Superb Live Recordings, post your favorites.
Posted by: Peet on 21 March 2015
"There is a special magic, an intimate vibrancy in a live performance which is impossible to recreate in the studio. I have often been asked to record live - a prospect which I have aspired to and dreaded at the same time - and I am delighted to finally have had the chance to do so. Here is some food for thought without any additives, sugar or preservatives. Enjoy." 
The room was filled to the brim with audio enthusiasts, the closest listener being just a few feet from the musicians and the microphones.
When the audience is so close to the musicians, a synergy occurs. The audience becomes part of the music making and help spur the musicians on to great heights.
The musicians feeling the empathy from the audience dare to take chances that one rarely hears in a studio recording.
Tony and Bert had not performed together as a duo before, and no rehearsal had taken place prior to the Rhapsody concert, but the music these two masters of improvisation created that sunny afternoon in Rhapsody, is simply breathtaking.
This trio is still widely regarded as his finest, largely because of the symbiotic interplay between its members. Tragically, LaFaro was killed in an automobile accident ten days after this session was recorded, and Evans assembled the two packages a few months afterward. While "Waltz for Debby" -- in retrospect -- is seemingly a showcase for Evans' brilliant, subtle, and wide-ranging pianism, this volume becomes an homage, largely, to the genius and contribution of LaFaro. That said, however, this were never the point. According to Motian, when Evans built this trio based on live gigs at the Basin Street East, the intention was always to develop a complete interactive trio experience.
Sinatra at the Sands is a 1966 live album by Frank Sinatra, accompanied by Count Basie and his orchestra, conducted and arranged by Quincy Jones, recorded live at the Copa Room of the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
It was Sinatra's first live album to be commercially released, and contains many definitive readings of the songs that are most readily associated with Sinatra.
Sinatra and Basie had previously collaborated on 1962's Sinatra-Basie and 1964's It Might As Well Be Swing, with both albums released on Sinatra's Reprise label. "The Tea Break" section of the album contains comic relief by Sinatra, mainly about the drunkenness of Dean Martin and Joe E. Lewis.[3]
The album was remixed and remastered and released in DVD-Audio in high-resolution stereo and multi-channel surround in 2003.
An alternate version of the same show with a slightly different track list was released in November 2006 as part of the box set Sinatra: Vegas.
The album is certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.[4]
Wikipedia
Obviously not the best sound in the world, but fantastic music.
If you like Bird, surely, you'll enjoy "The Quintet: Jazz at Massey Hall'. Recorded live in 1953.
Here's my favourite cut from the album. Salt Peanuts.
Aside from this superstar band ( made up of Bird, Gillespie, Roach, Powell and Mingus ), their energy level and tight performance is just mesmerising in spite its poor fidelity.
For Bird, this was his first gig outside of night clubs after he was banned from clubs in NYC due to his narcotic problem. Somehow he managed to get the licence back to play at concert halls.
Kuma, I am indeed a bit of a Parker fan & I have the Massy Hall concert, along with pretty well every studio recording & about an equal amount of live stuff including the complete Dean Benedetti recordings.
I think Bird played a plastic sax at the Massy Hall concert but it sounds good to me, unfortunately Salt Peanuts is possibly my wife’s least favourite piece of music, so can only be safely played when she is out of the house.
If I could travel back in time though, I think it would have to be to the Cafe Society in 1950 to hear Bird with Fats Navarro & Bud Powell, both on blistering form.
This is one of by first Parker records bought close to forty years ago & still played.
If i can travel back in time, I'd love to visit none other than the 'Birdland' in the late 40s early 50s.
After all the club was named after him.
Kuma I had not seen this photo before, thanks for posting.
After a quick search, it is of the opening night at Birdland Dec. 15th 1949 with Bird are Max Kaminsky, Lester Young. Lips Page & Lennie Tristano, not sure who the drummer was.
I'd settle for that 
.
It's a shame that Parker eventually got banned from the club named after him.
Many of the above are firm favourites but I'll add:
Many of the above are firm favourites but I'll add:
How about that One:
And please the 2-CD version 
Simply outstanding recording that Neil sat on for decades. Absolutely fantastic on vinyl.
Yes, this one stands out for me too.
Me three. Fantastic acoustics on the vinyl format. A live recording that made me think "Wow! I'd love to hear a performance in that venue."
Christian Thielemann/Staatskapelle Dresden: Bruckner Symphony 8
I just opened this record which I bought it when it was released in 2013.
Recorded in 2009, this is one of the better recent live digital recording for a large scale orchestra.
Large scale soundstage and excellent low end weight. For a live recording good amount of micro dynamics showing up. Great colors and textures are present with explosive dynamics.
Tonally it’s on a neutral side but it plays clean without much congestions or overload all the way through.
Michael Schenker is awesome on this.
Absolutely! If you listen to his solos you will notice he never repeats himself. For some reason I find his solo on 'Love to Love' very emotional. The above album is rare for me because every song on it is good so I have no hesitation playing it from start to finish...
Sex Machine live, around 1970
Includes the incredible "Give it up or turn it a loose", where James goes out of his mind and brings the crowd to boiling point. Great drumming by Clyde Stubblefield.
That's a stonking album Bert - must dig it out.
A thrilling performance, bootleg-style packaging. A complete and utter din! Who could ask for more?
The 1988/95 post-Waters live albums Delicate Sound of Thunder and PULSE are Floyd-by-numbers, tedious and utterly lacking in atmosphere.
The live album of the Ummagumma double-LP, recorded on 27th April and 2nd May 1969, absolutely crackles with intensity and atmosphere. Four amazing performances captured on four-track. Personally, I think it's by far and away the best official live album ever made by anyone, anywhere.
Sex Machine live, around 1970
Includes the incredible "Give it up or turn it a loose", where James goes out of his mind and brings the crowd to boiling point. Great drumming by Clyde Stubblefield.
That's a stonking album Bert - must dig it out.
Apparently it's not actually a live album at all - it's a studio recording with added reverb and overdubbed applause! Still a bloody good record though.