Roy Ayers is one of the top jazz vocalist of his time.
342257
Loved the smooth lyrics and music of "you send me" and "don't you say no". This is the music of legend and will never fade into the past!
1890890
I love the Jazztet and Benny Golson. These albums look to be mostly pre-Jazztet - I think he perfected his style more when he was with Art Farmer in the Jazztet. I think I have all of the Jazztet's records.
4388948
Annette Hanshaw possesed a delightful swinging voice(completely opposite of Ruth Etting's squeeky and stiff non-swinging style), she was pretty well to do, coming from a wealthy family, so she sang strictly for kicks and mostly for the musicians, she really didn't like being popular, and when she did beat Etting in popularity poles, she quit at age 26!  This cd covers her 1928-29 period, a very strong period for the now virtually forgotten jazz singer, since Hanshaw was well to do, she only hired the best musicians(as a matter of fact, they came to her), she was a favorite of Eddie Lang, Joe Venuti, and loved by all jazz musicians.  She is backed on this cd by Lang, Venuti, and essentilly the same groups that would back up the Boswell sisters in the 30's, Hanshaw scats, swings, improvises, and interacts with her musicians, and gives them plaenty of room for their HOT solos.  This is great classic jazz and proof taht Louis Armstrong wasn't the only truly GREAT jazz singer in the 20's.  Any of her cd's you can get a hold of are worth getting.
4787883
There's no doubt that the songwriting on this release is superb. Over the years, he has been collaborating with top Smooth Jazz artists and adding his iconic sound.
  There are very little vocal for you musical purists out there.
889439
Julie is a Gem,
  She and a few other female jazz artists captured the eyes and ears of those in the 40's and 50's.
 She would do it now if she were still with us.
  She is what I would title as a unforgettable Jazz Singer and will forever remain that way for many generations of Jazz Lovers......
2691807
Ralph Bowen is always good & always good at finding just the right jazz artists to back his lead in contemporary jazz. Lots of fun here.
3016217
The pre-war Lester loved his women, his cigars, opium when he could get it, and a good shot of whiskey. He also loved to toot that horn. Fortunately, someone was smart enough to capture it:)
These recordings are among Lesters first, 99% of them feature Count Basie. Other cats appear such as: Jimmy Rushing, Buck Clayton, Charlie Christian, Jo Jones, Teddy Wilson, Helen Humes, Freddie Green etc... but this is clearly Lester's show. The revolving door of vocalists really fleshes this thing out making it real hard to get sick of. 22 tracks, 71 minutes, 1936-1940, outstanding. This could be the soundtrack to a fantastic party, from the cover shot of Lester and his hand rolled smokey treat, I'm sure it has served as one or two or three...
4882614
This disc contains Kevin Ayers and friends playing a through-compoed David Bedford piece based heavily on call and response.  It doesn't sound like Kevin Ayers albums until the end.  It sounds more like Henry Cow, Pierre Marietan, orchestral Zappa such as 200 Motels, and Cecil Taylor all rolled up in one.  I find it very exciting and lovely, and not at all cacophonous.  With each listening, more reveals itself and I do wish more material like this would make it out.
4535525
With Miles Davis succeeding so well in the 1950's and "out performing" any other trumpeter in that decade some forget about some of the other fine brilliant trumpets that were in the shadows, I'm sorry to say, of Miles Davis.  Some of these trumpeters included Kenny Dorham, Dizzy Gillespie, and of course Clifford Brown.  A big influence to many brilliant trumpeters such as Lee Morgan, who actually modeled his sound after Clifford Brown, Clifford Brown had a new sound, a bold screamin' sound that was essential to the movement into the more "modern" jazz at that point.  In this album he is joined by one of the finest hard core drummers of the time, Max Roach, Harold Land, another truly outspoken artist, on tenor, George Morrow on bass and Richie Powell on piano.  Every single cut on this album are just true jewels.  This is a must for any one unfamiliar with Clifford Brown.
537016
It is wonderful to think that this was the popular music people listened to almost 70 years ago.  Here we have the Duke Ellington Orchestra at its peak.  Ray Nance had just joined the band and immediately made his presence felt on trumpet and violin.  Jimmie Blanton was the first great bassist and Ellington uses him to great advantage.  All the Ellington stars shine here including Lawrence Brown, Barney Bigard, Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges and Harry Carney to name a few.  Of course, the sound is only fair but the greatness of the band comes through.  A must for Ellington fans and recommended for all.
2685058
I'm a jazz lover.  This classic jazz singer has been around for a while.  I love his old-school jazz sound.
3439907
i remember in the seventies some critics attacked the Soft Machine, 'because there's some jazz in there'.
these guys did almost ornette coleman BEFORE soft 1

