| ESSENTIAL
CDs |
The
most important thing you can do to further your knowledge
of Jazz and improve your ability as a musician is listen.
In addition to the soloists, check out the rhythm sections.
Since the vast majority of recordings in Jazz feature piano
players, not guitar, they are the folks to look to when trying
to learn how to comp. You can learn volumes of stuff from
these folks. If you haven't heard this music, you're in for
a treat. Click on the photos to go to amazon.com to listen
to clips. These titles are not in any particular order of
preference, and as others come to mind I will add to the list.
If I left off one of your favorites, my apologies. |
|
Miles
Davis - Kind of Blue
This is the first Jazz record I (and a lot of other folks) ever
bought. When I first put it on, I thought everything was written
out, it was so perfect. Three of the greatest horn players in
history, plus two very distinctive piano players, and a great
rhythm section. |
 |
Miles
Davis - Milestones
If you were trapped on an island with only 5 CDs, hope that
this was one of them. The same horns as above with an awesomely
swinging rhythm section. Check out Trane and Cannonball Adderly
trading on Dr Jekyll. |
|
John
Coltrane - Transition
For my money, the greatest record by Trane's quartet. They had
been together for a while by the time they made this, and McCoy
Tyner had really come into his own. It's adventurous, beautiful
and everybody plays their asses off. |
 |
Ben
Monder - Dust
I don't know if Ben Monder is known outside of New York, but
he should be. A truly original approach to the guitar, with
unequalled instrumental skills at his disposal. He plays chord
voicings that no one else does, and is an inventive soloist.
This album is on the mellow side, but well worth checking out.
Ben is truly someone who is expanding the horizons of the guitar. |
 |
John
Coltrane - Blue Train
One of Trane's late 50's masterpieces. His solo on the title
cut is worth the price alone. Lee Morgan also plays some truly
memorable solos. Momen't Notice and Lazy Bird are also on this album. (BTW, if you ever happened to see the
chart of Blue Train in the old Real Book, it's 100% wrong.
It is a blues in Eb.) |
 |
Sonny
Rollins - Saxophone Colossus
Sonny on fire. Some of the best improvising on record. His solos
on Strode Rode and St. Thomas are unbelievable. |
 |
Wes
Montgomery - Full House
My favorite guitar record of all time. Wes has the most amazing
flow of ideas. The chord solo on Cariba is his best.
Check it out! With Johnny Griffin and Miles Davis' rhythm section.
Swinging! Also check out Smokin at the Half Note, below. |
 |
Dizzy
Gillespie 1945-1946
Dizzy and Bird turning the world on it's head. The playing on Shaw 'Nuff is absolutely awesome. This must have really
taken a lot of folks by surprise when it came out |
 |
Kurt
Rosenwinkle - The Enemies of Energy
One of the new conceptions of guiar playing. Distinctive writing
and playing abound on this recording. Definiely worth a listen. |
 |
Bill
Evans at the Village Vanguard
This is a record that changed the idea of rhythm section playing.
The level of interaction between the soloist and rhythm section
is much higher than had been customary. Bassist Scott LaFaro
was a truly innovative player. |
 |
McCoy
Tyner - The Real McCoy
An absolute classic from the late 60's. McCoy, Elvin and Joe
Henderson all in fine form. My favorite McCoy album (and a lot
of other people's too). |
 |
Steve
Masakowski - For Joe
This is one of the best examples of a straight ahead jazz guitar
trio on record. Steve plays hip voicings, great lines and comps
for himself. You can learn volumes about trio playing from this
CD. |
 |
Miles
Davis - ESP
Miles' 60's quintet was one of the great ensembles in Jazz.
The combination of players and Wayne Shorter's writing produced
a sound unlike any other group. Oh, and a new approach to rhythm
section playing. See Nefertiti, Miles Smiles and Sorcerer below. |
 |
Sonny
Rollins - The Bridge
One of the first records with guitar (Jim Hall) as the only
comping instrument. The title cut has Sonny dicing through Rhythm
Changes with a very sophisicated and modern sounding palette.
