Paul Desmond – Take Ten (1963)

RCA Victor – LSP / LPM 2569Rec. Dates : November 5, 10, 12, 14, 25, 1963Stream this Album Alto Sax : Paul DesmondBass : Gene Cherico, Gene WrightDrums : Connie KayGuitar : Jim Hall Asbury Park PressDon Lass : 12/07/1963 Desmond, long the key soloist with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, is joined here by superb guitarist Jim Hall for a relaxed set of

Max Roach Chorus and Orchestra – It’s Time (1962)

Impulse! A-16Rec. Dates : February 15-26-27, 1962Stream this Album Drums : Max RoachBass : Art DavisConductor : Coleridge PerkinsonPiano : Mal WaldronTenor Sax : Clifford JordanTrombone : Julian PriesterTrumpet : Richard WilliamsVocals : Abbey Lincoln16-member chorus Billboard : 08/18/1962Four Stars Angry jazz with a civil rights message is carved out here by Max Roach with chorus and ork, with all of the music composed by

Oliver Nelson – The Blues and the Abstract Truth (1961)

Impulse! – A-5Rec. Date : February 23, 1961Stream this Album Arranger : Oliver NelsonAlto Sax : Oliver Nelson, Eric DolphyBaritone Sax : George BarrowBass : Paul ChambersDrums : Roy HaynesFlute : Eric DolphyPiano : Bill EvansTenor Sax : Oliver NelsonTrumpets : Freddie Hubbard Kansas City CallBob Greene : 12/01/1961 The blues have been isolated and declared as the basic origin of jazz.

Ornette Coleman – Change of the Century (1960)

Atlantic – 1327Rec. Dates : October 8, 1959, October 9, 1959Stream this Album Alto Sax : Ornette ColemanBass : Charlie HadenDrums : Billy HigginsPocket Trumpet/Cornet : Don Cherry Billboard : 06/06/1960Jazz Spotlight Winner Ornette Coleman, the alto sax man whose style has aroused violent debate, shows on this waxing that he has both imagination and taste, as well as

Charles Mingus – Blues & Roots (1960)

Atlantic – 1305Rec. Date : 02/04/1959Stream this Album Bass : Charles MingusAlto Sax : Jackie McLean, John HandyBaritone Sax : Pepper AdamsDrums : Dannie RichmondPiano : Horace Parlan, Mal WaldronTenor Sax : Booker ErvinTrombone : Jimmy Knepper, Willie Dennis Billboard : 03/21/1960Three stars Charlie Mingus gets a chance in this set to display some earthy, done home, churchy style of music, mainly cast in the blues

Miles Davis – Kind of Blue (1959)

Columbia – CL 1355Rec. Dates : March 2, 1959, April 22, 1959Stream this Album Trumpet : Miles DavisAlto Sax : Cannonball AdderleyBass : Paul ChambersDrums : Jimmy CobbPiano : Wynton Kelly, Bill EvansTenor Sax : John Coltrane   Billboard : 08/31/1959Spotlight Winner of the Week Miles Davis, with his almost-regular group, composed of Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, James Cobb, Johnny (!?) Coltrane, Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans, turns in

George Russell – Jazz Workshop (1957)

RCA Victor – LPM-1372Rec. Dates : March 31, 1956, October 17, 1956, October 21, 1956Stream this Album Arranger : George RussellAlto Sax : Hal McKusickBass : Milt Hinton, Teddy KotickFlute : Hal McKusickGuitar : Barry GalbraithPercussion : Joe Harris, Paul Motian, George Russell, Osie JohnsonPiano : Bill EvansTrumpet : Art Farmer AudioEdward Tatnall Canby : October, 1957 Well, darn it, they will keep sending me

Jim Hall – Jazz Guitar (1957)

Pacific – PJ-1227Rec. Dates : January 10, 1957, January 24, 1957Stream this Album Guitar: Jim HallBass : Red MitchellPiano : Carl Perkins Army TimesTom Scanlan : 05/18/1957 Jim Hall, a solo guitarist with a refreshing melodic sense who can remind you of Charlie Christian at times (like Christian, Hall leaves “holes” rather than cramming in meaningless runs) sits in with

Dave Brubeck Quartet – Jazz Impressions of the U.S.A. (1957)

Columbia – CL 984Rec. Dates : November 16, 1956, November 26, 1956, February 4, 1957Stream this Album Piano : Dave BrubeckAlto Sax : Paul DesmondBass : Norman BatesDrums : Joe Morello Army TimesTom Scanlan : 07/06/1957 The Brubeck Club, which still has many members, will want to hear Dave’s latest called Jazz Impressions of the U.S.A. as will others who are only occasional

Serge Chaloff – Blue Serge (1957)

Capitol – T-742Rec. Date : March 14, 1956, March 16, 1956Stream this Album Baritone Sax : Serge ChaloffBass : Leroy VinnegarDrums : Philly Joe JonesPiano : Sonny Clark Billboard : 02/23/1957Score of 81 Of the jazz sets out by Capitol in the last few years by small modern groups, the only real standouts have been Chaloff‘s first, Boston Blowup and this one.