tonym Posted June 6, 2003 Report Posted June 6, 2003 In a book about jazz records, the pianist Jonny King suggests that when he was in college, one of the albums he listened to most, the one that felt most 'at home' like an 'old pair of slippers' was Miles' Relaxin'. I would like to know which albums, regardless of genre, sound quality, technical prowess, image or kudos, you put on when you need to hear something friendly and familiar? As one would only own a pair or two of slippers, keep it down to one or two albums --- this should be a totally personal experience (shared, of course, with the rest of us now!). For me it's the first Stan Getz Roost session with Al Haig etc. Those first few notes from 'On the Alamo' get my pulse rate right down. cheers, tony. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted June 6, 2003 Report Posted June 6, 2003 I'd have to think about it some, but perhaps my first thought is to say Nefertiti and Sorcerer. They were the first Miles albums I ever heard (after KoB, of course). A friend of mine made me a tape of Nefertiti, Sorcerer, plus the acoustic tracks off Water Babies (side 1) - when I was back in college (in the late late 80's), shortly after I took the Jazz 101 course there. I mentioned that I had really liked KoB, and he said, "wait until you hear this!!". (This was before either Nefertiti or Sorcerer had come out on CD in the U.S., and he had Japanese import CD's of both of them.) Afte that, I went through a big Miles phase for about half a decade, then I got over Miles - and am now getting back into him again somewhat, as the box sets are coming out. But to this day, listening to Nefertiti and Sorcerer reminds me of old times, and they somehow seem both like I've known them forever, and they sound as new as the first day I heard them. I don't listen to them all that often, so I'm not sure if the "slipper" analogy fits exactly, but in some ways they are as familiar to me as any jazz recordings I can think of - so surely that's slipper-y! Quote
jazzbo Posted June 6, 2003 Report Posted June 6, 2003 Lately: Tom Jobim, "Ineditos" and the collaboration with Selena Jones Randy Weston "Marrakech in the Cool of the Evening" Grant Green "Feelin' the Spirit" Quote
Late Posted June 6, 2003 Report Posted June 6, 2003 Nice idea, Tony! (I like slippers.) For me, it has to be Thelonious Monk with Sonny Rollins. Rollins' intro to "The Way You Look Tonight" always puts me in a positive mood. Bill Evans' Portrait in Jazz was one of the first LP's I ever owned, and that also has sentimental value, besides still being my favorite Evans record. Quote
Matthew Posted June 6, 2003 Report Posted June 6, 2003 Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim. This is one of the most relaxingly intense albums I've heard, and I play it all the time, whatever mood, it helps get me through the day. Flamin' Groovies: Shake Some Action I've had this record since it first came out in 1976, and when I play it, so many memories flood into my mind, that it seems my life is flashing in front of me. Quote
Green Dolphin Posted June 7, 2003 Report Posted June 7, 2003 Like Rooster it's a Miles 60's date for me,but Filles De Kilimanjaro comes off the shelf in those "where's my slippers?" moments. Another would be any great piano trio set,of which I've plenty to choose-the Imelda Marcos of the slipper world!!!! Quote
Jazzmoose Posted June 8, 2003 Report Posted June 8, 2003 This may sound like a strange choice for "comfort", particularly as I'm more at home with hard bop as yet, but Coltrane's My Favorite Things will probably always be my "comfort album". Part of it is that I've had it for quite a while, the other part is probably the number of times I've played it. When a disc is your first jazz disc, and it takes a couple of years to go over the edge and become a fanatic, you tend to overplay it a bit! Quote
Ed S Posted June 8, 2003 Report Posted June 8, 2003 Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue Grant Green - Idle Moments Dexter Gordon - One Flight Up, Our Man In Paris Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage Freddie Hubbard - Ready For Freddie Quote
Soul Stream Posted June 8, 2003 Report Posted June 8, 2003 (edited) An All-organ perspective.... John Patton-The Way I Feel Lou Donaldson-Alligator Boogaloo Edited June 8, 2003 by Soul Stream Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted June 8, 2003 Report Posted June 8, 2003 Kind of Blue, several of the 70s ECMs like Ralph Towner's Solstice or Jarrett's Facing You. And many a 70s rock record - Fairport, Soft Machine, Pink Floyd. There's nothing like nostalgia for the 'slipper effect.' Quote
Green Dolphin Posted June 8, 2003 Report Posted June 8, 2003 As we were limited initially to one or two-I did,but yes,Bev-Facing You and Solstice would certainly be there in the slipper cupboard(wardrobe!!!),plenty of 70's ECM's in fact. Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted June 8, 2003 Report Posted June 8, 2003 As we were limited initially to one or two Sorry! Didn't read the rubric. Maybe I'm the Emelda Marcos of nostalgic music slippers! Quote
