1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (261-280)

Here is another 20 to add to the list.

Remember that there is no ranking system here, and if you don’t see your favorite jazz album yet, it doesn’t mean it won’t show up.

Every week I will offer up twenty more, in no particular order and with no ranking system or common theme (other than jazz of course).

Hopefully these lists will inspire you to seek some of these albums out that perhaps you haven’t heard before, or revisit an old favorite. And as always, we want your thoughts on any or all of these albums. Either way, let’s get started with this week, and in no particular order, albums 261 through 280.

P.S. All of these albums this week have a common theme – see if you can figure out what it is!

261. Jacknife - Jackie McLean (Blue Note, 1966)

262. Tetragon – Joe Henderson (Milestone/OJC, 1968)

263. The Song is You – Stan Getz (Laserlight, 1969)

264. Super Nova – Wayne Shorter (Blue Note, 1969)

265. Joe Farrell Quartet – Joe Farrell Quartet (CTI, 1970)

266. Live at the Lighthouse - Lee Morgan (Blue Note, 1970)

267. First Light – Freddie Hubbard (CTI, 1971)

268. Next Album – Sonny Rollins (Milestone/OJC, 1972)

269. On The Corner – Miles Davis (Columbia/Legacy, 1972)

270. Power to the People – Joe Henderson (Universe, 1969)

271. The Out-of-Towners – Keith Jarrett Trio (ECM, 2004)

272. Nearness of You: The Ballad Book – Michael Brecker (Verve, 2001)

273. Number Two Express – Christian McBride (Polygram, 1995)

274. Reaching Up – Ernie Watts (Samson Music, 1993)

275. Song X – Pat Metheny & Ornette Coleman (Geffen, 1985)

276. Word of Mouth – Jaco Pastorius (Warner Bros. 1981)

277. 13th House – McCoy Tyner (Original Jazz Classics, 1981)

278. Lenox Avenue Breakdown – Arthur Blythe (Koch Jazz, 1978)

279. Trance – Steve Kuhn (ECM, 1974)

280. Round Trip – Sadao Watanabe (Vanguard, 1974)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (241-260)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (221-240)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (201-220)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (241-260)

Here is another 20 to add to the list.

Remember that there is no ranking system here, and if you don’t see your favorite jazz album yet, it doesn’t mean it won’t show up.

Every week I will offer up twenty more, in no particular order and with no ranking system or common theme (other than jazz of course).

Hopefully these lists will inspire you to seek some of these albums out that perhaps you haven’t heard before, or revisit an old favorite. And as always, we want your thoughts on any or all of these albums. Either way, let’s get started with this week, and in no particular order, albums 241 through 260.

241. After Midnight (with Bonus Tracks) – Nat King Cole & His Trio (Capitol, 1956 recording dates, 2001 release date)

242. Sweets at the Haig – Harry “Sweets” Edison (Import, 1953)

243. This One’s For Basie – Buddy Rich and His Orchestra (Verve, 1956)

244. Frank Rosolino Quintet – Frank Rosolino (VSOP, 1957)

245. A Boy Named Charlie Brown – Vince Guaraldi (Fantasy, 1964)

246. With the Oscar Peterson Trio – Lester Young and The Oscar Peterson Trio (Verve, 1952)

247. Some Like it Hot – Barney Kessel (Contemporary/OJC, 1959)

248. Live in Tokyo – Brad Mehldau (Nonesuch, 2004)

249. Facing You – Keith Jarrett (ECM, 1971)

250. Ballads – John Coltrane (Impulse, 1962)

251. The Swingin’ Miss “D” – Dinah Washington (Emarcy, 1956)

252. Swell & Super - Charlie Barnett and His Orchestra (Drive Archive, 1949)

253. Top Percussion – Tito Puente (BMG, 1957)

254. All the Sad Young Men – Anita O’Day (Polygram, 1961)

255. Perceptions – Dizzy Gillespie (Verve, 1961)

256. Big Bags – Milt Jackson (Riverside/OJC, 1962)

257. Big Band Bossa Nova – Stan Getz (Verve, 1962)

258. Jazz – Tony Bennett (Columbia, 1954-67 recording dates, 1987 release date)

259. The Hi-De-Ho Man – Cab Calloway (Sony, 1935-47 recording dates)

260. Crazy People Music – Branford Marsalis (Columbia, 1990)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (221-240)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (201-220)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (221-240)

Here is another 20 to add to the list.

