Building a Sound Jazz Repertoire

Bill Hart

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Absolutely. Unfortunately, IMHO the scope of this thread is so wide that one could go on almost ad-infinitum as to what to include and specific recordings/labels/pressings etc., therefore I think one has to answer in generalities only. I have been collecting jazz LP's for over 40 years and still have only just built up what I consider to be a modicum of a repertoire.

Right you are. Just to clarify, rather than trying to recreate the Library of Congress, call it the essential records. Kinda Blue- kinda essential. Maybe one or two other Miles recordings. Some from different eras, styles, representing different instruments and players. If you had to start a collection from scratch, what would the key records be?
 

Bill Hart

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I was at work so couldn't give you the albums. Here goes!

Grant Green: Green Street, Blue Note BST 84071 (AP 45 rpm)
Grant Green: His Majesty King Funk, Verve V6-8627 (Speakers Corner)
Jack Marshall and Shelly Manne: Sounds Unheard Of, Contemporary S9006 (AP reissued it but didn't do the original justice)
Charlie Byrd: The Charlie Byrd Trio at the Village Gate, Riverside RLP 9467 (AP 45 rpm)
Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne and Ray Brown: The Poll Winners, Contemporary S7010 (AP 45 rpm)
Kenny Burrell: Blue Lights V.1 and 2, Blue Note BST 1596 and 1597 (Classic Reissue; when the system is set up right, this recording is scary!)
Kenny Burrell: Guitar Forms (arranged by Gil Evans), Verve V6-8612 (Speakers Corner)
George Benson: The Other Side of Abbey Road (arranged by Don Sebesky), A&M Records/CTI SP 3028 (Speakers Corner and a RVG!)

Myles comes through, with catalog numbers no less. Thank you Myles.
 

flez007

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I am a big supporter of ECM recordings, not to be labeled as pure-Jazz music but great material to collect.
 

DaveyF

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Right you are. Just to clarify, rather than trying to recreate the Library of Congress, call it the essential records. Kinda Blue- kinda essential. Maybe one or two other Miles recordings. Some from different eras, styles, representing different instruments and players. If you had to start a collection from scratch, what would the key records be?

whart, this is still just such a wide topic, that it is difficult to answer. Sure, Kind of Blue is essential, but is Way out West? To some, absolutely, to others not so much. Which pressing, which label, mono or stereo and so on and so on. One could still go on for days recommending various "starter" records and labels...However, I must say that I will be amused/interested to see others attempt to do this.:)
 

FrantzM

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MylesBAstor

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Myles comes through, with catalog numbers no less. Thank you Myles.

I should have mentioned that Burrell V1/2 are noted for their Andy Warhol covers!
 

Bill Hart

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whart, this is still just such a wide topic, that it is difficult to answer. Sure, Kind of Blue is essential, but is Way out West? To some, absolutely, to others not so much. Which pressing, which label, mono or stereo and so on and so on. One could still go on for days recommending various "starter" records and labels...However, I must say that I will be amused/interested to see others attempt to do this.:)
OK Davey. You have just been appointed as the professor of the new course in "Intro to Jazz" It turns out that the class is made up of people who are serious hi-fi bugs. You need to tell them what to go to listen to. You don't get paid much as a professor, but there is enormous personal gratification from sharing your wisdom. And, if you are really lucky, when you croak, someone might put up a plaque in front of a water fountain. So, what's your list, man? :)
 

MylesBAstor

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Bet the originals are cheap.

Right. Just saw someone asking $500 for a V1 original.

The Classic reissue (I have both the test pressing and release) used to be available for a reasonable price from www.themusic.com. In lieu of that, always check out what final stock Acoustic Sounds might possess.
 

DaveyF

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OK Davey. You have just been appointed as the professor of the new course in "Intro to Jazz" It turns out that the class is made up of people who are serious hi-fi bugs. You need to tell them what to go to listen to. You don't get paid much as a professor, but there is enormous personal gratification from sharing your wisdom. And, if you are really lucky, when you croak, someone might put up a plaque in front of a water fountain. So, what's your list, man? :)

That's a good one, whart, LOL. Just not going there.:D
 

jap

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Apr 6, 2012
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Art Pepper- More for Les at the Vilage Vanguard. Contemporay – C7650
Gil Evans & the Monday Night Orchestra -Live at Sweet Basil. Electric Bird K19P9395-6
Stephane Grappelli -At the Winery. Concord CJ-139
Great Guitars- At Charlie’s Georgetown. Concord CJ-209
Al Jarreau- Look to the Rainbow. WB BZ3052
Keith Jarret- Standards Live. ECM 1317
Charles Lloyd- Forest Flower. Atlantic 1473
Michel Petrucciani- Power of Three. Blue Note BT85133
Cal Tjader- Good Vibes. Concord CJP-247
Astor Piazzolla & Gary Burton- New Tango. Atlantic 81823-1
 

