1. Freddie Redd—"Shades of Redd"—Great arrangements by Redd. I particularly like his voicings for tenor and alto sax in the ensemble passages of the songs; of course it helps that Tina Brooks and Jackie McLean were playing the two horns on the album.
2. Booker Ervin—"The Freedom Book"—Somebody else mentioned Booker earlier, but didn't mention this great album.
3. Kenny Dorham—"Una Mas"—underrated album with Joe Henderson, the title track has become a jazz standard.
4. Dave Holland—"Jumpin to It"—tremendous, progressive post bop/free jazz album on ECM with Steve Coleman on sax.
5. Pete LaRoca—"Basra"—great album with Joe Henderson which is obscure mainly because it is impossible to find.

The rest of my choices were already mentioned but bear repeating.
6. Harold Land—"The Fox"
7.Wayne Shorter—"ETC."—to me this album is better than other more heralded Blue Notes such as "Ju Ju" and "Adams Apple." I agree with the earlier poster that it is probably underrated because it wasn't released until 1980.
8. Andrew Hill—"Black Fire"
9. Lee Morgan—"Search for the New Land"
10. Tina Brooks—"True Blue"—another impossible to locate BN.

Date: 22-Mar-1999 01:59:42
From: Murph ( baadmoon@flash.net )
I'll try my best to stay away from the perennial top ten candidates, but no guarantees (I'm only a 2-3 month old jazz fan(atic)):

John Coltrane: Live At Birdland (his absolute best, IMO)

Lee Morgan: The Sidewinder (I'm gonna have to check out Search For The New Land and Cornbread one of these days)

Grant Green: Matador

Grant Green: Solid (I got into Green originally simply because I love Elvin Jones' drumming (which Green wisely recruited)—but Green is now by far my favorite jazz guitarist; a direct link to the blues-influenced styling of Christian and a notably unique sound next to Burrell, Montgomery, and the host of other guitarists that sound like those two)

Larry Young: Into Somethin' (Unity is the slightly better album, but it's too famous... Into Somethin' has Elvin Jones, Grant Green, Sam Rivers, and Young—and that lineup ain't half as impressive on your computer screen as it will be to your ears)

Miles: Highlights From The Plugged Nickel (I'm admittedly not HUGE on Miles, but I do love the second quintet and, Miles Smiles not withstanding, I think this is their best—straight-ahead but definitely risky with undeniable virtuosity from every member of the group—Williams, Hancock, and Shorter steal the show, for me)

That's it for now
—
Murph

Date: 23-Mar-1999 16:11:57
From: Ken Dryden ( kenjazz@vei.net )
Some LPs long out of print and not out on CD that I love:
Dil Jones: Davenport Blues Chiaroscuro
Jazz Piano Masters, which features live sets by Teddy Wilson, Claude Hopkins, Dil Jones and Eubie Blake- Chiaroscuro
Jazz Piano Quartet w/ Hank Jones, Dick Hyman, Marian McPartland and Roland Hanna: Let It Happen RCA
McCoy Tyner: Passion Dance Milestone
Jim Hall Live! Horizon/A&M
These are just a few of the many LPs I treasure that need
to join the ranks of CD reissues.

Date: 25-Mar-1999 09:07:43
From: Antonino D'Angelo
I love the usual suspects and:
John Scofield—Meant to be
Keith Jarrett—At the Blue Note
Kenny Garrett—Triology
Brad Mehldau—At the Village Vanguard
Peter Erskine—You never know
Oliver Nelson—The blues and the abstract truth

Date: 25-Mar-1999 17:07:04
From: jerry
Here are a few of my unheralded favs: Randy Weston's African Cookbook
Mulgrew Miller-With Our Own Eyes
Benny Golson-Groovin' with Golson

Date: 05-Apr-1999 00:05:13
From: R. Weismann
I am compelled to add to this LONG list of fave's:

Stan Getz—"Focus"

John Coltrane—Stellar Regions

The Ray Draper Quintet featruing John Coltrane (Jazz goes TUBA!?!?!)

Charles Mingus—Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus

Date: 08-Apr-1999 09:51:54
From: DB
Maybe not so obscure, but what I love to play.

1. Blue 'n' Groovy—A great compilation, worth it for the Don Wilkerson track.
2. Chet in Paris, Vol 2.
3. The Witch Doctor—My first Art Blakey album, and still my favourite.
4. Inside & Out—Braff and Kellaway—two originals.
5. Feelin' the Spirit—Grant Green—go with the flow music.
6. Double Rainbow—or anything by Joe Henderson.
7. Wahoo or The Right Touch—D. Pearson.
8. Straight Life—or anything by Art Pepper.
9. Flip Wails: The Best of ..—Flip Phillips.
10.Rhythm and Blues Years—Big Joe Turner.

Date: 09-Apr-1999 12:16:32
From: Nick ( campain@capespan.co.uk )
And what about:

Coleman Hawkins/Ben Webster "Blue Saxophones"
Ralph Sutton "Eye Opener"
Dick Hyman and Dick Wellstood "Stride Monster"

I've got more when I have the time.

Date: 13-Apr-1999 11:58:36
From: Neil Loughran ( neil_loughran@hotmail.com )
Great topic!

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