Sundog Posted June 8, 2003 Report Posted June 8, 2003 Jimmy Smith/The Sermon- Contains a lot of my favorite players playing in my favorite context. This one always feels comfortable. John Coltrane/Coltrane- The first album to feature his classic quartet. One of the first 4 or 5 jazz albums I ever bought. This album certainly helped form my opinion of what jazz should sound like. Of course no one else can sound like these guys! Quote
sidewinder Posted June 8, 2003 Report Posted June 8, 2003 (edited) Propping up the slipper cupboard this week we have: Johnny Coles - 'Little Johnny C' Herbie Hancock - 'Speak Like a Child', 'The Prisoner' and 'Maiden Voyage' Lou Donaldson - 'Aligator Bogaloo' (again) Sam Rivers - 'Fuchsia Swing Song Count Basie - 'Chairman of the Board' :rsmile: Edited June 9, 2003 by sidewinder Quote
Late Posted June 9, 2003 Report Posted June 9, 2003 Fuchsia Swing Song is your pair of slippers? Very cool! If I had Rivers Slippers, they would be in the form of Contours. I that album, and everything about it: cover, personnel, compositions, solos, the whole happy meal. I only wish it were available separately, and with Malcom Addey remastering. Then it would be slippers with built-in arch massagers. Yow! Quote
mgraham333 Posted June 9, 2003 Report Posted June 9, 2003 One disc that finds its way into the rotation quite often for me is Blakey's Moanin'. The title track is 9 minutes of jazz bliss for me. I love Lee's playing on that one. This disc also has my favorite version of Come Rain or Come Shine. Quote
sidewinder Posted June 9, 2003 Report Posted June 9, 2003 (edited) Late - Just about any of the Rivers Blue Notes could find a place in my slippers rack. 'Contours' and 'A New Conception' for sure. 'Dimensions and Extensions' (fine session as it is) pushing it though. I can listen to that Mosaic set of Sam's from end to end and be in seventh heaven ... Lots of cool points too for the cover art on 'Contours' and 'A New Conception'. 'Fuchsia' is a little bit too brown for my liking ! :rsmile: Edited June 9, 2003 by sidewinder Quote
brownie Posted June 10, 2003 Report Posted June 10, 2003 My slippers (vinyls all and all aging gracefully): - The Jazz Messengers at Cafe Bohemia, volume 1 - Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet - John Coltrane/Johnny Hartman - Bill Evans 'You Must Believe in Spring' Quote
BruceH Posted June 11, 2003 Report Posted June 11, 2003 Blues In Orbit by Ellington, and True Blue by Tina Brooks (sometimes Cool Struttin' by Sonny Clark). Since Matthew mentioned a rock album (and such a great one, big thumbs up Mathew!) I've got to mention The La's, the first and only album by the Liverpool group of the same name. I made a driving tape of it a couple years ago and must have listened to it about 75 million times since! I can't stop----it's comfort music and I need comfort, apparently. Quote
jacknife Posted June 11, 2003 Report Posted June 11, 2003 My favorite pair of "slippers" would have to be Mingus - Ah Um and Wes Montgomery - Full House. My Rock "slippers" are The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms. Quote
JohnJ Posted June 11, 2003 Report Posted June 11, 2003 A couple that spring instantly to mind: 'Crescent' - Coltrane. Has a strange calming effect. 'Songs for Swinging Lovers' - Sinatra. Just makes me feel good (and young). Quote
danasgoodstuff Posted June 12, 2003 Report Posted June 12, 2003 I was tempted to say 'son of sidewinder' BN stuff, but upon further reflection the aurel comfort food I reach for most often would be early to mid 50s Chess blues and early to mid 60s Stax soul. Both mono and lo fi; don't what that says about my ears. It may not be fancy but sometimes mac & cheese is just right. Quote
vibes Posted June 14, 2003 Report Posted June 14, 2003 GoM, sorry to hear you got hurt, but am glad to hear that you're doing OK. I hope you recover quickly from your injuries. Quote
Jad Posted June 14, 2003 Report Posted June 14, 2003 (edited) At the risk of sounding cliche, Kind Of Blue still does it for me. I work alone in the early AM and it's the perfect fit for watching the sun come up. Went through a period where I listened to it every morning for three weeks straight. -_- GoM, ouch! Hope you're up and around soon! Edited June 15, 2003 by Jad Quote
jacman Posted June 14, 2003 Report Posted June 14, 2003 (edited) Miles Davis-Kind Of Blue. Tom Waits-Small Change KoB was the Jazz album that converted me, and i still sit in amazment at the interplay between the horns, the fat lines RC lays down, and Jimmy Cobb's right hand. Small Change came out around the time i was in the military. i had never heard him before. his lyrics, his voice and the music (Shelly Manne on drums) were, and still are, mezmerizing to me. {thread hijack} GoM-get well soon. i'm glad you can still post! smart move: a helmet. {hijack off} Edited June 14, 2003 by jacman Quote
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.