Bill Hart

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Art Pepper- More for Les at the Vilage Vanguard. Contemporay – C7650
Gil Evans & the Monday Night Orchestra -Live at Sweet Basil. Electric Bird K19P9395-6
Stephane Grappelli -At the Winery. Concord CJ-139
Great Guitars- At Charlie’s Georgetown. Concord CJ-209
Al Jarreau- Look to the Rainbow. WB BZ3052
Keith Jarret- Standards Live. ECM 1317
Charles Lloyd- Forest Flower. Atlantic 1473
Michel Petrucciani- Power of Three. Blue Note BT85133
Cal Tjader- Good Vibes. Concord CJP-247
Astor Piazzolla & Gary Burton- New Tango. Atlantic 81823-1
Many thanks, JAP. Great additions, and appreciate the label/catalog info.
This is turning out to be an awesome list. Professor Davey is going to help me organize it when it's done. :)
 

jazdoc

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Cannonball Adderley, "Somethin' Else", Blue Note, 1958
Louis Armstrong "Hot Fives and Hot Sevens" Columbia (Is "West End Blues" the greatest jazz recording of all time?...Maybe)
Louis Armstrong "Satch Plays Fats", Columbia, 1955
Count Basie, "Chairman of The Board", Roulette, 1958
Art Blakey, "Free For All", Blue Note 4170, 1964
Clifford Brown "All Stars", Ermarcy, MG 36102, 1954
Kenny Burrell, "Midnight Blue", Blue Note, 1963
Benny Carter, "Jazz Giant", Contemporary, 1958
Sonny Clark "Cool Struttin'", Blue Note, 1958
Ornette Coleman, "Change of The Century", Atlantic, 1959
John Coltrane "Crescent", Impulse, 1964
Miles Davis "Round About Midnight", Columbia, CL 949, 1955
Miles Davis, "Friday and Saturday Night at the Blackhawk, Columbia,
Duke Ellington, "Blanton-Webster Band", Bluebird, 1988
Art Farmer, "Modern Art", United Artists, 1958
Tommy Flanagan and John Coltrane "The Cats", 1957
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto "Getz/Gilberto", Verve, V6-8545, 1963
Coleman Hawkins, "Alive At The Village Gate", Verve, V8509, 1962
Charles Mingus "Mingus, Ah Um", Columbia, CL 1370, 1959
Hank Mobley, "Hank Mobley", Blue Note, BLP 1568, 1959
Thelonious Monk, "Genius of Modern Music, Volumes 1 &2", Blue Note, 1947
Lee Morgan, "Search For the New Land, Blue Note, 1964
Gerry Mulligan "Meets Ben Webster", Verve, 1959
David Murray, "Live At The Sweet Basil, Volume 1", Black Saint, 1985
Charlie Parker, "Complete Charlie Parker on Verve", Verve, 1988
Art Pepper, "Smack Up", Contemporary, 1962
Sonny Rollins, "Tenor Madness", Prestige 7047, 1956
Wayne Shorter, "Night Dreamer", Blue Note, 1964
Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery "Jimmy and Wes: The Dynamic Duo", Verve, 1958
Sonny Stitt, "Sonny Stitt", Roost 2208, 1956
Cecil Taylor, "Live In Bologna", Leo, 1988
Sarah Vaughan, "After Hours", Roulette R52070, 1955
Lester Young, "Lester Young Trio", Mercury, 1953
 

