Finally, the stunning cover art ranks as one of Reid Miles finest for the label. Then there is the presence of the criminally under-appreciated Art Farmer on trumpet, making a rare appearance on a Blue Note session. Next, you have two Blue Note legends in Jackie Mclean and Paul Chambers playing alongside him. First off, you have Clark on the piano at the peak of his powers, laying down his complex yet soulful riffs. Considered by some to be the epitome of the early Blue Note hard bop sound, it has so many things going for it that it's hard to know where to start. While Sonny Clark is highly regarded by longtime Blue Note fans, he is not particularly well known in the greater jazz world, which is a shame because he was a huge talent, and Cool Struttin' was his masterpiece. Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin' - Released 1958 Add on to that the smokin' hot playing of a young Lee Morgan on trumpet, Jymie Merritt on bass and the unparalleled skill of Blakey on the skins, and all the pieces were in place for Blakey to make the album that rightfully defined his career. Both Benny Golson on tenor and Bobby Timmons on piano are unsung heroes of the hard bop era, and in addition to their fantastic playing on the album they get to show off their underrated compositional skills as well (Timmons composed the title track, while Golson contributed "Along Came Betty" and "Blues March"). Another reason Moanin' needs to be any jazz collection is the group that Blakey assembled for this version of the Jazz Messengers. "Along Came Betty" and "Blues March" are both tunes that, along with the title track, have rightfully become jazz standards. One track does not make a classic album, however, and Moanin' is definitely no one-trick pony. This album would be required listening for the title track alone, as it is hands down one of the best hard bop tracks ever recorded. This was one of the first Blue Note albums I ever heard, and even after hundreds of listens it remains one of my very favorite jazz LPs to this very day.Īrt Blakey and The Jazz Messengers - Moanin' - Released 1958 The album never lets up, whether it be the upbeat Miles composed title track or the beyond bluesy "One For Daddy-O," making Somethin' Else an album that has it all for any stripe of jazz or Blue Note fan. The group's take on the nearly eleven minute opening track "Autumn Leaves" threatens to overshadow the rest of the album with it's mind blowing moody intensity and slow burning solos, and yet it serves as the perfect opener for the rest of the record. It was a very rare appearance by Miles as a sideman at this point in his career, but an important one: it resulted in one of the finest hard bop albums ever made. When Cannonball Adderley hit the studio in March of 1958 he was a member of the Miles Davis Sextet (the one that would record Kind Of Blue), so why not bring along his boss to play with him on the album that would become Somethin' Else. The following albums are listed by year of release, because it would be a meaningless endeavor to attempt to rank them in any sort of order of greatness.Ĭannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else - Released 1958 These ten albums make up the core of any Blue Note collection and belong in any and every self-respecting music library. The following albums are available in any number of different formats, and while it's no surprise that I will tell you that they are best enjoyed on vinyl (be it vintage or newer pressings), that should by no means keep you from acquiring them and adding them to your collection in whatever manner you choose. They showcase the finest jazz music and artists that emerged during a time when jazz music was at it's commercial and creative peak. As with any list that attempts to compress a label and genre into a neat package there are some extremely important artists, albums and styles that didn't make the cut, but that only goes to show just how diverse and expansive Blue Note was during this time.
The following ten albums represent the very best of what made Blue Note the premier jazz label during the golden age of jazz music (a period running roughly 1956 to 1968).
0 kommentar(er)
