25. Festival Session
Artist: Duke Ellington
Genre: Big Band
When compared to more widely-celebrated LPs like Ellington Uptown and Ellington at Newport, 1959’s Festival Session is an underrated gem in the vast Duke Ellington discography. Yet there comes a point when the term eventually has no meaning — every Ellington album should be properly rated and recognized as nothing short of amazing. Festival Session is no exception. Continue reading…
24. Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
Artist: Marty Robbins
Genre: Western
With a voice like Elvis Presley and a penchant for storytelling like Woody Guthrie, it’s no surprise that Marty Robbins was propelled to country superstardom. On Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, he sings with the conviction of a cowboy in a John Ford film. Continue reading…
23. Blues from the Gutter
Artist: Champion Jack Dupree
Genre: New Orleans Blues
A combination of barrelhouse piano, crack-house stomp and roadhouse jazz help make Champion Jack Dupree’s woozy brand of New Orleans blues a pleasure to behold. With songs like “Can’t Kick the Habit” and “Junker’s Blues,” Blues from the Gutter is as genuine as the genre gets. Continue reading…
22. Looking Ahead!
Artist: Cecil Taylor
Genre: Avant-Garde Jazz
Cecil Taylor’s second LP doesn’t have the immediacy of his debut, yet it still matches the intensity. Looking Ahead! is pretty self-explanatory. And self-fulfilling. Yet in relation to the pianist’s usual extremist tendencies, Looking Ahead! is surprisingly accessible. Continue reading…
21. The Sermon
Artist: Jimmy Smith
Genre: Soul Jazz
Jazz organist Jimmy Smith was one of the most prolific bandleaders of the late-‘50s, releasing over 40 LPs in an eight-year span. His vast discography is intimidating, yet The Sermon — a jam session that seamlessly combines hard bop, electric blues and psychedelic soul — is easily the most notable. Continue reading…
