NOW JAZZ NOW 100 Essential Free Jazz & Improvisation Recordings 1960-80

[clifford_thornton]

yeah, Intents & Purposes not being included was a surprise.

[dnsrrlls]

I didn't get the book, but was interested in seeing the list. It's not as bad as feared in terms of sheer flexing, if only because so many of the really chased-after inclusions have been properly reissued over the years. Still, I agree with Colin that there are some head-scratchers that seem to lean towards collector fetishism over musical impact, such as the choice of Cecil Taylor Unit and Marion Brown records, not to mention rather silly inclusions like acetates and records that only existed as test pressings that contemporaneous fans wouldn't have even known existed. And some really puzzling exclusions of entire artists that others here pointed out, like Bill Dixon, Sam Rivers, and Wadada Leo Smith. 

Despite my skepticism, I'm certainly a record fetishist myself. I've got 40 on the list in their original forms, and 11 more as reissues.

Now Colin's list--that's very interesting! A ton of stuff I'm not familiar with, though there are a lot of artists represented that I love and just haven't heard the particular album he picked. Surprisingly to me, I didn't do quite as well on his list--38 OGs and 3 reissues. Will definitely be digging in further!

[felser]

2 hours ago, clifford_thornton said:

yeah, Intents & Purposes not being included was a surprise.

Agreed, also  Gracham Moncur III, New Africa.

[clifford_thornton]

from what I can tell, the goal was to avoid too much crossover with "spiritual jazz" and New Africa might qualify, though regardless, it is an absolutely extraordinary record (and gets fairly skronky in parts).