With His Hot and Blue Guitar
Johnny Cash’s rockabilly debut sounds like a 50-year-old wiseman in a 25-year-old’s body.
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Super Sonic Jazz
Sun Ra released one of the trippiest jazz albums of the 1950s, because why the f*ck wouldn’t he?
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Here’s Little Richard
Back in the day, they called this the devil’s music.
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Sonny Rollins Released Seven (!) Albums in 1957
Like a star free agent on the open market, 1957 was the summer of Sonny. Everyone knew that Rollins was the greatest saxophonist on the face of the Earth, and so he was free to play for whoever he wanted. … Continue reading Sonny Rollins Released Seven (!) Albums in 1957
Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk’s greatest album.
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The Great Ray Charles
A rare look at Ray Charles in an instrumental jazz setting.
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A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry
Artist: Charles Mingus Year: 1957 Genre: Post-Bop Grade: B+ The 11-minute opener, entitled “Scenes in the City,” is the clear highlight of Charles Mingus’ fourth LP of 1957. Featuring the spoken-word narration of Mel Stewart, the freewheeling track moves through a … Continue reading A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry
The “Chirping” Crickets
Buddy Holly’s debut with The Crickets doesn’t reach the level of artistic maturity he’d soon attain.
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Such Sweet Thunder
An instrumental ode to William Shakespeare.
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April in Paris
Count Basie’s late-career renaissance started with this classic, big-band LP.
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Chet Atkins at Home
They don’t make instrumental country like they used to.
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Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section
Alto saxophonist Art Pepper collaborates with Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones.
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