Recommended live j*** recordings
Posted by: Chief Chirpa on 03 January 2010
Hi, I'm slowly but surely starting to listen to jazz these days.
To give an idea of what I like so far, I've been playing it safe with almost exclusively late 50/60s recordings on Blue Note, Verve, and Columbia, mainly popular choices from the usual suspects: Miles, Trane, Herbie, Ornette, and so on. A favourite is Wayne Shorter's Speak No Evil. However...
I was listening to the above for the first time today, and it sounds great, as you get a real feel for the venue, clinking glasses and all. Afterwards, I realised it's the only live jazz recording I have, and it made me think I should try some other live albums. I guess I'm looking first for recordings from the era I mentioned above, though not exclusively, preferably ones with the same kind of intimate 'live' atmosphere that works so well on the above Ornette album.
So, that's one recommendation from me. I thought I'd start a thread as I'm hoping a few folk can post a few of their favourites for me (and everyone else) to try out. Your suggestions, please.
Thanks in advance,
CC
To give an idea of what I like so far, I've been playing it safe with almost exclusively late 50/60s recordings on Blue Note, Verve, and Columbia, mainly popular choices from the usual suspects: Miles, Trane, Herbie, Ornette, and so on. A favourite is Wayne Shorter's Speak No Evil. However...
I was listening to the above for the first time today, and it sounds great, as you get a real feel for the venue, clinking glasses and all. Afterwards, I realised it's the only live jazz recording I have, and it made me think I should try some other live albums. I guess I'm looking first for recordings from the era I mentioned above, though not exclusively, preferably ones with the same kind of intimate 'live' atmosphere that works so well on the above Ornette album.
So, that's one recommendation from me. I thought I'd start a thread as I'm hoping a few folk can post a few of their favourites for me (and everyone else) to try out. Your suggestions, please.
Thanks in advance,
CC
This has the atmosphere you are after. Just listen to the audience in St Thomas when the band kick in. This is one of my favourite jazz recordings because it captures the Vanguard so well - small venue, 123 capacity and one of the best venues to see a live band 
I have been to quite a few Village Vanguard shows but never saw Joshua there. I saw Joshua in cow shed in rural Wales (where he signed this CD).
I have been to quite a few Village Vanguard shows but never saw Joshua there. I saw Joshua in cow shed in rural Wales (where he signed this CD). This is good as well
This is one of the best live jazz vocal albums ever...
And this pair could be the two finest trio albums ever...
Both recorded on the same night IIRC...
Both recorded on the same night IIRC...
On Naim, with good glass clinking in the opening moments, another of my favourites
Adrian, I'm amazed you haven't mentioned this yet:
I'm also amazed Chief sees Ornette Coleman as "playing it safe". Respect
I'm also amazed Chief sees Ornette Coleman as "playing it safe". Respect
CC, not sure if this strictly fits your criteria but in order to recommend an album I can only say that if my house was on fire and I could only save one album I would save this...
Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Barney Kessel, Ray Brown, Ben Webster, Benny Carter, Buddy Rich, etc.
Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Barney Kessel, Ray Brown, Ben Webster, Benny Carter, Buddy Rich, etc.
quote:Originally posted by droodzilla:
Adrian, I'm amazed you haven't mentioned this yet:
I'm also amazed Chief sees Ornette Coleman as "playing it safe". Respect
I was going to but I did n't think it had the audience atmosphere CC was after - no clinking glasses! Great album though and nicely different to other suggestions.
BILL EVANS: THE COMPLETE VILLAGE VANGUARD RECORDINGS 1961 (Remastered)
This Decca 3CD set appears to be deleted. I must have bought one of the last copies in stock at Amazon UK a couple of months ago. There are new copies in Amazon Marketplace from £12.63.
Link to Amazon UK:
http://tinyurl.com/yaokd2k
Play.com are advertising the set for £7.99 ... Wow! They don't have stock but say they can get it within 1-2 weeks.
Link to Play.com:
http://tinyurl.com/ydyh59c
There's quite a few copies on eBay. They are selling for reasonable money but it looks like this gen will increase in value.
Check out this link for eBay availability:
http://tinyurl.com/yey9jxe
This is some of the greatest jazz piano trio music ever recorded. Every home should also have a copy of 'Concert By The Sea' (Errol Garner) but get this Bill Evans box set first!
and some more ...
