Best Jazz Record EVER.
939078
This is Lionel Hampton, in his prime, playing with some of the finest jazz players in the history of American music. To say that this album is great would be perhaps the greatest understatement in the history of album reviews. The Side one Filler "Star Dust" is an amazing jam, it makes you wonder how they stay on chord with as many chances that the soloists take. Barney Kessel's guitar, and the killer trumpeting of Charlie Shavers are stand outs. The other Three tracks on this CD leave you breathless as well, but Star Dust is a standout , of course because of the vibe work of the legendary Lionel Hampton. You can hear him grunt as he pounds the bells with everything that he has. If you like jazz, if you don't know jazz, or even if you are a professor, and you TEACH jazz, you MUST have this CD. That's it, and that's all.
3533745
Wonderful rendition.  All jazz lovers should hear it.  Go ahead and try - you will fall in love at first "hearing".
2964651
I'm playing this on kind of an old system: Carver 300W a channel amp, through Adcom SLC-505 passive amp, and through KEF 105.4 speakers. I know that equipment is old, but it's still The Best. Well, maybe Mcintosh might beat it.

Now to the recording from Japan: This has been my favorite jazz album of all-time, so I've heard my previous version a few, 100s, times. This version makes me feel like I'm in the Village Gate listening live.

Wish I could give it 10 stars.

Check out the image of the CD I uploaded. :-)
691715
This is simply the best jazz album ever made..

If you dig the style of Lester in the best shape since 1943 and add the unsurpassed efforts by Vic Dicenson, Roy Eldridge, Teddy Wilson and Jo Jones. Besides Lester the group plays the best they ever did. Wilson has never svung as hard, Roy has never been so precise and hard svung "in control" as here. You will never hear harder swing as in Gigantic Blues or as beautifull and hartbreaking as  I didn't know what time is was.

