For a guy who says he doesn't know much about jazz, you did a great job of explaining the different types. Great advice, too, for everyone...follow the players. It will really get you into listening to the music and lead lead you onto many wonderful roads.
Imho, 'Kind of Blue' is the greatest jazz album of all time. Great players playing great. The pauses between notes, Bill Evans' piano, everyone's playing. So cool the way each player makes you wait for, no ask for the next note and it's always the perfect one. Music doesn't get any better. Even if you're not into jazz you should own this recording.
@@georgedoughly8682 Not my words but: "If I had to explain in one paragraph to a visitor from Mars why Kind of Blue deserves so much attention, it might go something like this: "In a few hours, on two spring afternoons in 1959, Miles Davis and his colleagues somehow managed to combine several disparate and previously tentative musical innovations, all at once and in confident full strength. They abandoned popular songs, and even song form, as the bases for jazz improvisation. They freed themselves from harmonically organizing their solos by cycling through chord changes, instead letting the internal tension of modal scales provide the driving force. They opted for implied reference rather than outright quotation. They stripped out all fanfares, flourishes, and instrumental virtuosity for its own sake. What was left was pure music, equally capable of reaching the most casual listener and transfixing the most expert." John Marks in Stereophile magazine.
I finally picked up A Love Supreme. Can’t believe I waited so long to pick it up. One of my fav jazz albums is Dave Brubeck - Concord On A Summer Night. It’s an outdoor live concert and you can hear the crickets adding their own ambience to quieter parts of the recording. Absolutely love it
Many moons ago I used to DJ as the “blues guy” at a Jazz radio station. I would fill in for the Jazz guys on occasion and I came to appreciate jazz very much. I think I’ve listened to John Coltrane “My Favorite Things” album about 500 times. I absolutely love it. So many others too, mostly Hard Bop 50s/60 era. Great list!!
Thanks for this great selection of your personal favorite records. 1. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (1965) 2. Lee Morgan - The Cooker (1958) 3. Hank Mobley - Soul Station (1960) 4. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Moanin' (1958) 5. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959) 6. Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus (1957) 7. Grant Green - Idle Moments (1965) 8. Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else (1958) 9. Bill Evans & Jim Hall - Undercurrent (1962) 10. Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (1963)
I came across "Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus" at a thrift shop on cassette for 49 cents (plus tax). I looped it over and over and over and over............
I had to check this out, because I listen to jazz more than pretty much any other sort of music. And I learned some things here. I learned that Duke Ellington and John Coltrane actually performed on record together! That is exciting! I learned of a jazz guitarist I have not heard of before, Grant Green. And I learned of Hank Mobley. So I have some new (to me) music to look into. Thank you!
Great video man, great channel, been turned on to some great records I didn't even consider, been a collector for 42 years, love the channel. Thanks man, peace.
I might be in the minority, but if had only one choice, I'd pick Betty Carter over Nina Simone. Betty would be quite in line with your preference for free jazz.
Straight up one of my favorite videos ever from you my dude. Not just because of my obsession with jazz, but because of the knowledge and thought you brought to the table. So many of these stories I know 1st hand from our friendship and even a couple from our podcast, but it’s so cool to see you bring that out for everyone here. 10 classics, all no doubt top so many people’s lists, but what makes it the best is you. Your personality, your knowledge...you always bring so much to the table my dude. Excellent video!
Love the videos. Pysch is obviously a sweet spot for you but your appreciation for multiple styles of music really comes through in the videos. I used to live in Boone, NC. If I ever get to Charlotte I am heading straight to Noble Records.
