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Lesser Known Jazz Artists/Album Recommendations

Zeego

Zeego

Illegitimi non carborundum
Hello everyone how is everything? I've decided to take a different direction in the vinyl I'm buying for the moment. I'm looking for some suggestions on some of the slightly lesser known jazz musicians/albums out there. For instance: Hank Mobley, Curtis Fuller, Lee Morgan (for me, unfamiliar), etc.

I guess what I'm asking is what jazz albums do you love that are under the radar per se that are accessible?

Here is who I love for reference: Miles, Coltrane, Pepper, Evans, Buddy Rich, Metheny, Ornette, Monk, Mingus, Brubeck, Hancock, Jimmy Smith.

I appreciate your feedback and advice. :music:
 
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I am a big Bud Powell fan. If you like Monk he will be up your alley.

Charlie Christian is another off the top of my head.
 
A Portrait of Thelonious is a good place to start with Bud Powell since it's mostly Monk tunes. The Scene Changes is also great.

I just have this Charlie Christian collection. Laserlight stuff is usually kind of cheesy, but you have to consider the source recordings. There might be something good out there that's had some processing done to remove some of the hash and noise present on the original recordings. At any rate this is a listen to the music, not the recording kind of deal.

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Herbie Mann was well known in the 1960's and 1970's, but is lesser known or forgotten about today. He wasn't a sax or trumpet player, so jazz heads probably consider him fluff since he played a flute. I like all the stuff he did in the 1960's. The two below are among my favorite jazz albums of all time and IMO worth picking up.

Windows Opened
The Wailing Dervishes

Another artist/album I love and is popular with DJ sampling is Tom Scott and the California Dreamers "Honeysuckle Breeze". Originals of these are pricey ($70-$100.00)

Gabor Szabo's Wind Sky and Diamonds and 1969 I've been spinning lately.

Howard Roberts on Capitol Records.

Joe Pass releases on the World Pacific label and "Guitar Interludes" are great.
 
Vince Guaraldi's Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus is a must have IMHO

Also highly recommend Desmond's solo work and the vocals of Johnny Hartman and June Christy

Enjoy the journey
 
jgannon said:
Head on over to the Jazz Playlist and you'll find a whole bunch of stuff!!
Click to expand...

You beat me to this post. Jazz Playlist is a superb way to expand you Jazz Horizons.

BTW OP, if you happen to find this in your used Vinyl Search:

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Then you just hit the jackpot. Especially if you find one in good condition. A "Mint" copy recently went for over $3,000.00.

Enjoy expanding your Jazz Horizons.

-Billy
 
Any of Howard Roberts 1960's recordings. There was a reason he was the first at the top of the first call session players back then. His work with Joe Morello from 1957 is worth seeking out as well.
 
You say lesser known but to Jazz fans those you listed are well known. I will list some of favorites accessible ones just in case. Horace Silver (any), Art Blakey (Moanin, A night in Tunisia), Cannonball Adderley (mercy, mercy, mercy), Duke Ellington (Blues in Orbit), any Blue Note record. If you like Metheny then be sure to check out John Abercrombie, Bill Frisell ,John Scofield, Mike Stern, if your not familiar with thier stuff.

Beings you appear to like Rush, I'm gonna recommend a fusion (more rock instrumental) band called Gamalon ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BI80nWVj9k ) Neil Peart praised them in an article I read many moons ago.
 
I ran across an Oscar Peterson album a few weeks ago, and am hooked! Amazing jazz piano with some sweet "walking bass" licks. Canadian jazz musician (now passed) with a l-o-n-g history of works with most of the jazz greats. A little under the radar (but why?), I haven't got a clue. Amazing works...
 
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