Pam Howell loves jazz more than she loves shoes and wine, combined - which is to say, a LOT. An administrative professional and aspiring author, she is not a musician (listeners can breathe a sigh of relief); rather, she discovered her passion for jazz by sneaking into her father's LP collection as a child. Pam is committed to jazz outreach and when she is not at Board meetings for the Los Angeles Jazz Society, she can typically be found in one of many local jazz clubs tapping her foot and furiously scribbling notes. Visit her website at: pamelahowell.blogspot.com
As I recover from my live jazz addiction, I am becoming more and more reliant upon my recorded music collection to get me through the tough spots. In an example of perfect timing, I have a new friend who challenged me to come up with my 10 favorite jazz tunes. I agreed, provided that he'd respond in turn. Now, this new friend is in his twenties, British, and a break dancer when he's not doing smartypants things in the world of finance, so my expectation was that his list would consist of mostly music I'd never heard before and that would make me feel even older than I already do.
Luckily, I had the most gratifying egg-on-the-face experience. My goodness. His top 10 included Art Tatum (what?), Ahmad Jamal (WHAT?), Oscar Peterson (WHAT?!?!?), and even Horace Silver and Art Blakey (WHAT WHAT WHATTY WHAT???). Not only is there hope for the next generation, there is also exquisitely fine taste in there to boot.
My friend and I exchanged our lists of individual jazz tunes (which I may share more broadly another time), but that exercise prompted me to think about my favorite full length albums. What are the most delectable albums I own? What albums can I listen to over and over without pausing for a breath? What albums would I take with me if I were stranded on a desert island? Without further ado, and in no particular order, here is a snippet of my list.
Wynton Marsalis: Hot House Flowers
I remember being 15 years old and thinking I had found the most delicious music EVER. It is an orchestrated jazz album with pretty, lush arrangements, and at the time I had the most obnoxious crush on Wynton besides. I still do, in fact, but luckily it's totally separate from my crush on this album.
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
Everybody in the world loves "Kind of Blue." Normally I like to go against the grain, but I just can't. Listen and you'll see why it's the best selling jazz album of all time. Plus Paul Chambers' melody on "So What" totally makes me think I should be a bass player. Well, except for that part where I'm devoid of musical talent.
Jeff Hamilton Trio: The Best Things Happen
Quite possibly the most underestimated / underappreciated album I've ever heard. I just rediscovered this gem after a pop music binge and got totally sucked in by how this trio sounds just as much like three individual musicians as it does one jazz "thing". It's kind of like when you THINK, "Mmmm, salami! Mmmm, provolone! Mmmm, pepperoncini!" but what you SAY is, "Mmmmmmm, antipasto!"
Diana Krall: When I Look In Your Eyes
Some might call her pop jazz. Whatever. I am unashamedly a fan, and this album could go with me on a desert island for sure. I push the "repeat" because you can hear Oscar Peterson's influence so clearly in her playing, and her vocal phrasing lets me know she's into what she's doing. Plus when I sing along to "Devil May Care" no one can tell me that I shouldn't be on my world tour. That is, until someone with ears hears me.
Sting: The Dream of the Blue Turtles
While I'm making controversial calls, let me lob in this recording, which was lambasted by my crushee Wynton Marsalis (among others) for sullying the jazz form. Is this a jazz album? I would say not, but once I got over the whole "is it or isn't it" question I was free to enjoy the music, especially Sting's sometimes hokey but always clever lyrics.
And there you have it - the musical portion of my desert island must-haves. What's on your list?
A jazz musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges.
– Benny Green
Q: What does New Age music sound like when played backwards?
A: New Age music.
