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From the Crates
Jay Nachowitz, focused on classic Jazz recordings.
A 35 plus-year veteran of the music business, Jay represents, books, and manages jazz musicians. Jay has a degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Bridgeport, studied at The Juilliard School of Music in New York, and is a former traveling musician. Jay’s current and former Artists include; Alexis Cole, Bill Mays, Claudio Roditi, Dena DeRose, Jumaane Smith, Marvin Stamm, Wycliffe Gordon.
Jay's Top 5 Albums to Take on a Road Trip
October 2024
Wayne Shorter
Speak No Evil
Recorded in 1964 on Blue Note, Shorter’s “Speak No Evil” is truly an Inviting display of music of the highest level. Shorter’s quintet included Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and drummer, Elvin Jones.
Sonny Rollins
Saxophone Colossus
Recorded in 1957 on Prestige, the album features Tommy Flanagan, bassist Doug Watkins, and legendary bebop drummer Max Roach. In 2016, “Saxophone Colossus” was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being culturally and historically significant.
Ornette Coleman
The Shape Of Jazz To Come
Recorded in 1959 for Atlantic Records, this album set standards of what a free flow jazz form, and unique improvisational stylings would create an assessable art form. Coleman’s quartet included trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Billy Higgins.
Dave Brubeck Quartet
Time Out
Released in 1959 – the Dave Brubeck Quartet featuring alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, bassist Gene Wright, drummer Joe Morello, produced a set of music amongst the all-great songs ever recorded. The album was released on Columbia records and include “Take Five.”
Cannonball Adderley
Somethin’ Else
Recorded in 1958, for Blue Note, this album is widely regarded as Adderley’s greatest album. On the session is Miles Davis in a rare role as a sideman. It also represents one the few times you will find Miles on a Blue Note recording. Along with Miles is drummer Art Blakey, pianist Hank Jones, and bassist Sam Jones.
July 2024
Dexter Gordon
Go!
Recorded in 1962 for Blue Note, “Go!” was Dexter Gordon’s third album for the label. The sidemen featured pianist Sonny Clark, bassist Butch Warren, and drummer Billy Higgins. Although the album has hard-bop leanings for serious jazz enthusiasts, there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy this beauty. In 2019, the album was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being culturally and historically significant.
Bill Evans Trio
Waltz For Debby
Released on Riverside Records, this live album was recorded at the Village Vanguard in New York in 1961. “Waltz For Debby” a song inspired by the Bill Evan’s niece; was first recorded in 1956 on the album New Jazz Conceptions and quickly became a jazz standard. Rounding out the trio is along with Evans is bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian.
Thelonious Monk
Brilliant Corners
Recorded on October 9, 15, & December 7, 1956 at the Van Gelder Studio, this record from Monk was released on the Riverside label in 1957. Along with Sonny Rollins on tenor sax, the band was solid with Clark Terry on trumpet, Ernie Henry, alto saxophone, bassist Oscar Pettiford, and drummer Max Roach along with Paul Chambers on “Bemsha Swing”. Monk was truly ahead of his time, however, this album went a long way in establishing him as an all-time great.
Eric Dolphy
Out To Lunch!
Making his mark on Blue Note in 1964 with the release of “Out To Lunch,” Eric Dolphy established himself as a leader in the Avant-garde movement. Notables on the album were Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Richard Davis, and Tony Williams on drums. The album was recorded on February 25, 1964, by Rudy Van Gelder, at the Van Gelder Studios, and was produced by Alfred Lion.
Oliver Nelson
The Blues And The Abstract Truth
This superb offering from Nelson Oliver was released on Impulse Records in 1961. The album was produced by Creed Taylor, and featured a supremely talented group of musicians who cemented the album as an all-time great recording. In addition to Oliver Nelson, the band included Freddie Hubbard, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and George Barrow. Although he was a saxophonist, Oliver’s gift was in arrangements which gave him the opportunity to work on TV soundtracks and movie themes. His most famous song is “Stolen Moments.
