Audiophile quality jazz CD recommendation?

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97tbird

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I've kinda been "discovering" jazz on a low level for the last 4-5 yrs or so...but the only "real" jazz CD I own and truly enjoy is remaster of "a kind of blue" by Miles Davis, which I enjoy a lot musically and sound quality wise. I also have "Ella fitzgerald sings Cole Porter Songbook" which I like.

I'm interested in owning a few audiophile quality jazz CDs. However, most of the time it seems like I tend to enjoy slow, ballady, piano, bass and drums laden recordings with only a bit of sax, etc. (Bill Evans' "Moon Beams" can be an example...)

Can someone recommend me a few jazz CDs with good sound quality, which @ the same time, fits the criteria i listed above?

Thanks a lot...
 
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I suggest you sign up for XM radio's free 3 day online trial. Let's you listen online for 3 days and they tell you the names of the artists...this way you can dive into some serious listening and choose the artists you like best...for free!
 
Not a bad idea, TNS. XM and Sirius have horrible sound quality, but I really enjoy them for the exposure to music I may not have heard otherwise.
 
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rpn, I've found that XM's sound quality isn't as bad I thought it was. Recently took a long drive in an XM-equipped Denali with the top-level stereo. I couldn't believe it was the same XM service! In my car, it sounds like someone removed the tweeters when XM is powered up. Downstream equalization and good speakers is key to end-running the 32Kbps streaming quality (except XM 76 & 113 - they're 64Kbps and XM 40 is 40Kbps).
 
Norah Jones' "Come Away with Me" album maybe? I'm not into jazz, but I see people use this album often to test out high end audio gear and such. As for genre, you can listen to snippets on Amazon or d/l it from Ruckus to see if it floats your boat before you go out and buy the CD.
 
simple gifts: cool that you remembered that thread:)
However, what QP recommended her 1st album, which i still like, and it does sound pretty good from a SQ standpoint.

I also think the sound track from the movie "sideways" also sounds great, and the music is more of a "fun" jazzy type...

downloading an album by Jane Monheit now...her voice should sound pretty good on CD...
 
Real music stops circa 1963. Ev4n pop is dead by 1970. The 1950's have both stereo recording (unnecessary) and great performers. Below is perhaps not quite your request, but worth owning nonetheless.

"ELLA, Live in Berlin"

Frank Sinatra, "Only the Lonely"

Duke Ellington, "Newport, 1956"

Louis Armstrong, " . . plays W.C. Handy"

And try going sideways into Erik Satie, Maurice Ravel, etc.
 
I would suggest to become a member of your local library and explore their collection of jazz CD-s. It's amazing how much good music is out there that is not played on radio or exposed to general public otherwise.
 
I've never been a big Jazz fan, but there was one artist in the 70s that I really liked and got about 6 of his albums. Not sure how well it fits your criteria, but should to a degree and well worth a shot (google it up and listen to some clips). The artist is Tom Scott. The stuff I was listening to was Tom Scott and the L.A. Express. One piece that I really liked and was what first sold me on him was Tom Cat (which I think is both an album and song title).
 
Linda Ronstadt did three albums with Nelson Riddle, just before he passed away. If you like old standards you'll like these; "What's New," "Lush Life", "For Sentimental Reasons." The last might have the best sound quality, I tend to reach for it as I like the songs, but they're all good so pick the ones with the songs you like.

If you like those also consider 'Stardust' by Willie Nelson, who also does some old standards. It was on Absolute Sound's list of best albums. I also like Gershwin, and have a few that sound very good; Sheffield with the Moscow Symphony as I recall, a Telarc, etc.

Gotta go, maybe I'll list some more later.
 
Something like 'As Fall Wichita so Falls Wichita Falls', by Methany and Mays. I liked it so much that I bought a couple of other Pat Methany albums, but didn't like those. Jazz is like that for me.

More pop maybe than jazz, but easy listening; 'Late Night Guitar' by Earl Klugh (spleing ?).
 
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Hendrix tried jazz for short period and wasn't considered too successful at it, but 'Electric Landyland' has a few kind of jazzy tunes on it.

THE song for awhile among some audiophiles, a cliche now, was 'The Look of Love' by Dusty Springfield. It does sound superb, with excellent presence.

Another 'one hit wonder' for me was Marianne Faithful singing the title song for the little known movie 'Trouble in Mind'. I think that it's an old standard, and on the album is done as a blues tune with a hint of jazzy instrumentals.
 
Kyoto Jazz Massive - 10th Anniversary
Kyoto Jazz Massive - Spirit of the Sun

Anything from Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (fun band to listen to! jazzy with ska influences)
 
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I also really like Tokyo Jihen, but some of their songs could be considered more rock/pop, a lot of them have a lot of Jazz influence, with Pianos, etc.

Oh, I just misread the 2nd paragraph of your post, these bands aren't slow by any means, so you probably won't like them. Nevermind
smile.gif
 
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