Rabshakeh

The universally trusted Allmusic is one (never great, but normally good for Ellington at least). A few other places. It seems really good to me. It might even be the Ellington I'd recommend to a casual beginner.

Charlie Parker Big Band – Charlie Parker Big Band (Clef, 1954) Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – Ellington Indigos (Columbia, 1958) Listening to this one because of a mention on the recent thread about the first jazz albums people bought. It gets a bad rap for some reason, and I'd never listened to it as a result. But I really like it. I accept that none of these is the best version of these tunes, but it has a unified feel, great sound, and a nice simple one-soloist-per-song concept. I can see why it was a hit: If I was a stern 1950s father, I would have bought it too. Johnny Hodges is great on it. Love this one. Something about the treatment really brings out the familial link between scotch/Irish folk and the blues, really strongly.

New Jack Swing's having a sort of critical comeback at the moment. Listening to it now it seems a lot better than it did at the time. All kinds of rhythms going on. That's a horrifying stat.

It seemed a little artificial to me. I wondered if it was paid for. I was definitely pretty impressed by her - not blown away but enough that I’d explore more.

Yer Dan’s put up some good records recently

I enjoyed the one Zoh Amba that I have heard. FJB gave her a bit push recently for some reason.

Dinner Party (Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin, and 9th Wonder) – Dinner Party (Sounds of Crenshaw, 2020)

Is this right? I grew up in the late 90s and early 00s. Commercial music-wise, that was a total wasteland. The 10 years from 2007 - 2017 strike me as far stronger, although it does feel like the last five have been nothing like as good.

Thank you

Semantics – Semantics (Rift, 1986)

I know this is wrong, but I like it more. I think that Roach is more in the background, so Braxton gets free-er reign. I like his melodic ideas, which are unusually simple for him. Birth and Rebirth never really took for me - to my ears Braxton isn't quite up to what Roach is doing. I am currently on this one: Mentioned recently on this board.

Max Roach & Anthony Braxton – One In Two - Two In One (HatHut)

I don't hate Peterson, but I don't like it. As someone says upthread, there are a 100 pianists I would listen to ahead of him. I've always been mystified by how come he was so well loved. I noticed recently that the Allmusic review for My Favorite Instrument describes it as a "prelude to his outstanding Pablo recordings". What are these outstanding Pablo recordings? If there aren't any, which at least made the biggest splash? I'd assume that given Peterson's commercial importance, he was a large part of what kept Pablo going.

Birthright – Breath Of Life (Freelance, 1976)

Too many obits on this forum recently. RIP.

Currently on this one, which has some good rhythms, including an offbeat appearance by Gerald Cleaver. Henry Gibson – Galactic Love (Emarcy, 1992)

V/A (Dexter Gordon) – The Other Side Of Round Midnight (Blue Note, 1986) I've listened to this before, but I'm struck by Wayne Shorter's playing on "Call Sheet Blues". It sounds very Cool influenced. I would not have realised that it was him.

Dr. John – Duke Elegant (Blue Note, 2001)

Agreed. Although when they do something new, it's pretty immediately obvious.

Thanks. Will check these out. Which of the Playfields have you enjoyed the most?

Lennie Niehaus – Vol. 5: The Sextet (Contemporary, 1956) Avishai Cohen – Cross My Palm With Silver (ECM, 2017)

Jim Beard – Song Of The Sun (CTI, 1991)

JD Allen – Queen City (Savant, 2021)

Oh, there is clutter.

I like these shots. In terms of physical arrangement (and turntable) you have a very similar set up to my own.