[Lindy]

How's that for painting myself into a corner?

Out of the approximately 750 jazz CD's I own, these are my favorite piano-centric recordings. If you're familiar with any of these recordings, I think you'll see that I'm a sucker for melody and harmony. I have personally seen 7 of the artists listed below, and no doubt that has biased my selections.

So, who have I forgotten? Who do you think should *not* be on the list? Once again, I do not list anything that I don't actually own -- there are some great recordings out there that I just haven't had the chance to purchase yet. Finally, I resisted the temptation to take the easy way out and list any greatest hits CD’s, compilations or box sets.

Listed alphabetically by performer.
Performer, Title, Year, Label

1) The Ray Brown Trio, “BAM BAM BAM”, 1988, Concord
2) The Ray Brown Trio, “Summer Wind -- Live at the LOA”, 1988, Concord
3) Dave Brubeck, “Time Out”, 1959, Columbia
4) Dave Brubeck, “A Dave Brubeck Christmas”, 1996, Telarc Jazz
5) Michel Camilo, “Thru My Eyes”, 1997, Tropi Jazz
6) Bill Evans, “Alone”, 1968, Verve
7) Bill Evans, “Waltz for Debby”, 1961, Riverside
8) Bill Evans, “Sunday at the Village Vanguard”, 1961, Riverside
9) Bill Evans, “Consecration I”, 1980, Timeless
10) Tommy Flanagan, “Alone Too Long”, 1984, Denon
11) Herbie Hancock, “Maiden Voyage”, 1965, Blue Note
12) Gene Harris, “Listen Here!”, 1989, Concord
13) Fred Hersch, “I Never Told You - Hersch Plays Mandel”, 1995, Varese Sarabande
14) Ahmad Jamal, “But Not for Me”, 1958, Chess
15) Keith Jarrett, “Koln Concert”, 1975, ECM
16) Thelonious Monk, “Brilliant Corners”, 1956, Riverside
17) Oscar Peterson, “The Good Life”, 1973, Pablo
18) Oscar Peterson, “Nigerian Marketplace”, 1981, Pablo
19) Michel Petrucciani, “Pianism”, 1985, Blue Note
20) Bud Powell, “The Amazing Bud Powell Vol. 1”, 1949, Blue Note
21) Don Pullen, “Breakthrough”, 1986, Blue Note
22) Art Tatum, “Complete Capitol Recordings Vol. 1”, 1949, Capitol
23) Billy Taylor, “Solo”, 1988, Taylor-Made
24) Billy Taylor, “White Nights & Jazz in Leningrad”, 1988, Taylor-Made
25) McCoy Tyner, “Double Trios”, 1986, Denon

Happy listening!

 

[FCJ]

There are some really good things on your list.

Here are some additions/substitutions:

1. Monk--Anything by Monk will work, especially his Riverside stuff (of which Brilliant Corners is a great example) and early Blue Note recordings.

2. Don Pullen--"The Sixth Sense (Black Saint)

3. Cecil Taylor--o.k., may not meet the "melody" criteria, but there are no more important/influential pianists over the past 30 years or so. If you can find it--"Garden," on HatHut

4. Myra Melford--my favorite pianist, influenced by #2 and #3 above. Try the "Myra Melford Trio"on Enemy, if you can find it, or "Alive in the House of Saints."

5. McCoy Tyner--"The Real McCoy" on Blue Note

6. And the most important of all, Ellington

 

[Lindy]

Quote:

Originally posted by FCJ 2. Don Pullen--"The Sixth Sense (Black Saint)

Yes, how could I have forgotten! You're right this is a great recording and should be on the list (I own it).
Quote:

4. Myra Melford--my favorite pianist, influenced by #2 and #3 above.

I'm going to have to check her stuff out. You've piqued my curiousity.

Thanks for the recommendations, FCJ. And I'll admit that my collection is light on Cecil Taylor and Ellington. On the other hand, I have almost an embarrassment of riches when it comes to Don Pullen and McCoy Tyner.

 

[FCJ]

Quote:

Originally posted by Lindy Yes, how could I have forgotten! You're right this is a great recording and should be on the list (I own it). I'm going to have to check her stuff out. You've piqued my curiousity. Thanks for the recommendations, FCJ. And I'll admit that my collection is light on Cecil Taylor and Ellington. On the other hand, I have almost an embarrassment of riches when it comes to Don Pullen and McCoy Tyner.

You can find a number of Melford's recordings at Cadence. Same with Cecil. Unfortunately, much of Don Pullen's work is now out-of-print.