What are the top 10 or 20 Jazz recordings, must haves?

Question

I have some jazz, mingus, coltrane ,davis, peterson, etc---but I feel I am hitting and missing. I am looking for the records YOU feel are essential!!! Trapped on a desert island and only allowed 10-20 jazz recordings!!!!

Any Help???

Answer 1

Well you didn't say what your jazz preferences are but from what you have listed

1) Miles Davis Kind of Blue
2) Duke Ellington Ellington Indigo's
3) Casandra Wilson Blue Sky
4) Charlie Parker Parker With Strings
5) John Coltrane Love Supreme
6) Wynton Marsalis In this house on This Day
Charles Mingus Mingus,Mingus,Mingus
7) Stefano di Batista Parker's Mood
8) Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers A Night in Tunisia
9) Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
10) Billie Holiday Lady in Autumn

And while your on the island you might want to read

"So What" the life of Miles Davis by John Szwed

"A Love Supreme" The story of John Coltrane's signature album by Ashley Kahn

"Jazz in the Bittersweet of Life" by Wynton Marsalis
You Might even bring along the DVD "A Great day in Harlem"

Answer 2

Here are some classics

Wayne Shorter-Speak No Evil
Roland Kirk-The Inflated Tear
Herbie Hancock- Maiden Voyage
Ornette Coleman- Change of the Century
Sarah Vaughan-Sarah Vaughan (AKA with Cliffor Brown)
Joe Henderson-Mode For Joe
Thelonoius Monk- Monk's Dream
Eric Dolphy- Out There
Lester Young- Laughin' to Keep From Cryin'

PS- I think the answer above mine is also a good suggestion.

Answer 3

A very subjective question, but it sounds as though you're into classic jazz. If you were to just get a "best of" CD from each of the big names, you'd have a pretty nice collection.

Got any Gerry Mulligan? Chet Baker? Django Reinhardt? Wes Montgomery? Kenny Burrell? Coleman Hawkins? Charlie Parker?

And if we want to talk contemporary artists, there's an equally impressive line-up.

Answer 4

return to forever- return to the seventh galaxy- that would be my # 1 pick