List of Jazz

Here's another list to go with the other two (here and here). This time, it's jazz tunes that I love, again in alphabetical order:

1. Epistrophy, by Thelonius Monk

And many other Monk tunes, of course. Anyone who loves Monk should pick up Monk's Casino, by Alexander von Schlippenbach, the only CD I know of that contains every known surviving Monk composition! (Full disclosure: I translated the liner notes.)

2. Goodbye Pork-Pie Hat, by Charles Mingus

I'm also a total sucker for "Boogie Stop Shuffle," which is also on Mingus Ah Um.

3. Homecoming, by Dave Holland

I know three fabulous versions of this tune: on Holland's Seeds of Time (quintet) and Ones All (solo bass), and on Gateway's Homecoming (with John Abercrombie and Jack DeJohnette). I also have a soft spot for Holland's "Back-Woods Song," from the first Gateway CD from the mid-seventies.

4. It Might As Well Be Spring, by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II

Check out the incredible version on Songs We Know, by Fred Hersch and Bill Frisell. Three minutes and ten seconds of bliss.

5. Lonely Woman, by Ornette Coleman

I'm also partial to Ornette's "Turnaround," especially as played by Pat Metheny on 80/81.

6. Resolution, by John Coltrane

I'm only doing tunes, so I can't just say A Love Supreme. There's an overwhelming version of "Resolution" on Marc Johnson's Bass Desires CD, with John Scofield, Bill Frisell, and Peter Erskine.

And I have to at least mention Coltrane's "Mr. P.C.," which always makes me happy.

7. Someday My Prince Will Come, by Larry Morey & Frank Churchill

But of course it's Miles's version that makes this a great jazz tune. There's also a great version on the above-mentioned Songs We Know.

8. Sophisticated Lady, by Duke Ellington

I'm especially blown away by the version on The World Saxophone Quartet Plays Duke Ellington, which reminds me that it has been way too long since I have heard David Murray live!

9. Timeless, by John Abercrombie

Both in the original version on Abercrombie's CD of the same name (with Jan Hammer and Jack DeJohnette) and in the solo guitar version on Ralph Towner's Solo Concert (both of which also feature Abercrombie's lovely "Ralph's Piano Waltz").

10. Witchi-Tai-To, by Jim Pepper

As played by Oregon, especially live at the Great American Music Hall in 1984, when Collin Walcott was still alive.