Vince Guaraldi Trio- What Child Is This

Jerry Granelli – drums
Vince Guaraldi – piano, Hammond organ, arrangement
Fred Marshall – double bass

Wake Up

Donald Vega - piano
Lewis Nash - drums
David Grossman -bass

Russell Malone

Russell Malone - Guitar

Think Twice

Donald Byrd - vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn
David T. Walker
John Rowin -guitar
Harvey Mason, Sr. -harmonica, drums
Gary Bartz - clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone
Fonce Mizell - clarinet, trumpet, clavinet, background vocals
Jerry Peters - piano, organ
Larry Mizell -Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer, ARP synthesizer, background vocals
Chuck Rainey - electric bass
Mayuto Correa - congas
Stephanie Spruill - percussion, background vocals
Roger Sainte - percussion
Kay Haith, Freddie Perren, Lorraine Kennar, and Margie Evans - background vocals

Passion (Waltz) - Romane

Romane - Guitar
Laurent Bajata - Rhythm Guitar
Bob Burns -Bass

Mr Clean

Freddie Hubbard -Trumpet
Ron Carter - Bass
Jack DeJohnette - Drums
George Benson - Guitar
Richard "Pablo" Landrum - Percussion
Herbie Hancock - Piano
Weldon Irvine - Tambourine
Joe Henderson - Tenor Saxophone

John Scofield with MMW - Chicken Dog

John Medeski - keys
Billy Martin - drums
Chris Wood - bass
John Scofield - guitar

Stolen Moments - Oliver Nelson

Oliver Nelson — alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Eric Dolphy — flute, alto saxophone
George Barrow — baritone saxophone
Freddie Hubbard — trumpet
Bill Evans — piano
Paul Chambers — bass
Roy Haynes — drums




Lee Ritenour - guitar
Brian Bromberg - bass
Harvey Mason - drums
Alan Broadbent - piano
Ernie Watts - saxophone

Jackie's Bag

Jackie McLean - Alto Saxophone
Donald Byrd (tracks 1-3), Blue Mitchell (tracks 4-9) - Trumpet
Tina Brooks - Tenor Saxophone (tracks 4-9)
Sonny Clark (tracks 2 & 3), Kenny Drew (tracks 4-9) - Piano
Paul Chambers - Bass
Philly Joe Jones (tracks 1-3), Art Taylor (tracks 4-9) - Drums

One of the greatest albums of all time right here...

Django

John McLaughlin - guitar
Jeff Beck - guitars
Tony Hymas - keyboards
Pino Palladino - bass
Mark Mondésir - drums

What if Beethoveen Was Sexy

Stu Hamm Bass Solo

September in the Rain

Giant Steps

Bloomdido

Westchester Lady

Lee Ritenour - Guitar
Bob James - Keys

Al Di Meola with Jan Hammer 1986

Right Around 3:30 - they commence with the ass kicking

Al DiMeola - Guitar
Jan Hammer - Keys
Mingo Lewis - Percussion
Steve Gadd - Drumsdms
Anthony Jackson - Bass
Victor Godsey - 2nd keyboard

I Had a Little Talk - Song For My Father

One of the funkiest muhfux ever

Angela Bofill

João and Astrud Gilberto with Stan Getz "Corcovado"

Jesus Is On The Mainline

Sinister Minister

Béla Fleck - Banjo
Victor Wooten - Bass
Future Man - (Drumitar) Percussion
Jeff Coffin - Sax

This Year's Kisses performed by Lester Young

Smoothest sax player in history right here. No wonder guys like Getz spent most of their career trying to imitate that feel.

