bluesman Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 What a wonderful list, JW! I'd like to add a few tunes that (at least, for me) define the spirit of a few of your (and my) favorites. Oscar Peterson was truly other worldly, and he could do it all with class and control - drive a band, cry the blues, accompany a vocalist, or hold down a house with solo playing for hours on end. Going back to his pre-drummer days really gives you a feel for what he could do. I strongly recommend "at the Stratford Shakesperean Festival": OP with Ray Brown and Herb Ellis - who could ask for anything more? My favorite Bill Evans albums are Undercurrent ('62) and Intermodulation ('66), both duets with Jim Hall: One of Brubeck's most exciting recorded performances was captured live and issued as "Newport 58". And if you go back from there, you'll love the college series - Jazz at Oberlin and Jazz at the College of the Pacific are both fantastic. Brubeck's early rhythm section was described as a revolving door, and many people never heard of his early sidemen in the DBQ. But they were all seasoned musicians who played very well. As I recall, bass players and drummers came and went because of military service, illness & such more so than personal or musical differences, and he finally stabilized with Joe Morello on drums and Joe Benjamin on bass (replaced after a few years by Eugene Wright). These early performances really highlight Brubeck's humorous, whimsical, and inventive approach to improvisation. But most of all, they're a continuing education course in how to structure and build a solo. I'd also like to add two more who belong in this rarefied air. Listen to Denny Zeitlin, a California psychiatrist who's one of the most wonderful players ever. He's on top of my list of stranded-on-a-desert-island discs! And then there's the great Sir Roland Hanna, who drove the Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Big Band for years. He's another Peterson - encyclopedic knowledge of all music, killer chops, great taste, and a true sense of humor. Here are examples of each. Sir Elf (his nickname) is a fabulous solo album filled with astonishing modulations, note-perfect runs, and harmonies that range from Gunther Schuller to Bach. And here he is pushing Thad, Mel et al over the top on one of my favorite albums. Along with Barry Galbraith on guitar and Richard Davis on bass, this rhythm section is the greatest thing since Freddie Green and Walter Page drove Basie along. Link to comment
bluesman Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 1 hour ago, JoeWhip said: I have the Strafford, great album. Only have it on vinyl. Need to remedy that! Ha! I easily could have extended this list to 20 easily but didn’t want to drive Chris crazy. I was trying to include my favs that were well known to lesser known new guys who really deserve your consideration like the last three. Mega talents all. Oh, man, we could extend this to hundreds! But as it is with wives, instruments, equipment, wine etc we each find a few lifetime keepers (except for wives - one's fine for my lifetime). And I'd be fine with those above - I've listened to some of each at least a few times a month for decades. I actually have all of the above on vinyl, bought new by me and kept lovingly pristine. The music is a lifetime treasure! AudioDoctor 1 Link to comment
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