Chamber jazz filled with virtuosity. The looseness and sense of melody in Eric's playing was just awesome. The songs "Out There" and "Feathers" are beautiful and angular sax workouts, and "Sketch of Melba" is the very definition of Jazz flute.

My first Sun Ra CD. This is a perfect mix of his late 50's-early 60's sound: the vocal chants, the sorrowful bop numbers, the strange instrumentation. Amazing. The trumpet solo on "Tapestry From An Asteroid" is the saddest thing I've ever heard.

The..Greatest..Jazz..Pianist..Ever! He may have been half-blind, but he sounds like he had four or six hands when he played. Dense melody, dense. I'm also proud to say he's from my hometown of Toledo, OH.

Where to start with Ellington? It can be a daunting task - his career spanned the 20's-70's. This is a prime 50's recording of his. "Skin Deep" is one of the best drum-based jazz songs out there.

Kirk was an astonishingly talented blind reedman.

If you're looking for a place to start with Coltrane, any of his 50's albums is a good start, whether he's the leader or not. It provides a mellow way in, especially if you're a little afraid of his freer stuff.

God, this guy had charisma. Like a lot of people of my generation, I first saw him in "The Blues Brothers". That couldn't prepare for that amazing voice that could make you laugh and stomp your feet at the same time. Most of his stuff is on compilations, but this is still on of the best ones to get The original "Minnie the Moocher" is actually really spooky.