MILES DAVIS: THE CELLAR DOOR SESSIONS
PAT METHENY GROUP: TRAVELS
WEATHER REPORT: 8.30
HERBIE HANCOCK: FLOOD
THE BRECKER BROTHERS: HEAVY METAL BE-BOP
... and a couple from 1970s audiophile favourite Ben Sidran ...
BEN SIDRAN: THE CONCERT FOR GARCIA LORCA
BEN SIDRAN: ON THE LIVE SIDE
... and at the risk of offending the jazz purists ...
JONI MITCHELL: SHADOWS AND LIGHT
On this album, Joni's backing band features Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Jaco Pastorius and Don Alias. Make sure you get the USA double disc set, which is HDCD remastered. The UK release is a single disc and has a couple of tracks from the original vinyl missing
MILES DAVIS: THE CELLAR DOOR SESSIONS
PAT METHENY GROUP: TRAVELS
WEATHER REPORT: 8.30
HERBIE HANCOCK: FLOOD
THE BRECKER BROTHERS: HEAVY METAL BE-BOP
... and a couple from 1970s audiophile favourite Ben Sidran ...
BEN SIDRAN: THE CONCERT FOR GARCIA LORCA
BEN SIDRAN: ON THE LIVE SIDE
... and at the risk of offending the jazz purists ...
JONI MITCHELL: SHADOWS AND LIGHT
On this album, Joni's backing band features Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Jaco Pastorius and Don Alias. Make sure you get the USA double disc set, which is HDCD remastered. The UK release is a single disc and has a couple of tracks from the original vinyl missing
live tracks on this.
I like this a lot, on vinyl anyway. Lively, spacious recording with good audience feel.
For clinking glasses it's hard to beat Sunday at the Village Vanguard.
For clinking glasses it's hard to beat Sunday at the Village Vanguard.
This is very different from most of the other albums mentioned - it's a bit "out there" - but it's visceral, thrilling and brilliant nonethless.
Not much chance of hearing clinking glasses above this din!
Not much chance of hearing clinking glasses above this din!
. . . and the nominees please:
I can't stop listening to this great album. Great tunes! The rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and James Cobb are an incredible, unstopable force of nature! P.s. I have this on XRCD and the audio quality is excellent!
Tempo's are blazing fast. It is known that when the the sidemen found out they were not getting paid for this concert they were more than a little upset. Miles quote . . . "everybody was madder than a motherfucker with each other and so I think that anger created a fire, a tension that got into everybody's playing, and maybe that's one of the reasons everbody played with such intensity."
P.s. Sorry, having trouble posting images. The albums listed are Full House Wes Montgomery. Coltrane live at Birdland John Coltrane. Thelonious in Action Thelonious Monk. Miles Davis The Complete Concert 1964 My Funny Valentine + Four & More.
I can't stop listening to this great album. Great tunes! The rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and James Cobb are an incredible, unstopable force of nature! P.s. I have this on XRCD and the audio quality is excellent!
Tempo's are blazing fast. It is known that when the the sidemen found out they were not getting paid for this concert they were more than a little upset. Miles quote . . . "everybody was madder than a motherfucker with each other and so I think that anger created a fire, a tension that got into everybody's playing, and maybe that's one of the reasons everbody played with such intensity."
P.s. Sorry, having trouble posting images. The albums listed are Full House Wes Montgomery. Coltrane live at Birdland John Coltrane. Thelonious in Action Thelonious Monk. Miles Davis The Complete Concert 1964 My Funny Valentine + Four & More.
Thelonious Monk 'Thelonious Alone in San Francisco'(1959) and 'Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall'(1957)
Both albums I bought from recommendations on this forum, and both hugely enjoyable (thanks Oliver et al).
I would also add some Miles Davis, but it is hard to work out which ones exactly to recommend. The Plugged Nickel (1965) box set, or highlights, and also 'The Cellar Door Sessions 1970' box is lovely for the early electric period. I also like 'Agharta' (1975) for the harsher late electric period.
In case others can not see Kevin-W's recommendation above, it is for Miles Davis 'Dark Magus'(1974), a brilliant dark and brooding electric jazz/fusion album. Sometimes images from forums, or some websites prevent linking to the image, and it only shows up from your on image cache if you have recently visited that site, I post those all the time too.