April 2024
Freddie Hubbard
Red Clay
Freddie Hubbard 1970 debut album “Red Clay” for the CTI label was a solid offering of music and performance. The sideman included saxophonist Joe Henderson, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and then 21-year-old drummer Lenny White. The album was produced by Creed Taylor and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder, and recorded at Van Gelder Studios on January 27th-29th, 1970.
Chick Corea & Return To Forever
Light As A Feather
Released in 1973 on Polydor Records, this incarnation of RTF featured fusion and Latin driven grooves from vocalist Flora Purim, drummer/percussionist Airto Moreira, saxophonist Joey Farrel, and holding down the bass was Stanley Clarke. The highlight of the album is “Spain.” The album was produced by Chick Corea.
John Coltrane And Thelonious Monk:
At Carnegie Hall
This live recording is from a 1957 performance at Carnegie Hall. The master tape was discovered in 2005 at the U.S. Library of Congress, and was subsequently released on Blue Note. Although their playing styles were uniquely different, Trans and Monk merged their creative talents to produce some compelling music. The sidemen for the gig featured bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik and drummer Shadow Wilson.
Hank Mobley
Soul Station
Released in 1960 on Blue Note. This offering from Hank Mobley is a testament of his skills to compose outstanding music. Hank was often overlooked and one of jazz’s premiere saxophonist, only because he was from the era of great tenors like John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. The album featured heavyweights Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Art Blakey. This bop fused offering was produced by Alfred Lion, and engineered by the great Rudy Van Gelder. The album was recorded on February 7, 1960.
Clifford Brown And Max Roach
Clifford Brown & Max Roach
Released in 1954 on EmArcy. Clifford Brown and Max Roach recorded this album which is considered to be amongst the best Jazz albums of all time. Rounding out the quintet was saxophonist Harold Land, Richie Powell, piano, and George Morrow on bass. The standout track on the album is “Joy Spring.” Sadly, Clifford Brown and George Morrow passed away in a car accident on June 26, 1956.
Janaury 2024
Michael Brecker
Pilgrimage (Heads Up)
Recorded in 2006 at Right Track Recording studio in Manhattan, New York for the Heads Up label. The album was awarded 2 Grammys, and featured Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, John Patitucci, and Jack DeJohnette. In addition to Brecker, the album was produced by Pat Metheny and Steve Rodney, with arrangements from Gil Goldstein and Micheal Brecker.
Kenny Burrell
Midnight Blue
Recorded in 1963 for Blue Note, Kenny Burrell focused on the blues, and with the assistance of the great tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, along with Ray Barretto on congas, Major Holley Jr. on bass, and Bill English on drums, Kenny delivered a timeless piece of music.
Oscar Peterson
Night Train
Released in 1963 on Verve, Oscar Peterson laid down a solid groove in a trio format with collaboration from bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Ed Thigpen. Many enthusiast of music believe Oscar Peterson, who Duke Ellington described as the “Maharajah of the keyboard,” was at his seminal best with “Night Train.”
The Modern Jazz Quartet
Lonely Woman
This beauty was released in 1962 on the Atlantic label.
Considered to be one of its best recordings, the album in some respects was a departure from the classical MJQ landscape, which focused on complex compositions and free form improvisation. This record was built on music that covered varied layers of music, but was fine-tuned to be more assessable to the listener.
Wynton Marsalis
Black Codes (From The Underground)
This album which was released on Columbia records in 1985, received 2 Grammy awards and featured Branford Marsalis on saxophones, Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums, along with Kenny Kirkland on keys and Ron Carter on bass. The album was recorded at RCA Studios on January 11th and 14th, 1985, and was viewed at the time of its release as a contemporary version of the mid to late 60’s version of the Miles Davis Quintet.
October 2023
Freddie Hubbard
The Hub of Hubbard
The album was recorded at Villingen, Black Forest, Germany on December 9, 1969. It was released on the MPS label and features performances by Hubbard, Eddie Daniels, Sir Roland Hanna, Richard Davis and Louis Hayes.
