PaulHeroy

Time Out is certainly a classic, though note that it's also certainly not a trio. Paul Desmond on alto sax is identified with the record almost as much as Brubeck, and he did write the most famous tune. But for Pete's benefit at least there's no evil trumpet! :p)

Peter Mazur

Paul,

I was just reading about the "Money Jungle" that you recommended. That definitely sounds like something I would like. Also the Sax playing, is it as sharp sounding as the Trumpet?

PaulHeroy

Peter, first sorry for getting your name wrong earlier, I got confused with another thread. (Post above edited now.)

Anyway, I'm kinda curious about your term "sharp", I assume in reference to Miles trumpet on Kind of Blue. I don't normally think of that recording as having a particularly sharp trumpet sound, but I guess the trumpet does have a somewhat bright/brassy tone in general. You might prefer players who use a flugelhorn, which is very similar to the trumpet but a different shape which results in a mellower sound. Art Farmer was the guy who really started playing with the flugelhorn instead of trumpet. Most of his classic albums from the late 50's and early 60's are quintet/sextet dates, many with Benny Golson on sax. (They co-led a great band called the Jazztet, with Curtis Fuller also on trombone.)

As for Time Out, I'd say that Desmond's alto sax is a lighter, mellower sound than Miles' trumpet, but not by a lot.

Mike Broadman

Wynton Kelly, who also played piano on Kind of Blue, also has some trio recordings with that rhythm section.

Paul Desmond plays with a particularly light and breezy tone, more than most. Dave Brubeck's music is very light as is most "West Coast" jazz, such as Stan Getz.

Money Jungle is very different type of trio playing than what Bill Evans does, due to Charles Mingus' and Max Roach's hard, heavy and emotional approach to playing.

I've found that most people who don't primarily listen to jazz prefer the "cooler," West coast style- more tightly arranged, loose and spacey, and generally mellow. Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Dave Brubeck, etc.

My awesome music collection

Ian Lascell

I just finished reading all the posts in this thread since finding it two days ago. What a great idea. I already own most of the recommended CDs here, but have been taking notes on all the other recommendations by everyone. Certainly some stuff here that I have not had much exposure to. Most of my Jazz collection is made up of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, and Dave Brubeck. But that "Money Jungle" album is one of my favorites. I have been on a tremendous Mingus kick lately. I had 6 of his CDs for years, and recently bought 3 more. Last night I placed an order for 7 more. I can't get enough of him. The other jazz I've been listening to lately over and over are Coltrane's "Love Supreme" SACD (been my favorite jazz album for years) and his Complete Live at the Village Vanguard box set. This Village Vanguard stuff is great. I've owned it for about 5 years and listened to it several times, but I'm really getting into it now. It just goes to show you how certain jazz music "clicks" for you at certain times, even after repeated listenings. I look forward to discovering some new gems with the help of recommendations from others here. Thanks Mike for a cool club!

Ian

Rich Malloy

Miles' trumpet can be quite in-your-face, but I've never been put-out by it. One of the reasons why it sounds so unique (at least the mid-to-later era stuff), is because he usually plays with a mute while keeping the bell very close to a microphone. That's at least contributes to his very unique tone.

\"Only one is a wanderer;
Two together are always going somewhere.\"

Peter Mazur

Paul,

Maybe sharp is not the right word. I just really like that mellow playing in the background. When the Trumpet comes in it is just a bit...I don't know. I guess it jars me a bit. I have listened to it about three times and I am starting to get used to it a little more now. My favorite song so far is "Flamenco Sketches", (not the alternate take).

I know so little about jazz, the only other cd's I own are "Pat Matheny Group" and "Enigmatic Ocean" by Jean-Luc Ponty. I'm not sure if these would even be considered true jazz albums. But I really love both of these.

Mike,

Well since I have lived in California all my life, I think I would like the "West coast style" best. "Loose, spacey and generally mellow" sounds great to me. I prefer this type of music while I am reading so I like it to just have that great background feel.

One piece that I truly love is "Skating" by Vince Guaraldi. Anything with that style would be great to me.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

PaulHeroy

Peter, I think I get your drift. Like Mike, I'm kinda on the opposite end of the spectrum (ok... I'm actually way past that, heading around the bend into wackout territory at times) as you. I dig the more energetic stuff, and I have trouble thinking of jazz as just background music. Glad to hear you're giving KoB another listen and starting to hear something. Sometimes you can get turned on by something on the first listen... and other times your ear needs a little adjustment over time: discovery is cool! Then one day you find yourself thinking, "Self, how did I ever NOT get this incredible music?"

Allow me to make another recommendation that I think you might really like: Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert. It's solo piano, live, completely improvised; and it works equally well as background music or listening on the edge of your seat. It's mellow on the surface, but there's also some really happening stuff musically.

NP: Shuffle Demons, Live In Europe (Out of My House, Roach! is soooo much fun)

Mike Broadman

Peter,
I don't know if you're into SACD, but Black Narcissus by Vince Guaraldi is out on SACD from Analogue Productions, and it's great sonically and musically.

Looking at your sig, I can see you have great taste in rock music.

Ian,
Good to see another Mingus freak! He, Monk and Miles constitute my Holy Trinity of Music. There's something about Mingus that just draws me in further and further, to the point where I relish the mistakes as well as the successes.

At this time I own 26 Mingus albums on CD, so let me know which you're listening to. There are a few that are not well-known but which are phenomenal.

My awesome music collection

Ron Reda

Do you mean "Black Orpheus"?

"Music is a magic carpet loaded with oils and other soothing potions, it's just what you need when you don't know what you need, when you've got more questions than answers." - Bob Lefsetz

imported_Allen Hirsch

Mike-
I just added Mingus Ah Um and Tijuana Moods, thanks mostly to the earlier discussions here.

Ah Um immediately became one of my top 10 jazz albums - very solid, top to bottom, and very accessible. (TM is more experimental, and therefore probably more of an acquired taste.)

I find Miles Davis' Kind of Blue to be probably the "easiest listening" of Miles' work. Funny how everyone's tastes differ.

Rich Malloy

Anybody watch "The West Wing" last night? When CJ returned home to visit her father, he had "Kind of Blue" playing on the stereo. You could hear it through the whole, rather long scene... I got so caught up, I missed all the dialog!

\"Only one is a wanderer;
Two together are always going somewhere.\"