Bill Hart

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May 11, 2012
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Cannonball Adderley, "Somethin' Else", Blue Note, 1958
Louis Armstrong "Hot Fives and Hot Sevens" Columbia (Is "West End Blues" the greatest jazz recording of all time?...Maybe)
Louis Armstrong "Satch Plays Fats", Columbia, 1955
Count Basie, "Chairman of The Board", Roulette, 1958
Art Blakey, "Free For All", Blue Note 4170, 1964
Clifford Brown "All Stars", Ermarcy, MG 36102, 1954
Kenny Burrell, "Midnight Blue", Blue Note, 1963
Benny Carter, "Jazz Giant", Contemporary, 1958
Sonny Clark "Cool Struttin'", Blue Note, 1958
Ornette Coleman, "Change of The Century", Atlantic, 1959
John Coltrane "Crescent", Impulse, 1964
Miles Davis "Round About Midnight", Columbia, CL 949, 1955
Miles Davis, "Friday and Saturday Night at the Blackhawk, Columbia,
Duke Ellington, "Blanton-Webster Band", Bluebird, 1988
Art Farmer, "Modern Art", United Artists, 1958
Tommy Flanagan and John Coltrane "The Cats", 1957
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto "Getz/Gilberto", Verve, V6-8545, 1963
Coleman Hawkins, "Alive At The Village Gate", Verve, V8509, 1962
Charles Mingus "Mingus, Ah Um", Columbia, CL 1370, 1959
Hank Mobley, "Hank Mobley", Blue Note, BLP 1568, 1959
Thelonious Monk, "Genius of Modern Music, Volumes 1 &2", Blue Note, 1947
Lee Morgan, "Search For the New Land, Blue Note, 1964
Gerry Mulligan "Meets Ben Webster", Verve, 1959
David Murray, "Live At The Sweet Basil, Volume 1", Black Saint, 1985
Charlie Parker, "Complete Charlie Parker on Verve", Verve, 1988
Art Pepper, "Smack Up", Contemporary, 1962
Sonny Rollins, "Tenor Madness", Prestige 7047, 1956
Wayne Shorter, "Night Dreamer", Blue Note, 1964
Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery "Jimmy and Wes: The Dynamic Duo", Verve, 1958
Sonny Stitt, "Sonny Stitt", Roost 2208, 1956
Cecil Taylor, "Live In Bologna", Leo, 1988
Sarah Vaughan, "After Hours", Roulette R52070, 1955
Lester Young, "Lester Young Trio", Mercury, 1953

The good doctor of jazz comes through. Thanks a million, Doc!
 

jazdoc

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The good doctor of jazz comes through. Thanks a million, Doc!

:))

Can't tell you how hard that was....list got to over 75 in no time flat. Cutting down was painful.
 

flez007

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Cannonball Adderley, "Somethin' Else", Blue Note, 1958
Louis Armstrong "Hot Fives and Hot Sevens" Columbia (Is "West End Blues" the greatest jazz recording of all time?...Maybe)
Louis Armstrong "Satch Plays Fats", Columbia, 1955
Count Basie, "Chairman of The Board", Roulette, 1958
Art Blakey, "Free For All", Blue Note 4170, 1964
Clifford Brown "All Stars", Ermarcy, MG 36102, 1954
Kenny Burrell, "Midnight Blue", Blue Note, 1963
Benny Carter, "Jazz Giant", Contemporary, 1958
Sonny Clark "Cool Struttin'", Blue Note, 1958
Ornette Coleman, "Change of The Century", Atlantic, 1959
John Coltrane "Crescent", Impulse, 1964
Miles Davis "Round About Midnight", Columbia, CL 949, 1955
Miles Davis, "Friday and Saturday Night at the Blackhawk, Columbia,
Duke Ellington, "Blanton-Webster Band", Bluebird, 1988
Art Farmer, "Modern Art", United Artists, 1958
Tommy Flanagan and John Coltrane "The Cats", 1957
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto "Getz/Gilberto", Verve, V6-8545, 1963
Coleman Hawkins, "Alive At The Village Gate", Verve, V8509, 1962
Charles Mingus "Mingus, Ah Um", Columbia, CL 1370, 1959
Hank Mobley, "Hank Mobley", Blue Note, BLP 1568, 1959
Thelonious Monk, "Genius of Modern Music, Volumes 1 &2", Blue Note, 1947
Lee Morgan, "Search For the New Land, Blue Note, 1964
Gerry Mulligan "Meets Ben Webster", Verve, 1959
David Murray, "Live At The Sweet Basil, Volume 1", Black Saint, 1985
Charlie Parker, "Complete Charlie Parker on Verve", Verve, 1988
Art Pepper, "Smack Up", Contemporary, 1962
Sonny Rollins, "Tenor Madness", Prestige 7047, 1956
Wayne Shorter, "Night Dreamer", Blue Note, 1964
Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery "Jimmy and Wes: The Dynamic Duo", Verve, 1958
Sonny Stitt, "Sonny Stitt", Roost 2208, 1956
Cecil Taylor, "Live In Bologna", Leo, 1988
Sarah Vaughan, "After Hours", Roulette R52070, 1955
Lester Young, "Lester Young Trio", Mercury, 1953

I was waiting for your list Jazzdoc :) (I wouldn´t dare to include mine first)
 

Johnny Vinyl

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What? No love for Dexter Gordon?

Dexter Gordon - One Flight Up
 

LL21

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What? No love for Dexter Gordon?

Dexter Gordon - One Flight Up

Agree! On my list up front near the beginning of this thread, i had Dexter Gordon 'Go!' and "Our Man in Paris"

I also picked up over 10 CDs of various Remastered Oscar Peterson...whoa...the MPS label was seriously good stuff!!!
 

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