Jim Hall's comping is one of the foundations of modern guitar
playing. |
 |
Wayne
Shorter - Speak No Evil
Fantastic tunes played by an incredible group (Wayne, Freddie
Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Elvin Jones and Ron Carter). A very
influential record to this day. Wayne wrote so many great tunes,
and this record has a lot of them. |
 |
Wes
Montgomery - Smokin at the Half Note
Some folks would insist that this album rather than Full House
(above) is the greatest Wes album. They would have a strong
argument. It features the same players except Johnny Griffin.
Let's face it, both recordings are worth knowing intimately. |
 |
Chick
Corea - Now He Sings, Now He Sobs
This record sounds as fresh today as it did 30+ years ago. You
can hear the influence of McCoy Tyner in Chick's lines, but
the sound of this music is truly unique. One of the great Jazz
recordings of all time. |
 |
Joe
Henderson - Inner Urge
One of the unique voices in Jazz, Joe's Blue Note albums have
been very influential to subsequent generations of musicians.
A strong writer, and a tenor player with a distinctive sound,
Joe's groups were always impeccable. |
 |
Jazz
at Massey Hall
Bird, Diz, Bud, Mingus and Max, live. The supergroup of the
era. |
 |
George
Benson - Body Talk
My favorite Benson record. George can play things on the guitar
that no one else can touch. There are countless players who
owe their entire careers to imitating George. This record has
the best groove guitar licks ever, and great lines. If you only
know George as a Pop star, you're in for a treat. Check this
out! |
 |
Art
Blakey - Free For All
Probably Blakey's most intense playing on record. The sound
that pours out of his drums is volcanic. Wayne Shorter, Freddie
Hubbard, Curtis Fuller, Cedar Walton and are the beneficiaries
of this prodigiuos energy. |
 |
Brad
Meldau - The Art of the Trio Vol 2
A fresh approach to a classic ensemble format, Brad's playing
is really individualistic. His solo on Countdown is unbelievable.
One of the great players of the current generation. |
 |
Herbie
Hancock - Speak Like a Child
Beautiful writing for three horns by Thad Jones (uncredited).
Herbie is the only soloist though, and plays incredible solos
on Riot and Sorcerer. |
 |
Joe
Henderson - So Near, So Far
A more recent recording, this is relaxed playing in a guitar
quartet format. John Scofield is easily one of the best compers
in Jazz. His arrangements of the melodies are great examples
of how to use guitar in a small group. |
 |
John
Coltrane - A Love Supreme
One of the most famous records in Jazz. Incredibly influential
for musicians, and widely heard by many people who didn't otherwise
listen to Jazz. Trane's solo on Pursuance is astounding. |
 |
The
Amazing Bud Powell Vol. 1 (and Vol. 2)
Some quintessential Bud Powell here. Some of his most famous
tunes for trio and quintet. You can hear where McCoy Tyner got
his early sound from, and in turn, his influence on Herbie
Hancock and Chick Corea. A must have. |
 |
John
Coltrane - Giant Steps
The record that raised the bar for improvising on chord changes.
It established Trane's place as one of the greatest players of
all time. We're still dealing with the title tune and Countdown today. |
 |
Freddie
Hubbard - Hub-Tones
Freddie's and Herbie Hancock's solos are truly awesome. Freddie
is the greatest trumpet player ever in his ability to get around
the horn, and an incredibly hip improvisor. Well worth checking
out. |
 |
Joe
Henderson - Live in Japan
The best Joe Henderson solos ever. Has to be heard to be believed.
Incredible intensity and creativity. |
 |
Hank
Mobley - Workout
Hank was sophisticated harmonically while being very accessible
and melodic. He is a great player to transcribe in order to
learn the ins and outs of playing on chord changes. |
 |
Ornette
Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come
One of Ornette's early recordings. This style of "free"
playing caused a real stir when it first appeared. Though not
using the changes to improvise with, you can hear a strong element
of blues in Ornette's playing. |
 |
Dizzy
Gillespie - Sonny Side Up
Some of the best bebop tenor sax playing ever. Sonny Stitt and
Sonny Rollins trading on Eternal Triangle is possibly
the greatest "tenor battle" of all time. And I mean
BATTLE! |
 |
John
Coltrane - Impressions
The definitive recording of Trane's signature composition Impressions.
