fine in support.” (Algorithm, in this case, knows Blue Note just re-issued this on vinyl. $29.95 for a copy noisier than any stream...)

Ike Quebec, Heavy Soul, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[DarrylG]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[TonyJZX]

I have four cds from this artist:

its a strange one because these date back to the 80s 90s... the artist has had a long career in pop which i find quite 'not to my taste' but her early jazz sets are amazing

i love her interpretation of the classics

 

[DarrylG]

 

[Snarfie]

I have four cds from this artist:

its a strange one because these date back to the 80s 90s... the artist has had a long career in pop which i find quite 'not to my taste' but her early jazz sets are amazing

i love her interpretation of the classics

+1

 

[MoreWatts]

Legendary drummer Louis Bellson leads a small band instead of a big band on Cool, Cool Blue, from 1994, with nice sax work. ‘My collection Monday’ (LP).

Allmusic: “He performs with pianist Frank Strazzeri and bassist George Duvivier, adds tenor Ted Nash on 4 tunes, and then also multi-saxophonist Matt Catingub on 3 numbers… All of them swing in a spirited fashion, as one would expect from a Louie Bellson date. Good modern mainstream music.”

Louis Bellson, Cool, Cool Blue, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Tuesday 25, a retrospective on albums from a quarter-century ago, 1998. Gonna complete the Grammy set.

The Grammy big band album winner was The Count Basie Orchestra’s Count Plays Duke. Allmusic: “The Basie band continues to be a lively ghost under the direction of trombonist Grover Mitchell, disciplined and crisply swinging with a solid crew of soloists.”

Previously (link to upthread). Grammy Best Album for: Instrumental, Herbie Hancock Gershwin’s World; Latin, Arturo Sandoval Hot House. And: Joanne Brackeen Pink Elephant Magic; Don Sebesky I Remember Bill; Erik Truffaz The Dawn; Phil Woods The Rev And I; Charlie Mariano An American In Italy.

Count Basie Orchestra, Count Plays Duke, full album: YouTube link

 

[MoreWatts]

Here’s an interesting release from 2022. AllAboutJazz: “The Color of Angels, an engaging album by trombonist Doug Scarborough's sextet, blends music with a jazz heart and Middle Eastern temperament…. He enlists a trio plus a violinist and a Middle Eastern drum, a darbuka… Melodically and rhythmically, Scarborough blends the seemingly adversarial forms into a bright and pleasurable listening experience.”

Doug is a professor at Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington, USA, and this is his 3rd album. The video is a very short promo video. Please enjoy this nice fusion.

Doug Scarborough, The Color Of Angels, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

JazzWise: “Saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart has impressed from his early days…as a sideman to the likes of Roy Hargrove and Danilo Pérez. The Harlem Suite is stylistically panoramic, as it celebrates the majesty of swing with a blend of appealing themes and attention-grabbing improvisation. Vocalist Stephanie McKay and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington help.” This is his ~9th release since 1999.

Jacques Schwarz-Bart, The Harlem Suite, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

AllAboutJazz: “Trumpeter Linley Hamilton's Ginger’s Hollow includes drummer Adam Nussbaum, bassist Mark Egan, pianist Cian Boylan and saxophonist Derek Doc O'Connor on a spirited set of hard-bop and soul-jazz-influenced originals.

Instantly accessible yet impassioned, unabashedly straight-ahead yet finely textured, Ginger's Hollow is a notable effort from the indefatigable Hamilton, a musician who gets better with age and, over 7,000 gigs on, his remarkable work ethic.”

This is Linley’s 6th album since 2003. He is a professor at Ulster University Magee, N. Ireland. He presents Jazz World with Linley Hamilton weekly on BBC Radio Ulster. Please enjoy some nice new bop, from someone who truly lives the art -- creation, performance, education, promotion.

Linley Hamilton, Ginger’s Hollow, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link