Collab's Top Ten Albums

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Not just for the ego, I suppose, but a space for the Top Ten Albums as seen by the Admins, Spec Collabs, Collabs etc

Here's my list as it stands on Jan 6, 2012. I expect it to change of course - for instance, ten, five, two years ago this list would have been different. (And next month it might change again) Listed in no particular order and with some small discussion.

Charles Mingus
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
Impulse!
1963

A tremendous accomplishment in composition and arrangement; a post bop, big band mix of film noir
and thematic variation. It commands your attention in a way that few albums do. It's restless and surprising.

Miles Davis
Kind of Blue
Columbia
1959

There are probably a half dozen of his albums that would fit in my Top Ten, but usually it's KOB. Modal cool supreme.
Very powerful music contained within, and not powerful in a raging bull kind of way. I wish I could hear this album again for the first time.

Janko Nilovic
Rythmes Contemporains
Editions Montparnasse 2000
1974

Nilovic 
gathered 45 musicians for this monster session and its fruits are 
impressive - in fact, the term 'library music,' (when used in a 
derogatory sense) is unfair to Janko's Rythmes Contemporain. Rather, 
the record is a seething set of exotica that stretches from lush pop to 
big band, fusion and beyond. Cinematic.

Herbie Hancock
Empyrean Isles
Blue Note
1964

Very much an improv-based exploration of ideas and themes, (taking its starting point from Greek myths) the music here ranges across styles of free, bop, funk and modal jazz. With a fine collection of sidemen (Williams & Carter for rhythm and Hubbard on cornet) the material Hancock has written is handled wonderfully. It's an especially warm-sounding album, with inspired soloing (standard for much jazz, I know) especially from Hubbard on tracks like 'Cantaloupe Island' and 'One Finger Snap' or my favourite, 'Oliloqui Valley' with its deceptively gentle introduction and lurking bursts of energy.

Keith Jarrett
The Köln Concert 
ECM

1975

Reportedly the piano was not too flash, which is part of why Jarrett played what he played, which is 
in itself impressive. A peak of improvised music and a third stream classic. It's another of those albums
which can transform your mood the moment you play it.

Freddie Hubbard

First Light

CTI

1971

Not just for two fantastic fusion albums, or the more considered and loose feel to Hubbard's soloing, but this
one finds a spot in my Top Ten for his fine touch on the more romantic moments, the ballads here are
beautiful.

Bill Evans

Everybody Digs Bill Evans

Riverside

1958

The album Miles stole from for KOB. Just kidding, though if you 
were hoping that the man who, in all likelihood, wrote parts or all of 
'Blue in Green' and 'Flamenco Sketches' was able to cut it as a leader, 
then look here. Everybody Digs... also includes some more upbeat numbers that display his great interpretative ability.

Toshiko Akiyoshi

Long Yellow Road

BMG Japan

1975

From this progressive big band album, there is one highlight 'Children in the Temple Ground' which is simply a triumph - it uses the big band to 
support melody in such an effective way that you forget you're listening
 to a large cast of players. Aside from the brilliant meeting of musical
 traditions of east and west as heard in the song, it features wonderful extended soloing by
 Akiyoshi, something that I'd been craving.

Way Out West
Old Grooves for New Streets
Jazzhead
2007

A fine blend of African and Vietnamese rhythms and instruments with more traditional Jazz, in one of the best World Fusion albums around. Peter Knight leads the more traditional jazz elements on this one with his trumpet, but the show stealer is often Dung Nguyen and his modified electric guitar, dan bau and dan tranh.

John Coltrane

Olé Coltrane

Atlantic

1962

One of his more experimental (precluding his Free albums) Ole is sometimes credited as being influenced
by Miles' Sketches of Spain and it has SOME of that feel to it, but combined with more Modal/African hints.
It's easily one of his most satisfying releases and while not exactly overlooked, is rarely mentioned in the same
breath as A Love Supreme or Giant Steps and Blue Trane.

Edited by dreadpirateroberts - 05 Jan 2012 at 10:14pm