Thanks for a solid list of suggestions. Saxophone Colossus was one of the first jazz cds I bought. Idle Moments is another favourite of mine. If you’re a guitar player and collect pedals, Catalinbread released the Formula 55, which is a pedal inspired by Green’s smokey amp tones. There are some in this list I haven’t heard of I’ll check out. Some of my suggestions: Pay Metheny - Bright Sized Life The Cats - Coltrane, Burrell, Flanagan, Suliemann Chick Corea - Return to Forever Miles Davis- Miles Smiles Norah Jones - Come Away With Me Joshua Redman - Wish Scofield - Bump Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage Coltrane - Giant Steps Kamasi Washington - The Epic
I highly agree with the list, idle moments is very underrated. I also highly recommend ‘B*tches Brew’ by Miles Davis. It is very unique, and sometimes kinda hard to listen to for the average person. But if you have a deep interest in complex music and jazz fusion, it will blow you away
My man!! It's always great to see somebody who recognizes Lee Morgan's genius. Surprising (though totally justified) choice there with The Cooker, a bit of a dark horse in the pantheon. Killer stuff! Interestingly enough, it seems that many guitar players gravitate towards him when they first get into jazz. I know I did. Hank Mobley, too... he deserves that spot for sure.
Here is how I was turned onto jazz from a rocker. 1).”Return To Forever” - Chick Corea; Meh. 2). “Blow By Blow” and 3). “Wired” by Jeff Beck: Yes! 4). “Bitches Brew” by Miles Davis; Yes!, 5). “Big Fun” by Miles Davis; Yes!, 6). “Kind Of Blue” by Miles Davis; Yes. Now I was hooked on Jazz.
I do own A Love Supreme and A Kind of Blue but I need to check out these other albums also. I like lots of different Jazz from various eras but I wasn't really sure what I should purchase before. EG Duke Ellington's catalogue is supposedly so large and varied and I was afraid of buying something less than I had hoped.
So this video was randomly suggested to me. Then I happened to look at the channel name & read the description. I’ve been coming to you guys off & on for the last 6 months. In fact, I tried to come today (Labor Day 2024) but was saddened because you were closed 😭
I got a group about music on facebook and i told the members to check your channel on youtube and the most common comment its that you are like a " musical wikipedia" and thats true Mate your knowledge about music its amazing Congratulations and thanks to show us so much good stuff...Greetings from Portugal...
Great list! All solid choices. Your #10 is one of my “go-to” records for chilling out. I’d offer up Dexter Gordon’s “GO!” and Dave Brubeck’s Time Out & Time Further Out, too. So much good music out there!!!
Great video, Dillon! Definitely some solid picks and a good range of musical styles present! Saxophone Colossus is such a masterpiece! I’m really glad that there will be a solid pressing of Somethin’ Else coming out early in 2021 because that one is high on the want list!
I really appreciate your guidance and stories behind each of these selections. I’m just starting to branch out into jazz and actually bought a Tone Poet version of the Cooker as a YT recommendation and you have some suggestions I am going to check out. Cheers
Know this is a 2 year old video, but wanted to say thanks. I just bought Grant Green - Idle Moments based off this list, absolutely love it, superb album.
Great vid, as always. Can’t make a Top 10 list of anything without leaving something out, so I won’t comment on that. 😁 I will note that the entire list is from the lat 50’s to early 60’s. Love Supreme in ‘65 is the latest, i believe. A great time in Jazz. Despite my initial comment about top 10 lists, I do have to agree with Benjamin Carter’s comment that Out to Lunch belonged on this list,especially given the time period of you other picks. That said, there is nothing I would remove from th list to make room for it. Thanks for the great vids
We all like what we like. All are great albums. Kind of Blue at Number 1 or 2 on most lists. My favorite Lee Morgan is Search for New Land, with Grant Green on guitar (since you really like Grant Green, beautiful phrasings). So many incredible works.
Great list of albums. Saxophone Colossus is my all time favorite jazz album. Took a history of jazz course in college and my professor got me into that album.
