First off, thanks for compiling this list ange. And now a few thoughts...
If I had to compile a list of my 20 favorite records today, it would be different than it was a week ago. Mainly because it is sometimes very hard to pick you one record out of an artist's catalog. Plus in this week I have discovered a few records that I will play to death for the next few months. As I said my favorites is a list with a revolving door.
When I read things like the next two quotes (and don't take it personally guys), I realize why I don't bother to post so much in the threads. It's like beating your head on the wall.
T. Willy Rye wrote:I'm disappointed by the large number of non- Blue Note artists in this list, but what are you gonna do?
This is equivalent to all The Beatles talk. While I know folks around these parts have open minds, it all seems to roll back onto one subject. Like The Beatles, the Blue Note sessions may be a superb examples of pop, they are not the unattainable pinnacle that some assign them. Did we really just want to see another list of Blue Notes? Don't we know most inside and out by now?
Brer Baron wrote:There's not much between Louis Armstrong and Thelonious Monk, is there.
Proof that Ken Burns wasn't wrong to focus on what he did.
Again, such a dismissal is absurd. There is so much great music in between. But like every other genre of music is seems the pap is what has risen to the top to be remembered. I would be more inclined to say that there was very little groundbreaking going on between Armstrong and Monk. But even then I would be compelled to qualify that statement in a real conversation.
NMB wrote: And I thought there'd be more love for David Murray. But maybe he's too modern. There isn't much (anything?) in the list after the 60s. But what a lot of good music there is in there......
Statements like this and Magilla's hope for more free on the list and even the imminent discussion of jazz of the last decade give me hope.
I could easily have included David Murray on my list. There are quite a few on other peoples lists that I though "If only I had a bigger list". I think a lot of people might think that. If I were to compile a list of the 500 greatest jazz lps, I would still agonize at what would fall below 501.
For the record here is my list...
Hot Fives sessions - Louis Armstrong
Original 1945 Bebop Sessions - Dizzy Gillespie/Charlie Parker
Mingus Mingus Mingus - Charles Mingus
Monk's Music - Thelonious Monk
Somalia - Billy Harper
Free At Last - Mal Waldron
Of Blues and Dreams - Anthony Davis
Bob's Pink Cadillac - William Parker Clarinet Trio
Smack Up - Art Pepper
You Know The Number - Henry Threadgill
Blues and Abstract Truth - Oliver Nelson
Light Blue - Arthur Blythe
Stick Up - Bobby Hutcherson
Changing Seasons - Billy Bang
Another kind Of Groove - Kahil El Zabar
Today and Now - Coleman Hawkins
Capricorn Moon - Marion Brown
Indo Pak Coaltition - Rudresh Mahanthappi
Lady Time - Ella Fitzgerald
Oh boy is it getting rough, when my old world charm isn't quite enough.