Roland Kirk - The Classic 1960s Albums / American jazz multi-instrumentalist Roland Kirk played tenor saxophone, flute, and many other instruments. He was renowned for his onstage vitality, during which virtuoso improvisation was accompanied by comic banter, political ranting, and the ability to play several instruments simultaneously. This magnificent set of eight classic albums is an ideal starting point for students new to Roland Kirk's music, as well as the ideal go-to-collection for jazz fans of all vintage, covering the great man's most prestigious, challenging and magnificent music that he would ever make.
Dave Brubeck Quartet - The Classic 1950s Albums / This superb 4-CD collection brings together eight original albums that Dave and the quartet released during the 1950s, the era generally considered to be the great man's golden years. Serving as both a wonderful starting point for those new to Brubeck's music, and as a divine reminder of his finest work for the rest of us, this set remains a must-have collection for just about anyone who has been blessed with ears and a love of music.
Joe Pass - The Pacific Jazz Collection - Born January 13, 1929, Joe Pass was an American jazz guitarist. Well known for his work stemming from numerous collaborations with pianist Oscar Peterson and vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, Pass is often esteemed as one of the most notable jazz guitarists of the 20th century. This 4CD collection features eight original Joe Pass albums on which he performed as leader, all in re-mastered editions, and all from Joe's 'golden years' - the period 1962 to 1966. Recorded when the great man was signed exclusively to The Pacific Jazz label, and when he was at the pinnacle of his career, this collection serves as a fine starting point for beginners to this maverick jazz man's art, and as a fine reminder to those already somewhat versed.
Miles Davis - The Classic Albums Collection - This four CD set contains Miles Davis' nine most popular albums both critically and commercially, all originally recorded between 1953 and 1960. Among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz, and indeed in 20th-century music, Miles Davis adopted a variety of musical directions in a five-decade career that kept him at the forefront of many major stylistic developments in the genre. This four CD set contains Miles Davis' nine most popular albums both critically and commercially, all originally recorded between 1953 and 1960; for most enthusiasts the period during which the great man's star shone brightest.
Dizzy Gillespie - 1961-1964: The Classic Philips Albums - This four-disc collection features eight of the finest LPs Dizzy Gillespie recorded for Philips in the 1961-1964 period. One of the most recognised and esteemed names in all of jazz music, Dizzy Gillespie's work, his live performances and his multiple recordings are legendary. A truly gifted player on his chosen instrument, the trumpet, Gillespie was famous for the complexity of his improvisation. His work also had a profound effect on the popularity of bebop during the 1940s and 1950s. Dizzy's influence on host of jazz masters who followed in his footsteps, from Miles Davis to Lee Morgan and numerous others, was profound, and he embraced a wide variety of styles and arrangements during his lifetime. Some of his finest work emerged during the late 1950s to the mid-1960s, when he was initially signed to Verve Records, and then, from 1962 onwards, to the legendary Philips label. This four-disc collection, containing over five hours of music in total, features eight of the finest LPs Gillespie recorded for Philips during the 1961-1964 period, and houses some of the best playing to grace jazz records at this time.
Born September 2, 1928, Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silva - later to be known as Horace Silver - was among the most accomplished American jazz pianists and composers of all time; coming out of the hard bop school of jazz, Silver was known for his distinctive playing style and pioneering compositional contributions to the form. Influenced by a wide range of musical styles, notably gospel, African music, and Latin American, Silver also later ventured into the soul-jazz genre. This 4CD collection features Horace Silver's eight finest Blue Note albums, made between 1952 and 1963, the first, and many would say most productive and challenging, decade of this masterful composer, performer and musician's career. Despite living a long and hugely influential life, Horace Silver sadly passed away on June 18th 2014, albeit at the age of 85 and of natural causes, having generally enjoyed good health until his final hour. This compilation serves as both an ideal starting point for those new to Horace Silver's music, and as a perfect reminder for those already familiar.
Jim Hall - The Early Albums Collection - Born in Buffalo, New York in 1930, James Stanley Hall was an American jazz guitarist, composer and arranger. Hall moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, during his childhood. Hall's mother played the piano, his grandfather the violin, and his uncle the guitar. Jim began playing the guitar at the age of 10, when his mother gave him an instrument as a Christmas present. At 13 he heard Charlie Christian play on a Benny Goodman record, which he called his "spiritual awakening". As a teenager in Cleveland, he performed professionally, and also took up the double bass. Hall's major influences since childhood were tenor saxophonists Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Paul Gonsalves, and Lucky Thompson. While he copied out solos by Charlie Christian, and later Barney Kessel, it was horn players from whom he took the lead. In 1955, Hall attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he majored in composition, studying piano and bass in addition to theory. Jim Hall was a true original on the jazz spectrum, always experimenting and pushing ahead, and the albums featured on this new collection illustrate his musical prowess, innovative practices and acute talents perfectly. All originally released between 1959 and 1965, the eight records featured here in astounding re-mastered versions remain a pure delight, and this set works equally well for those new to Jim Hall's music and those already somewhat familiar. - Featuring 8 records released between 1959 and 1965, this 4CD set works equally well for those new to Jim Hall's music and those already familiar.
This four CD set compiles the finest albums Slide Hampton released as leader, all from his golden years, 1959-1963. Featuring too some of the finest American Jazz musicians around during this period, this collection will delight fans new and old, containing as it does some of the best hard bop released during the era in question.
This four-disc collection brings together eight of the finest albums recorded by Bud Shank as leader, during the period of 1956-1962, the era most fans consider to be the great man's glory years. Working equally well as a starting point for beginners to Bud Shank's music and as a delightful reminder for those already versed, this compilation is bound to delight all who listen.
