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Your Favorite Jazz Records of the 1980s?


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On 20.2.2021 at 1:32 PM, sidewinder said:

Yes, good call. Nice production by Teo Macero and like you I witnessed that tour where much of this material was featured. I think Al Foster’s drums were particularly well captured on the LPs.

Yes, Al Foster ! 

For my taste, things went down from 1985 on, when he replaced Al Foster and went more into commercial stuff an it got more a kind of show, almost a parody of Miles, rather than stuff played in a band like on "We Want Miles"

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On 2/20/2021 at 9:27 PM, Patrick said:

No mention yet of John Carter's Roots and Folklore series?

Oh yeah.  IMO, Castles of Ghana and Fields should be any short-list of "Essential 80s Jazz" !!!

 

On 2/18/2021 at 1:22 PM, soulpope said:

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On 2/20/2021 at 2:43 AM, soulpope said:

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soulpope - These two don't qualify because they were recorded in the 1970s -- even though they were released in the 1980s.  The only reason I know this: They were both on my "Favorite Jazz from the 1970s" blog. 

IIRC, I first heard that Jerry Gonzalez record based on your recommendation... and I first heard that Bill Barron LP because of Jim Sangrey's often-noted Bill Barron-ophila!  :D 

 

On 2/18/2021 at 1:26 PM, Peter Friedman said:

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Thanks Peter!  Not familiar with these two!  :tup 

 

On 2/20/2021 at 10:25 PM, Д.Д. said:

Recorded in 1980:

  • Fred Anderson Quartet - The Milwaukee Tapes Vol.1 (Atavistic)
  • The John Carter Quintet - Night Fire (Black Saint)

  • Cecil Taylor - Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly! (MPS)

  • Fred Anderson; Steve McCall - Vintage Duets: Chicago 1-11-80 (Okka Disk)

  • Archie Shepp; Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - Looking At Bird (SteepleChase)

  • Andrew Hill - Faces of Hope (Soul Note)

  • Julius Hemphill Quartet - Flat-Out Jump Suite (Black Saint)

  • Bill Dixon - In Italy - Volume One (Black Saint)

  • Idris Muhammad - Kabsha (Theresa)

  • Stéphane Grappelli; Martial Solal - Happy Reunion (Owl)

  • Bernd Konrad - Hans Koller Unit with Didier Lockwood - Phonolith (Hat Hut) - half of the tracks, the rest was recorded in 1994. 

And that's just one year. 

Great list.  Thanks D.D.!!!

 

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1 hour ago, Gheorghe said:

Yes, Al Foster ! 

For my taste, things went down from 1985 on, when he replaced Al Foster and went more into commercial stuff an it got more a kind of show, almost a parody of Miles, rather than stuff played in a band like on "We Want Miles"

Yes, next time I saw him was in 85. The band with Scofield, Bob Berg and Robert Irving III. Fine performance - but Al was missed. Miles played quite a bit of organ.

Teo captured Foster’s drums very well on ‘We Want Miles’.

Edited by sidewinder
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49 minutes ago, Guy Berger said:

One thing that hits home from this thread is how astro-turfy and phony the whole "young lions" marketing campaign was.  There was tons of unhyped, high quality straight-ahead (and straight-ahead-adjacent) jazz recorded during the 80s.

I was impressed at how long the thread has gone before anyone even mentioned them.

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1 hour ago, Rabshakeh said:

I was impressed at how long the thread has gone before anyone even mentioned them.

Back on the first page I listed

Brian Lynch: Peer Pressure (Criss Cross)

Ralph Moore: Round Trip (Reservoir)

Mulgrew Miller: Work (Landmark)

Scott Hamilton, Tenor Shoes (Concord)

*******************************************************

I'd say each of those are early "young lions" and each are among their earliest leader dates, except for the Scott Hamilton recording - whether they had a lot of marketing behind them or not.

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1 hour ago, Dan Gould said:

Back on the first page I listed

Brian Lynch: Peer Pressure (Criss Cross)

Ralph Moore: Round Trip (Reservoir)

Mulgrew Miller: Work (Landmark)

Scott Hamilton, Tenor Shoes (Concord)

*******************************************************

I'd say each of those are early "young lions" and each are among their earliest leader dates, except for the Scott Hamilton recording - whether they had a lot of marketing behind them or not.

