Listmania!
My top 25 favourite jazz albums (in alphabetical order)
By an Amazon.com customer
Livin' Inside Your LoveLivin' Inside Your Love by George Benson
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $3.99
He won a Grammy for "Breezin'" three years earlier and became a superstar one year after with "Give Me The Night" but this is his jazz masterpiece.
Nearness of You: The Ballad BookNearness of You: The Ballad Book by Michael Brecker
Buy new: $16.99 / Used from: $2.28
Or anything by Michael Brecker but input from Metheny, Hancock, Haden and DeJohnette make this special. "Nascente" is a heart melter.
Blue TrainBlue Train by John Coltrane
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $6.84
Most Coltrane fans go for "A Love Supreme" but this one has always worked better for me.
Free as the WindFree as the Wind by The Crusaders
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $4.78
Or anything by these guys.This is one of the first jazz albums I ever heard, this fresh and breezy album formed part of the soundtrack to my youth. Takes me back every time.
Kind of BlueKind of Blue by Miles Davis
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $2.37
This classic won a national poll of greatest jazz albums of all time recently. It's easy to see why.
After HoursAfter Hours by George Duke
Buy used from: $1.68
This is George Duke doing the kind of stuff I love the best. Cool, funky and relaxing all at once, I find it hard to stop playing this over and over again.
Kissed by NatureKissed by Nature by Eliane Elias
Buy used from: $14.47
Or anything by this beautiful & talented Latina. There's just something about this set though, that I find totally addictive.
Between the SheetsBetween the Sheets by Fourplay
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $0.73
Or anything by Fourplay, maybe with the exception of "Journey". The title song with Chaka Khan makes this a standout for me though.
MultiplicationMultiplication by Eric Gale
Buy used from: $19.95
Or anything by this late guitar great. This also formed part of my introduction to jazz. I'm still loving it almost 30 years later.
The Best of Herbie Hancock: The Blue Note YearsThe Best of Herbie Hancock: The Blue Note Years by Herbie Hancock
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $4.40
The genius before he went electronic, and found moogs and vocoders. I love all his work but this selection is special to me. He was young and hungry. And it shows.
ArcArc by Jimmy Haslip
Buy used from: $2.04
This solo effort from Yellowjackets bassist is elevated to heaven by Vince Mendoza and and all star cast. I didn't know music could ever be so good.
ThreeThree by Bob James
Buy used from: $4.97
Another album that brings back warm memories of my younger days. It was hard to choose (from "One" to "BJ4") but "Westchester Lady" and "Women of Ireland" sealed it.
One on OneOne on One by Bob James & Earl Klugh
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $7.59
These two giants collaborated more than once but it's this Grammy award winning effort that always makes my day.
Street DreamsStreet Dreams by Lyle Mays
Buy new: $8.96 / Used from: $1.20
The unsung hero of the Pat Metheny Group has not made many albums and while I love all the ones he has made, this is my favourite.
Start HereStart Here by Vince Mendoza
Buy used from: $24.98
Or ANYTHING by him. I remember my jaw dropping when I first heard this one. All the greats seem to queue up to play with him. Why isn't he doing more?
Still Life (Talking)Still Life (Talking) by Pat Metheny Group
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $8.48
PMG haven't a dud to their name but songs like "Minuano (Six Eight)", "So May It Secretly Begin" and, especially, "Last Train Home", make it numero uno.
ElasticElastic by Joshua Redman
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $2.45
Joshua has fun and gets funky. And I love it!!
InvitationInvitation by Joe Sample
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.74
Joe Sample does the standards. Production by Tommy LiPuma - with strings! Need I say more?
PearlsPearls by David Sanborn
Buy used from: $0.74
Once again, Tommy LiPuma (with Johnny Mandel) bring the best out of an already great artiste. Oleta Adams on "Nobody Does It Better"...
Hand JiveHand Jive by John Scofield
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $3.96
Or anything by/with John Scofield, really. Here he's at his most funky though, and I just love it when they get funky.
In Co-MotionIn Co-Motion by Andy Sheppard
Buy used from: $1.97
Or anything from the British saxophonist (this is a pic of the rear of the CD, by the way). The ballads, oh, the ballads!
Speak No EvilSpeak No Evil by Wayne Shorter
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $5.97
Like Hancock above, this is from Wayne's early days. Incidentally, Hancock plays on this one too!
WinelightWinelight by Jr. Grover Washington
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $2.77
While I think I have every Grover album ever made, this Grammy award winner will always be my favourite. I've found it's most people's as well.
The Widow in the WindowThe Widow in the Window by Kenny Wheeler Quintet
Buy used from: $28.88
The fluegelhorn and trumpet maestro is joined by John Abercrombie, John Taylor, Dave Holland and Peter Erskine. Nuff said.
GreenhouseGreenhouse by Yellowjackets
Buy used from: $1.98
Or anything by Yellowjackets - though I strongly recommend the Will Kennedy years. This was their first album I bought, I fell in love and the rest as they say...