As I come closer to the 300 album mark (well... slightly closer), I’ve realised I don’t enjoy the earlier recordings as much as the older ones. I just don’t enjoy the dated recording quality or most of the Dixieland style music as much. I decided to go on a spree and listen to lots of albums from the 1920’s, just to get them out of the way a bit so I can appreciate the stuff I prefer later on (save the best ‘til last and everything). Whilst listening to lots of these older albums, I’ve realised that almost every album from the ‘20’s and ‘30’s contains the song After You’ve Gone. I’ve concluded that After You’ve Gone must be the Wonderwall of its generation.
Here's the list of albums added to my list since the last update (note there are more albums listed because of the Joe 'King' Oliver albums, explained later in this post.
Quest – Redemption: Quest Live In Europe
Miles Davis – Agharta
Armand Piron – Piron’s New Orleans Orchestra
Lovie Austin – Lovie Austin 1924-1926
Tommy Dorsey – The Best Of Tommy Dorsey And His Clambake Seven
Charlie Ventura – The Complete Pasadena Concerts 1949
Ruby Braff – 2x2: Ruby Braff And Ellis Larkins Play Rodgers And Hart
Chet Baker – Chet Baker And Crew
Pete La Roca - Basra
The Tony Williams Lifetime/Lifetime – (Turn It Over)
Don Cherry – Brown Rice
George Lewis – Homage To Charles Parker
Pat Metheny & Ornette Coleman – Song X
Toots Thielemans – Only Trust Your Heart
Charles Gayle – Touchin’ On Trane
Elton Dean’s Newsense – Elton Dean’s Newsense
John Gill’s Dixieland Serenaders – Looking For A Little Bluebird
Abdullah Ibrahim – Yarona
Conrad Bauer – Between Heaven And Earth
Kurt Rosenwinkel – East Coast Love Affair
The Georgians – The Georgians 1922-1923 / 1923-1924
Joe King Oliver – Complete Jazz Series 1923-1926
Joe King Oliver – Complete Jazz Series 1926-1928
Joe King Oliver – Complete Jazz Series 1928-1930
Joe King Oliver – Complete Jazz Series 1930-1931
Freddie Keppard – The Complete Set – 1923-1926
Georgia Melodians – Georgia Melodians 1924-1926
Red Nichols – The Red Heads Complete Set 1925–1927
Eddie Lang – The Quintessential Eddie Lang 1925-1932
The Penguin Jazz Guide Listed an album as Joe ‘King’ Oliver – King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set. I couldn’t find this album online but did find a selection of other albums dated between 1923 and 1931 and so ended up listening to Joe King Oliver – Complete Jazz Series 1923-1926, Joe King Oliver – Complete Jazz Series 1926-1928, Joe King Oliver – Complete Jazz Series 1928-1930 and Joe King Oliver – Complete Jazz Series 1930-1931 in the belief that if I listened to all of the so-called Complete Jazz Series’ in between the bands known recording history, I must have listened to everything included on The Complete Set. Either that or I’ve actually listened to the complete set.
Out of all the albums I’ve listened to since the last update, I’d recommend Quest – Redemption: Quest Live In Europe. It’s a live album and a beautiful, energetic performance. The line-up features Billy Hart, who is fast becoming one of my favourite drummers to listen to, having not heard much about him before embarking on my Jazz Guide Challenge.
Yarona by Abdullah Ibrahim is a gorgeous example of a piano trio album, probably one that you could either sit and listen to intently or put on in the background whilst doing another task and enjoy in two completely different ways.
I also enjoyed listening to Miles Davis’ Agharta, an album with a lot of improvisation and including some computer noise thrown into the mix. The performance is fairly free and has little in the way of a rigid form, but I read that Davis planned changes and signalled them with hand signals or cue sounds. What I found particularly interesting was that there were a few fan favourites, such as All Blues and So What, but instead of playing the tunes in their entirety, the band phases in and out of them and only plays small quotes and flashes of recognisable tunes before veering off into something else entirely different. I felt that this was a great way to please the audience through both challenging and familiar material, rather than just churning out the fan favourites at the end.
Unfortunately, I find it difficult to get on with The Tony Williams Lifetime. Although I appreciate his drumming, especially his technical brilliance. I love Williams' playing with Miles Davis, especially on Live At The Plugged Nickel, however, I find his work with Lifetime to be 'Headache Music'.
Finally, Here's the full updated list of all the albums I've listened to from The Penguin Jazz Guide so far.