Tad Jones and Mel Lewis Orchestra
Consummation
This beauty was released in 1970 on Blue Note Records and re-released in 2002. Recorded at A&R
Studios in New York City, the album was nominated for a 1970 Grammy award in the “Best Jazz Performance – Large Group. The album was produced by Sonny Lester.
Maynard Ferguson
Message from Newport
The album was recorded in 1958 and originally released on the Roulette label. Although the album was recorded live in the studio, the label wanted to capitalize on the bands successful appearance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. The actual recording dates at Capitol Studios, New York City, was May 6, 7, & 8, 1958.
Miles Davis
Sketches of Spain
Sketches of Spain was recorded between November 1959 and March 1960 at the Columbia 30th Street Studio in New York City. The album at the time was described as the perfect example of recording in the third stream, a musical fusion of jazz, European classical, and styles from world music. The album was the third recording project with arranger Gil Evans, and was considered to be the bridge that moved Miles to a mainstream audience in the 60’s.
Eddie Harris and Les McCann
Swiss Movement
Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland in June 1969, as a result from an impromptu jam session when tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris and trumpeter Benny Bailey joined Les McCann’s regular trio. McCann’s regular rhythm section of Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Donald Dean on drums provided the backup support for the set that turned into a all-time classic recording that included “Cold Duck Soup,” and “Compared To What.”
July 2023
Miles Davis, “Some Day My Prince Will Come”
Released in December 1961, Miles Davis continued on a path of sustained greatness with “Some Day My Prince Will Come.” The album lineup featured pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, drummers Jimmy Cobb, and the great Philly Jo Jones. The primary saxophonist was Hank Mobley, along with John Coltrane on the title track and “Teo.”
Freddie Hubbard, “First Light”
This masterpiece was released on the CTI label in 1971. Appearing on the album was Herbie Hancock, guitarist Eric Gale and George Benson, bassist Ron Carter, along with Jack DeJohnette on drums, Airto Moreira, and Richard Wyands. Setting the proper perspective was outstanding string arrangements from Don Sebesky.
Stanley Turrentine, “Sugar”
Recorded in 1970, this album reinforced the high level of creativity and music performance that was originating from the CTI label. Turrentine was performing at an extremely high level, and the musicians who performed on this gem matched his level. The album featured many artist we came to expect from a CTI recording, including George Benson, Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter, and organist Butch Cornell. The standout tracks in my opinion are “Sugar” and “Impressions.”
Return To Forever, “Romantic Warrior”
Released in 1976, this album is considered by many to be the bands most popular album. The album was recorded at the legendary Caribou Ranch, and featured Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, and Al Di Meola. The most intriguing aspect of this album is that it’s layered with multiple fusion aspects, but leaves plenty of room for traditional jazz elements.
John Coltrane, “Blue Train”
Released in 1958 on the Blue Note label, this album reinforced Coltrane’s status as one of the most influential artist in music. The album featured Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Jo Jones on drums.
April 2023
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
Released in 1958 on the Blue Note label, this album reinforced Coltrane’s status as one of the most influential artist in music. The album featured Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Jo Jones on drums.
John Coltrane, A Love Supreme
Released in 1965, this groundbreaking album featured McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Elvin Jones.
Lee Morgan, The Sidewinder
Morgan’s classic jam was released in 1964 on the Blue Note label. The musicians with Morgan included Joe Henderson on sax, Barry Harris on piano, Bon Crenshaw on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums.
Wes Montgomery, Movin’ Wes
This album was released on the Verve label in 1967. The album reinforced the style and technique of his instrument that made Wes a formidable artist on the Billboard charts. The album was produced by Creed Taylor.
Herbie Hancock, Maiden Voyage
This album is quintessential Herbie Hancock, and remains a classic recording amongst music enthusiasts. The album was released on the Blue Note label in 1965, and featured Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, George Coleman on sax, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums.
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