(From left to right) Cannonball Adderley, Ray Charles, Sonny Rollins. Photos: Dave Brinkman/Anefo/CC0/Wikimedia Commons (Adderley), Heinrich Klaffs/CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons (Charles), Tom Beetz/CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia (Rollins)
We are trying to explore some terrific jazz records that may not have been at the forefront when jazz gurus put out lists of the very best albums available at that time. We started by listing five such albums in the November 2024 Jazz Corner.
These compilations are quite subjective, and in reality dependent on the writer’s mood at the time they were made. That same compiler may disagree with his or her own choices at a later date.
I know that from personal experience! Some years ago I had listed The 100 Best Jazz Songs for Rolling Stone India. It is still available on our website. Looking back at those choices, I feel tempted to make a few changes in my own original article. So much for objectivity!
Some albums, however, seem to elude notice even in second or later reckoning and our focus here is to try and unearth some of these albums. So, please feel free to disagree or comment on our choices!
It is ironic that creators of cult albums – such as Dave Brubeck with Time Out or Lee Morgan with Sidewinder – have also to their credit some other excellent albums, which have been relatively unnoticed. How many people listen to Brubeck’s Jazz Red Hot & Cool or Lee Morgan’s Tom Cat? Both are worth visiting but are seriously under the radar. It is these types of recordings we are trying to highlight for our readers.
Try these albums for some pleasant jazz surprises:
Ray Charles – Genius + Soul = Jazz
An awesome record with Ray Charles on piano, vocals and organ backed by a big band of essentially Count Basie musicians and arrangements by Quincy Jones and Ralph Burns. On this album, there is the impact of a tight big band, blues-based tunes and the genius of Ray Charles. We particularly like “I’ve Got News For You” with Ray singing some clever lyrics.
Oliver Nelson – The Blues & The Abstract Truth
A great album from Oliver Nelson – a band leader, arranger and tenor saxophone player who has assembled an all-star band of musicians: Eric Dolphy (Saxophone, flute), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Roy Haynes (drums) with Oliver Nelson playing tenor saxophone. The arrangements are unique and absorbing. “Stolen Moments” is our pick from this album.
O.C. Smith – The Dynamic O.C. Smith
A top-notch jazz vocalist, O.C. Smith had a relatively low-profile career for his great talent. He sang with the Count Basie band for a couple of years but his best recording is this live album which also features Herb Ellis on guitar and Jack Wilson on piano. Although the album is uniformly excellent, “On a Clear Day” demonstrates Smith’s deft touch and delivery.
Sonny Rollins – The Bridge
The first record by Rollins after he took a hiatus of a couple of years from playing in public and working on a new approach. He would practice on the Williamsburg bridge in New York, hence the title. It is a very listenable album where the band members are Jim Hall (guitar), Bob Cranshaw (bass) and Ben Riley (drums). There is no piano. “Without a Song” is a swinging number on this album and an evergreen Sonny Rollins recording for us.
Cannonball Adderley – 74 Miles Away / Walk Tall
This great alto saxophone player formed this band after leaving Miles Davis and dedicated his music essentially to the blues in jazz. With his brother Nat Adderley on vocals, trumpet and cornet, Joe Zawinul on piano, Victor Gaskin on bass and Roy McCurdy on drums, this live recording never has a dull moment of music. “Oh Babe” with Nat Adderley’s vocal and inspired solos should dispel any doubts about the deep connection between jazz and the blues.
Reach out to us at jazzwala@gmail.com for comments and feedback. And have a great 2025!
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