CD-Charts Position 31
Average Rating:

Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Ahmad Jamal

Release Date April 07, 1998
What you get here are two chock-full CDs of the best of Ahmad Jamal's trio output during the late 50s and early 60s. Maybe his absolute best output, period.

Ahmad plays smoothly, melodically, adding quirky interpretations of the melody a little at a time. Sometimes he improvises by subtracting, leaving out notes or lines instead of cluttering things up with lots of notes. Then, out of nowhere will come lightning fast runs or accented notes, struck loud and proud. This is the excitement of the Ahmad Jamal Trio. Melody. Space. Silence. Surprise. Delight!

This collection also contains 3/4 of the classic album Live At The Pershing -- you don't absolutely need that album if you have this one -- the essential stuff is here. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 32
Average Rating:

Cornell 1964

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
from: Blue Note Records

Release Date July 17, 2007

Clifford Jordan, Eric Dolphy, Johnny Coles, Jaki Byard, and of course, the powerhouse team of Mingus and Richmond. In short, this was one of the great Mingus bands. It was also sadly, short-lived with the departure of Eric Dolphy, who died not long after, then the hospitalization of the Johnny Coles (shamelessly under-recorded) and not long after, the departure of Clifford Jordan.
While this is an outstanding two disc set, I still prefer the Legendary Paris Concerts recorded just one month later.
Having said that, I should add that this is an outstanding album, capturing one of the best bands Mingus ever put together.
To those who don't know of Mingus, this record is a good starting point.

CD-Charts Position 33
Average Rating:

Land of Make Believe

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Chuck Mangione With the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra

Release Date February 05, 1991
Orchestral jazz is a special and often hard-to-find variety of jazz, and this album is one of the best representatives of that genre. Mangione was at his best when writing for large ensembles. This 1973 concert recording also features vocalist Esther Satterfield on three of the six tracks, and a 24-voice chorus on one track. Mangione's quartet is out in front of the orchestra, including his superb soprano saxophonist Gerry Niewood. A couple of notable names in the ensemble: Jon Faddis leads the trumpet section, and Steve Gadd is one of the percussionists.
Each of the tracks is very different in character. "Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor" is a great opener, building intensity as it goes, with nice solos from Mangione and Niewood and powerful backup from Faddis. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 34
Average Rating:

Breakdown: Live Recordings 1973

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Old & in the Way, Jerry Garcia, David Grisman

Release Date November 18, 1997
My casstte of OLD AND IN THE WAY self destructed and I had to replace it. This is what I found after searching. The playlist isn't in the same order and there are a few extra tunes but boy was it good to get this back again. Vassar Clemens and Jerry Garcia never sounded better.

CD-Charts Position 35
Average Rating:

50 Years of Dave Brubeck: Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival 1958-2007

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Dave Brubeck

Release Date August 05, 2008
My casstte of OLD AND IN THE WAY self destructed and I had to replace it. This is what I found after searching. The playlist isn't in the same order and there are a few extra tunes but boy was it good to get this back again. Vassar Clemens and Jerry Garcia never sounded better.

CD-Charts Position 36
Average Rating:

Live Art

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Béla Fleck & the Flecktones

Release Date September 10, 1996
I expected to like this one, but I was truly pleased at how much I do. Heretofore my favorites have been UFO TOFU and Perpetual Motion, but Live Art is now my 3rd equal favorite. Its variety and numbers which allow the world's foremost banjo artist to display his own compositions and phenominal skill are a delight.

CD-Charts Position 37
Average Rating:

The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: John Coltrane

Release Date September 23, 1997
I'm 19 years old, and have enjoyed listening, but most of all, playing classical and jazz music whether it be on the flute, electric guitar, or drum practice pad, yet i've realized after purchasing this recording that with 7 years of experience I still can't understand Coltrane's genius...I keep listening to this recording and it all sounds like high school concert band level (not even jazz band) -_-...I find it hard to believe that that's the case, so i've come to the conclusion that i'm still young and lack experience...i feel embarrassed to post this as an up-and-coming musician, but i'm hoping someone can clear this up for me.

CD-Charts Position 38
Average Rating:

The Paris Concert, Edition One

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Bill Evans

Release Date April 03, 2001
Bill Evans is a musician I can return to again and again. He's the jazz pianist comparable to the classical Debussey. Like Impressionist painters, they fascinate us with variations in light and color. They purr like finely-tuned, 12 cylinder Rolles Royces in neutral. Trouble is they hardly ever put that car in gear.

CD-Charts Position 39
Average Rating:

A Night at Birdland, Vol. 1

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Art Blakey, Clifford Brown, Horace Silver

Release Date August 07, 2001
First of all, enough other reviewers have covered the history and make-up of this CD, so I won't do that. All I want to say is, this is a delightful and historic piece of live jazz music that simply cannot be surpassed. The players assembled make this recording one for the ages. And if you think you might enjoy this (jazz fans definitely will, I reckon), my suggestion would be to go ahead and get Clifford Brown's The Complete Blue Note & Pacific Jazz Recordings, because that includes both this CD and the volume 2 companion, plus two more CD's of Brown's work. Wonderful, wonderful jazz you'll want to share with everyone you know.

CD-Charts Position 40
Average Rating:

Complete Live at the Pershing Lounge 1958

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Ahmad Jamal

Release Date February 12, 2007
I very much appreciate Amazon.com's "heroic efforts" at obtaining this recording. I had tried so many places subsequent to ordering this CD, attempting to find it for immediate purchase, and come away empty-handed, that I was convinced the thing actually didn't exist, and Amazon would eventually inform me that they just couldn't get it.

Then, lo and behold, I got an email right about the time of my despair, saying it had shipped.

I have to say that the version of "All The Things You Are" on this record is absolutely superb!

Regarding the sound quality, although it is billed as a "remaster," it is obvious that they had such poor mono masters to work with in the first place that there was only so much that could be done. A previous reviewer mentioned ... Read More: