[m0b1liz3]

Some of my favs are Eddie Harris, Coltrane etc. but I would like to expand things more. I recently heard Herbie Hancocks The Joni Letters and liked it. I am also a fan of jazz guitar but find it is really difficult to find cds in this category that are not too cheesey. I liked the earlier George Benson stuff. (Not really into big band etc) Any recommendations would be great.

 

[Febs]

Wes Montgomery:

Smokin' at the Half Note

Boss Guitar

Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery

Jimmy Bruno:

Like That

Live at Birdland II

 

[trickywombat]

If you like Coltrane, how about some Sonny Rollins?

 

[DaMavs]

The Wes Montgomery suggestions are all excellent - The Incredible Jazz Guitar being my fave of the three.

Given you liked the Herbie Hancock, I'd suggest Maiden Voyage which was his first great album and is more mainstream Jazz than some of his more famous stuff from the '70s like Headhunters.

 

[breakfastchef]

One of my favorites is a recording by The Very Tall Band - Live at the Blue Note featuring Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson & Ray Brown.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Jazz guitar - have you tried Django Reinhart or Tal Farlow? They're terrific, give them a listen.

If you enjoy solo guitar work, you might want to try Leo Kottke's "Armadillo" album. It's not jazz, more roots and bluegrass. I know that's not fashionable now, but the music is good. And if you like it, there's a lot more like it.

 

[sackynut]

Individual Soul by D-Kay. Its a mix of jazz and drum & bass, but take that with a grain of salt.

Its almost completely jazz, and although it doesnt sound like Charlie parker and the other artists just mentioned, give it a try. It is a soothing, relaxing, fun album!

(my two cents, I dont know much about jazz besides acid jazz.)

 

[regal]

My favorite jazz guitarist is Grant Green.

 

[tru blu]

Lou Donaldson - Alligator Bogaloo: Organ-based quintet led by an alto saxist; very early glimpse of George Benson.

 

[MilkyWay]

Andy Cowan's album sweet release is pretty good.

 

[rlanger]

Just about anything by Brad Mehldau.

Great piano trio stuff with some particularly stellar rhythm section work by Larry Grenadier on bass and Jorge Rossy or Jeff Ballard on drums.

For guitar I'll recommend Jim Hall, since nobody else has yet. My favourite is the CD Live.

 

[vladvlaz]

Bill Evans?

If you want something modern I have an album called sample this by joe sample which i think has some decent tracks on it although i haven't done proper extensive listening yet. Just looked him up on amazon he seems to have a lot of albums so can't say if he'd be considered cheesy or not. the sample this album doesn't strike me as cheesy and im very squeamish about cheesy piano

 

[wareagle69]

Guitar:
Wes Montgomery stands at the head of the class for me.
For some other excellent options not mentioned as yet:
Pat Metheny
Kenny Burrell
Charlie Byrd

 

[BigEat]

Box Set Bill Evans Trio
Carla Bley
Ellis Marsalis - Open Letter to Thelonius
Chick Corea/Gary Burton - The New Crystal Silence

 

[megawzrd]

+ 1 to Grant Green
I only have one of his albums "The original Jammaster Vol 2"

I always listen to 'Bad Benson' every once in a while (solid George Benson album)