Remember that there is no ranking system here, and if you don’t see your favorite jazz album yet, it doesn’t mean it won’t show up.

Every week I will offer up twenty more, in no particular order and with no ranking system or common theme (other than jazz of course).

Hopefully these lists will inspire you to seek some of these albums out that perhaps you haven’t heard before, or revisit an old favorite. And as always, we want your thoughts on any or all of these albums. Either way, let’s get started with this week, and in no particular order, albums 221 through 240.

221. Swing 47 – Django Reinhardt (Indigo, Recorded 1947, 1999 compilation release date)

222. Journey to the One – Pharoah Sanders (Evidence, 1980)

223. House of the Rising Sun – Idres Muhammad (Kudu, 1976)

224. Never Make Your Move Too Soon – Ernestine Anderson (Concord Jazz, 1980)

225. The Oscar Peterson Trio at Zardi’s – Oscar Peterson (Pablo, 1955)

226. The Incredible Kai Winding Trombones – Kai Winding (Universal, 1960)

227. Conversations with Myself – Bill Evans (Verve, 1963)

228. Porgy and Bess – Miles Davis/Gil Evans (Columbia/Legacy, 1958)

229. Somethin’ Else – Cannonball Adderley (Blue Note, 1958)

230. The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 1 – J.J. Johnson (Blue Note, 1953)

231. Jazz Giant – Benny Carter (Contemporary/OJC, 1958)

232. Free Jazz (A Collective Improvisation) – Ornette Coleman (Rhino, 1960)

233. Out to Lunch! – Eric Dolphy (Blue Note, 1964)

234. Quartet West – Charlie Haden Quartet West (Polygram, 1986)

235. The Struggle Continues - Dewey Redman (ECM, 1982)

236. Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve (10-CD box set) – Charlie Parker (Verve, 1946-1954 recording dates, box set released 1990)

237. Everybody Knows – Johnny Hodges (GRP/Impulse!, 1964)

238. 1939-1941 – Pete Johnson (Classics, 1939-41 recording dates, 1996 compilation release date)

239. Billy’s Best! – Billy Eckstine (Mercury, 1958)

240. Hot House - Arturo Sandoval (N2K, 1998)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (201-220)

Clash of the College Jazz Bands

I am a big sports fan, and an even bigger fan of college sports. Moreover, I could gladly sit in front of the TV the last week of December and early January watching bowl game after bowl game, or catch all 63 games of the NCAA basketball tournament in March without feeling the need to do anything else.

As a (former) musician and a (former) athlete, I wish for the same sort of intense, national tournament-style competition among college jazz bands as I do with college sports.

First of all, I know that we would never see a national college jazz band tournament on ESPN. And I also acknowledge that yes, there are college competitions around the country, but I feel that some are regional, and in some cases some bands may not have the funds or time to participate in larger competitions. Therefore we may have not seen the ultimate college band competition among the top college bands in the nation.

I want to see it. But the reality of seeing an event like this live is not all that likely.

So here is what I want to do. I want to collect nominations from you, the readers, for the top college and university bands in the country over the next month or so. After that, I will come up with a way to narrow it down to the “Sweet 16″, and create a bracket with these college bands going head to head. I will pick one song from each band, post the audio, you can listen, and you will vote on which band in each head to head match up you like better. The band receiving the most votes will move on to the next round, until one band is crowned national champion.

So here is what I need from you: College or University jazz big band nominations. In the comment box, just write the name of the college that the band is from. The band gets bonus points if you can include a link to current audio from the band or where I can track down the bands most recent CD.

The only rule is that the band nominated, and the audio suggested, is from the last year or so. So please don’t suggest the University of Nebraska Jazz Band from 1977, or something like that. Below is an example of what I am looking for (and officially the first nomination):

I would like to nominate:

The University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band

Their website is:

http://www.jazz.unt.edu/

Their latest CD is:

Lab 2009

You can hear them play on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KySqDcw-gGg

You don’t have to submit all of the above information, but it will earn the band bonus points when it comes time to design the tournament. At the very least you have to send me the band name.

I think this will be fun…so let the games begin. All nominations will be considered, and nominate as many schools as you like.

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (201-220)

Here is another 20 to add to the list.

Remember that there is no ranking system here, and if you don’t see your favorite jazz album yet, it doesn’t mean it won’t show up.

Every week I will offer up twenty more, in no particular order and with no ranking system or common theme (other than jazz of course).

