Listmania!
Jazz Alphabet
By an Amazon.com customer
Music Is Healing Force of Universe (Dig)Music Is Healing Force of Universe (Dig) by Albert Ayler
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $3.50
Yeah, I know... How about Louis Armstrong? Well, Ayler is more fun.
The Best of Chet BakerThe Best of Chet Baker by Chet Baker
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $7.15
Chet Baker - Live in '64 and '79 (Jazz Icons)Chet Baker - Live in '64 and '79 (Jazz Icons)
Buy new: $14.97 / Used from: $13.68
Bonus DVD - Chet Baker transcends his obvious physical fragility. If anyone ever had an immortal soul showing through the sorry flesh, it was Chet. The last take, Love for Sale, is overwhelming.
Change of the CenturyChange of the Century by Ornette Coleman
Buy new: $8.98 / Used from: $4.99
Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Vol. 1Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Vol. 1 by Eric Dolphy Quintet with Booker Little
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $4.50
How could you omit Miles Davis? I hear someone shout. I said there were choices to be made.
Duke Ellington & John ColtraneDuke Ellington & John Coltrane by Duke Ellington
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $7.00
A Duke Named EllingtonA Duke Named Ellington
Buy new: $29.95
Bonus DVD: I've just discovered the pleasure of jazz DVDs, which preclude the temptation to disrespect the music by multi-tasking to a CD.
On a High Note: Best of the Concord Jazz RecordingsOn a High Note: Best of the Concord Jazz Recordings by Maynard Ferguson
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $5.61
Wardell Gray and Dexter GordonWardell Gray and Dexter Gordon by Wardell Gray
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $9.09
Two Gs! The greatest duo session in jazz history.
Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben WebsterColeman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster by Coleman Hawkins w
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $7.75
Another great two-sax session.
Pure Mark IshamPure Mark Isham by Mark Isham
Buy new: $12.58 / Used from: $8.49
Not many choices for I; this may get replaced as soon as "I" think of a better choice.
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Antonio Carlos Jobim20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Antonio Carlos Jobim by Antonio Carlos Jobim
Buy new: $8.98 / Used from: $6.00
The Best of Stan KentonThe Best of Stan Kenton by Stan Kenton
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $3.97
I loved Kenton when I was 13. He was still performing, so you can guess my age.
Jumping the CreekJumping the Creek by Charles Lloyd
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $13.74
The Classic QuartetThe Classic Quartet by Thelonius Monk
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $8.06
Live in Olympia (Vivo a Olympia)Live in Olympia (Vivo a Olympia) by Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $7.49
Santos Neto usually goes by the name Jovino. He's the most exciting young jazz pianist I've heard in a long time.
King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete SetKing Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set by King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
Buy new: $22.98 / Used from: $16.09
If you begin to suspect that I play the trumpet, you know your jazz artists.
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Charlie Parker20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Charlie Parker by Charlie Parker
Buy new: $7.97 / Used from: $6.67
Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie ParkerCelebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker
Buy used from: $14.45
Bonus DVD. I might also recommend the movie "Round About Midnight", in which Dexter Gordon plays a drug-addicted saxophonist who resembles Parker in several ways.
CopacabanaCopacabana by Sarah Vaughan
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $1.98
Q is for MJQ. I loved the MJQ when I was 13 and first discovered jazz. I loved e.e. cummings then too; don't reject your memories!
African VenusAfrican Venus by Dewey Redman
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $7.25
Two Redmans in one, Dewey and Joshua, father and son!
TauhidTauhid by Pharoah Sanders
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $7.99
ConquistadorConquistador by Cecil Taylor
Buy new: $7.97 / Used from: $7.00
Tierra LejanaTierra Lejana by Super Uba
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $14.00
Okay, is Super Uba really jazz? It's a hot album; you decide.
The Best of Caetano VelosoThe Best of Caetano Veloso by Caetano Veloso
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $7.89
Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson (20-Bit Master)Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson (20-Bit Master) by Ben Webster With Oscar Peterson
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $8.94
ExplorationsExplorations by Bill Evans Trio
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $6.66
X is the unknown, n'est pas? Xplorations? Anyway, Bill Evans belongs on this list as the X factor in the performances of many better known jazz greats.
The Complete Aladdin RecordingsThe Complete Aladdin Recordings by Lester Young
Buy new: $14.97 / Used from: $9.98
Lester gets three pages of the kid's alphabet! Front and back covers, plus the Y page.
Complete Savoy RecordingsComplete Savoy Recordings by Lester Young
Buy new: $31.98 / Used from: $8.97
Complete RecordingsComplete Recordings by Billie Holiday & Lester Young
Buy new: $32.99
Hot RatsHot Rats by Frank Zappa
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $8.49
Z? jaZZ! but Zappa? Got any other Zs? But this is the moment to point out that the borders of jazz have expanded.