medjuck Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 (edited) The thread with advice for the "newbie" got me thinking about what performances are considered must have jazz masterpieces. For example: Louis Armstrong: West End Blues Bix: Singin' the Blues Coleman Hawkins: Body And Soul Bird: Koko etc And if we want to add cuts from albums: Coltrane:L Giant Steps But when you get to Ellington and Miles I'm starting to think: This Way Lies Madness. Anyone want to add to this list? Edited May 26, 2009 by medjuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 I know that they are in good part personal choices, but: Ellington's "The Sergeant Was Shy" Monk's "Little Rootie-Tootie" The Miles-Cannonball "Autumn Leaves" Other recordings by these people are arguably better/greater, but these never fall to delight and fascinate me. Also, I'm not normally a great Cannonball admirer, but that's one heck of a solo and just a magical mood-drenched performance by everyone. Wonder what an Ashley Khan book about that date would have to say, though I believe there are only two participants still with us -- Hank Jones and RVG. In particular, I would love to know about the role Alfred Lion played on this date, and not only because of Miles' immortal, "Is that what you wanted, Al-fred?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Brown Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 Ellington's "Cotton Tail" Thelonious Monk's "Brilliant Corners" Count Basie's "Taxi War Dance" Pee Wee Russell's "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain" Don Byas & Slam Stewart's "Indiana" Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" Albert Ayler's "Ghosts" Louis Armstrong's "West End Blues" Bix Beiderbecke's "I'm Coming Virginia" Red Norvo's "Congo Blues" (with Bird & Diz) and a thousand others... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gitin Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 (edited) Al-fred?" Cannonball Adderley w Miles Davis: "Autumn Leaves" First one that came to my mind! Edited May 26, 2009 by David Gitin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 Herbie Hancock: I Have a Dream. I get goosebumps every time I hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Moments Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 we have a thread for this already! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffcrom Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 This could be never-ending, so I'll just throw out one: Thelonious Monk - Misterioso (Blue Note) Three minutes of semi-improvised perfection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie87 Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 we have a thread for this already! It bugs me when we do duplicate threads too. But - this thread seems to be for individual tracks/performances, not albums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 Serge Chaloff's "Body and Soul" New Orleans Wanderers' "Perdido St. Blues" Sonny Rollins' "St. Thomas" (from "Saxophone Colossus") Count Basie's "Taxi War Dance" Konitz w/Kenton "Lover Man" -- aircheck from "Lee in Sweden" (Dragon) Luckey Roberts' "Inner Space" Coleman Hawkins/Charlie Shavers "Hawk Eyes" (title track from the album) Roscoe Mitchell's "Nonaah" (alto-saxophone quartet version) Louis Armstrong's "Struttin' With Some Barbecue" (Decca big band version) Warne Marsh's "317 E. 32" and "Subconscious Lee" -- from "All Music" (Nessa) Jazz Messengers' " Nica's Dream" Ornette Coleman's "Beauty Is A Rare Thing" Sonny Clark's "Cool Struttin'" (title track from the album) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 Miles with Lee Konitz - Ezz-thetic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gitin Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 Serge Chaloff's "Body and Soul" Sonny Rollins' "St. Thomas" (from "Saxophone Colossus") Count Basie's "Taxi War Dance" Konitz w/Kenton "Lover Man" -- aircheck from "Lee in Sweden" (Dragon) Coleman Hawkins/Charlie Shavers "Hawk Eyes" (title track from the album) Roscoe Mitchell's "Nonaah" (alto-saxophone quartet version) Louis Armstrong's "Struttin' With Some Barbecue" (Decca big band version) Warne Marsh's "317 E. 32" and "Subconscious Lee" -- from "All Music" (Nessa) Ornette Coleman's "Beauty Is A Rare Thing" These are fine choices! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gitin Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 perhaps UNacknowledged single masterpieces? Lennie Tristano REQUIEM Bill Evans PEACE PIECE Cecil Taylor BULBS Charlie Parker K.C. BLUES and a zillion more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 It's funny - there's a whole "world" of Cecil after "Bulbs" but it's an absolute favorite tune of mine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Ptah Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 Billie Holiday with Lester Young--I Must Have That Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 Billie Holiday with Lester Young--I Must Have That Man :tup :tup :tup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon8 Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 Found that thread while