Hopefully these lists will inspire you to seek some of these albums out that perhaps you haven’t heard before, or revisit an old favorite. And as always, we want your thoughts on any or all of these albums. Either way, let’s get started with this week, and in no particular order, albums 201 through 220.

201. Bass Hit! – Ray Brown (Verve, 1956)

202. This is How I Feel About Jazz – Quincy Jones (Paramount, 1956)

203. Rights of Swing – Phil Woods (Candid, 1960)

204. The Opener – Curtis Fuller (Blue Note, 1957)

205. Thinking of Home – Hank Mobley (Blue Note, 1970)

206. Rosewood – Woody Shaw (Columbia/Legacy, 1977)

207. Page One – Joe Henderson (Blue Note, 1963)

208. Whistle Stop – Kenny Dorham (Blue Note, 1961)

209. One in Two, Two in One – Max Roach with Anthony Braxton (hatHUT, 1979)

210. Virtue – Eldar (Masterworks Jazz, 2009)

211. Gumbo Nouveau – Nicholas Payton (Verve, 1995)

212. Song for My Father – Horace Silver (Blue Note, 1964)

213. Some Skunk Funk (live) – Randy Brecker/Michael Brecker (BHM, 2005)

214. That’s What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles – John Scofield (Verve, 2005)

215. Dinah Jams – Dinah Washington (Polygram, 1954)

216. The One and Only – Maynard Ferguson (Maynard Ferguson Trust, 2007)

217. Enchance – Billy Hart (A&M, 1977)

218. Ray Sings, Basie Swings – Ray Charles/Count Basie Orchestra (Concord, 2006)

219. Monk’s Dream – Thelonious Monk (Columbia, 1962)

220. Alto Madness – Richie Cole (Muse, 1977)

Up in the Cotton Club

Did anyone ever suspect that someone would mix Beyonce with Duke Ellington and his band? I can safely say I didn’t see this one coming. My music director called me into his office to give this a listen, and I truly couldn’t believe it. I must have heard Single Ladies by Beyonce a million times, but even though she is singing the lyrics, I didn’t even recognize it because of the way it was mixed with Duke.

Anyway, you’ve got to give this a listen – just for fun.

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (181-200)

Here is another 20 to add to the list.

Remember that there is no ranking system here, and if you don’t see your favorite jazz album yet, it doesn’t mean it won’t show up.

Every week I will offer up twenty more, in no particular order and with no ranking system or common theme (other than jazz of course).

Hopefully these lists will inspire you to seek some of these albums out that perhaps you haven’t heard before, or revisit an old favorite. And as always, we want your thoughts on any or all of these albums. Either way, let’s get started with this week, and in no particular order, albums 181 through 200.

181. Portrait in Jazz - Bill Evans (Riverside/OJC, 1959)

182. Misterioso – Paul Motian (Soul Note, 1986)

183. Have a Little Faith – Bill Frisell (Elektra/Nonesuch, 1992)

184. Bug Music – Don Byron (Nonesuch, 1996)

185. The Seattle Concert – Duke Ellington (RCA, 1952)

186. Funk Dumplin’s – Clark Terry (Matrix, 1978)

187. Public Eye – Roy Hargrove (Novus, 1990)

188. Jam Miami: A Celebration of Latin Jazz – Various Artists (Concord Jazz, 2000)

189. Clifford Brown & Max Roach – Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet (Emarcy, 1954)

190. The Great American Songbook – Carmen McRae (Atlantic, 1972)

191. The Search Within – Sean Jones (Mack Avenue, 2009)

192. I Got Rhythm – Teddy Wilson (Verve, 1956)

193. Spontaneous Explorations – Earl Hines (Contact, 1964)

194. Head Hunters – Herbie Hancock (Columbia/Legacy 1973)

195. The Essential Bessie Smith – Bessie Smith (Columbia/Legacy, 1997 release date, 1923-1933 recording dates)

196. Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster – Coleman Hawkins with Ben Webster (Verve, 1957)

197. In Concert – Martin Taylor (Milestone, 2000 release date, 1988 recording date)

198. Easy To Love - Roberta Gambarini (Now Forward Inc., 2006)

199. Kaleidoscope – Sonny Stitt (Prestige/OJC 1950)

200. Junior’s Blues – Junior Mance (Riverside, 1962)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (161-180)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (141-160)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (121-140)

1,000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die (101-120)