a gift to all. thanks
1307033
I got this used and there are not many collections that are worth buying new, this one is. Miles' latter day stuff isn't as good as what he did in the 1950's and 60', but it still is great. Disc #1 contains: Generique, Eighty-One, Summertime and Straight, No Chaser. Disc #2 contains: Bye Bye Blackbird, My Funny Valentine ... well, do I need to go on from there? If you are looking to start your Jazz collection begin here with this purchase. If you are a Jazz fan and don't have this, you better buy it now. No one had more of an impact on Jazz than Miles Davis and his best years were when he recorded at Columbia. This 4-CD set is the best of the best Jazz musician.
270251
This is Frank at his peak and Big Band Jazz near its finale.  He just turned 50, he's working with the legendary Count Basie and his orchestra (jazz big band), he's at the Sands (which was torn down years ago), and you can hear all the room sounds (glasses clinking) because of the small number of omnidirectional microphones used back then to record live events.  His voice is mature and his timing is perfect.  The live events in NY and NJ recorded some 15 - 20 years later don't compare, nor do his albums from the late 40's and early 50's where he still sounds like a youngster.  This is the sound and voice that you want in your head when anyone says, "Did you ever hear the Chairman of the Board sing live?"  I only wish that he had sung "All of Me" instead of it being a Basie band instrumental (they do a great job of course) but the words to this song are timeless.  The other instrumental, Makin Whoopee, is a lesson for every trombone player on how to use a plunger mute.  Within a few years of this recording, The Beatles and The Byrds and The Rolling Stones would change the music industry forever with rock replacing Big Band Jazz and singers like Frank, Dean, Sammy, and Tony Bennett (still performing) as the mainstay's of the top 40 on radio for the previous 30 years.

One final note:  Play this loud to get the full effect of the Basie Orchestra and make sure your system has a sub-woofer so the bass can pump your heart for you, tilt your right ear down towards the ground on the odd beats and snap your fingers on the even beats... now you're ready for real big band Jazz and Frank - the way it was and should be.
3074475
I like jazz and I can't say that I am an ardent fan of anyone in particular but I have always loved Dave Brubeck's Take Five and suppose I do like his sound the most when it comes to jazz. I am also a collector primarily of motion picture scores and soundtracks. That being said, to find these recordings of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane made way back in the fifties would blow anybody's mind. These recordings are incredible. You just don't get this stuff everyday. It was like when they rediscovered Bernard Herrmann's original tape masters to his NORTH BY NORTHWEST score. I love it. This is unbelievable stuff. This is the stuff dreams are made of. I am very familiar with Thelonious Monk and this is an emotional as well as important find and CD. He's an icon and for good reason. In the mean time I am getting more acquainted with Coltrane and this CD has had a springboard effect on my appreciation of just who he is. These recordings are raw and very genuine and just hit the spot.
1606295
Joe Williams is probably the best male Jazz vocalist to have performed. I mean, who could compete with him? Sinatra? Bennett? Jones? They're good singers, but they don't have Williams' resonant voice, charisma, clear tone, passionate delivery, or ability to make a song really come alive.

Joe Williams sang almost all his life. Looking at the entry for him in the Grove Dictionary of Music, there was harly a time he wasn't singing. He started out with a local gospel quartet, and eventually attracted the attention of Count Basie. The rest, as they say, is history. For more information on his life, see the link in my comment.

I love this man's voice, and you will too. "Every Day I Have the Blues," and "All right, OK, You Win" are classics. If you listen to this album, you won't have the blues!
2662534
McCoy Tyner certainly needs no introduction to even the most casual jazz fan. Having played with John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, and many other top jazzmen, he continues to be a huge presence on the scene. His percussive style, unusual chord-voicings, and unique concept make him one of the most creative jazz pianist of the post-bop period. And although he casts a long shadow over modern jazz, La Leyenda de la Hora, one of his less-well-know discs, has remained in relative obscurity. Wrongly, in my view.
I've heard a lot of the Tyner canon, and this strikes me as his finest effort. Of course, I'm partial to world-jazz, especially of the Latin variety, which is what this is. I'm also partial to this particular album because I first heard it back in 1982 when I was just getting into acoustic jazz, and it completely blew me away, helping to set me on a long and wonderful voyage into the amazing world of acoustic improvised music. But you know what? It's held up as well as any 80's jazz recording that I know of. For one thing, he's at the absolute top of his pianistic powers. For another thing, he seems both freer and more melodic. This music just brings out the best in him.
McCoy Tyner and Afro-Cuban jazz are ideally matched. If you don't believe me, just listen to his short solo on "La Habana Sol"--it's percussive, witty, swinging, and succinct--perfect. Plus he does some spectacular comping for the other soloists as well, especially on Hubert Laws' flute solo. Or take "Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit." From the first few opening notes, it strikes this impossibly deep groove, coming as much from Tyner's piano as from the gloriously rich ensemble sound of these top musicians. Then he launches into a brilliantly dancing solo that practically defies believability.
A word on the musicians. This is certainly one of the most amazing bands ever assembled. Avery Sharpe, long-time Tyner bassist, excels. Bobby Hutcherson, perhaps the greatest vibes player of his generation, and another favorite Tyner associate, also excels. As does Paquito D'Rivera, who plays some of his best alto sax on record. Marcus Belgrave, a highly underrated trumpeter, shines in this setting, as does Chico Freeman, another underappreciated musician, on tenor sax And it was a stroke of genius to get two of the greatest Latin percussionists on board--Daniel Ponce and Ignacio Berroa. A real surprise is the inclusion of a string section on several of the cuts. Not a move that often works in jazz, here they add uncanny depth and color.
Amazingly, this album was out of print for nearly two decades. Originally on Columbia, I thought it would never make it to cd. I couldn't belive they passed it over to release many inferior Tyner discs. But thanks to the wonderful folks at Koch, we now have this treasure on compact disc. Don't miss it!