Beginnings
Eubie Blake – Memories Of You
Original Dixieland Jazz Band – The Original Dixieland Jazz Band 1917-1921
James P. Johnson – Carolina Shout
Eureka Brass Band – New Orleans Funeral And Parade
Jelly Roll Morton – The Complete Library Of Congress Recordings
Baby Dodds – Baby Dodds
George ‘Pops’ Foster – George ‘Pops’ Foster
The 20’s
Jelly Roll Morton – The Piano Rolls
Ladd’s Black Aces/Original Memphis Five – The Complete Ladd’s Black Aces 1921-1924
Ladd’s Black Aces/Original Memphis Five – Original Memphis Five: Columbias 1923-1931
New Orleans Rhythm Kings - New Orleans Rhythm Kings 1922-1925: The Complete Set
Kid Ory – Ory’s Creole Trombone
The Georgians – The Georgians 1922-1923 / 1923-1924
Perry Bradford – Perry Bradford And The Blues Singers In Chronological Order
Armand Piron – Piron’s New Orleans Orchestra
Joe ‘King’ Oliver – King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set
Freddie Keppard – The Complete Set – 1923-1926
Jimmy Blythe – Messin’ Around Blues
Georgia Melodians – Georgia Melodians 1924-1926
Five Birmingham Babies – Heart Breakin’ Baby
Lovie Austin – Lovie Austin 1924-1926
Red Nichols – The Red Heads Complete Set 1925 – 1927
Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith – Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith 1925-1937
Fletcher Henderson – The Harmony & Vocalion Sessions: Volumes 1 & 2
Louis Armstrong – Complete Hot Five And Hot Seven Recordings: Volumes 1-3
Oscar ‘Papa’ Celestin/Sam Morgan - Papa Celestin & Sam Morgan
Eddie Lang – The Quintessential Eddie Lang 1925-1932
Miff Mole – Slippin’ Around
Mckinney’s Cotton Pickers – Put It There/Cotton Picker’s Scat
Jimmie Noone – Jimmie Noone 1928-1929
The 30’s
Jimmie Lunceford – Jimmie Lunceford 1930-1934
Joe Venuti – Complete Jazz Series 1930-1933
Casa Loma Orchestra – Casa Loma Stomp/Maniac’s Ball
Chick Webb – Rhythm Man/Strictly Jive
The Spirits Of Rhythm – The Spirits Of Rhythm 1933-1945
Wingy Manone – Wingy Manone 1934-1935
Tiny Bradshaw – Breakin’ Up The House
Django Reinhardt – Django Reinhardt 1935-1936
Benny Goodman – The Complete Small Group Sessions
Tommy Dorsey – The Best Of Tommy Dorsey And His Clambake Seven
Jimmy Dorsey – Amapola
Count Basie - The Original American Decca Recordings
Benny Goodman - At Carnegie Hall 1938: Complete
Dizzy Gillespie – The Complete RCA Victor Recordings
Muggsy Spanier - Muggsy Spanier 1939-1942
The 40’s
Lester Young – The Complete Aladdin Sessions
Lucky Millinder – Lucky Millinder 1943-1947
Art Hodes – The Jazz Record Story
Duke Ellington – Black, Brown and Beige
Jazz at the Philharmonic – The Best Of The 1940s Concerts
Tiny Grimes – Tiny Grimes 1944-1949
Charlie Parker – The Complete Savoy And Dial Studio Recordings/Newly Discovered Sides
Mary Lou Williams – The Zodiac Suite
Woody Herman – Blowin’ Up A Storm!
