FEATURE: Starting a Jazz Collection
BY RON BLOMGREN JR
A BAKER’S DOZEN
Going into a record store cold can be challenging, with the jazz section being notoriously intimidating to navigate. Where do you even begin? While difficult, near impossible, to pick a top ten from a genre so integral to America’s musical identity, you could do worse than these picks from bona fide masters, all at the peak of their game:
1. DUKE ELLINGTON — …And His Mother Called Him Bill (RCA - Bluebird)
After the recent death of longtime band arranger, close friend, and muse Billy Strayhorn, the band recorded this tribute album, capturing both the melancholy beauty of Strayhorn’s compositions and revisiting classic Ellingtonia.
2. THELONIUS MONK — Monk’s Dream (Columbia)
After decades of stunning work known mostly by fellow musicians, the larger world got to hear the compositional genius and originality in Monk’s major label debut for Columbia, featuring his soon-to-be classic quartet.
3. MILES DAVIS — Kind of Blue (Columbia)
Difficult to pick just one record by one of the most towering figures in Jazz(and truth be told, my favorite musician of all time), an innovator who changed the direction of music multiple times in his influential career. The best selling Jazz album of all time for good reason. Assembling one of the greatest groups ever, including John Coltrane, Bill Evans and Cannonball Adderley, the group was given only sketches of the tunes in the studio, having complete freedom to improvise their solos on “modes”. Most tracks were completed in one take. An epic achievement that stands up to repeated listens.
4. CHARLES MINGUS — Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (Impulse!)
Sort of a “greatest hits revisited” record by an 11-piece band featuring two of Mingus’s greatest collaborators in Eric Dolphy and pianist Jaki Byard. A burning set from start to finish that improves on the original classic versions.
5. LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND ELLA FITZGERALD — Ella & Louis (Verve)
An inspired collaboration featuring a stellar group with Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, and Ray Brown. Credit to the choice of material, most from the classic American songbook of Irving Berlin and the Gershwin brothers. A perfect Sunday morning listen.
6. OLIVER NELSON — The Blues and the Abstract Truth (Impulse!)
Saxophonist, composer and arranger Nelson put together one of the most potent modern jazz sextets ever for this legendary recording featuring Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard at his peak. Wildly varied material and moods featuring the stone classic “Stolen Moments”.
7. JOHN COLTRANE — Crescent (Impulse!)
One of the most towering figures in modern Jazz, influencing every saxophonist who followed him, Coltrane recorded this work shortly before his much lauded “A Love Supreme”. While the aforementioned album is a “spiritual Jazz” classic, I find the varied dynamics of Trane’s classic quartet and the beauty in the tone of his sax to be even more compelling. An added bonus is the finale, “The Drum Thing”, a duet between Coltrane and Elvin Jones that is a reminder of the invaluable contribution Jones made to this Quartet.
8. ORNETTE COLEMAN — The Shape of Jazz to Come (Atlantic)
Coleman’s debut on Atlantic Records shattered the traditional concepts of harmony in Jazz, introducing an avant-garde, and at the time highly controversial, new direction for modern jazz that some of the “old guard” still haven’t come to grips with. Ornette’s alto style is deeply original and perhaps initially shocking, but in retrospect, his emotive playing is deeply influenced by the blues and highly melodic. With invaluable contributions from trumpeter Don Cherry and the country-tinged lines from bassist Charlie Haden. If only for the gorgeous “Lonely Woman” (Lou Reed’s favorite song of all time), this album is a must-have.
9. SUN RA — Space is the Place (Impulse!)
A perfect introduction to the orbit of the Afro-futuristic sounds of the Sun Ra Arkestra. With swing and saunter influenced by the early big band sound of orchestras like Fletcher Henderson, mixed with prominent African percussion, Ra’s space organ and piano, and fiery solos from long-time members John Gilmore & Marshall Allen. Top it off with the dreamy vocals from June Tyson, and you’ll see why this band is enjoying a passionate renaissance.
10. JEFF PARKER — Mondays at the Enfield Tennis Academy (Eremite)
I would be remiss to list “must have Jazz records” and exclude music made after the 1970’s. Jazz is Dead has been a refrain spoken often for decades (even being used ironically for a current record series produced by two hip hop veterans). Nothing is further from the truth. Jazz is a constantly growing, exploring music that continues to push forward. Cue this recent masterpiece by guitarist Jeff Parker (most known as the guitarist from post-rock band Tortoise). Recorded live at his residency at LA’s ETA, the four long improvisations are deeply indebted to both hip hop and ambient music, just to name a couple of influences among many. The LA jazz scene is on fire as of late, and this set is deeply intuitive, subtly detailed, endlessly grooving 21st-century Jazz improvisation at an extremely high level.
BONUS
11. BILLIE HOLIDAY — Lady in Satin (Columbia)
There was only one true jazz singer, according to many, myself included, and that’s the great Lady Day. A vocalist of great sensitivity with a pure voice that was highly emotive, this recording was captured late in her career when her voice was becoming shattered but despite, or because of, that, these recordings are so deeply intimate, sung with such feeling and authenticity that they stand as a testament to her unique artistry.
12. BILL EVANS — Waltz for Debby (Riverside)
Considered the epitome of jazz trio records, recorded live at The Village Vanguard (along with the equally stunning Sunday at The Village Vanguard), the trio of Evans with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian possessed an almost telepathic interplay that shattered the traditional structure of a rhythm section merely supporting the pianist. Each member freely explored their own ideas, both rhythmic and harmonic, given real heft and fullness to the group’s sound. Most importantly, as a pianist, Evans had few equals in his deeply lyrical romantic playing. Often impressionistic in tone and color, his explorations in both harmonics and melody are highly sophisticated and deeply felt. This is the epitome of what a jazz trio can accomplish.
13. ABDULLAH IBRAHIM — Water from an Ancient Well (Blackhawk)
While jazz is an American original art form, there have been many valuable efforts from other cultures. Pianist Ibrahim, a South African, is a devotee of Duke Ellington who possesses a rhythmically dynamic pulse neatly balanced with highly sensitive touch. His blend of South African traditional melodies and American jazz swing is infectious. Along with his very accomplished sextet, his memorable melodies and lilting swing leave quite an impression.
