Jump to content

100 Essential Jazz Albums in the New Yorker


Recommended Posts

So...all the "essential" jazz recordings of the last 30-40 years have been on American "major" labels?

Wow. Who knew?

Yes, apart from 2 ECM albums, that's right. "Essential" has certainly got something to do with "authority" and, you've got to admit, the majors do have "authority" on their side.

Shrug.

MG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 67
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Another "Jazz's History For Dummies" compiled by dummies.

A futile low level academic exercize.

Can anybody compile a 100 books/works/movies of Western Literature or Western Classical Music or Cinema's History?

Man, I found most useful the "Best Hundred Recipes Of Aunt Maggie".

Life is travelling, I don't like "All Inclusive Stuff at Cancun".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another "Jazz's History For Dummies" compiled by dummies.

A futile low level academic exercize.

So, just for kicks, can we compile an Organissimo-approved list of the "100 essential" albums? I'd be curious to see it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another "Jazz's History For Dummies" compiled by dummies.

A futile low level academic exercize.

So, just for kicks, can we compile an Organissimo-approved list of the "100 essential" albums? I'd be curious to see it.

Well we sort of did that with "One Artist one Album". (BTW I think this New Yorker list is pretty good though it leaves out many of my favorites e.g Where's The Blues and the Abstract Truth? Allowing any artist only one cd or box set would make room for a lot of other artists and recordings. )

Edited by medjuck
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lists are fun to read sometimes, but they're just lists. If MG, Chuck Nessa, Peter Friedman, and EKE BBB - to pick four random members here - all made up lists of 100 essential jazz records, I'm sure there would be major differences of opinion in what they compiled.

I am sure that we can agree on what keep out of the list. :g

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Of course, this isn't a list for members of this board. In fact, it describes itself as "more a guide for the uninitiated than a source of quarrelling for the collector". A collection of records like this is suitable for a library requiring a high-quality, historically balanced selection for access to a general, non-specialist public. No way does it resemble the individual collection of anyone who knows and loves the music, though many of its items will coincide with collectors' choices.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't speak to the entire list, but several important early jazz figures are missing entirely--

Art Tatum

Roy Eldridge

Bennie Moten

Red Allen

Bill Coleman

Luis Russell Orchestra

Cab Calloway

McKinney's Cotton Pickers

Benny Carter is here, but his work for Norman Granz in the 1950s lacks the brilliance of his 1930s sides.

Fletcher Henderson's output cannot be fairly represented by a CD covering the years 1931-34.

And finally, Pops "Plays W.C. Handy" is okay, especially since it gave Louis a reason to record some new material, instead of the same old stuff, but it's hardly essential.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I mean, what the fuck. I couldn't even compile a best of 2007 list. There were a number of really good/great records last year, but nothing inspiring a list for me. Plus, some of the best ones I didn't even hear until December/January/February and I'm sure there are still more fantastic dates from last year that I have YET to hear.

I don't think I could even give you a "top ten" of all time. I could list ten records I really like and a few that "should be" cornerstones of this music, but... does anyone really care? Not to mention that a few of what I deem "essential" aren't even in-print on CD or never were in that format.

Edited by clifford_thornton
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That Jackie is pretty damn good.

I mean, no point in swinging our dicks around about how many on the list we have. I feel no great loss not having some of these, and others I'll get to when I get to.

If you want to come as close to understanding what this music is about, it's going to take more than 100 records for sure. Me, I'm still scratching the surface of the area that I'm most enthusiastic about.

Edited by clifford_thornton
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That Jackie is pretty damn good.

It is, but I would rank something like "Let Freedom Ring" much higher. IMHO.

There are some good choices on the list (Tristano's Intuition was a nice touch), but yeah, 100 doesn't even scratch the proverbial surface.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lists are fun to read sometimes, but they're just lists. If MG, Chuck Nessa, Peter Friedman, and EKE BBB - to pick four random members here - all made up lists of 100 essential jazz records, I'm sure there would be major differences of opinion in what they compiled.

Well I did - just to see how hard it would be. Took damn near all day.

http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=42970

:D

MG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...