Lester Young - Tenor Sax
Vic Dickenson - Trombone
Roy Eldridge - Trumpet
Teddy Wilson - Piano
Freddie Green - Guitar
Gene Ramey - Bass
Jo Jones - Drums

Edith Piaf Selections

Refried Funky Chicken

Steve Morse - Guitar
Rod Morgenstein - Drums
Dave LaRue - Bass
Jerry Goodman - Violin

For The Love of God

One of my all time favorite instrumentals that always takes me back to my childhood:


Amazing live:


But even more amazing to see it arranged like this though, live with the Holland Metropole Orchestra, 2005, featuring orchestration by Chris Opperman:

Stormy Weather

Ella Fitzgerald - Vocals
Joe Pass - Guitar

A Rhythm Section With Some Balls

Chick Corea - Keys/Percussion
John Patitucci - Bass
Vinnie Colaiuta -Drums

Stella by Starlight - Bill Evans Trio Live in '66

Piano - Bill Evans.
Double Bass - Eddie Gomez.
Drums - Alex Riel

Portrait of Tracy

My Walking Stick - Leon Redbone

My favorite version of this standard as performed by the great Leon Redbone



Live version:

Some Nina Simone Selections

The Most Powerful, Beautiful Woman of All Time











Live in Harlem '69

If God Played a B-3 It Might Go a Little Something Like...

Jimmy Smith - Organ
Paul Humphrey -Drums
Wilton Felder -Bass
Buck Clarke - Congas, Percussion
Arthur Adams - Guitar
Steve Williams - Harmonica



Here's him and Wes Montgomery

This Year's Kisses

Billie Holiday - Vocals
Lester Young - Tenor Sax
Buck Clayton - Trumpet
Benny Goodman - Clarinet
Teddy WIlson - Piano
Freddie Green - Rhythm Guitar
Walter Page - Bass
Jo Jones - Drums

Amerika

Strange Fruit

Sarah Vaughan - Live in '66

Misty

Point Counterpoint

Steve Morse - Guitar
Dave Larue - Bass

Amazing Grace

White Rabbit

George Benson - Guitar
Jay Berliner - Acoustic Guitar
Ron Carter - Bass
Herbie Hancock - Electric Piano
Billy Cobham - Drums
Airto Moreira - Percussion, Vocals
Gloria Agostini - Vibes, Percussion

Red Clay

Take 1:
Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet
Joe Henderson - Tenor Saxophone
Herbie Hancock - Electric Piano, Organ
Ron Carter - Bass
Lenny White - Drums



Take2 (LIVE):
Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet
Stanley Turrentine - Tenor saxophone
Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ/Electric piano
George Benson - Guitar
Ron Carter - Bass
Billy Cobham - Drums
Airto Moreira - Percussion

Randy Weston Trio - Blue Moses 2007

In this live version, Weston simplifies the arrangement to fit the trio. This was played in homage to Freddie Hubbard at his passing. The personnel on the original 1972 album boasts some of the greatest jazz virtuosos to ever get together during that time. Names like Weston, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, Grover Washington and many many more...

The personnel heard here are:

Randy Weston - piano
Alex Blake - bass
Neil Clarke - percussion

Alex Blake Solo Clip

I had the honor of catching this live in 2008 in NYC. Seeing this man play with Weston was one of the top moments in my life for sure.

Take Five

Here is a rare clip taken from a German TV Broadcast of one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time. Jazz improvisation at its best right here.

Money Jungle

Money Jungle, recorded in 1962 was a collaboration amongst three of the top jazz virtuosos of all time.

Duke Ellington - Piano
Charles Mingus - Bass
Max Roach - Drums

Dear Old Stockholm

I know the "Round About Midnight" crew gets all the love for their recording of this tune, but in my opinion the earlier 1952 version just has them all beat. And all respect to Trane (always) but Jackie McLean's solo in the '52 version is one of my all time favorites...

"'Dear Old Stockholm" performed by Miles Davis and band. Taken from the 1957 "'Round About Midnight" album.
Musicians:
Miles Davis - Trumpet
John Coltrane - Tenor saxophone
Red Garland - Piano
Paul Chambers - Bass
Philly Joe Jones - Drums



"'Dear Old Stockholm" performed by Miles Davis and band. Taken from the 1952
Musicians:
Miles Davis - Trumpet
J. J. Johnson - Trombone
Jackie McLean - Alto Sax
Gil Coggins - Piano
Oscar Pettiford - Bass
Kenny Clarke - Drums



Jussi Björling

Ahmad Jamal Trio - Darn That Dream 1959

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Israel Crosby - Bass
Vernel Fournier - Drums

Waltz for Debby

Bill Evans - Piano
Scott LaFaro - Bass
Paul Motian - Drums

Stratus - Live from Motreux 1998

Billy Cobham - Drums
George Duke- Keyboards
Carl Orr - Guitar
Stefan Rademacher - Bass