Hi Dillon very interesting the only album ihad was Miles Davis kind of blue but I will rewatch the video & make some notes, I do have an amazing version of love supreme by Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin on the album Love Devotion Surrender a truly incredible album.
yeah, its crazy getting into jazz when you have been a life long rock fan, there are so many different genres, and it takes a while to get a handle on just what is going on, lately i have been getting into UK jazz from the late 60s and early 70s, guys like ian carr michael garrick, mike westbrook, keith tippet etc , i got into that through an interest in british blues and prog....a lot of jazz guys played on rock stuff to make money ,but the british rock of the era had a lot of space for improvisation too and there is a great period where blues, rock and jazz were going in a similar direction with bands like nucleus ,soft machine,king crimson etc. i love the whole 60s british blues thing as well which provided a bedrock for musicians to jump off with improvisation.
I bought most of what you suggested to start my Jazz collection. Thank you for your suggestions!! You have excellent taste in Jazz music, even if you say this isn't your wheelhouse!
I love the list and the advise for young people to get into jazz. I had half of you list in my top ten, here is what I what was missing: Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage Wynton Marsalis - Black Codes Tales From The Underground John Coltrane - Blue Trane Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Album Of The Year
Great list Dylan. Really getting into jazz last few months.Love the Sidewinder and Cornbread by Lee Morgan.Mingus Ah Um is great too.Getz/ Gilberto?.Dusk Fire is another one I'm really enjoying.
All great recommendations. Undercurrent is a great record - one of the most under-praised jazz albums. I’m the detractor when it comes to A Love Supreme. I’d rather listen to Blue Train, Giant Steps or most any other Coltrane album - but that’s me. I’m a pretty big Grant Green fan too. I recommend Iron City, which he did in the 70s. If you see it on vinyl grab it. I think you’ll love it. Don’t think I’ve heard The Cooker. Ill check it out. Mostly I’ve listened to Lee Morgan’s The Sidewinder. Being a guitar player I hope you check out early Wes Montgomery. Wes’ albums Boss Guitar and Full House are amazing. Too much to recommend.
I'm gonna have to check out Somethin Else. Awesome stuff that doesn't get a whole lot of play: Rashaan Roland Kirk - rip, rig & panic, John Handy - live @ Monterey pop, Mingus - Tonight at noon, Chico Hamilton - man from 2 worlds.. I could go on.
Great choices. I have all of these on LP and/or CD. I'm glad you included Undercurrent. The way they improvise together it's as if it's one mind with four hands; an idea started by one of them is completed by the other. If you don't have the CD of this you should check out the CD issue that has two alternate takes. The improvisations on the alternate take of My Funny Valentine are utterly different (and nearly as good) as those on the master take. Both these guys are geniuses. Bill Evans and Jim Hall did a second duet record together called Intermodulation, that's also great but not quite as "otherwordly" as the masterpiece Undercurrent. It does, however, have a couple tunes that are a little more up tempo than anything on Undercurrent. Saxophone Colossus is certainly Sonny Rollins' most famous masterpiece and one of my very favorite records of all time. I'm a big Rollins fan; I own every official Sonny Rollins US record on LP (including a few old pressings) and/or CD plus a few imports and bootlegs. He turned 90 this year but stopped performing in 2011. I was fortunate enough to see him perform 4 times. I think if anyone was considering starting a jazz collection, your list would be a great first 10. There's another 100 or so that I would also consider to be more or less "crucial"...LOL.
I would recommend Donald Byrd - Places and spaces, Or Bobbi Humphrey -Fancy dancer if you wanna go more on the Jazz Funk side. Also two of my personal fav Jazz records and artist’s
I like your choices. If you haven't already, may I recommend that you check out some Joe Henderson (do NOT miss his recording "Mode For Joe") and Bobby Hutcherson from that period of Blue Note? Joe is exquisite on tenor sax and Bobby is brilliant on vibes and marimba. Try his recording "The Kicker."
So many to pick from like speak no evil, way out west, time out, Getz/Gilberto, Sunday at the village vanguard, Mingus Ah Um, money jungle, monks dream, etc etc etc. more jazz videos please!