Wooden Joe Nicholas - Wooden Joe Nicholas
Kenny Clarke – Klook’s The Man
Charlie Parker – Charlie Parker With Strings
Dave Brubeck – The Dave Brubeck Octet
Illinois Jacquet - Illinois Jacquet 1945-1946
Thelonius Monk – Genius Of Modern Music: Volumes 1 & 2
Charlie Ventura – The Complete Pasadena Concerts 1949
Miles Davis – The Complete Birth Of The Cool
The 50’s – 1951-1955
Stan Getz – The Complete Roost Recordings
Louis Armstrong – California Concerts
Jimmy Forrest – Night Train
Billie Holiday – Lady In Autumn
Lester Young – The President Plays
Red Rodney – Red Rodney Quintets
Charlie Parker – The Quintet: Jazz At Massey Hall
Ben Webster – King Of The Tenors
J. J. Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson: Volumes 1 & 2
Vic Dickenson – The Essential Vic Dickenson
Mel Powell – Borderline – Thigamajig
Jimmy Raney - A
Johnny St Cyr – Johnny St Cyr
Sarah Vaughan – Sarah Vaughan
Chico Hamilton – Live At The Strollers
Erroll Garner – Concert By The Sea
Ruby Braff – 2x2: Ruby Braff And Ellis Larkins Play Rodgers And Hart
The 50’s – 1956-1960
Helen Merrill – Helen Merrill With Clifford Brown And Gil Evans
Jo Jones – The Essential Jo Jones
J. R. Monterose - J. R. Monterose
Teddy Charles – The Teddy Charles Tentet
Charles Mingus – Pithecanthropus Erectus
Tal Farlow – The Swinging Guitar Of Tal Farlow
Chet Baker – Chet Baker And Crew
Charlie Shavers – Horn O’Plenty
Ella Fitzgerald – Sings The Cole Porter Songbook
Serge Chaloff – Blue Serge
Kenny Dorham – ‘Round About Midnight At The Cafe Bohemia
Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus
Duke Elington – Ellington At Newport 1956 (Complete)
Maynard Ferguson – The Birdland Dreamband
Phineas Newborn Jr – Here Is Phineas
Quincy Jones – This Is How I Feel About Jazz
Thelonius Monk – Brilliant Corners
Kai Winding – Trombone Panorama
Art Pepper – Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section
Art Blakey - Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonius Monk
Miles Davis – Miles Ahead
Count Basie – The Complete Atomic Mr Basie
Cannonball Adderly – Somethin’ Else
Sun Ra – Jazz In Silhouette
Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue
Dave Brubeck – Time Out
Ornette Coleman – The Shape Of Jazz To Come
Charles Mingus – Mingus Dynasty
John Coltrane – Giant Steps
Wes Montgomery – Incredible Jazz Guitar
Gil Evans – Out Of The Cool
The 60’s – 1961-1965
Oliver Nelson – Blues And The Abstract Truth
George Russel – Ezz-thetics
Howard McGhee – Maggie’s Back In Town!!
Bill Evans – The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings 1961
Stan Getz – Focus
Lee Konitz – Motion
Bobby Timmons – In Person
Yusef Lateef – Eastern Sounds
Milt Jackson – Bags Meets Wes
Perry Robinson – Funk Dumpling
Sheila Jordan – Portrait Of Sheila
Oscar Peterson – Night Train
Charles Mingus – The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Bill Evans – Conversations With Myself
Sathima Bea Benjamin – A Morning In Paris
Lee Morgan – The Sidewinder
Tony Williams – Life Time
Wayne Shorter – Speak No Evil
John Coltrane – A Love Supreme
Herbie Hancock – Maiden Voyage
Pete La Roca - Basra
John Coltrane – Ascension
Miles Davis – The Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel
The 60’s – 1966-1970
The Jazz Crusaders – Live At The Lighthouse ‘66
Charles Lloyd Quartet – Dream Weaver
Duke Ellington – The Far East Suite
Stanley Turrentine – The Spoiler
Buddy Rich – Swingin’ New Big Band
Chick Corea – Tones For Joan’s Bones
McCoy Tyner – The Real McCoy
The Don Ellis Orchestra – Electric Bath
Thelonius Monk – Underground
Tony Oxley – The Baptised Traveller
Miles Davis – In A Silent Way
The Tony Williams Lifetime/Lifetime – (Turn It Over)
Thad Jones – Consummation
Joe Zawinul – Zawinul
The 70’s – 1971-1975
Gerry Mulligan – The Age Of Steam
Slam Stewart – Slam Bam
Mahavishnu Orchestra – The Inner Mounting Flame
Revolutionary Ensemble – Revolutionary Ensemble
McCoy Tyner - Sahara
Donald Byrd – Black Byrd
Chick Corea – Light As A Feather
Fred Van Hove – The Complete Vogel Recordings