One of the records that defined modal playing. |
 |
Joe
Henderson - In 'n Out
Classic Joe, I believe it's his first record as a leader. Featuring
Kenny Dorham, McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. Punjab and Serenity are two of the greatest Jazz compositions. |
 |
Miles
Davis - Nefertiti
Along with ESP (above) Miles Smiles and Sorcerer (below),
the studio recordings of this group represent a body of work
that is increibly advanced and still sound fresh today. |
 |
Art
Blakely - The Big Beat
Great hard bop playing and Wayne Shorter's tunes make this one
of the best Art Blakey records. Lee Morgan's solos are first
rate as are Wayne's and Cedar Walton's. Features the tune Lester Left Town and a great version of Paper Moon. |
 |
Andrew
Hill - Point of Departure
A very unique writer who always put together hip bands, Andrew
Hill is not as well known as some of his contemporaries, but
is definitely worth checking out. With Tony Williams, Joe Henderson
and Eric Dolphy. |
 |
Wayne
Shorter - Schizophrenia
Very hip tunes and arrangements for the three horns, greatWayne
and Herbie Hancock solos. |
 |
McCoy
Tyner - Inception
Great early McCoy trio record. You can tell this influenced
Herbie Hancock's playing on Hub-Tones (above). Very swinging
and harmonically advanced playing. |
 |
Wayne
Shorter - The All Seeing Eye
One of the freer recordings by Wayne, it features very dark
moods and fine playing by Freddie Hubbard and Herbie Hancock
in addition to Wayne. If you don't know this sound it might
be a little intense. You might listen to Schizophrenia (above) first. |
 |
Art
Blakey - Caravan
Along with Free For All (above) one of the classic Blakey recordings
from the early 60's. The arrangement on the title cut is fantastic. |
 |
Wes
Montgomery - The Incredible Jazz Guitar
One of my favorite of Wes' studio recordings. It features classic
like D Natural Minor Blues and Polka Dots and Moonbeams. |
 |
Joe
Henderson - Four
Joe with the Wynton Kelly trio (as on Full House and Smokin at the Half Note with Wes). Incredibly inventive
playing on standards. This only appeared in the last 5 years
or so, and really knocked me out |
 |
George
Benson - Cookbook
Burning organ group-era Benson. Check out Ready and Able, and start practicing. With Jack McDuff and Ronnie Cuber. |
 |
Wayne
Shorter - JuJu
The tunes on this album are still played today. Great band,
great writing. |
 |
Sonny
Rollins - Live at the Village Vanguard
A must have. This record influenced every sax player (and other
instruments) that came after. Inventive, very characteristic
Sonny. Possibly his greatest record, although there is competition. |
 |
Miles
Davis - Sorcerer
One of the great records of Miles' 60's quintet. In fact, they're
all great. See Nefertiti and ESP above |
 |
Charlie
Parker & Dizzy Gillespie - Bird 'n Diz
Great playing and classic tunes by two of the music's giants. |
 |
Herbie
Hancock - The Prisoner
Fantastic solosists and great arrangements by Thad Jones. Beautiful
instrumentation with alto flute and low brass. Long out of print,
it's great that it's out on CD. |
 |
Art Blakey - Moanin'
Some of the all-time classic jazz tunes, and great solos by Lee Morgan, Benny Golson and Bobby Timmons.
|
 |
John
Coltrane - Soultrane
The best Trane recording, along with Blue Train (above)
of the pre-Giant Steps period. Great variety of tempos and his
first recording of I Want to Talk About You, his signature
ballad. |
 |
George
Benson - Breezin
The only record on this entire list that you are likely to hear
when walking down the aisle of you local supermarket. But when
you check out some of the guitar playing, you might drop the
spaghetti sauce. This is the record that made him famous as
a pop star, but ignore that stuff if you want and simply marvel
at what a great player George is. |
| |
