Gordi's Recommended Jazz Recordings: Reinhardt through Zorn




GORDI’S RECOMMENDED JAZZ RECORDINGS:
REINHARDT THROUGH ZORN

This is the final instalment of a three-part series, wherein I give my opinions about which jazz records I believe belong in every decent jazz collection. I’m deliberately limiting myself to listing only one or two discs per artist, and in narrowing the choices down to the final selection I’ve tried my best to choose those albums which do the best job of showing the musician’s best side off for anyone coming new to them.
You can find the first two instalments here:

A through H

J through P

My hope is that these lists might help you to navigate the crowed aisles of your local Jazz Superstore, and that they might help me spread a little musical love around. If you have any questions, if you would like to argue this list with me, or if you want more suggestions, you can contact me at gordi@4sternstaging.com

THE LIST

Django Reinhardt (Guitar) – Swing From Paris:
Really, everybody should have at least one disc of Reinhardt playing with the violinist Stephane Grappelli and the Quintette du Hot Club de France, they have a musical chemistry that produces near-magical results. The recordings on this disc have been re-mastered fantastically well. If you can’t find it, Verve Jazz Masters 38 will do.


Sonny Rollins (Tenor Sax) – Saxophone Colossus: Every single tune on this album is a masterpiece of small group jazz. It’s one of the very few albums I’ve owned on vinyl, tape, and CD.
– Tenor Madness:
Rollins gets together with Miles Davis’ Rhythm section, and they are joined on the title track by John Coltrane. You can clearly hear that they love playing together.

Pharoah Sanders (Tenor Sax) – Crescent With Love: This one is only essential if you’re already a big Coltrane fan. Sanders recorded this tribute on the 25th anniversary of his friend’s death. It is neither mournful nor sentimental, but it is moving.

John Scofield (Electric Guitar) – Time on My Hands: I thought I didn’t like John Scofield. Then I saw him live. This was his first record for Blue Note, and they put together an absolutely amazing band for him to work with. If you are any kind of a muso, the thought of hearing Scofield jamming with Joe Lovano, Charlie Hayden, and Jack DeJohnette should have you foaming at the mouth. This is as good as jazz got in the late-80s.

Wayne Shorter (Tenor Sax) – Adam’s Apple: This is a very approachable introduction to the jazz of the mid to late 1960s. The rhythmic and structural freedom make for some pretty challenging listening if you’re not used to it, but it’s well worth the effort. The classic tune Footprints is probably the most pleasurable way to ease yourself into it all.

Horace Silver (Piano) – Song For My Father: This is great hard bop, and the title track is one of the richest tributaries leading into the river of funk.


Zoot Sims (Saxophones) – And The Gershwin Brothers: He’s the guy that the saxophonist from Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem was modeled on. Oscar Peterson is the pianist on this date, and they have a lot of fun going back and forth over the familiar tunes.

Jiri Stivin (Saxes, Flutes, etc.) – Live at Agharta: If you’re ever in Prague, pick this one up, and check to see if Stivin is playing live at any of the city’s great jazz clubs. He is a gifted musician with a slightly goofy sense of humour, and he always has the best band in the city playing behind him.

Art Tatum (Piano) – Group Masterpieces vol. 8 and vol. 3: Tatum was probably the single greatest virtuoso in the history of jazz. On vol. 8 he is joined by sweet-toned tenor sax man Ben Webster, whose warm sounds floats over Tatum’s shimmering piano lines like the reflections of clouds floating over a river. On vol. 3 & 4, two of jazz’ other great show-offs, Buddy Rich on drums and Lionel Hampton on vibes, join Tatum for a light-hearted exhibitionistic romp through some familiar tunes.

Clark Terry (Flugelhorn) – In Orbit: The unlikely pairing of the former Count Basie and Duke Ellington trumpeter with the experimental pianist Thelonious Monk led to a classic album. One Foot in the Gutter and Argentina are two of Jazz’ lesser-known treasures.

Sarah Vaughn (Vocals) – Sarah Vaughn (With Clifford Brown): Vaughn had a voice like a cello, rich and expressive. She takes her time with the tunes on this one, and Brown’s trumpet solos match her smouldering intensity.

Ben Webster (Tenor Sax) – King of the Tenors:
Ben and his horn produced the most beautiful sound in jazz. This date matches him with a superb band of sympathetic musicians, and the tunes are all great. Their version of Tenderly is probably never going to be surpasses, nor is their version of That’s All.

Lester Young (Tenor Sax) – The Ultimate Lester Young: These are all tunes chosen from his later recordings by Wayne Shorter, who is obviously a pretty big fan. Young’s tone is wry, lemony, and gentle.

John Zorn (Alto Sax) – The Big Gundown: This is a collection of meditations on songs that were composed for the movies by Ennio Morricone. If you are a Zappa fan who also likes Sergio Leone films, then this is the disc for you!


Lee Van Cleef digs John Zorn

Gordi digs Simpsons reviews

Swindle

Reasons

and wrestling.

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