What's the most recent essential jazz album?

Jon Abbey · January-6th-2007, 05:15 PM

OK, this is inspired by Brett's recent postings on the Ornette thread. rather than chiming in there with my opinions which everyone already knows, I thought this might be an interesting different angle on the points he raises.

so here's the idea: name one record that you personally feel is essential in any great jazz collection, the one that has the most recent recording date (not release date). not European free improv, jazz (obviously the boundaries are different for different people, but there are boundaries).

my answer, subject to possibly being reminded of something else later is Air-Air Lore, recorded in 1979. now even this is a restructuring of early jazz standards, so if I include the added criteria of truly fresh and original, I'd probably go with Pangaea from Miles, 1975.

what do you think?

Uli · January-6th-2007, 05:39 PM

Ornette- sound grammar

Sergio Zamora · January-6th-2007, 06:19 PM

Not only might the word 'jazz' (as opposed to improv) cause a little confusion, but so might the word 'essential'. That can be have different interpretations, and some people throw it about quite too frequently.

In any case, for the time being I'll say Horace Tapscott's "The Dark Tree", but I'm sure I can probably think of something newer.

Jon Abbey · January-6th-2007, 06:26 PM

sure, the whole thing is obviously up to personal interpretation, just curious how people would answer it. The Dark Tree is a good one, when's that from? 1989? I might change to that also...

Uli · January-6th-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio Zamora

and some people throw it about quite too frequently.

hehe, some people.

bluenoter · January-6th-2007, 06:39 PM

Funky Butt: The Newly Discovered Recordings of Buddy Bolden, 1900-1905

That ought to prove Jon's point.

rene · January-6th-2007, 06:48 PM

ahh.. talking bout essentials, not entirely european free improv but definitely jazz:

recorded, 1980

Paul H · January-6th-2007, 07:00 PM

Yeah, The Dark Tree is from 1989. Good choice. I'd go for John Carter's Roots and Folklore Series, which was released between 1982 and 1989.

Andy Traxel · January-6th-2007, 07:12 PM

Jazz is over 100 years old. It has experienced at least a handful of major stylistic shifts in that time. Hundreds of albums get released every year in every style and permutation. Jazz news is circulated around the world via various mediums in real time. So nothing stays undiscovered (and unanalyzed & uncriticized) for long. Given all this, I don't think its possible to make an "essential" jazz recording anymore.

Jon Abbey · January-6th-2007, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Traxel

Given all this, I don't think its possible to make an "essential" jazz recording anymore.

ok, so what was the last one? that was the question.

Frisco · January-6th-2007, 07:32 PM

I'm not too clear about boundaries, Jon, but I'd say that last year's releases, "New Horse for the White House" from Territory Band, "Time Being" from Trio 3, and "Crossing the River" from Evan Parker Octet are all essential to any modern jazz listener.

You all mention some greats, like Tapscott's "Dark Tree" but there are certianly essentail jazz records being released every year.

Rob C · January-6th-2007, 07:50 PM

I guess you're using "essential" here to try to get to a choice based on some kind of "objective" criteria? I'm not sure what those criteria would be....

But I'll say that the first thing that came to my mind was Atomic's The Bikini Tapes. I know I wouldn't want to be without it.

Jon Abbey · January-6th-2007, 08:15 PM

good answers (except for Rita, of course). keep them coming!

crawjo · January-6th-2007, 09:10 PM

I would define "essential" as essential for me to have in my collection. In other words, this is a recording that I would replace if I lost it, a recording that definitely informs my understanding of what jazz is and why I love jazz.

Five most recent, for me:

William Parker - O'Neal's Porch (2000) - I've soured considerably on Parker in the last couple of years, but this and Painter's Spring are still great, in my opinion.

Dennis Gonzalez - Catechism (1986)

Bill Dixon - November 1981 (1981)

Cecil Taylor - 3 Phasis (1978)

Miles Davis - Get Up With It (1974)

Jon Abbey · January-6th-2007, 09:31 PM

the Vade Mecum records are essential for me, especially 2, but I'd say they're free improv, not jazz. arguable, though...

micha · January-6th-2007, 10:51 PM

For me, Milford Graves - Stories (2000)

Vince Kargatis · January-6th-2007, 11:11 PM

Hafta do a lot of choosing using crawjo's definition, but there would certainly be plenty of recent entries. But using a traditional definition where I think everyone "needs" it, I'd go for either Carter's "Roots and Folklore" series (particularly either Castles of Ghana (1986) or Fields (1988)) or one of the Braxton/Crispell/Dresser/Hemingway records, probably Willisau (1991).

Of course I'd be sorely tempted to list some Berne, Rova, and Frisell, but would allow that my fandom colors such choices.

Vince Kargatis · January-6th-2007, 11:47 PM

I'll also note that I'd think any characterization as "essential" of a recent recording of any genre would be suspect.

GoodSpeak · January-6th-2007, 11:52 PM

Depends.

Does it have to be A-G or Free before it's considered a valid choice?

Jon Abbey · January-6th-2007, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

I'll also note that I'd think any characterization as "essential" of a recent recording of any genre would be suspect.

dunno, I think there are instant classics all the time, but in genres that are more vibrant/active/current/choose your own word than jazz. when Public Enemy put out It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, it didn't even take a full listen through to know it was essential, a record that moved the whole genre to a new level. some people would argue something similar for the new Clipse record, although I wouldn't be one of them.

Jon Abbey · January-6th-2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodSpeak

Depends.

Does it have to be A-G or Free before it's considered a valid choice?

answer however you like, it's obviously an incredibly subjective question.

Pete C · January-7th-2007, 12:03 AM

Muhal Richard Abrams - Blu Blu Blu (1990)
Henry Threadgill - Up Popped the Two Lips (2001)
Romano/Sclavis/Texier - Suite Africaine (2000)
Louis Sclavis - Les Affrontements des Pretendants (2001)

On the other hand, I don't think anything is essential.

Vince Kargatis · January-7th-2007, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

when Public Enemy put out It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, it didn't even take a full listen through to know it was essential, a record that moved the whole genre to a new level.

Essential then, maybe, but for the long term? I can easily imagine such records (not talking about PE here specifically) getting superceded for future listeners by subsequent releases that absorb the advances but make better records with them.

Jon Abbey · January-7th-2007, 12:14 AM

maybe, obviously historical perspective always helps. but speaking just for me, sometimes you know really quickly. Rob's mention of the Atomic record above is along these lines, I think.

crawjo · January-7th-2007, 01:09 AM

I actually think that, in jazz, "essential" is somewhat overrated, because for me, the records that don't sound like anything else and are utterly brilliant are few and far between, and more importantly, not really what I spend most of my time listening to anyways. I guess I'm more attracted to the day-after-day aspect of the genre, where a top-notch player will release dozens and dozens of records that are only somewhat different from each other, but which, taken together, document an artistic life and what gradual transformations the player made over time. I seem to derive just as much, if not more, pleasure listening to the three-star jazz albums as I do the five-star ones. Not sure if that makes much sense.

stonemonkts · January-7th-2007, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawjo

I actually think that, in jazz, "essential" is somewhat overrated, because for me, the records that don't sound like anything else and are utterly brilliant are few and far between,

Based on that definition, I would vote for George Lewis' Homage to Charlie Parker, and Zorn's The Big Gundown.