 | Kickin' It Up by Gerald Albright
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $2.75 I know it's brand new. But this is a VERY impressive CD. I particularly love the homage to Jr. Walker. Gerald understands his roots. This one deserves to be heard. It's TIGHT!!!
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 | Giant Steps by John Coltrane
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $2.18 A defining moment in saxophone artistry. Trane made it difficult for anyone to duplicate, replicate or imitate this monster work. It remains a classic of style, grace and intensity.
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 | Way Back Home by The Crusaders
Buy new: $59.98 / Used from: $18.81 A glowing retrospective of the long career of the Crusaders, from their formative free jazz years through the R&B-tinged 70's into the disco-drivel of the 80's. They stayed true to their roots.
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 | The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter 1 by Kirk Whalum
Buy new: $13.96 / Used from: $4.99 All honor and glory to the Creator. A brilliant homage by a modern sax master. A truly excellent work.
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 | 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Jr. Walker & the All Star by Jr. Walker & the All Stars
Buy new: $7.97 / Used from: $4.41 Everything's here except "Hot Cha". It truly is a retrospective of a most inspirational player, the first to achieve universal recognition as a player and group leader.
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 | A Love Supreme by John Coltrane
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $6.74 If you don't have this in your sax collection, then by my standard, you don't appreciate the genius of Trane. This is a marvelous compilation. It flows like so many of his solos -- effortless.
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 | Back to Oakland by Tower of Power
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $4.99 This is the first album of theirs I heard in 1971. I was blown away and have been a huge fan ever since. At their absolute best with this lineup in their prime.
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 | Giving Myself to You by Gerald Albright
Buy used from: $0.71 Albright's foray into straight ahead is presented as a rousing success. This CD is for jazz purists and it doesn't disappoint.
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 | Live and in Living Color by Tower of Power
Buy new: $8.96 / Used from: $2.48 TOP at it's raunchiest, loudest and most bold. This really captured the flavor and energy of the live experience. Pickett's sax solo on "Knock" is powerhouse.
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 | Groovology by Gerald Albright
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $3.29 Albright's soft jazz bites with an edge on this offering. It's great driving music, for the open road or bumper to bumper.
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 | Live by Tower of Power
Buy new: $48.98 / Used from: $9.89 This thing is just RAW!! The arrangements, the horns, all the right songs, all the ambience. This is a smoking piece of work.
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 | Free as the Wind by The Crusaders
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $4.79 A defining moment for the Crusaders' efforts in the 80's. Electronic funk -- there's even a solo using an electric saxophone on the title song. Brilliant work.
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 | No Time Like the Future by Incognito
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $0.99 Bluey's Egyptian/Moroccan influences shine in this offering. His horn arrangements and the simple yet complicated mix of music make this a want-to-have CD.
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 | Turning Night into Day by Nelson Rangell
Buy used from: $2.62 Rangell's best work. Each song defines particular aspects of his abilities. Not really fond of the flute pieces, but I'm a sax kind of guy.
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 | Urban Renewal by Tower of Power
Buy new: $8.96 / Used from: $2.50 This was TOP's excursion into environmental awareness, although they have mostly love songs on the CD. Revamped lineup, but the horns and arrangement are vintage.
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 | Live At Birdland West by Gerald Albright
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $2.38 Gerald at his old-school jazz best. Lots of standards and some very difficult riffs in this one. Great for driving or just when you need to hear some raw, nasty, basic jazz.
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 | Scratch by The Crusaders
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $5.38 One of my favorite albums from college. Wilton and the boys showed out live on this one. Just a great offering from the always innovative Crusaders.
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 | Beneath the Surface by Incognito
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $1.22 Bluey and a revamped crew continue the Incognito legacy of blazing horn sections and tight vocals. I was expecially impressed with the male vocals on this one.
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 | Live to Love by Gerald Albright
Buy new: $8.96 / Used from: $1.44 This one puts the smooth in jazz. This CD is so relaxing. Have your lady around when you put this one on.
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 | Tribes Vibes + Scribes by Incognito
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $0.90 It's not just the sax on this one that grabs you. It's the whole horn section and the drummer -- who is just world class.
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 | Street Life by The Crusaders
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $5.94 This one's not just about the very exquisite sax solo on the title cut -- every sax solo is purely wonderful. In my late youth, this is the sound I tried to emulate, even today.
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 | Citizen Steely Dan: 1972-1980 by Steely Dan
Buy new: $37.47 / Used from: $29.99 Over the years, the personnel and focus of the group changed. But they always kept some great sax players on board.
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 | Positivity by Incognito
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $1.75 Party music for the soul. Horn arrangements and masterful drumming for the critic. A success on all accounts.
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 | The Eternal Dance by Earth Wind & Fire
Buy used from: $10.85 Every essential song by EWF ever made and an extensive live mix with a stirring solo by the late Donald Myrick on "Reasons". Excellent compilation CD set.
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 | Oakland Zone by Tower of Power
Buy used from: $8.47 TOP's newest offering made this list on it's audacity and it's can't miss mix of tunes. Rocco's back from transplant surgery and hasn't missed a step. Get this one.
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