High Quality CD Jazz albums?

[dkemppai]

Hey Guys,

I'm lookin for some really high quality Jazz Albums/RB type stuff. I like a softer sound (Don't car much for horns). Strong clear vocals with Acoustic Guitar is a personal favorite.

I don't really care who the artist is, as long as the CD is of high quality. (I can't stand overproduced junk!

Also, has anyone heard of Connie Evingson? I heard a song off of the "Fever" Album... ...Recomendations welcome.

So, Any Recomendations on some really good recordings on CD?

-Dan

[vpharris]

When I think of jazz, I think of horns. Alright, there's piano, bass, drums, [electric] guitar, vibraphone...

When I think of R&B I think of horns and electric guitar.

But either with acoustic guitar and no horns? I don't know. Perhaps I'm thinking inside the box. Maybe you can give us some hints of things we might have heard that are along the lines of what you have in mind.

Actually, I heard a guy last night that played a great-sounding acoustic guitar. Some might call it jazz. Some elements of it I liked. You might go out on a limb and get a CD. I believe he has several. Pierre Bensusan- he won a Grand Prix du Disque award at the Montreaux Jazz Festival and another award for Best Acoustic Instrumental Album of the year.

[fcel]

I thought the following CDs are pretty good quality and I have mentioned them in other threads.

Acoustic Bass: Brian Bromberg (Wood)
Clear vocals: Jacintha (Autumn Leaves)
Fat Bass Drum: Patricia Barber (Verse)

On a little off topic here ....
I could never get my cheap Maggie speakers to reproduce those fat bass of Patricia Barber's Verse CD (say ... track 4 & 7) ... even with a $1500 Veloydne subwoofer hook up to it. Does anybody know what I can do? Or that's the inherent sound properties of Maggie speakers? I have not heard the more expensive Maggie speakers ... so I don't know how they sound in terms of bass.

[KlausB]

Hi,

I can highly recommend the CD Jazz at the Pawnshop (Label Proprius). Its even better on vinyl.

Cheers
KlausB

[Timn8ter]

Tierney Sutton on the Telarc label.

[5th element]

jazz without horns

Ella Fitsgerald, the intimate, her and a piano
Clare Teal, the road less travelled
Stacey Kent, Let yourself go and the boy next door. I find all these albums are well recorded and are enjoyable to listen to.

Dont discount Jessica Williams CD called Encounters, this has no vocals, piano drums and a bass, but its fabulous, the piano is absolutely brilliant in it , with a huge expansive soundstage developed.

Although not exactly premium quality Art tatum is fantastic too his piano skills are brilliant, they just make me smile, how the heck can he play that many notes in one phrase and all of them are the ones he intended to hit

Also Barb Jungrs every grain of sand is great for recording quality. Its a linn recorded CD so it should be good.

[GrahamnDodder]

5th-

Even more so when you take into consideration that he is blind. He grew up listening to recordings that were typically two jazz pianists playing together.

He didn't know any better, so he taught himself to play "with four hands" all by himself.

GnD

p.s. And Ella is amazing, indeed.

[psarin]

I've also found the following 'booklet' quite useful.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
The Rough Guide to Jazz : 100 essential CD's

It contains info on both the Vinyl and CD versions of the subjectively picked
top 100 jazz recordings of all time. It's in 'booklet' form, i.e. small and I usually
bring it along when going vinyl/cd hunting.

hope this helps -

p

[GrahamnDodder]

I will second "The Intimate Ella," and as a modern alternative, try Diana Krall, "Love Scenes".

Ms. Krall's recordings as as perfect as her voice. If you have a DVD hooked into your system, try the "Diana Krall: Live in Paris" DVD.