I meant more the endless controversy, although I am a bit surprised at how few of those records have been mentioned too. I don't think they're that bad, although Guy Berger's "astro-turfy and phony" is a good phrase which I intend to adopt myself going ahead. 

Okay, here are my favourite jazz records of the 80s, in rough chronological order. Some may have already been mentioned above. 

Jack deJohnette - Special Edition

Arthur Blythe - Illusions

Fred Anderson - The Milwaukee Tapes, Vol. 1

Derek Bailey, John Zorn and George Lewis - Yankees

Milcho Leviev - Blues for the Fishermen

Andrew Hill - Strange Serenade

Julius Hemphill - Flat Out Jump Suite

Pharaoh Sanders - Journey to the One

David Murray - Ming

Derek Bailey - Aida

Muhal Richard Abrams - Mama and Daddy

World Saxophone Quartet - Steppin'

Grover Washington Jr - Winelight

Roscoe Mitchell and the Sound Ensemble - Snurdy McGurdy and her Dancing Shoes

James Newton - Axum

Chico Freeman - The Outside Within

Phil Woods/Lew Tabackin - Phil Woods/Lew Tabackin

Steve Lacy - N.Y. Capers & Quirks

Chick Corea - Three Quartets

Old and New Dreams - Playing

Vinny Golia - The Gift of Fury

Anthony Braxton - Six Compositions: Quartet

Bill Dixon - November 1981

Mal Waldron and Steve Lacy - Live at Dreher Paris 1981

Keith Tippett - Mujician

Lester Bowie - The Great Pretender

Griot Galaxy - Kins

Leo Cuyper - Heavy Days Are Here Again

John Carter - Dauwhe

Bob Moses - When Elephants Dream of Music

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - Impressions

World Saxophone Quartet - Revue

Roswell Rudd, Steve Lacy, Misha Mengelberg, Kent Carter and Han Bennink - Regeneration

Billy Bang - Outline No. 12

George Adams Don Pullen Quartet - City Gates

Joe McPhee Po Music - Oleo

Kaoru Abe - Mort a Credit

Kenny Baron Trio - Green Chimneys

Steve Lacy Seven - Cliches

Harrison/Blanchard - New York Second Line

Lee Konitz and Martial Solal - Star Eyes, Hamburg 1983

Sun Ra - A Fireside Chat With Lucifer

Jaco Pastorius - Invitation 

Trovesi Damiani Quintet - Roccellanea

Khan Jamal Quartet - Dark Warrior

Vienna Art Orchestra - The Minimalism of Eric Satie

New Phil Woods Quintet - Integrity

Fred Anderson - The Missing Link

Peter Brotzmann - 14 Love Poems

Paul Motian - The Story of Maryam

Cecil Taylor - Winged Serpents (Sliding Quadrants)

Grupo Niche - No Hay Quinto Malo

Nate Morgan - Retribution, Reparation

Position Alpha - The Great Sound of Sound

Ray Anderson - Right Down Your Alley

Dave Holland - Seeds of Time

Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy - I Only Have Eyes for You

John Hicks - Inc. 1

Anthony Braxton - Quartet (Coventry) 1985

Irene Schweizer - The Storming of the Winter Palace

James Newton - The African Flower

Joe Henderson - State of the Tenor

John Carter - Castles of Ghana

Last Exit - Last Exit

Ran Blake Quartet - The Short Life of Barbara Monk

Steve Lacy - Morning Joy

Andrew Hill Trio and Quartet - Shades

Tim Berne - Fulton Street Maul

Irene Schweizer - Live at Taktlos

Misha Mengelberg, Steve Lacy, George Lewis, Ernst Reijseger, Han Bennink - Dutch Masters