Once Jazz was one of the last genre's i'd ever get into. but possibly the last one i'll ever "get into" having changed my mind a lot. My knowledge is still minimal although i like not having not too much of "a plan" collecting it. I find it's to easy to spend too much time exploring rather than enjoying. Could become a bit overwhelmed by how much is out there. the blue note analogue reissues have opened my eyes even more to buying vinyl in general. not just Jazz music
My way in to jazz was 'My favorite things' and from then on, it was a non stop thing. Excellent choices, by the way, sorry not to see a Bird album on this list, but I'm sure you dig Bird.
I have the MoFi of Undercurrent I was a bit disappointed with the sound. I know it’s silver label but I still had hoped for more clarity. It almost sounds muffled at times
Great list. Coltrane's Giant Steps is essential for music theory fans. For guitar nuts, also Virtuoso by Joe Pass, Barney Kessel's shred festival Soaring, and anything by Wes Montgomery and earlier George Benson. Bill Evans solo improv Peace Piece will make you weep. Kenny Burrell's Midnite Blue is fantastic accessible jazz guitar.
Sadly had to sell my vinyl when both my turntable and receiver broke and didn't have the funds to replenish. Am well over 70 and seemed like what I had to do. That being said here is list of jazz musicians have seen in person: Coltrane, Dizzy, Miles, Dexter, Morgan, Mingus, Getz , Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Shorter (with original Weather Report in 1971), McCoy, Blakey, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Pharaoh Sanders, Dewey Redman (Old and New Dreams with Haden and Cherry), Jackie Mclean,. Keith Jarrett. Apologies to all the great sidemen and others may have omitted. BTW just saw Ron Carter Foursight at Birdland. Was outstanding.
Solid list of giants! Listening to Hendrix, King Crimson, The Who, Cream and any mind warping rock stuff i could find made it necessary to come in through a different door. Tony Williams Lifetime/Emergency, Miles Davis/ On The Corner, Jack Johnson Agharta, John Mclaughlin Devotion, Herbie Hancock Sextant, Ornette Coleman/The Art of Improvisers, Ahmad Jamal/Outertimeinnerspace and Frank Zappa/Hot Rats were big gateway records here.
Hello Dillon, Great video for me though Lee Morgan and John Coltrane are tie I couldn't pick one. Then Bill Evan, Art Blakey, I have been really getting into Herbie Hancock also picked up that Sonny Rollins 3 lp set on RSD. Dillon is right The Tone Poet series is fantastic you get fantastic sounding record without the large Price tag you would see on originals they are right up there with Music Matter pressings but for half the price. For me, Jazz rejuvenates my soul.
1.TBSATSL-Charles Mingus 2.Bitches brew-Miles Davis 3.A love supreme-John Coltrane 4.Lanquidity-Sun Ra 5.The olatunji Concert-John Coltrane 6.Maiden Voyage-Herbie Hancock 7.Moanin-Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers 8.Piece of a man-Gil Scott Heron 9.The epic-Kamashi Washington 10.Kind of a Blue-Miles davis
This is an impressive list. Grant Green is my favorite Jazz Guitarist, so Idle Moments is definitely high up for me. Interesting to note that Cannonball Adderly headed up that date for Blue Note because Miles was under contract to Columbia, so could not lead the date. Man, now I gotta get to digging again.
That is a great list--all solid stuff. FWIW, OJC (Original Jazz Classis) is actually a reissue label. Look for the pre-bar code OJCs. Jazz guys use the term OG, just like rock guys.
Hi! I want to start collecting jazz vinyl and to start I wanted to get a vinyl record of Moanin’ by art Blakey and the Jazz messengers. What issue/print/press/year-version would you recommend getting? I’m completely new to this and a lot of people say that buying new records will sound trash. I want to get something that will sound good as I will be playing it on a fairly high-end audio system with a Clearaudio Concept Turntable. Thanks!
My personal top three: 1. John Coltrane - Giant Steps 2. Getz/Gilberto 3. Oliver Nelson - Blues and the Abstract Truth Yeah, everybody likes different records......
