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)

P - R

Parker, Charlie:
- The Quintessence (Fremeaux & Associes) 6
- The Charlie Parker Story (Savoy, 1945) n/a
- The Legendary Dial Masters (Jazz Classics 2CD, 1946-1947) 8
- w/Dizzy Gillespie: Bird and Diz (Verve, 1950) 7
- Yardbird Suite: The Ultimate Collection (Rhino 2CD, 1945-1952) 9
- The Quintet / Jazz at Massey Hall (Debut OJC, 1953) 7

Parker, Evan:
- 50th Birthday Concert (Leo 2CD, 1994) 7

Parker, William:
- Through Acceptance of the Mystery Peace (Eremite, 1974–79) n/a
- In Order to Survive (Black Saint, 1993) 7
- Compassion Seizes Bed-Study (Homestead, 1995) n/a
- The Peach Orchard (Aum Fidelity 2CD, 1998) 10
- Mayor of Punkville (Aum Fidelity 2CD, 2000) 8
- Painter's Spring (Thirsty Ear, 2000) n/a
- w/Hamid Drake: Piercing the Veil (Aum Fidelity, 2000) n/a
- O'Neal's Porch (Aum Fidelity, 2000) 8
- Raining on the Moon (Thirsty Ear, 2002) 8
- . . . And William Danced (Ayler, 2002) 9
- Scrapbook (Thirsty Ear, 2003) 9
- Luc's Lantern (Thirsty Ear, 2005) n/a
- Sound Unity (Aum Fidelity, 2005) 8
-
Raining On the Moon: Corn Meal Dance (AUM Fidelity) 7
- Double Sunrise Over Neptune
(Art for Arts/Aum Fidelity, 2008) 7
- Petit Oiseau (AUM Fidelity, 2008) 8
- w/Anthony Braxton & Milford Graves: Beyond Quantum (Tzadik, 2008) 8
- I Plan to Stay a Beleiver: The Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield (AUM Fidelity, 2010) n/a
- Quartets: Meditation / Resurrection (AUM Fidelity, 2017) 10

Pavone, Mario:
- Deez to Blues (Playscape, 2006) 7
- Ancestros - Double Tenor Quintet (Playscape, 2008) 7
- Arc Suite t/pi t/po (Playscape, 2010) 7

Payne, Cecil:
- Zodiac (Strata-East, 1968) 7

Peacock, Gary:
- w/Keith Jarrett & Jack DeJohnette: Tales of Another (ECM, 1977) n/a

Pepper, Art:
- Meets the Rhythm Section (Contemporary OJC, 1957) 8
- Smack Up (Fantasy/Contemporary OJC, 1960) 8

Peterson, Hannibal Marvin:
- And the Sunrise Orchestra: Children of the Fire (Sunrise Records, 1974) n/a
- And the Sunrise Orchestra: Hannibal (MPS Records, 1975) 9

Pettiford, Oscar:
- Deep Passion (Impulse!, 1956) 8

Powell, Bud:
- Jazz Giant (Verve, 1949-1950) 7
- The Amazing Bud Powell Volume 1 (Blue Note, 1949-1951) 8
- The Amazing Bud Powell Volume 2 (Blue Note, 1951-1953) 7
- Inner Fires (Discovery/Collectables, 1953) n/a
- The Scene Changes (Blue Note, 1958) 7

Previte, Bobby:
- Coalition of the Willing (Ropeadope, 2006) 7

Pukwana, Dudu:
- In the Townships (Earthworks, 1973) 9

Pullen, Don:
- w/Chico Freeman, Fred Hopkins, Bobby Battle: Warriors (Black Saint, 1978) 8
- w/George Adams: Breakthrough (Blue Note, 1986) 8
- New Beginnings (Blue Note, 1988) n/a

Rava, Enrico:
- Noir (Label Bleu, 1996) 5

Redd, Freddie:
- Shades of Redd (Blue Note, 1960) n/a

Redman, Dewey:
- The Ear of the Behearer (Impulse!, 1973) 7
- Coincide (Impulse!, 1975) 8
- The Struggle Continues (ECM, 1982) n/a