looking for something else. Like the idea of focusing on one single track, intent listening. My idea of masterpiece cuts are where everything is perfectly balanced, with nothing extraneous & nothing left to be desired. No virtuoso performance necessarily needed. In that regard, I would certainly pick, in the ones already mentioned, Monk's original "Misterioso": a dream clash with Milt Jackson and Monk's most perfect clangs. Pee Wee Russell has also been mentioned. He played his "Pee Wee's Blues" many times, but I think his 1959 version on "Pee Wee Plays" with Buck Clayton, Vic Dickenson, Buck Freeman and Eddie Condon (the muted intro of Clayton & Dickenson, Condon subtly accompanying Russell on the head, the horns backing Pee Wee in his solo, Dickenson delicious wah-wah turn)..is just perfect. Didn't find that version online, but while looking for Don Byas & Slam Stewart's "Indiana", found their astonishing version of "I Got Rhythm": Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgcim Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Miles with Lee Konitz - Ezz-thetic In the George Russell biography, they said Miles couldn't cut the head, so they gave him an easy counter line to play. Then he tried to sneak out of the session before it was over, and Russell's wife had to block the door to stop him from trying to score. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Jones/Smith Inc "Lady Be Good"Teddy Wilson (w/Billie Holiday & Lester Young) "Foolin' Myself" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 I probably don't like masterpieces much, but there are several tracks that really get me. Illinois Jacquet - Blues - from the first JATP concert. The HONK made REAL! Sonny Stitt - Deuces wild - from Just the way it was; live at the Left Bank. So much excitement and togetherness. Grant Green - It ain't necessarily so - from Nigeria. Well, just because it's great. MJQ - One never knows - from One never knows. Martin Williams complained that there was no exploration in this cut, but the exploration is sonic, not thematic, rhythmic or harmonic, with Connie Kay in the lead. Jack McDuff - A real good 'un - from Live. Just the blues, not an exercise in anything, just the motherfuckin' BLOOOOOZE! MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Wow, I somehow missed this thread the first time around. I'll be using it to dig up masterpieces I have missed! I consider these masterpieces, off the top of my head: Stanley Turrentine "Shirley" Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers "Dat Dere" Duke Pearson "Wahoo" Brother Jack McDuff "Moon Rappin'" Roy Haynes "Dorian" Woody Shaw "Sashianova" Wes Montgomery "Bumpin' On Sunset" Grant Green "Street Of Dreams" Freddie Hubbard "Povo" Les McCann "Doin' That Thing" Roy Brooks "The Free Slave" Lou Donaldson "One Cylinder" Lee Morgan "Search For The New Land" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon8 Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 (edited) I probably don't like masterpieces much, but there are several tracks that really get me. Illinois Jacquet - Blues - from the first JATP concert. The HONK made REAL! Sonny Stitt - Deuces wild - from Just the way it was; live at the Left Bank. So much excitement and togetherness. Grant Green - It ain't necessarily so - from Nigeria. Well, just because it's great. MJQ - One never knows - from One never knows. Martin Williams complained that there was no exploration in this cut, but the exploration is sonic, not thematic, rhythmic or harmonic, with Connie Kay in the lead. Jack McDuff - A real good 'un - from Live. Just the blues, not an exercise in anything, just the motherfuckin' BLOOOOOZE! MG Hey MG, I just listened to the JATP "Blues", never heard it before. Jacquet is crazy ! That back & forth between Les Paul and Nat King Cole after is something else, too. Agree with Green's "It Ain't Necessarily So": hard to dig your groove deeper. Edited November 9, 2012 by Simon8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WD45 Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Grant Green - It ain't necessarily so - from Nigeria. Well, just because it's great. +1. Sooo great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Art Farmer/Benny Golson and the Jazztet doing "Django" on their John Lewis album! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Lester Young's version of "These Foolish Things", recorded in December 1945 in Los Angeles for Aladdin Records, with Dodo Marmarosa on piano, Red Callender on bass and Henry 'Tucker' Green on drums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Les McCann "Doin' That Thing" I must give that another listen. Damn good but I haven't, so far, rated it a masterpie. Lou Donaldson "One Cylinder" I VERY nearly put that one in, but kept thinking that, really, the masterpie is Freddie McCoy's. MG Hey MG, I just listened to the JATP "Blues", never heard it before. Jacquet is crazy ! That back & forth between Les Paul and Nat King Cole after is something else, too. Glad you got into that! (Glad someone did ) MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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