If I only had one album this would be it..
2039860
Ya gotta love jazz, but if you do this is the recording for you.  Monk is a pure genius...and the quartet that backs him up is nothing less than brilliant.  Coltane stands alone, of course.  Coltrane helps Monk and visa versa.  This isn't for the faint of heart...it is spectacular music to be loved with wine, chocolate, dim lights, and a great friend/love.
4079109
I have owned this CD for at least twelve years and know every note. It can be a little rough around the edges at certain points of the recording, but the musicianship and sheer movement of Mingus's bass lines display the essence of bop jazz.
2275980
There are many things our Polish friends do very well. They are the example of how to get beyond Marxism and stuff. I adore them for that.
But then, right now, they are also producing, together with Manfred, some of the most beautiful modern jazz available. This record is unbelievably smooth, rich in its texture, a pleasure to listen to. The trio is grand, except in covers (the Police song simply doesn't fly).
This record will be playing all over the weekend.
This thing is delicious. Warning: You might get hooked!
A heartfelt thank you to Marcin and friends.
Keep cool and enjoy this!
2875657
If I could give 10 stars, this would be a 9/10.
In this recording,  Miles's trumpet playing flows with sweetness and lyricism.
It could be considered one of the most accessable recordings by Davis (which is no  doubt why one of the reasons it sometimes gets knocked by jazz snobs)
Put  it this way, I loved this recording when it first came out 10 years ago,  when I did not like any form of bebop or Miles's 50s/60s/70s work.
Today,  while I now enjoy bebop and the above-mentioned Miles's work; I still enjoy  this recording (even though I can't stand Kenny G, which I used to enjoy 10  years ago)
1094971
This was a defiantly GREAT album from a decidedly NOT GREAT time in the history of Jazz (1964).  It focuses on the music of the great Ray Charles and Maynard (and his studio player augmented/long time Roulette band) do this music GREAT honor.  This recording contains (in my opinion) the REFERENCE arrangement/recording/performance of "Night Train".  Maynard is ON FIRE.  And at the other end of the voicing extreme the iconic Jazz Tubist Icon Don Butterfield keeps the tune anchored.  The borderline "nasty" rips and glissandos are a joy to behold.  Back when Jazz could induce you to play a record ten times in a row, to transcribe all the "style" out of it.
For the youngsters benefit:  Be aware that this record was reissued (on vinyl) in several iterations.  The most famous (and worth owning for the photograph, even if the negative was flipped) is "Screamin' Blues" from around 1973.  (Mainstream).  It was also in a Two LP compilation.  But "Blues Roar" (1965) was the original issue and that vinyl is the best (though they're all good) version.  "Deep groove" and great dynamics.  The Mobile Fidelity CD is the digital equivalent of the original vinyl.  By far the most lovingly transferred CD/Digital version.  If you find it, grab it and GROWL......
2714449
I first purchased his as an LP back among the soybean fields of Illinois in the 70s when all my friends thought I was crazy for listening to this. Well guess what? These guys were brilliant with this record. If you like avant garde jazz and a noir sensibility then you should have this. I since replaced my LP version with the Amazon MP3 but I still have the LP.
1549437
Best recording I've heard in years. A foot-stomping blend of modern jazz, roaring twenties, dixieland, instrumentation, even tap dancing with creative arrangements and a lovely set of songs sung in English and a couple in French. I play the CD in my car with lots of volume and driving is a breeze.
2931009
Wonderful master of the jazz voice.  Saw him live, and this recording does him justice.
4081353
this is one of the best records I have ever heard . the album bills itself as a audiophile vinyl pressing , and guess what , it really is . First the record is 180 grams . but it feels twice as heavy because the record is ultra stiff . if you hold the edges of the record and try to warp it back and forth , it will stay absolutely flat , there is no bending what so ever. next in-between the songs is the quietist  I have ever heard a vinyl recording . there is not one crack or pop on the whole double album . amazing . next the quality of the recording is flawless  , and the extra dimension's of the songs are such that I have not heard before . plus there is so much extra in the music that simply is not present on the CD's . the bottom line is , if you want a great SADE recording that will be a total joy to listen to , and show off your stereo in ways you have never imagined  , this is the vinyl for you . it is a must buy . this goes double if you are in the stereo business and need music to show off your product during a stereo show . it seems as though every room has the same music . this is a must play in that situation .
4274989
I was fortunate enough to have been able to be in a high school jazz band that had the Thad Jones & Mel Lewis band do clinics with us and play as the featured band at our events.  Back then this was regarded as "the killer" big band jazz album.  I have worn more than one copy of my LP out and even went to the trouble of trying to mix the LP to my own CD - scratches, pops, clicks and all.

I discovered that this had just been released on CD by Blue Note and purchased it as fast as I could hit the computer keys.  Not only are these some of the best musicians to ever grace our earth, but this album is one of the best set of tunes I have ever heard.  It's worth twice the price just for the cut "US" and "A Child is Born"  The mixing on this CD is flawless with no compression at all.  It sounds as fresh today as it did when I was growing up.  In fact it sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Malcolm Addey re-mixed this with loving appreciation of this great album.  Thank you!

If you appreciate great jazz you just won't find a better album than this.  There is no better example of excellent musicianship on the planet.

Thank you Blue Note for releasing this master piece on CD and the outstanding job you did at mixing it from the original tapes.
2074573
This is truly a wonderful recording!  Both my husband and I love it -- the big-band jazz charts are really outstanding.  We bought it because we had heard "Intimacy of the Blues" on the radio, but found that we really enjoy the entire album.  Do yourself a favor if you are a big band jazz lover and get this!  I don't think you'll be disappointed.
3531512
I've never seen the Charlie Brown Christmas special, but this vinyl is unbelievable.

This transcends merely just being "a Christmas album" to being a fantastic jazz album in general. The arrangements on display here along with the sound mastering quality are unbelievably good. "Skating" in particular is just fantastic.

Do yourself a favor - if you like jazz and have a vinyl player, get yourself this album. Plus it was green! Win-win.
1282460
Fantastic recording. The vinyl is top notch. Kenny Dorham and Hank Mobley are a great front line and Mr. Silver playing is impeccable. He composed the four tunes on this 10" release. I highly recommend this record.