Redman, Don:
- Doin' What I Please (ASV, 1925–38) n/a

Redman, Joshua:
- Trio: Back East (Nonesuch, 2007) n/a

Reed, Mike:
- People, Places & Things: Proliferation (482 Music, 2008) 7
- People, Places & Things: About Us (481 Music, 2009) 7
- People, Places & Things: Stories & Negotiations (482 Music, 2010) 7
- Loose Assembly: Empathetic Parts (482 Music, 2010) 8
- People, Places & Things: Clean On the Corner (482 Music, 2012) 8
- People, Places & Things: Second Cities vol. 1 (482 Music, 2013) n/a
- People, Places & Things: A New Kind of Dance (482 Music, 2015) 7
- Flesh & Bone (482 Music, 2017) 8

Reid, Steve:
- Rhythmatism (Universal Sound, 1976) 7

Reece, Dizzy:
- Comin' On! (Blue Note, 1960) n/a

Revolutionary Ensemble:
- Vietnam (ESP, 1972) 6
- Manhattan Cycles (India Navigation, 1972) n/a
- The People's Republic (A&M, 1975) 8
- The Psyche (Mutable, 1975) 7- The Revolutionary Ensemble (ESP, 1977) 8
- And Now... (Pi, 2004) 7

Ribot, Marc:
- Spiritual Unity (Pi, 2005) 8
- Cermaic Dog: Your Turn (Northern Spy, 2013) 7

Richardson, Logan:
- Cerebral Flow (Fresh Sounds New Talent, 2007) 7

Rivers, Sam:
- Fuchsia Swing Song (Blue Note, 1964) 9
- Contours (Blue Note, 1965) 7
- Involution (Blue Note, 1966/67) n/a
- Crystals (Impulse!, 1974) n/a
- w/Dave Holland & Barry Alschul: The Quest (Red Record, 1976) 9
- Waves (Tomato, 1979) 7

Roach, Max:
- Deeds, Not Words (Riverside OJC, 1958) 8
- We Insist! Freedom Now Suite (Candid, 1960) 9
- Percussion Bitter Sweet (Impulse!, 1962) 7
- The Max Roach Trio featuring the Legendary Hasaan Ibn Ali (Atlantic, 1964) 7

Roberts, Matana:
- Coin Coin Chapter 2: Mississippi Moonchile (Constellation, 2013) 7

Rollins, Sonny:
- Work Time (Prestige OJC, 1955) n/a
- Tenor Madness (Prestige OJC, 1956) 9
- Saxophone Colossus (Prestige OJC, 1956) 10
- Way Out West (Contemporary OJC, 1957) 9
- Newk's Time (Blue Note, 1957) 8
- A Night at the Village Vanguard (Blue NOte 2CD, 1957) 8
- Freedom Suite (Riverside OJC, 1958) 7
- The Bridge (RCA, 1962) n/a
- On Impulse! (Impulse!, 1965) n/a
- East Broadway Rundown (Impulse!, 1966) 7
- Alfie (Impulse!, 1966) n/a
- Plays G-Man (Milestone, 1986) 8
- Falling in Love With Jazz (Milestone, 1989) n/a
- Silver City (Milestone 2CD, 1972-1995) 8
- This Is What I Do (Milestone, 2000) n/a
- Without a Song (The 9/11 Concert) (Milestone, 2005) n/a
- Sonny, Please! (Doxy, 2006) n/a
- Road Shows, Vol. 1 (Doxy/Emarcy, 2008) n/a
- Road Shows, Vol. 2 (Doxy/Emarcy, 2011) 7

Rouse, Charlie:
- Unsung Hero (Columbia, 1960-1961) n/a

Rudd, Roswell:
- Flexible Flyer (Black Lion, 1974) 8
- Regeneration (Soul Note, 1982) n/a

Russell, George:
- Jazz Workshop (RCA Bluebird, 1956) n/a
- Ezz-Thetics (Riverside OJC, 1961) 8