The Budos Band -- III

  There I was, at a local downtown watering hole, gulping down copious amounts of beer and whiskey.  The owner pulls out this Ethio-esque Afro beat'd Jazzy Soul album by The Budos Band.  Needless to say my evening wasn't as successful as this killer record.  I made it home ok but totally puked in my sink, which left a barftastic odor in my apartment, luckily I cleaned 'er all up and have kept a great memory of this album!

Beastie Boys -- The In Sound From Way Out!

  So ... if you are getting wasted on a school night, or at my age a work night, with your buddy, and want something to play dueling djembes to, look no further than The Beastie Boys The In Sound From Way Out!  This Booker T and The Mg's-esque Soul/ Jazz instrumental compilation has tracks that range from very good, pretty ok and f*cking shit, but albums like these show their diversity and talent, who else could jump from Hip Hop to Hardcore Punk to mellow instrumentals in one fatal swoop!

Karen Dalton -- It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best

  A deadly talented, troubled victim from her own boundless gift ... you know drugs, alcohol, kidnapping her own daughter and divorce ... as well as dying of aids in the early 90's, Dalton was truly a tragic figure.  Her style was a Jazzy Folk Blues lead by her Billie Holiday-esque vocals with a 12-string guitar and a long neck banjo, you've never heard anything like nor will you ever again.

Chet Baker -- Let's Get Lost

  Before becoming the famous heroin fueled troubled troubadour who lost and then regained his embouchure, living a life of self torture and torment, Baker had previously recorded these numbers which were to become the soundtrack to a documentary about his life.  What you hear here is the soft pangs of a destroyed man, using his own voice and trumpet to create the sound and atmosphere of what he was feeling inside, it's funny sometimes how a man's pain can be so beautiful and enticing which is a talent on it's own.       

Interplay For 2 Trumpets And 2 Tenors

  Pretty much a standard Jazz record, no huge surprises, but still good.  The most interesting elements is hearing the "Interplay" between sax players John Coltrane and Bobby Jaspar.  Coltrane takes the lead with his wild improvisations while Jaspar tries to follow suit.  It's easy to tell the tenors apart, even though Jaspar's style and notes are perfect he lacks Coltrane's ferocious velocity.    

Gabor Szabo -- Spellbinder

  ... in a tumultuous state, while trying to relax at my buddy's place, he slapped on Gabor Szabo's, a Hungarian Jazz guitarist, Spellbinder.  His playing eludes to the free form style of a Horn player.  Gabor is such an artist he even painted the Picassoesque cover.  In my time of need Szabo came through and chilled me out!  And now it's made it on my must have list!

The History Of Jazz Volume One: N'Orleans Origins

  Don't really know much about this album, other than you've got some early Dixie/ Ragtime Jazz with a little bit O'Blues.  For the most part the music is clarinet driven, you think you died and went into a Woody Allen movie, style music.  The record is a great comprehensive of early American music ... especially for vinylheads like me!

Cannonball Adderley -- The Best Of ...

  Not too sure how great of a comprehensive Best Of this is since he has countless albums and who knows how many songs, while this record has only six numbers.  There isn't anything that is blow your mind off outta this world about this album, other than its got some smooth flowing Jazz to sooth your nerves, you can totally see why Davis chose him to be part of his group on several records -- consistency ...

John Coltrane -- A Love Supreme

  Totally clean and filled with love for God, John Coltrane decides to record this album as an offering to the supreme being.  A Love Supreme sounds like Coltrane in his most natural habitat, his notes and style can be hard to follow, scattering pieces everywhere.  Clearly Coltrane's skill and creativity are legendary, but at the same time I am humbled to listen to a man's gift to God ...

Thelonious Monk -- Monk's Greatest Hits

  After a Monday night of drinking, deliberating whether my latest painting is any good, a hunk of junk or just needs more work, I put on Monk's Greatest Hits to give me some Jazz prospective.  What I had concluded is, this album is awesome, Thelonious Monk is probably the best piano player of all-time, and that my painting definitely needs more work!

Ray Charles -- Take 10 with ...

  A collection of Ray Charles numbers before his Rock 'n' Roll days.  These tunes are drenched in the swingy Jazz/ Blues sound of the late 40's, Nat King Cole style.  The last couple tracks are interesting Sax led instrumentals that has a sound of what is to come, otherwise nothing too too interesting here, but good tunes nonetheless!

Miles Davis -- Kind Of Blue

  Mega cool, super smooth Miles Davis masterpiece Kind Of Blue.  I really don't know what to say that hasn't been said already, the accolades are endless ... point being, get this record and let the music speak for itself!

Lou Rawls -- Live!

  Smooth as silk Jazzy Bluesman Lou Rawls's Live performance is filled with classy classic numbers.  Not only is the music great, but Rawls's hipster ramblings between tracks make the album even better; my personal favorite rant is part of the closing song, it's about a small time crook, who's hustler rags are thrift store specials, and he's about to enter a World Of Trouble.

The Allman Brothers Band -- At Fillmore East

  Live virtuoso Southern Blues double LP masterpiece.  Unlike other Southern bands they ditch the Hard Rock style and focus on traditional Blues with Jazz improvisations ... apparently the band was so into the concert it lasted well into the early hours of the morning, only noticeable to them when someone opened a door and the sunlight crept it's way into the Fillmore.   The album stands as a last testament of guitar legend Duane Allman (their next release Eat A Peach had some live tracks taken from the Fillmore concerts, not featured on this set) ... and what is that he's hiding in his hand on the cover with the sh*t eating grin?  Hmmmmm, maybe a little dose of inspiration?

King Curtis -- Live at the Filmore West

  King Curtis is definitely the saxiest man in the world, and Live at the Filmore is a great showcase of his undeniable talent.  The album opens up with the best tune on the record, Memphis Soul Stew, where he introduces his killer band, including Billy Preston.  As the album moves forward there are moments of unagreeable muzak styled covers, Whiter Shade Of Pale, Ode To Billie Joe and Mr. Bojangles, were the worst of the bunch, but Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love was oddly good.  Sadly enough with his biggest hit solo album climbing the charts, Curtis gets killed in front of his brownstone by two junkies.  The Yakety Saxman lives on through countless recordings from his own to accompaniying greats like Buddy Holly, The Coasters, Aretha Franklin,  John Lennon etc ...

Sam Cooke

    The legendary Sam Cooke goes beyond being a music pioneer, maybe it's the mystique of his death, shot in a motel office in only his sports jacket and shoes, not really the end you'd think of when you hear the sound of his music and voice.  Furthermore was it murder, was it self-defense, who was the woman who left Cooke's room, did he rape her, was she a prostitute, the list goes on and on, we'll never know the real story.  I think the point is that an artist with his caliber of brilliance and talent never last too long, it's like they are so damn good that the stress of being  charismatic and loved just sends them into spiral of self-destruction, but who could really handle that?  It'd be great, I'm sure, as time goes on, a little too great, and then what??  Can you really keep up with yourself and be as wonderful as you were, in most cases it's bad ending to a good life, but Cooke was hardly a angel, he might have sounded like one, but sure as sh*t didn't act like one!

  As far as fully exploring this record, I'd would have had to listen to this album at least 10 times to ingrain it into my brain.  As soon as the needle hits you totally get sucked in, Cooke's cool smooth sultry voice is unlike anything else, with the beautifully arranged backups by Bumps Blackwell, takes you away into their world, nothing else really matters, except to keep listening.  Sam Cooke is an essential music legend, up there with Robert Johnson (also shot), putting the world on track and setting the course for the future.