“I’ve got no kick against modern jazz, unless they try to play it too darn fast, and change the beauty of the melody” ~ Chuck Berry’s lyric to his song “Rock and Roll Music”.
There is more than one kind of jazz; it’s a large world with many characters and many sonic variations.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a series of 3 posts to guide you toward the pleasures of listening to jazz. The posts delve into Classic Jazz, Crossover Jazz, and New Jazz; each covers 7 albums that we’ve grown to love over years of listening. We begin with Classic Jazz, with recordings dating from the mid 1950s to the early 1970s.
All albums are available on the major streaming platforms. Of course, if you have a turntable, check out any one or more of these records on vinyl for an enhanced experience. You’ll notice some incredible cover art, along with informative liner notes about the artist and the recording sessions, materials not available through streaming. The main thing, though, is the music, and this music truly delivers regardless of the format.
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We begin with the Miles Davis album, Kind of Blue: it’s the biggest-selling jazz album of all time, and for good reason. The beautiful, mellow tones of Miles’ trumpet are supported by the alto saxophone of Cannonball Adderley, as well as by the soprano sax of John Coltrane and a great rhythm section. The album is moody and free-flowing, with the outstanding cuts being the two opening tracks “So What” and “Freddie The Freeloader”. That said, this album is a joy from beginning to end. Start your library here and you’ll be permanently hooked on jazz.
~ Release date 1959
This collection of lyrical ballads shows jazz trumpet virtuoso Chet Baker at the top of his form, supported by some of the very best sidemen in the business: Pepper Adams on baritone sax, the young Bill Evans on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, Connie Kay on drums, Herbie Mann on flute, and Kenny Burrell on guitar. Baker was known as “the handsome young prince of cool”. Moody, lush, enticingly slow and highly evocative, this may well be the most romantic album ever made. Chet is still available on Riverside Vinyl reissue, with absolutely gorgeous sound.
~ Release date 1959
Next up is The Oscar Peterson Trio with the essential album Night Train. No one ever played in a tighter group than this trio – Ed Thigpen on drums and Ray Brown on bass, along with Oscar on the ivories, set a standard for ensemble playing which is a model for all musicians, whatever their genre. These guys deliver everything an orchestra could, and more. The 11 tunes on this record get right to it, with none much longer than five minutes, so if you’re thinking that jazz is some form of endless noodling and self-indulgence, this is the album to contradict that notion.
~ Release date 1962
Cannonball Adderley‘s mellow alto saxophone norminally led this session, with the strong presence of Miles Davis’ muted trumpet, predating the Kind of Blue sessions by a year. Somethin’ Else is a great example of laid-back late evening jazz and is almost the equal of the more famous work. Davis actually played a major role in the album, composing several of the tunes. Adderley was beginning his prime, destined for greatness. The rhythm section is a dream of sympathetic support to this wonderful collection of ballads and blues. A smoky, seductive dream of a record.
~ Release date 1958
‘Getz/Gilberto’ is still a great album today. Teaming the guitar of South American Joao Gilberto with the saxophone of Stan Getz was the inspiration of famed producer Creed Taylor. The album brought Brazilian music, cool jazz, soft elegant sambas and the exotic flavours of Rio De Janeiro to mass audiences while providing an instant classic for all jazz fans. Everyone knows the song “The Girl From Ipanema” – here is the source. The album won four Grammys and stayed on the charts for two years, peaking at no. 2 only because 1964 and 1965 belonged to The Beatles.
~ Release date 1964
Bumpin’ amply demonstrates why Wes Montgomery is considered a monster talent by those who make their living with those six-stringed sound boxes we call guitars. Among his greatest fans were Joe Pass, Jimi Hendrix and John Coltrane. Many consider him the finest jazz guitarist ever. This set teams Wes with the beautiful string arrangements of Don Sebesky. The recording has been viewed by many as the beginning of jazz-pop. The album’s success convinced Wes that he could retain his jazz feel and jazz integrity while reaching a broader audience. It also persuaded the young George Benson to do the same.
~ Released 1965
The Modern Jazz Quartet was a dominant force in jazz from the first days of their formation in 1952. Their music is a unique combination of traditional jazz, baroque, folk and blues. The sound of Milt Jackson’s vibraphone is practically synonymous with great, listenable jazz. Their final concert, recorded live at Lincoln Centre in 1974, was compared to “the abrupt disintegration of Mount Rushmore” for the desolation that jazz fans felt over the group’s dissolution. The Complete Last Concert is a two record set, with 22 fabulous tracks, loaded with sonic pleasure for even newcomers to jazz.
