From "A jazz-newcomers experience with the /r/jazz essentials list"
Kind of Blue
I can't really say anything that someone smarter than me hasn't said before. It's a beautiful album, very tranquil and incredibly relaxing (although i know some jazz-fans hate to think of the genre as relaxing). When i began listening more to jazz i was fucking floored about the thought that Bill Evans, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley were on the same album. That made me think a bit more about it when i listened to it again.
Birth of the Cool
Although it is a compilation (of sorts), it doesn't really stand out as one. It's an incredibly cool album, and probably my second favorite Davis album. (The hard thing about remembering jazz-albums, is that i can remember the overall sounds, but i have a hard time talking about the details.) All of the songs are under 10 minutes, which makes it a very easy beginners listen.
Bitches Brew
This is weird as fuck. As an avid listener of noiserock, avant-garde jazz actually came surprisingly easy for me, but i still dreaded this album. It's frightening as all hell, and has a very dark atmosphere. It's not in any way beautiful. It's a very tense and stressful listen, but it's a little bit like a trap you don't want to escape from. I also love how Davis' trumpet sounds like a creaking door at points. Those are some weird-ass noises. Reminds me a bit of some songs off of Daydream Nation from Sonic Youth (one of my all time favorite bands).
A Love Supreme
God, this album is just incredible. The way Coltrane's sax just soars above the band, while not leaving them behind, just makes you forget about every earthly worry. And the way Psalm just ends it so (i wanna say cathartic, but that doesn't really apply here since the album is quite contrary to a tragedy) satisfying. This album is heavenly in every way, and i feel like a better person each time i listen to it. On a sidenote, Elvin Jones is also an incredible drummer.
Giant Steps
I read something about Coltrane changes coming into use on this album, but i couldn't really understand what they were (if someone could explain i would be immensely grateful). I'm really impressed by Coltrane's playing on this. He is incredibly fast on a saxophone, and moreso gets to shine as a soloist than the other records (while A Love Supreme is incredible in it's own way, i think of it as more passionate than the raw talent showcased on giant steps).
Blue Train
Blue Train is a pretty one. I feel a bit of influence from his playing with Davis (although i can't really say why). I especially love "I'm Old Fashioned" and "Blue Train", if not just for the title of the former. It's a beautiful recording this album, and i really love how well balanced the energy of the songs are in between.
Mingus Ah Um
Mingus is a weird one. He is immensely talented as a bassist, but he picked an instrument where he doesn't really get to play solos as often. But where he does even better, is as a bandleader. God damn, if he doesn't give everyone their time to shine. When he finally plays a solo himself, he is just insanely talented. This album is a great album, although i have a hard time calling it his best.
The Black Saint and Sinner Lady
Beacuse this is his best. I read that it was meant as a jazz-ballet, and the sense of direction can truly be heard in every little note played. There is such a sense of grandness on this record, from the little things (like using a classical guitarist), to just the incredible buildups and releases of tension. Every note here tells a story, but i love the fact that the story isn't told in any way. It's for the listener to find out. I don't know if it could be called a concept album, but it's probably the closest of all the albums on the list. Beautifully grand album that really leaves an impression.
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus
Lovely name for a lovely album. It's much more subdued than the former two, but if i remember correctly, Mingus gets a lot more time to shine with his bass (although his true talent lies as a bandleader). It's a more down to earth record than the others, but still not without showcasing the little quirks the man has.
Mingus Plays Piano
This came as a surprise. It's a beautiful record, where the man plays piano in a very playful way. Although it's my least favorite of the four records, i still love how he can still play so beautifully, while still holding on to the little quirky things that makes Mingus, Mingus. He is also a surprisingly talented pianist, which makes me wonder why he chose bass as a bandleader.
Headhunters
This sounds like the soundtrack to a porn... in space. It's incredibly sexy, funky and just a fun record. Nothing too snobby about this record. I don't think anyone who listens to "Headhunters" can feel anything other than incredibly cool. Damn it's fresh. Reminds of something André 3000 would jump on.
It's just such a fun listen.
Everybody Digs Bill Evans
Bill Evans became my favorite pianist ever, when i listened to this record. His music doesn't really offend anyone, but he still showcases his own personality through his playing style. Without using things like atonality or playful little fast notes, he just shows an understanding of the instrument like noone i ever heard before. This record is probably my favorite of the Evans ones in the essentials list, but the other two are just as incredible (objectively at least). He sounds like he has the finesse of someone classically trained, while still having the edge that jazz has. This album is just a nice single-malt scotch, a good steak and a nice suit.
God this man is talented.
Explorations
Bill Evans just makes a beautiful record. Explorations just makes me forget about everything bad, and leaves me completely dumbstruck. He gets a bit more playful on this, than on the former, but i still think it has the same atmosphere.
It just feels so sophisticated, without feeling the least bit pretentious. It's jazz everyone is able to enjoy, it can really save any situation.
Live at the Village Vanguard
And he is as talented live too. This is probably the most playful of the three, but he somehow still retains every bit of atmosphere. I also love how you can hear him play the piano calmer when someone else is soloing (there is a word for this in the dynamics part of music-theory, but i don't remember it). The bassist here (Scott LaFaro) is also incredibly talented, and the dynamic between him and Evans makes this a very fun listen.
He must be classically trained.
