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吳靄儀小姐說,她不懂爵士樂,但欣賞樂手的即興和自得其樂。張繼高更緯言,爵士是精緻文化結晶。誠然,欣賞爵士樂從不是鎖自己在房裡,用Hi-Fi就能自我陶醉,還要現場感受,隨節拍搖擺,分享樂手的即興和汗水!

以下全是個人心水,當然少不了世紀好碟如《Kind of Blue》,亦有滄海遺珠像Stan Getz的《People Time》、Charles Haden的《Night and The City》。如果爵士樂在你心目中仍是進餐時可有可無的伴奏,或者屬於「華人與狗」不得欣賞之流,現在是推翻這謬論的時候了。

為嚴格品評,我們把碟分為Tier 1 & 2。Tier 1毫無疑問是真正極品,Tier 2整體成績不及Tier 1,但仍佳句紛陳,值得推介。要更詳細欣賞樂手的風格,不容錯過。


Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Roy Hargrove- Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall
Hancock and Brecker have a wider scope of jazz than their precedessors. In "So What/Impressions," you hear the foundations of Miles and Coltrane with creativity and unique vision. details>>

Dirty Dozen Brass Band- Medicated Logic
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Lisa Ekdahl- Sings Salvadore Poe
Lisa sings Bossa Nova to a dreamlike perfection. After listening to this dreamlike album, you'll notice why her husband Salvadore was born to write Bossa Nova songs. details>>

Dave Pike- Pike's Peak
I was never a vibes fan and I still am not, but Pike's playing transcends the whole instrument and dispels the boring myth of vibes music. details>>

Dave Pike- Peligroso
After two decades of absence from the jazz world, Dave Pike comes back and gets it right this time. Backed by an all-star group, Pike blends talent with rhythm. details>>

Carl Saunders- Out of the Blue
Carl's texture is almost as rich as Tom Harrell's and his arrangements partake meticulous craftsmanship. His solos are unforced and performed with ease and grace. details>>

Bill Evans- Trio 64
This is a playful, humorous, and sophisticated album. Bill Evans has never sounded so carefree, so burdenless, so childlike, so dreamy, and he never would. details>>

The Philadelphia Experiment
Listening to the album feels like a wild journey. The recording is a spontaneous studio set, like these musicians are just rehearsing or jamming without pressure. details>>

St. Germain- Tourist
The "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" of jazz albums in 2000. Next time you throw a party at your house, forget techno and play this CD, you will definitely have pretty girls dancing on your lap, I promise! details>>

Howard Alden & Various Artists- Sweet and Lowdown OST
老牌guitar手Howard Alden,將Woody Allen導演<<Sweet And Lowdown>>裡的悲痛與詼諧情節相輝映。如閣下鍾愛Joe Pass或傳統Jazz,此碟是必然之選。 details>>

Ray Brown- Super Bass
How often do you get three pros playing like they are just whispering to each other? One bass is like a hamburger. Three basses are like a Big Mac - big, substantial and juicy.
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Tommy Flanagan & Kenny Barron- Together
No stealing here, just plain listening to each other, coping and collaborating. Tommy's piano comes out of the right speaker while Barron on the left. And the effect is a duo made in heaven.
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Stan Getz, Kenny Barron- People Time (2CDs)
This is Getz's last recording, but he sounded great. Maybe the best he has ever sounded - more poignant, bluesier than the Bossa Nova albums. details>>

Kenny Barron, Charlie Haden- Night And The City
Everything is simple on this album: the playing is simple (just piano and bass), the songs are simple, the message is simple. details>>

Tiger Okoshi- Color of Soil
Tiger decides to melt himself into a mood of authenticity, occasionally augmenting the already superior voice with a slight Japanese touch, and the sound is amazing! details>>

Unique- 迷
This is probably Unique's first and last personal album; but it actually does the Hong Kong music scene a great service. Of course, besides Unique's unique voice, the band is one of the biggest reasons why this is an A album.
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Jazz at the Pawnshop
If there were only one CD I would have to choose to bring if there was a fire, "Jazz at the Pawnshop" would be it.
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Art Tatum, Ben Webster- The Tatum Group Masterpieces
I think the grade also reflects the album's preciousness. My favorite song is "Have You Met Miss Jones?" Needless to say, this is a jazz album. Only one of the best jazz albums of our time. details>>

Bill Evans Trio- Sunday At The Village Vanguard
This album celebrates Bill Evans' artistry and Scott LaFaro's musicality while It mourns LaFaro's untimely death. This is Scott LaFaro's album.
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Bill Evans Trio- Waltz for Debby
It's really good to enjoy this in a cozy little French restaurant with a glass of my favorite Bordeaux. This is a real treat for all jazz lovers. details>>

Joe Pass- Virtuoso

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Joe Pass, Red Mitchell- Finally (Live in Stockholm)

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Thelonious Monk- Monk Alone:
The Complete Solo Studio Recordings of Thelonious Monk 1962-1968

Another must-have for Monk fans. This is all solo stuff and listen to "I'm Confessin'" and you'll know what I mean.
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Thelonious Monk- Live at The It Club (Complete) (2CDs)
Most of the songs are above 6 minutes long. I mean, these guys don't hold back and have fun with the songs. That's what jazz improvisation is all about.
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John Coltrane- Black Pearls
An underrated album. I think, however, is one of Coltrane's best works, maybe even his best work. There is no ostentatious emotional trend. Just even playing with a lot of heart.
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Miles Davis- Kind of Blue
This is one of those albums that never gets mundane no matter how many times you listen to it. Miles Davis' best album ever. details>>

Dave Brubeck- Night Shift
This CD puts Mr. Brubeck in Nirvana. With the help of bassist Jack Six and drummer Randy Jones, Dave is on top during this live performance in Blue Note in 1995 and he has never sounded better.
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The Dave Brubeck Quartet- Time Out
In my opinion, this CD is a classic maybe not because of the songs, but because it's a reflection of history.
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Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong- The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong On Verve [BOX SET] (3CDs)
Have you ever seen two happier jazz singers? Ella and Louis are the happiest jazz couple I know and remain my idols to this day. It is wise for Verve to put out this collector's item.
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Chet Baker- Chet Baker Sings and Plays from the Film "Let's Get Lost"
You will cry. This guy is amazing knowing what he's been through. His experience is greatly enshrined in his words, voice, and emotion. details>>

Chet Baker- The Best of Chet Baker Sings
This is a sentimental favorite. It would make me even happier if I have a remastered version, if there's one that exists. details>>

Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim- Getz/Gilberto
Simple jazz makes good jazz. Stan Getz is exceptional on the sax; the sax makes Brazilian jazz so sexy. (It puts you to the beach observing Brazilian women with bikinis.)
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Herbie Hancock- Headhunters
What a funky album! Herbie Hancock has invented a new brand of jazz using this album. Funky-jazz. It's George Clinton meet Miles Davis. details>>
Al Grey- Me N'Jack
This album really has sentimental value for me. It not only delivers the best trombone-oriented jazz music I have ever heard, but also establishes an indestructible friendship between me and my friend. details>>

Sonny Rollins- Saxophone Colossus
Who plays "St. Thomas" better than Sonny Rollins' version on this album? A must-have classic.
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Cannonball Adderley- Somethin' Else
If Miles Davis's "Kind of Blue" is an album made in heaven, this is surely an album made on earth because one can find so much humanity in it.
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John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
This album explains to some people that jazz with vocal can still be great. Indeed, it's more than great. It marks an age of which jazz can be directly associated with romantism. details>>


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