Jazz Records

NOTE: This site is currently under re-construction and is in need of some editing and additions. Nevertheless, I've decided to keep it online for reference purposes.

This is a list of jazz records. They are all garded with numbers 1-10 with the maximum score being 10. The criteria and the way I rate records is similar to the style of Robert Christgau and Tom Hull, even if I use numbers instead of letter grades. If I feel a more elaborate explanation of the grading system is needed, I'll add one later. For now, all you need to know is this:

Any record rated 7 or higher I feel is well worth owning; Any record rated 8 - 10 is strongly recommended.

(The grades are liable to change. Records marked n/a are records I for whatever reason have not given a grade yet). Records by groups without any clear leader may be listed twice. The dates and labels are taken from various sources. Compilations have recording dates, regular records have year of release. If you find any mistakes do not hesitate to let me know by sending me an e-mail at perfectsounds.chrismonsen@[REMOVETHIS]gmail.com.

Artists (leaders sorted by last name)

M - O

Mahanthappa, Rudresh:
- w/Steve Lehman: Dual Identity: Dual Identity (Clean Feed, 2010) 8
- w/Bunky Green: Apex (Pi Recordings, 2010) 7

Mahavishnu Orchestra:
- Inner Mounting Flame (Columbia, 1971) 8

McGregor, Chris:
- Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath: Brotherhood (RCA, 1972) 9

McLaughlin, John:
- Extrapolition (Polydor, 1969) 9
- Devotion (Douglas, 1970) 7

McLean, Jackie:
- New Soil (Blue Note, 1959) n/a
- Swing Swang Swingin' (Blue Note, 1959) n/a
- Let Freedom Ring (Blue Note, 1962) 9
- One Step Beyond (Blue Note, 1963) 8
- Destination Out! (Blue Note, 1963) n/a
- It's Time (Blue Note, 1964) n/a
- Action! (Blue Note, 1964) n/a
- Right Now (Blue Note, 1965) n/a
- w/Ornette Coleman: New & Old Gospel (Blue Note, 1967) n/a

McPhee, Joe:
- Nation Time (Unheard Music Series, 1970) 8
- Joe McPhee Po Music: Topology (hatArt, 1981) n/a
- Joe McPhee Po Music: Linear B (hatArt, 1991) n/a

McRae, Carmen:
- Carmen Sings Monk (Bluebird/Novus, 1988) 7

Mehldau, Brad:
- Introducing Brad Mehldau (Warner Bros., 1995) n/a
- The Art of the Trio, vol. 2: Live at the Village Vanguard (Warner Bros., 1997) n/a
- The Art of the Trio, vol. 3: Songs (Warner Bros., 1998) n/a
- Highway Rider (Nonesuch, 2009) 6

Miller, Glenn:
- The Essential Glenn Miller (RCA, 1939-42) n/a

Mingus, Charles:
- Pithecanthropus Erectus (Atlantic, 1956) 9
- The Clown (Atlantic, 1957) 7
- New Tijuana Moods (Bluebird/RCA, 1957) 8
- Blues and Roots (Rhino/Atlantic, 1959) 7
- Mingus Ah Um (Columbia, 1959) 10
- Mingus Dynasty (Columbia, 1959) n/a
- Mingus at Antibes (Atlantic, 1960) 10
- Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (Candid, 1960) 9
- Oh Yeah (Rhino/Atlantic, 1961) 6
- Passions of a Man (Rhino/Atlantic 6CD, 1956-61) 8
- Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (Impulse!, 1963) 8
- Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (Impulse!, 1963) 8
- Town Hall Concert 1964 (Original Jazz Classics, 64) 8
- Let My Children Hear Music (Columbia, 1971) n/a
- Changes One (Rhino/Atlantic, 1974) 8
- Changes Two (Rhino/Atlantic, 1974) 7

Mitchell, Blue:
- Big Six (Original Jazz Classics, 1958) n/a

Mitchell, Roscoe:
- Sound (Delmark, 1966) 7
- Roscoe Mitchell Art Ensemble: Congliptious (Nessa, 1968) n/a
- Roscoe Mitchell and the Sound and Space Unit (Black Saint, 1983) 6
- Roscoe Mitchell Creative Orchestra: Sketches From Bamboo (Moers Music, 1979) n/a
- Roscoe Mitchell Quartet: The Flow Of Things (Black Saint, 1987) n/a
- Songs In the Wind (Les Disques Victo, 1991) n/a
- w/Muhal Richard Abrams & George Lewis: Streaming (Pi Recordings) n/a
- Bells For the Southside (ECM, 2017) n/a 

Modern Jazz Quartet:
- Modern Jazz Quartet (Original Jazz Classics, 1951) n/a
- Third Stream Music (Atlantic, 1957) n/a
- Dedicated to Connie (Atlantic, 1960) n/a
- Lonely Woman (Atlantic, 1962) n/a

Moncur III, Grachan:
- Evolution (Blue Note, 1963) 8
- Some Other Stuff (Blue Note, 1964) n/a

