Very very conservative list (some of these cds are recommended because of couple of tracks I've heard, but for most of these cds, I've had them in my cd player for a VERY long time before moving on):
For small group jazz:
- J.J. Johnson: Concepts in Blue
- Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers: Moanin' (title track, at the VERY least is absolutely insane); Caravan
- Lee Morgan: The Sidewinder
- Clifford Brown: Memorial Album
- Phineas Newborn: any albums you can find (they're quite rare)
- Stanley Turrentine: Never Let Me Go
- Wycliffe Gordon: Slidin' Home
- Dave Robbins: At the Mark
- Miles Davis: Kind of Blue ( obviously
)
- Wayne Shorter: speak no evil
- Charles Mingus: Black Saint and the Sinner lady
- Paul Desmond: Live (this was an album recorded in quebec i think)
- Herbie Hancock: Maiden Voyage
For Big band:
- Duke Ellington: Such Sweet Thunder
- Count Basie: The Complete Atomic Basie
- Any of Rob McConnell and the Boss brass stuff
- Phil Norman stuff (hard to find as well)
- Arturo Sandoval: Hot House
- Carl Saunders: The Bebop Big Band
- Jill Townsend: Tales from the Sea
Jazz Vocal Oriented:
- Billie Holiday: Lady in Satin
- Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald: Ella and Louis Again
- Frank Sinatra (and the Count Basie orchestra): It might as well be spring
- John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman: John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
- Eva Cassidy: Live at Blues alley
- Jane Monheit Stuff (I see that you've bought a cd of her's already)
Jazz Fusion:
- Sekoya: Sekoya
Enjoy
