 | Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $5.39 One of their best, separately or together. Also - Monk's 'Genius of Modern Music' Volumes 1 &2. Aside from this, Coltrane's best work is largely on other labels.
|
 | Somethin' Else by Cannonball Adderley
Buy new: $8.97 / Used from: $6.49 The closest you'll get to recreating 'Kind of Blue' - Miles' at his sublime best. Art Blakey in rare soulful mode too.
|
 | A Night at Birdland, Vol. 2 by Art Blakey
Buy new: $8.97 / Used from: $9.17 Clifford Brown in sensational form. The whole band blazes. Art Blakey has a raft of excellent recordings - Vol 1. of this date; Moanin'; A Night in Tunisia; Free For All; Mosaic.
|
 | Happenings by Bobby Hutcherson
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $6.00 Not the best known, but, for me, close to the best Blue Note. Herbie Hancock in genius mode. Bobbie Hutcherson likewise. Also - Dialogue (featuring Andrew Hill on piano and his compositions too -a truly great session, with suprising rhythms and stretched tonality); Patterns; Oblique.
|
 | Inner Urge by Joe Henderson
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $7.98 Power, passion, subtlety, beauty - the storm, and the calm. Yes, with two of Coltrane's rhythm section there are similarities - but is that a criticism? Also - Our Thing; Page One.
|
 | Breaking Point! by Freddie Hubbard
Buy new: $7.97 / Used from: $6.99 Freddie Hubbard's Blue Note output was consistently brilliant. Virtually all his recordings are recommendable, but this is my favourite - slightly 'out', a bit funky, great backing players. Also - Goin' Up; Hub Tones.
|
 | Let Freedom Ring by Jackie McLean
Buy new: $7.97 / Used from: $5.35 Adventurous and with driving rhythms. Billy Higgins on drums. Recorded in 1962, but sounds fresh today. Also - One Step Beyond; Vertigo; Destination Out.
|
 | Whistle Stop by Kenny Dorham
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $5.99 A great session, unique, but influenced by 'Kind of Blue'. Hank Mobley is a sympathetic partner up front. P.C. and Philly Joe do their thing. Also - Una Mas (Latin influenced)
|
 | Conquistador by Cecil Taylor
Buy new: $7.97 / Used from: $3.95 Cecil is not for everyone, true. Melody is subsumed by sheer energy. Far out, but not as far as his later work. Also - Unit Structures.
|
 | The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1 by Bud Powell
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $6.44 Bud Powell's earlier recordings might be even better, but this is superb in itself. Includes the classic 'Un Poco Loco'. Fats Navarro on trumpet; Sonny Rollins on sax; Max Roach on drums. Truly amazing. Vol 2 is just as good.
|
 | Feelin' the Spirit by Grant Green
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $4.28 Gospel infused with the lyricism of Green, and the prolific imagination of Herbie Hancock. Also - Idle Moments (the title track is hypnotic - possibly Green's best); Born to Be Blue.
|
 | Adam's Apple by Wayne Shorter
Buy new: $7.97 / Used from: $6.00 Fantastic chemistry between the players and some of Shorter's best compositions, including 'Footprints'. Also - Night Dreamer; Etc; Ju Ju.
|
 | Our Man in Paris by Dexter Gordon
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $4.48 The inimitable tone of Dexter Gordon, showcased here with Bud Powell. The fact this was recorded in Paris is a testament to the difficulties facing artists in the US at the time. 'A Night in Tunisia' is a highlight. Also - Go; Dexter Calling
|
 | No Room for Squares by Hank Mobley
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $6.90 Some prefer the earlier Hank Mobley recordings, but this is one exciting record. Two sessions are combined, one featuring Andrew Hill on piano, and Lee Morgan on trumpet, the other with Herbie Hancock and Donald Byrd. Tension, experimentation, and great rhythms. Also - The Turnaround; Straight, No Filter (with McCoy Tyner explosive on piano).
|
 | The Sermon! by Jimmy Smith
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $5.38 A huge jam session, with stellar guitar from Kenny Burrell. Art Blakey's there, Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson and Tina Brooks. The twenty minute title track never lets up. Also - Groovin' at Small's Paradise (a trio, with Smith at his most inventive); Back at the Chicken Shack (with Stanley Turrentine).
|
 | Search for the New Land by Lee Morgan
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $6.75 Lee Morgan penned all the compositions and the title track is an absolute standout - fifteen minutes of beguiling atmospherics. Fantastic stuff from all the players, including Shorter, Hancock, Green, Workman and Higgins. Also - The Sidewinder; Tom Cat
|
 | Leapin' and Lopin' by Sonny Clark
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $5.99 Sonny Clark's all too short life was studded with remarkable sessions. This vies with Cool Struttin' as perhaps his best. His trio session is also memorable. I find myself listening to his records time and time again.
|
 | Passing Ships by Andrew Hill
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $5.00 From the vaults comes this fascinating record, with tuba, french horn and bass clarinet joining more familiar instruments. Recorded in 1969 and released in 2003 to wide acclaim. Challenging, but something to return to often. Also - Point of Departure; Smoke Stack; Black Fire.
|
 | Empyrean Isles by Herbie Hancock
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $7.00 Includes the classic 'Canteloupe Island'. Intellect, funk, and a sense of fun - Herbie could do little wrong. His work with Miles isn't on Blue Note, but this is fascinating stuff too. Also - Maiden Voyage; Speak Like A Child.
|
 | Up at Minton's by Stanley Turrentine
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $9.74 A terrific live session, with Stanley Turrentine's warm bluesy tone to the fore. Horace Parlan, of Mingus' fame, on piano. Staight up jazz, from the classic Blue Note mould. Another great live session is Sonny Rollins' At the Village Vanguard.
|
Listmania!