Monk, Thelonious:
- Genius of Modern Music: Volume 1 (Blue Note, 1947-48) 8
- Genius of Modern Music: Volume 2 (Blue Note, 1947-52) 8
- The Complete Blue Note Recordings (Blue Note 4CD, 1947-58) 9
- Thelonious Monk Trio (Prestige/OJC, 1952) 10
- MONK (Original Jazz Classics, 1953) n/a
- Thelonoious Monk/Sonny Rollins (Original Jazz Classics, 1953) 9
- Brilliant Corners (Original Jazz Classics, 1956) 10
- Thelonious Himself (Original Jazz Classics, 1957) 8
- Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane (Original Jazz Classics, 1957) 9
- Monk's Music (Original Jazz Classics, 1957) 10
- Live At the Five Spot: Discovery! (Blue Note, 1957) 8
- Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall (Blue Note, 1957) 7
- Misterioso (Original Jazz Classics, 1958) 9
- Thelonious Monk in Action: Recorded Live at the Five Spot Cafe (Riverside/OJC, 1958) n/a
- The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall (Riverside OJC, 1959) 9
- Thelonious Alone in San Francisco (Original Jazz Classics, 1959) n/a
- Monk's Dream (Columbia, 1962) n/a
- It's Monk's Time (Columbia, 1964) 9
- Big Band and Quartet in Concert (Columbia 2CD, 1963) n/a
- Live at the It Club - Complete (Columbia 2CD, 1964) n/a
- Straight No Chaser (Columbia, 1966) n/a
- Underground (Columbia, 1967) 7

Moran, Jason:
- Black Stars (Blue Note, 2001) 8
- Ten (Blue Note, 2010) 6

Morgan, Lee:
- The Sidewinder (Blue Note, 1963) 7

Morgan, Sam:
- Papa Celestin & Sam Morgan (Azure, 1927) 9

Morton, Jelly Roll:
- 1923/24 (Milestone, 1923 -1924) n/a
- The Chicago Years: The Original Performances (Jazz Classics, 1926-1928) 8
- Jelly Roll Morton (The Pearls) (RCA/Bluebird, 1926-1928) n/a
- 1926-1928 (Classics, 1926-1928) n/a
- 1928-1929 (Classics, 1928-1929) n/a

Mostly Other People Do the Killing:
- Moppa Elliott's Mostly Other People Do the Killing (Hot Cup) 7
- Shamokin!!! (Hot Cup/CD Baby, 2007) 9
- This Is Our Moosic (Hot Cup/CD Baby, 2008) 8
- Forty Fort (Hot Cup, 2010) 8
- The Coimbra Concert (Clean Feed, 2011) 7 

Murray, David
- Low Class Conspiracy (Adelphi Records, 1976) 8
- Flowers For Albert: Complete Concert (India Navigation, 1976) 7
- Sweet Lovely (Black Saint, 1979) 8
- Ming (Black Saint, 1980) 10
- Murray's Steps (Black Saint, 1982) 9
- Morning Song (Black Saint, 1984) 7
- The Hill (Black Saint, 1986) 7
- Deep River (DIW, 1988) n/a
- Spirituals (DIW, 1988) n/a
- Special Quartet (DIW, 1990) 8
- Shakill's Warrior (DIW, 1991) 8
- Jazzosaurus Rex (Red Baron, 1993) n/a
- Gwotet (Justin Time, 2004) n/a
- Black Saint Quartet: Sacred Ground (Justin Time, 2007) 7
- w/Geri Allen & Terri Lyne Carrington: Murray, Allen & Carrington Power Trio: Perfection (Motéma) 7

Navarro, Fats
- The Complete Blue Note and Capitol Recordings of Fats Navarro and Tadd Dameron (Blue Note, 1947-1949) 8

Neidlinger, Buell:
- w/Cecil Taylor: New York City R&B (Candid, 1961) 8
- Locomotive (Soul Note, 1987) n/a

Nelson, Oliver:
- Blues and the Abstract Truth (Impulse!, 1961) 8

New Orleans Rhythm Kings:
- New Orleans Rhythm Kings And Jelly Roll Morton (Milestone, 1922-1923) 8

Nichols, Herbie:
- The Complete Blue Note Recordings (Blue Note, 1955-1956) 9
- Love, Gloom, Cash, Love (Bethlehem, 1957) 7

Oliver, Joe "King":
- The Complete Set (Retrieval 2CD, 1923-1924) 8
- Great Original Performances 1923- 1930 (Jazz Classics 2CD, 1923-1930) 7

Ory, Kid:
- Ory's Creole Trombone (ASV, 1922–44) 8
- Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band (GHB, 1944–45) n/a

Other Dimensions in Music:
- Other Dimensions in Music (Silkheart, 1990) n/a
- Now! (AUM Fidelity, 1998) 9
- Time Is of the Essence Is Beyond Time (AUM Fidelity, 2000) n/a
- Live At the Sunset (Marge, 2007) n/a
- w/Fay Victor: Kaiso Stories (Silkheart, 2011) 8
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)