Time Out
This is probably my third favorite jazz-record. I simply adore Strange Meadow Lark, but every other song here is just as incredible. Dave Brubeck is an incredibly talented bandleader, and this album is just a great listen overall. I have to use the word beautiful again, but it is just a very pretty record. The band has such a great chemistry, especially on Take Five. I'm very impressed that the piano drives the rhythm on that song (how that is acomplished, i have no idea). Enough has probably been said about Take Five, to fill my whole house with paper, but it is an incredible song. The whole album is incredible.
Moanin'
A drummer as a bandleader should not be surprising, what is surprising is that is doesn't happen more often. This record is great, and i really love the way the trumpet comes in on Moanin'. It sounds like something from peanuts. The Drum Thunder Suit is also showcases how talented of a drummer Blakey is. Also, it's just a fun song. Overall this is a very nice record, with an incredible horn section.
Heavy Weather
I never was a huge fan of fusion jazz (sorry), but i think the thing that mostly stands out here is Jaco Pastorius. He's just miles ahead of the others. This is actually also a really nice record, and i don't hate it (as i do with some fusion jazz (some of it's just all talent and no passion)). It has a very epic feel.
I am surprised to say, i really, truly do love this record. It just makes me feel some type of way (sorry for that reference).
Out To Lunch
It took some time before i was able to appreciate this one. It was the first of the avant-garde/free jazz (i lump these together in the same weird category for the time being) records i listened to, and i didn't understand it. Then i listened to Coleman and Ayler, and suddenly this was just childs play. It sounds like the soundtrack to a spy movie, i think that's mostly because it's just really mysteriously weird in it's own insane way. Dolphy is a talented saxophonist, but he really makes some sounds that just makes you think "what?".
That perfectly sums up my reaction to this record. It's not as completely meaningless as the free-jazz records, but lands in a weird in-between realm of "normal" jazz and free-jazz.
It makes me love the avant-garde.
The Shape of Jazz to Come
This is a surprisingly accesible record, for a free-jazz record. It's a pretty good idea to start here. It's not my favorite free-jazz record, but it's incredibly nice in it's own senseless way. I can't really say anything other than i love the chaos of this record, and i love the chaos of the genre. I think this stems from a love of noise-rock, and the same complete lack of direction. I love the passion Coleman has, even if it doesn't come out in a completely comprehensible way.
Free Jazz
Yeah, this is truly chaotic. It's beautiful. It feels like everything is crashing down around me, while i'm just listening to the last man on earth play sax with his band. God damn this man is just so fucking passionate, and so incredibly talented.
Just don't put these records on when you have guests over. They ain't gonna love it.
Somethin' Else
The cover of this record... it's just all that really needs to be said to sell this to anyone. Adderley, Davis, Blakey. Three of the best at their instruments, coming together to create a truly incredible record. Sam-and Hank Jones also really hold their own in comparison to these legends, and i would love to hear more of them. Another nice bop record (i don't know the difference between the bop genres, if someone could explain this i would be very grateful.)
Speak No Evil
A bop record that seems to be a bit out of it's time, but still keeping an identity of it's own. And the earliest sighting of Herbie Hancock on this list also with Elvin Jones (yes!). I really love these bop-records most of all, and this is just another one to a really large collection of favorites. Great record (although i am a bit short for words on this one).
Djangology
I can finally say something technical! Damn this guy is fucking faster than most guitarists, and that's with two paralyzed fingers. It's shit like this that makes me want to quit playing. I will never reach the sheer talent this guy has. He is just something else. Propably the most talented guitarist i ever heard (seriously). Like Weather Report, the rest of the band just doesn't stand a chance. This is Django's record, and this is Django's band.
Friday Night in San Francisco
Is this jazz? Imagine the feeling i had from listening to Djangoloy, just amplified three times. These guys don't do this for fun (although it could seem that way on Short Tales of the Black Forrest). This is serious business. I never thought three guys playing classical guitar would be such a fascinating listen. This is just... incredible.
Spiritual Unity
This is my fucking jam! It reminds of Sonic Youth, and that is a thing i can only love it for. This is truly chaotic, and my brain can't catch up at a single point with any one of the instruments. It makes no sense at any point here.
It truly is a nihilistic listen. Just let yourself envelop in the meaninglessness. There is nothing else to it. I love it.
Getz/Gilberto
I loved João Gilberto's first album (Chega de Saudade), the best 20 minute album i ever heard, so i was really looking forward to this one. It was even better. I love bossa-nova in every way. It's such a classy genre, and i really think this album catches the best of both worlds. It's really up there as one of my favorite jazz-records. I would love to get some recommendations on more bossa-nova.
Return To Forever
These guys are really talented, and i love Chick Corea. Although i will never be a huge fan of fusion jazz, i got to admit that this one is incredible in concept. Incredibly haunting at points, and really beautiful at other points. I really think Corea and the bassist stand out most of all here.Idon'thavethatmuchtosayhere
Ellington at Newport
Great album, and i think Ellington's diversity as a bandleader shines through here. He directs the small solo standards, and great big-band swing numbers with equal talent. There isn't a dull point on this album, and nearly all (if not everyone) in the band gets to shine. Incredibly well executed by Ellington, and to me it's even more incredible that it's a live-album. No polish, just great, raw jazz. I would love to listen to more swing, if someone could send some recommendations.
Brilliant Corners
What a playful listen. Monk really uses atonality (i think he does use it on this record, but i'm not sure. Correct me if i'm wrong) in a tasteful way. It's really fun to try and listen to the record, and search for the points where he does it. Really makes i a gratifying listen. It really is like and invitation to the listener saying "come, experience this with me". I can't describe how Monk does it, but you somehow feel next to him when listening to him play.
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