Julian Priester – Love, Love
Herbie Hancock – Head Hunters
Oregon – Music Of Another Present Era
Weather Report – Mysterious Traveller
Bennie Maupin – The Jewel In The Lotus
Ella Fitzgerald – Ella In London
John Abercrombie – Timeless
Gil Evans – Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix
Miles Davis – Agharta
Jaco Pastorius - Jaco Pastorius
Don Cherry – Brown Rice
Mary Lou Williams – Free Spirits
The 70’s – 1976-1980
George Benson – Breezin’
Albert Mangelsdorff – Tromboneliness
Anthony Braxton – Creative Orchestra Music 1976
Milt Jackson – At The Kosei Nenkin
Charles Tyler – Saga Of The Outlaws
Jan Garbarek – Dis
Jay McShann – Last Of The Blue Devils
Paul Bley – Axis
Hamiet Bluiett – Birthright
Air – Air Time
Raymond Burke – Raymond Burke And Cie Frazier With Butch Thompson In New Orleans
Steve Swallow – Home
George Lewis – Homage To Charles Parker
Arthur Blythe – Lenox Avenue Breakdown
Archie Shepp – Looking At Bird
Ganelin Trio – Ancora Da Capo
The 80’s – 1981-1985
Billy Bang – Rainbow Gladiator
Lester Bowie – The Great Pretender
James Newton – Axum
Bill Dixon – November 1981
Sarah Vaughan – Crazy And Mixed Up
George Russell – Live In An American Time Spiral
Miroslav Vitous – Journey’s End
Andrew Cyrille Quartet – The Navigator
Vienna Art Orchestra – The Minimalism Of Erik Satie
Lee Konitz – Star Eyes
String Trio Of New York – Rebirth Of A Feeling
Pat Metheny & Ornette Coleman – Song X
Ray Brown – Soular Energy
The 80’s – 1986-1990
Bobby Watson – Love Remains
Dennis Gonzalez – Stefan
Palle Mikkelborg – Heart To Heart
Edward Vesala – Lumi
Joe Zawinul – Di-a-lects
Courtney Pine – Journey To The Urge Within
Clifford Jordan – Royal Ballads
Irene Schweizer - Irene Schweizer/Gunter Sommer
Marilyn Crispell – For Coltrane
Frank Morgan - Reflections
Art Farmer – Blame It On My Youth
Toots Thielemans – Only Trust Your Heart
UMO Jazz Orchestra – UMO Plays The Music Of Muhal Richard Abrams
Louis Hayes – Una Max
Kenny Wheeler – Music For Large And Small Ensembles
Either/Orchestra – The Calculus Of Pleasure
Sun Ra – Mayan Temples
The 90’s – 1991-1995
McCoy Tyner – Soliloquy
Donald Harrison – Indian Blues
Italian Instabile Orchestra – Live In Noci And Rive De Gier
Don Byron – Tuskegee Experiments
Sonny Sharrock – Ask The Ages
Jane Bunnett – Spirits Of Havana
Charles Gayle – Touchin’ On Trane
Joe Lovano – From The Soul
Larry Coryell – Twelve Frets To One Octave
Tom Varner – The Mystery Of Compassion
Hilton Ruiz – Manhattan Mambo
Tommy Smith - Paris
Gianluigi Trovesi – From G to G
Joshua Redman – Joshua Redman
John Lindberg – Dodging Bullets
Don Pullen – Ode To Life
John Gill’s Dixieland Serenaders – Looking For A Little Bluebird
Abdullah Ibrahim - Yarona
Kenny Garrett – Triology
The 90’s – 1996-2000
Tomasz Stanko – Leosia
Ruby Braff – Being With You: Ruby Braff Remembers Louis Armstrong
Charlie Haden & Pat Metheny – Beyond The Missouri Sky (Short Stories)
John Scofield – Quiet
Joe McPhee – As Serious As Your Life
Kurt Rosenwinkel – East Coast Love Affair
Rova – Bingo
Terell Stafford – Centripetal Force
Alan Broadbent – Personal Standards
Arild Anderson – Hyperborean
Gerry Hemingway Quintet – Waltzes, Two-Steps & Other Matters Of The Heart
T. S. Monk – Monk On Monk
Marilyn Mazur’s Future Song – Small Labyrinths
Bob Brookmeyer – New Works: Celebration
Elton Dean’s Newsense – Elton Dean’s Newsense
Greg Osby – Banned In New York
Paul Bley – Not Two, Not One
Spike Robinson – The CTS Sessions
Ryan Kisor – Power Source
The Recent Scene – 2001-2010
Dick Hyman – Forgotten Dreams
Alex Cline – The Constant Flame
Jason Moran – Black Stars
Keith Jarrett – Always Let Me Go
Enrico Pieranunzi – Live In Paris
David Sanchez – Travesia
Conrad Bauer – Between Heaven And Earth
Adam Lane – New Magical Kingdom
John Taylor - Rosslyn
The Bad Plus – Give
Steve Harris/Zaum – Above Our Heads The Sky Splits Open
Robert Glasper – Canvas
Ran Blake – All That Is Tied
Ralph Towner – Time Line
Quest – Redemption: Quest Live In Europe
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