Ahmad Jamal Trio - What's New 1959

The 1958 live recording At the Pershing: But Not for Me by the Ahmad Jamal trio is without a doubt one of the finest moments of history ever recorded. Amongst the cuts on the album, the one most played in my home is "What's New." There has never been a more soulful handling of this arrangement. Hear for yourself:

Ahmad Jamal – Piano
Israel Crosby - Double bass
Vernel Fournier - Drums

Classic Wynton Kelly

Wynton Kelly, John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb-

My Love Is

Red Baron Live from Montreux, Switzerland - July 6, 1976

Bill Cobham - Drums
George Duke - Keys
John Scofield - Guitar
Alphonso Johnson - Bass

Ernest Ranglin

This man is one of the most underrated guitarists alive today. His tone is impeccable.

You Look Good To Me - Live in Montreux 1977

Oscar Peterson - Piano
Ray Brown - Bass
Niels Pedersen - Bass

Ain't Mishehavin - Lazzed Up Live in Union Station, Worcester Ma

Mauro Depasquale - Piano/Vocals
Joe D'Angelo - Bass
Tom Herbert - Alto Sax
John Murzycki - Drums

Ahmad Jamal Trio Live 2005

Here is Ahmad playing one if his most known pieces live in France.

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
James Cammack - Bass
Idris Muhammad - Drums

Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)

From the rare album "Empire Jazz" from circa 1980. Produced and arranged by Ron Carter.

Ron Carter - Bass
Billy Cobham - Drums
Hubert Laws - Flute
Ralph McDonald - Percussion
John Faddis - Trumpet
Joe Shepley - Flugelhorn
Frank Wess - Sax
Jay Berliner - Guitar
Eddie Bert - Trombone






How I wish I could find this album....

Blue Monk - 1965

Wes Montgomery - Guitar
Johnny Griffin - Tenor sax
Ronnie Scott - Tenor sax
Hans Koller - Alto Sax
Ronnie Ross - Baritone Sax
Martial Solal - Piano
Michel Gaudry - Bass
Ronnie Stephenson - Drums

Mahavishnu Orchestra: You Know You Know Live

John McLaughlin - Guitar
Rick Laird - Bass
Billy Cobham - Drums
Jan Hammer - Keyboards
Jerry Goodman - Violin

Breezin'/ Nature Boy

George Benson - Guitar
Jorge Dalto - Piano, Clavinet
Ronnie Foster - Electric piano, Moog Synthesizer
Phil Upchurch - Rhythm Guitar
Ralph MacDonald - Percussion
Stanley Banks - Bass

Somethin' Else

In my opinion, one of the greatest recordings of music ever created was Cannonball Adderley's 1958 album Somethin' Else. The personnel on this album is second to none. Of the six killer tracks, the one that always remains amongst my all time favorite recordings of all time for its ability to reach deep down into the soul, grab and uproot it tossing it into the air like confetti at a wedding - is this version of Autumn Leaves. Hank Jones' solo here is amongst the Godly for its simple beauty and elegance.

Cannonball Adderley - Alto saxophone, Leader
Miles Davis - Trumpet
Hank Jones - Piano
Sam Jones - Bass
Art Blakey - Drums

Pithecanthropus Erectus

I wish I could find a live clip of this tune. Hands down one of the hardest, swingin'est tunes Mingus ever wrote. Can't snap fingers hard enough to it!

Charles Mingus – Bass
Jackie McLean – Alto Saxophone
J. R. Monterose – Tenor Saxophone
Mal Waldron – Piano
Willie Jones – Drums

Mel Tormé and Buddy Rich

Ahmad Jamal - Spartacus love theme

All of Me

Wild is the Wind

Nina Simone - Vocals, Piano
Lisle Atkinson - Bass
Bobby Hamilton - Drums

Manhattan - Live 1996

Eric Johnson- Guitar
Roscoe Beck - Bass
Brannen Temple - Drums

Linus and Lucy

Stu Hamm on Bass

Jaco Pastorius Bass Solo - Live 1982

Cliffs of Dover - Live 1988

Eric Johnson - Guitar
Kyle Brock - Bass
Tommy Taylor - Drums