Mal Waldron and Steve Lacy - Sempre Amore

Edward Vesala - Lumi

Out of the Blue - Live at Mount Fuji

Charlie Haden / Paul Motian feat. Geri Allen - Etudes

David Torn, Time Berne and Ches Smith - Cloud about Mercury

Michael Brecker - Michael Brecker

Charles Brackeen Quartet - Worshippers Come Nigh

Irene Schweizer & Gunter Sommer - Irene Schweizer & Gunter Sommer

John Zorn, George Lewis and Bill Frissell - News for Lulu

Evan Parker - The Snake Decides

Jerome Cooper Quintet - Outer and Interactions

Gonzalo Rubalcabra - Mi Gran Pasion

Derek Bailey and Cyro Baptista - CYRO

Mal Waldron and Jim Pepper - Art of the Duo

Muhal Richard Abrams - The Hearinga Suite

Gary Thomas & Seventh Quadrant - Code Violations

John Butcher, Phil Durrant, Paul Lovens, Radu Malfatti, John Russell - News from the Shed

Henry Threadgill Sextet - Rag, Bush and All

Paul Bley Trio - BeBopBeBopBeBopBeBop

Edited by Rabshakeh
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1 hour ago, Rabshakeh said:

I meant more the endless controversy, although I am a bit surprised at how few of those records have been mentioned too. I don't think they're that bad, although Guy Berger's "astro-turfy and phony" is a good phrase which I intend to adopt myself going ahead. 

Okay, here are my favourite jazz records of the 80s, in rough chronological order. Some may have already been mentioned above. 

Jack deJohnette - Special Edition

Arthur Blythe - Illusions

Fred Anderson - The Milwaukee Tapes, Vol. 1

Derek Bailey, John Zorn and George Lewis - Yankees

Milcho Leviev - Blues for the Fishermen

Andrew Hill - Strange Serenade

Julius Hemphill - Flat Out Jump Suite

Pharaoh Sanders - Journey to the One

David Murray - Ming

Derek Bailey - Aida

Muhal Richard Abrams - Mama and Daddy

World Saxophone Quartet - Steppin'

Grover Washington Jr - Winelight

Roscoe Mitchell and the Sound Ensemble - Snurdy McGurdy and her Dancing Shoes

James Newton - Axum

Chico Freeman - The Outside Within

Phil Woods/Lew Tabackin - Phil Woods/Lew Tabackin

Steve Lacy - N.Y. Capers & Quirks

Chick Corea - Three Quartets

Old and New Dreams - Playing

Vinny Golia - The Gift of Fury

Anthony Braxton - Six Compositions: Quartet

Bill Dixon - November 1981

Mal Waldron and Steve Lacy - Live at Dreher Paris 1981

Keith Tippett - Mujician

Lester Bowie - The Great Pretender

Griot Galaxy - Kins

Leo Cuyper - Heavy Days Are Here Again

John Carter - Dauwhe

Bob Moses - When Elephants Dream of Music

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - Impressions

World Saxophone Quartet - Revue

Roswell Rudd, Steve Lacy, Misha Mengelberg, Kent Carter and Han Bennink - Regeneration

Billy Bang - Outline No. 12

George Adams Don Pullen Quartet - City Gates

Joe McPhee Po Music - Oleo

Kaoru Abe - Mort a Credit

Kenny Baron Trio - Green Chimneys

Steve Lacy Seven - Cliches

Harrison/Blanchard - New York Second Line

Lee Konitz and Martial Solal - Star Eyes, Hamburg 1983

Sun Ra - A Fireside Chat With Lucifer

Jaco Pastorius - Invitation 

Trovesi Damiani Quintet - Roccellanea

Khan Jamal Quartet - Dark Warrior

Vienna Art Orchestra - The Minimalism of Eric Satie

New Phil Woods Quintet - Integrity

Fred Anderson - The Missing Link

Peter Brotzmann - 14 Love Poems

Paul Motian - The Story of Maryam

Cecil Taylor - Winged Serpents (Sliding Quadrants)

Grupo Niche - No Hay Quinto Malo

Nate Morgan - Retribution, Reparation

Position Alpha - The Great Sound of Sound

Ray Anderson - Right Down Your Alley

Dave Holland - Seeds of Time

Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy - I Only Have Eyes for You

John Hicks - Inc. 1

Anthony Braxton - Quartet (Coventry) 1985

Irene Schweizer - The Storming of the Winter Palace

James Newton - The African Flower

Joe Henderson - State of the Tenor

John Carter - Castles of Ghana

Last Exit - Last Exit

Ran Blake Quartet - The Short Life of Barbara Monk

Steve Lacy - Morning Joy

Andrew Hill Trio and Quartet - Shades

Tim Berne - Fulton Street Maul

Irene Schweizer - Live at Taktlos

Misha Mengelberg, Steve Lacy, George Lewis, Ernst Reijseger, Han Bennink - Dutch Masters

Mal Waldron and Steve Lacy - Sempre Amore

Edward Vesala - Lumi

Out of the Blue - Live at Mount Fuji

Charlie Haden / Paul Motian feat. Geri Allen - Etudes

David Torn, Time Berne and Ches Smith - Cloud about Mercury

Michael Brecker - Michael Brecker

Charles Brackeen Quartet - Worshippers Come Nigh

Irene Schweizer & Gunter Sommer - Irene Schweizer & Gunter Sommer

John Zorn, George Lewis and Bill Frissell - News for Lulu

Evan Parker - The Snake Decides

Jerome Cooper Quintet - Outer and Interactions

Gonzalo Rubalcabra - Mi Gran Pasion

Derek Bailey and Cyro Baptista - CYRO

Mal Waldron and Jim Pepper - Art of the Duo

Muhal Richard Abrams - The Hearinga Suite

Gary Thomas & Seventh Quadrant - Code Violations

John Butcher, Phil Durrant, Paul Lovens, Radu Malfatti, John Russell - News from the Shed

Henry Threadgill Sextet - Rag, Bush and All

Paul Bley Trio - BeBopBeBopBeBopBeBop

So many good albums there. 

And astroturfing is probably the correct word for that situation back then. Don't know who the publicist/agent/marketing team involved was but they obviously had good connections. 

A few more 80s albums I enjoy:

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That's obviously a comp that was released in '88

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R-1246982-1350467123-8454.jpeg.jpg

R-4505187-1492418315-2076.jpeg.jpg

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And some more:

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R-9676896-1484602360-5842.jpeg.jpg

R-11240265-1587885050-6095.jpeg.jpg

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3 hours ago, Dan Gould said:

Back on the first page I listed

Brian Lynch: Peer Pressure (Criss Cross)

Ralph Moore: Round Trip (Reservoir)

Mulgrew Miller: Work (Landmark)

Scott Hamilton, Tenor Shoes (Concord)

*******************************************************

I'd say each of those are early "young lions" and each are among their earliest leader dates, except for the Scott Hamilton recording - whether they had a lot of marketing behind them or not.

Dan - I don't disagree that there were younger musicians making strong straight-ahead jazz during the 1980s.  Mostly I'm contesting the nonsensical narrative (which was probably more common 15-30 years ago) that a small group of younger musicians somehow "saved" straight ahead jazz during this period.  As this thread shows, the scene was alive and well, and didn't need "saving".

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16 minutes ago, Guy Berger said:

Dan - I don't disagree that there were younger musicians making strong straight-ahead jazz during the 1980s.  Mostly I'm contesting the nonsensical narrative (which was probably more common 15-30 years ago) that a small group of younger musicians somehow "saved" straight ahead jazz during this period.  As this thread shows, the scene was alive and well, and didn't need "saving".

I agree Guy, I just knew that I had mentioned some young lions early on, though I didn't call them that. 

It's nice to be past that part of history. Nowadays the scene sucks for everybody, and jazz is way past the 'smells funny' phase too. :g

Kidding. Sort of. 

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25 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

I agree Guy, I just knew that I had mentioned some young lions early on, though I didn't call them that. 

It's nice to be past that part of history. Nowadays the scene sucks for everybody, and jazz is way past the 'smells funny' phase too. :g

Kidding. Sort of. 

If TikTok can make sea shanties entertaining, I can't believe it can't "save" jazz for at least another media cycle or two...

Somebody should get on that.  ;)

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